The Sentence, by Louise Erdrich, and Jura 12, Part 2

Michael and Ethan continue their discussion of The Sentence, by Louise Erdrich, while drinking Jura 12yo single malt.

In this episode:

  • Who is the real fool: the fool or the fool who edits him?

  • A bespoke toast, or, the most work anyone has ever done to prep for this podcast

  • Does the adjective “ghost” actually indicate simply the inclusion of a ghost, or does it mean something more?

  • Is a ghost actually a vampire? Are novels vampires? Is COVID a vampire? Is COVID a ghost? Is a novel a ghost? Is this podcast a ghost? Will Michael slip and say “vampire”? If he does, will Ethan notice?

  • Parameters of author self-insert technique

  • Paradoxes of being essential

  • Unparsability: a definitely real word

  • Obligatory Hamlet reference (but this one’s pretty good)

  • Ghosts as political actors

Next time Michael and Ethan will begin to discuss Beloved, by Toni Morrison! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page.

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Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and

Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett)

MUSIC & SFX:

"Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission.

"The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

"Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License.

Ethan Bartlett