Hot and Bothered

We're taking a brief break from Pride and Prejudice, to read one of the most popular romance books of our current moment: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. Vanessa is joined by former co-host of Twilight in Quarantine, Julia Argy, to dive into the novel. Together they discuss the abuse narrative in the text, the love story at the heart of it, and why they think this book is having a moment.This episode does contain spoilers, but we do our best to explain the book for those who haven't read it. And please be advised that the novel itself contains the topics of suicide, gun violence, sexual assault, physical assault, and domestic abuse – all of which we touch on in the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hunsford party is invited to Rosings in Chapter 29 of Pride and Prejudice. Lizzy finally has the chance to meet the much-discussed Lady Catherine de Bourgh and must answer all of her impertinent questions. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether to read Lady Catherine generously and what she reflects about the power of the rich.Dr. Hannah McGregor joins us at the end of the episode to discuss sentimentality in the novel. Her book, A Sentimental Education, is available now! Our next episode is on October 21th, when we’ll be reading chapter 30-32.---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lizzy Bennet hits the road in Chapters 26 and 28 of Pride and Prejudice. Change is in the air in Hertfordshire – Wickham is pursuing something new, Jane is with her aunt and uncle in London, and Lizzy heads to Hunsford to see “the happy couple” (that is to say, Charlotte and Collins). In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren explore the difference between Charlotte and Wickham and role of ‘love’ in matrimony.Dr. Natalie Hanley-Smith joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Wickham’s fortune hunting. Our next episode is on October 7th, when we’ll be reading chapter 29! ---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're in the middle of a Patreon drive here on Hot and Bothered, trying to increase our membership to 1000 patrons. One of the wonderful things you can find on our Patreon is extended interviews with experts! We're making this conversation with the brilliant Claudia Johnson public so you get a sense of what that perk sounds like. Claudia Johnson is the Murray Professor of English Literature at Princeton University. Her many brilliant publications on Austen include Jane Austen's Cult and Cultures, the Blackwell Companion to Jane Austen, and 30 Great Myths About Jane Austen.You can get access to our 'extended interview' perk for $5/month at our Kitty tier. Head over to our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane and Elizabeth have a heart to heart about Bingley in Chapters 24 and 25 of Pride and Prejudice. Caroline has written Jane a letter saying that her party won’t be returning to Netherfield. But you know who is in town? Everyone’s favorite Aunt and Uncle: Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren continue their conversations about class, love, and marriage and look closely at Jane’s optimistic philosophy of life.Dr. Amy Hollywood joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Mrs. Bennet’s nerves and the history of hysteria. Our next episode is on September 23rd, when we’ll be reading chapters 26-28! ---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Elizabeth’s refusal, Mr. Collins quickly turns his attention to Charlotte Lucas in Chapters 21 through 23 of Pride and Prejudice. And Lizzy isn’t the only Bennet sister who is suddenly lacking a suitor – Mr. Bingley an his party have left for London with no promise of returning. In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren explore Charlotte’s approach to marriage and poor Jane’s broken heart.Dr. Briallen Hopper joins us at the end of the episode to discuss spinsterhood in Austen’s age and our own. Our next episode is on September 9th, when we’ll start volume two! ---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mr. Collins finally makes his move in Chapters 19 and 20 of of Pride and Prejudice. He pulls Lizzy aside for his grand proposal… and can’t seem to understand it when Lizzy flatly refuses. Vanessa and Lauren explore different readings of Collins in this scene and discuss the ways that Pride and Prejudice offers a mirror for modern feminist readers. Dr. Talia Schaffer joins us at the end of the episode to discuss historical perspectives on Collins as a potential romantic partner. Our next episode is on August 26th, when we’ll get a shock from Charlotte Lucas! ---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're taking a quick break from reading Pride and Prejudice to watch the 2005 movie adaptation with one of our favorite podcasts, Veronica Mars Investigations.Vanessa is joined by Helen Zaltzman and Jenny Owen Youngs to dig through the movie, comparing it along the way to the BBC mini-series and, of course, the original text. They ask important questions like: How does Elizabeth hear Darcy's insult at the Meryton Ball? Is Mr. Bennet the true villain of Pride and Prejudice? And is Matthew McFadden wearing a wig in this movie? Next episode, we're returning to our original format with chapters 19 + 20 - the Collins proposal! ---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for the Netherfield Ball in Chapters 17 and 18 of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy finally asks Lizzy to dance and the whole Bennet family seems to be on a mission to embarrass themselves in front of everyone. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the undercurrent of class privilege that surrounds balls in general and Lizzy’s prejudice around Darcy specifically. Dr. Amanda Calhoun joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the enemies to lovers trope from a psychological perspective. Our next episode is on July 29th, when we’ll squirm through Collin’s proposal. ---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, a new Pride and Prejudice adaptation dropped – Fire Island directed by Andrew Ahn. As your go-to place for all things Pride and Prejudice, we felt it was our duty to watch the film and report back on how it compares to the original. And we were lucky enough to get Tobin Low, the co-creator of the Nancy podcast and current editor at This American Life, in the studio to break it all down. We talk about our favorite moments and how the themes of family, class, and pride translate from the book to the film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new love interest has hit the scene in Chapters 15 and 16 of Pride and Prejudice. The handsome Mr. Wickham has caught Lizzy’s eye, and he has quite the story to tell about Darcy. Vanessa and Lauren discuss their first impressions of Wickham and what it means to trust a stranger. Dr. Mary Jean Corbett joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the British marriage law and customs that surround Collins’ plan to marry his cousin. Our next episode is on July 15th, when we’ll attend the Netherfield Ball. (But look out for a little bonus episode on July 8th!)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're cross-posting this special episode of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, which we've released today. This year in commemoration of Juneteenth, Not Sorry is spotlighting The Final 5 Campaign, a coalition working to close the final five youth prisons in Illinois. Vanessa is joined in conversation by one of their leaders, Alicia Brown, who tells us about what it means to be a prison abolitionist and her work with the campaign. Please join us by making a donation, learning more about the failures of youth prisons, contacting your legislators about prisons in your state, and listening to their new podcast, Free The Youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mr. Collins, the Bennets’ horrible cousin, has arrived at Longbourn in Chapters 13 and 14 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren dig into Collins as a religious figure and the impact of his sermonizing on the Bennet daughters.Dr. Sandra Macpherson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the entail and British land law. Our next episode is on July 1st and we'll meet another exciting character - Mr. Wickham! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Jane sick upstairs, Elizabeth is stuck navigating the drawing room at Netherfield in chapters 9 through 12 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the influence of The Enlightenment on Austen, continue their discussion about Caroline Bingley, and evaluate the budding chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy.Nell Stevens joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the ‘mean girl’ trope. You can pre-order her upcoming book here. Our next episode is on June 17th and we'll meet the wonderfully silly Mr. Collins! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poor Jane Bennet has caught a cold in the rain in Chapters 7 + 8 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s moral compass, the value of reading, and the prototypical ‘mean girl' – Caroline Bingley. Thanks to Dr. Tim Fulford for speaking to us this week about the military context of Austen’s England. Our next episode is on May 27th and we'll hunker down in the Netherfield parlor in Chapters 9 through 12. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lucases take center stage in Chapters 5+6 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the friendship between Charlotte and Lizzy and the way that historical and cultural ideas around masculinity might affect how we read Darcy. Thanks to Dr. Kate Fullagar for speaking to us this week about notions of savagery in 18th century England. Our next episode is on May 20th and we'll travel to Netherfield in Chapters 7 and 8.---If you plan to read along with us, we have a monthly zoom book club you can join on our Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for the Assembly Ball and Bingley and Darcy are on the scene in Chapters 3 and 4 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s famously bad first impression on Lizzy as well as the socio-political dynamics of a ball in the 19th century and today.Our next episode is out on May 6th and we'll spend some time with Charlotte Lucas in chapters 5+6!---Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren dive into Pride and Prejudice, starting with a close look at Chapters 1 and 2. They discuss the famous first line of the book, the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and the brief glimpse of Lizzie we get in this chapter.  Our next episode is on April 22nd and we'll get our first glimpse of Mr. Darcy in chapters 3+4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pride and Prejudice is one of the most famous and beloved novels of all time. It’s also, in many ways, the foundational text of the Romance genre.In our quest to unravel the gifts, mysteries, and inner workings of romance literature, it seemed only right that we turn to Lizzy and Darcy next.But before we jump into the first chapters, a few questions need to be answered. Questions like: Who is Jane Austen, and why does everyone care so much about this book? ---If you plan to read along with us, we have a small book club you can join on our Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our new season, where we're coming to you Live from Pemberley! Starting March 25th, Vanessa and Lauren will dive into Pride and Prejudice, investigating its power and legacy in the Romance genre and our hearts. This is your hand-lettered formal invitation to join us! Pack your corsets and pack your bait (because I hear if you're nice enough, Darcy might even invite you to fish on his property). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout our season of On Eyre, we've given you some small glimpses into the life of Charlotte Brontë. You probably know that she came from a literary family, that she attended a school very like Lowood, and that she died young. But before we put Jane Eyre back on the shelf, we wanted to spend some more time with dear Charlotte and her life in Haworth. This episode we're joined by the incredible Brontë biographer, Dr. Juliet Barker. Juliet shares with us more about how the Brontë children grew up, their joys and tragedies, and what the success of Jane Eyre meant to Charlotte. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After visiting the land of Jane Eyre films, we’re returning to modern book adaptations with Re Jane by Patricia Park. We’re lucky enough to be joined by Patricia Park herself to discuss her feelings about "Reader I married him", how she re-imagined Bertha, and how her own experiences visiting Korea informed the book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the wonderful women of the Heaving Bosoms podcast invited Vanessa on their show, we couldn't resist roping them in to our Jane Eyre adaptation project! This week, in a crossover episode, Vanessa, Erin, and Melody watch the 2011 film adaptation of Jane Eyre.P.S. There's a lot of talk about Vanessa's book, Praying with Jane Eyre, in this episode. If you have yet to purchase your copy, just a reminder that we are selling signed and personalized versions on our website! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Jean Rhys published Wide Sargasso Sea in 1966, she took on a question we’ve been asking a lot throughout this podcast: what about Bertha? This episode, we are lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Erica L. Johnson, co-editor of Wide Sargasso Sea at 50 and Jean Rhys: Twenty-First Century Perspectives to discuss the book. From Dr. Johnson, we learn about Rhy’s life, how to categorize and think about her work, and what it shows us about Jane Eyre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even though we've technically finished up our reading of Jane Eyre, we feel like the season isn't quite complete without a look at the many adaptations of the text. Over the next few months, we'll be looking a few examples and asking the question 'what do these teach us about the original text?'The first episode of this short series is all about The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey, and we were lucky enough to get Margot Livesey herself to speak with us about the book. Vanessa and Margot discuss 'why do people keep coming back to this text?' and 'what are the hardest things in this text to modernize?' --We hope to launch or season on Pride and Prejudice on March 25th, but we need your help to do it! We're hoping to raise $4k by February 14th and we're almost at our goal. If you want Hot and Bothered to continue, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been sitting on this lovely interview with Jasmine Guillory for a while, and we thought we’d share it with you as a special holiday treat! We discuss the personal and political as they relate to romance novels, and her latest book While We Were Dating. We hope you’re taking care of yourself this season! To quote Jasmine in this episode “thinking of yourself as a person worthy of care is one of the hardest things.” We'll be back in the new year with some episodes exploring adaptations of Jane Eyre, and we hope to launch or season on Pride and Prejudice on March 25th. If you'd like to help that season come to life, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months for reading the book together, Vanessa and Lauren return to their original question for this podcast: Is this a book we want to be passing on? We discuss the importance of critical reading and what we think this weird book is all about. --As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unfortunately we've run into some technical difficulties with the final episode of On Eyre! (Is this fate telling us that the season should never end?) While you wait, we have for you a short sermon Vanessa wrote about Jane Eyre.--As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren have finally finished the whole dang book! This week we read the very last chapter and discuss the hegemony of marriage, Bronte's descriptions of 'true love', and why St. John gets the last word of the novel.--As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren reach Ferndean in chapters 36 and 37 of Jane Eyre. This week we discuss Bronte's depiction of disability, Bertha's powerful exit from the novel, and how gossip spreads in the wake of tragedy. --As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren say 'no' to St. John, in Chapters 34 and 35 of Jane Eyre. This week, St. John proposes to Jane. We look at his behavior before and after the proposal, discuss his missionary zeal, and debate whether the supernatural elements of this book serve or hinder its message.--As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren enter Jane’s school room in Morton, in Chapters 31 through 33 of Jane Eyre. They continue to debate whether Jane should have left Rochester, and discuss St. John’s missionary aspirations and Rosamund’s beauty.As you’ll hear in this week’s episode, we’re starting to think about the end of Jane Eyre! We’d very much like to read Pride and Prejudice next. If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we find that Jane has run away from Thornfield and is wandering the moors of England without a shilling to her name. Vanessa and Lauren discuss homelessness past and present and its tropes in literature. We also meet four brand new characters: The three Rivers siblings and their housekeeper Hannah.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're returning to Chapter 27 of Jane Eyre, this time zooming in on Jane and Rochester. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Jane's fears about becoming a mistress and compare it with the limitations of a Victorian marriage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so much to cover in Chapter 27, we’ve decided to break it up into two episode. This week, Vanessa and Lauren focus in on Bertha and grapple with the racist and imperialist themes of Jane Eyre. Many thanks this week to Dr. Rab Houston for consulting with us about the history of asylums in Victorian England. Check out his project Promoting Mental Health Through the Lessons of History. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa Lauren finally journey up to the third floor of Thornfield Hall in Chapters 25 and 26 of Jane Eyre. They dissect the character of Bertha Rochester and try to parse out Charlotte Bronte’s voice from Jane Eyre’s as the narrator.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren meet under the chestnut tree at Thornfield in Chapters 23 and 24 of Jane Eyre. They discuss Rochester's proposal (!) and continue to examine the many power differentials in this budding relationship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren return to Gateshead in Chapters 21 and 22 of Jane Eyre. Mrs. Reed is dying, and Jane has come to sit by her bedside. But it's not a 'typical' death bed exchange – there's no great moment of redemption for Mrs. Reed, she dies a villain. Vanessa and Lauren explore what this dynamic reveals about Jane's growth over the course of the novel, and what it means about Jane's sense of home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren and start to get closer to the secrets at Thornfield Hall in Chapters 19 and 20 of Jane Eyre. After we learned about a mysterious gypsy in our last episode, we finally have a chance to meet her and hear what she has to say about our dear Jane. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the trope of the 'gypsy' in Victorian literature, the ways in which it's harmful to Romani people, and how it's being used in this text. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren and settling in with the new party at Thornfield in Chapters 16 through 18 of Jane Eyre. After last week’s big bed burning scene, Mr. Rochester up and leaves Thornfield. But when we returns, he’s got a whole new cast of characters in tow. Our biggest introduction is to Miss Blanche Ingram, and Vanessa and Lauren debate whether she’s redeemable.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren set the bed on fire in chapters 14 and 15 of Jane Eyre. They take a close look at the character of Celine Varens and continue their debate on whether Rochester is a sexy hero or a manipulative boss (or both). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren get cozy with Jane and Rochester in chapter 13 of Jane Eyre. The two lovebirds have their first real conversation in this chapter and it is steamy... well at least to them it is. Vanessa and Lauren aren't as sure that Rochester's brand of flirtation is the healthiest for our dear heroine.Special thanks this week to Dr. Rachel Teukolsky, who was interviewed twice for this episode. Check out her latest book Picture World: Image, Aesthetics, and Victorian New Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren have arrived at Thornfield Hall in chapters 11 and 12 of Jane Eyre. And who do they find on the road outside of Thornfield? Why Mr. Rochester himself, the 'hero' of our romance! This week they analyze Jane's restlessness in her new home, The Gothic as it appears in these chapters, and why women are attracted to brooding bad boys like Rochester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If for some reason you haven't heard (have you been living under a rock?), Vanessa wrote a book all about Jane Eyre! It's the inspiration for this podcast. After reading Chapter 10 last week, we realized there were some strong resonances between our conversation and the chapter of Vanessa's book on the theme of Destiny. We thought we'd take a week to share it with you and dig even deeper into chapter 10.And if for some reason you haven't purchased Vanessa's book yet (have you been trapped in someone's attic?) you can do so here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren wrap-up their time at Lowood School in chapters 9 and 10 of Jane Eyre. They discuss Jane's peculiar perspective on dying in chapter nine ("what a drag to die" as Lauren puts it), the special tenor of Helen's death by tuberculous, and the power of female friendship.Many thanks to Phoebe Judge for lending her voice to Helen this week. Phoebe read the entirety of Jane Eyre aloud on her podcast Phoebe Reads a Mystery last fall. We highly encourage you to go back and listen to her reading of the book as a companion to our show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren settle into the Lowood School in chapters 5 through 8 of Jane Eyre. They grapple with the role of Christianity in this book, paying special attention to how Charlotte Bronte's ideas are expressed through the character of Helen Burns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren slow down again to look closely at just one chapter - chapter four of Jane Eyre. They discuss Mr. Brocklehurst and his Christianity, Jane’s powerful use of her own voice, and what Gateshead Hall represents in the context of the larger book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren tackle chapters two and three of Jane Eyre, spending more time at Gateshead Hall. They discuss the famous 'red room' scene, explore Victorian sensibilities about sex and womanhood, and grapple with Jane's comparison to a 'rebel slave.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Lauren dive into Jane Eyre, starting with a close look at Chapter 1. They discuss the first sentence of the book, Jane’s abuse at Gateshead, and what it means to be a ‘precocious girl.’  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you know anything about Vanessa Zoltan, you know that Jane Eyre is her favorite book. In fact, she just wrote her own book about it: Praying with Jane Eyre. But after spending so much time lovingly pouring over this text, it's time to take a step back. Each week of On Eyre, Vanessa and Lauren Sandler will take a critical look at the text and ask themselves ‘does this old book still have something to say in our world?’But before we jump into the first chapter, a few questions need to be answered. Questions like: Who is Charlotte Bronte, and why should anyone (who isn't Vanessa) care about this book? ---If you plan to read along with us, we have several book club options launching on our Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.