About How to Eat an Elephant: A Little Book Club for Large Books
We’re taking our time as we close read and discuss bite-size portions of the literary canon’s largest books.
centerforlit.substack.com (https://centerforlit.substack.com/s/how-to-eat-an-elephant?utm_medium=podcast)
At long last, Ian, Megan, and Emily sit down to discuss East of Eden in all of its poignant fullness. We close read Steinbeck’s moving conclusion and use its thematic emphasis to look back over where we’ve come.
How to Eat an Elephant will be taking a hiatus while Megan settles into her new living situation in Edinburgh (!). We hope to be back soon with announcements about what you can expect from the show going forward!
P.S. Are you looking for our seasons on War and Peace or Les Misérables? Previous seasons of HEE are now available to paid Substack subscribers.
The CenterForLit Podcast Network is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe (https://centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
4 Sept 2025
East of Eden: Chapters 48-50
Today Megan and Emily discuss Cathy’s final escape, then they turn to the climactic Cain and Abel scene and unpack the implications of Cal’s decision to repeat ancient history.
Be sure to join us next week for the big season finale!
To follow our reading schedule, visit www.centerforlit.com/hee (https://creators.spotify.com/dash/show/2axHJhZumolHjg1qKRxkdr/episode/1yHKY6BcpgOLWUkrIFvSDr/www.centerforlit.com/hee).
P.S. Are you looking for our seasons on War and Peace or Les Misérables? Previous seasons of HEE are now available to paid Substack subscribers.
The CenterForLit Podcast Network is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe (https://centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
28 Aug 2025
East of Eden: Chapters 44-47
Today the HEE crew talk about our growing admiration for Abra-cadabra, Kate’s human weakness, and the latent resemblances between parents and children. As we approach the end of the story, we begin to make some guesses about Steinbeck’s larger themes.
To follow our reading schedule, visit www.centerforlit.com/hee (https://creators.spotify.com/dash/show/2axHJhZumolHjg1qKRxkdr/episode/1yHKY6BcpgOLWUkrIFvSDr/www.centerforlit.com/hee).
P.S. Are you looking for our seasons on War and Peace or Les Misérables? Previous seasons of HEE are now available to paid Substack subscribers.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe (https://centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
81 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
86
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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