Episodi
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Tonight, we’ll read the 28th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “An Unfortunate Lily Maid”
In the last episode, Marilla returns home one spring evening thrilled by the season’s promise, only to discover there’s no fire, no tea—and no Anne. After fuming in the kitchen and questioning Matthew, she fetches a candle in Anne’s room and finds her hiding tearfully among the pillows. Anne confesses she spent her chicken-money on a peddler’s hair dye, hoping for raven-black locks but ending up with a ghastly green mane. When daily washings fail, Marilla decrees the only cure is to cut Anne’s hair off, leaving her shingled head looking “like a scarecrow.” In the aftermath, Anne resolves to be good instead of vain, and Marilla—even amid her headaches—admits she rather enjoys Anne’s lively chatter.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read an Icelandic fairy tale called “Litill, Tritill, the Birds, and the Peasant Lad” translated and edited by Mrs. A. W. Hall and published in 1897.
Like many folk and fairy tales, the exact origins are complicated and sometimes unclear. The more well-known Crimson Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang cites this story as having Hungarian origin. However, there are at least two earlier publications that are specifically Icelandic compilations that include this story.
Iceland has a rich tradition of storytelling, with folktales passed down through oral tradition for centuries before being committed to print. Stories often traveled across borders and were reshaped by local customs, so it’s not surprising to find the same tale appearing in different collections with varied national attributions. What remains consistent in this version is its distinctly Icelandic sensibility—featuring a humble protagonist, mysterious helpers, and a clever unraveling of magical obstacles, all set against the stark yet enchanted landscapes typical of Northern European lore.
— read by 'N' —
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Episodi mancanti?
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Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Ghost Beyond the Gate” written by Mildred A. Wirt and published in 1943.
In this story, Mr. Parker is taken to the hospital by another driver after getting into an accident. However, Mr. Parker never arrives at the hospital. Penny takes over running the newspaper in her father's absence and discovers a clue to her father's whereabouts at an old abandoned mansion.
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other Penny Parker series episodes by searching for our show titled “Snoozecast Presents: Penny Parker” wherever you listen to Snoozecast. Or, you can find Penny at snoozecast.com/series.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight we'll read the next chapter of Good Wives, written by Louisa May Alcott, titled "Learning to Forget". This is also known as the second half of the Little Women novel, and is considered the 41st chapter.
As part of that work as a whole. In our last chapter, the March family drew closer together as they cherished their time with Beth and prepared for the inevitable. And now we pick up with Lori as he strives to better himself after Amy's scathing advice. Realize he must move on from Jo's rejection. He attempts to channel his sorrow into music, but finds himself distracted and uninspired.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read “The Door in the Wall,” a short story written in 1911 by H.G. Wells. Considered to be one of his finest short stories, it explores the tension between the rational and the fanciful experiences in life.
Wells is best known today for pioneering modern science fiction with works like “The Time Machine” and “The War of the Worlds”, but he also wrote thoughtful, bittersweet tales that delved into memory, regret, and the mysteries of childhood. “The Door in the Wall” belongs to this more reflective side of his writing, offering a meditation on the costs of ambition and the longing for lost innocence.
The story first appeared in “The Daily Chronicle” before being included in collections, and it quickly became a favorite among readers and critics alike. Its ambiguous ending continues to invite discussion. Wells leaves the answer suspended between reality and imagination, much like the choices we face in life itself.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read from the opening to the 1923 travel memoir Peaks of Shala by Rose Wilder Lane. It is about a walking tour of mountainous Albania.
The daughter of writer Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lane was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist. Though she is perhaps best known today for her work editing and shaping her mother’s Little House series, Lane led a bold and independent life that took her far from the American frontier. In the early 1920s, she spent time as a foreign correspondent in postwar Europe, traveling through parts of the continent still recovering from World War I. Albania, then newly independent and largely unknown to the Western world, captured her imagination with its dramatic landscapes and fiercely traditional mountain communities.
Peaks of Shala recounts her journey on foot through the northern Albanian highlands, a region governed more by ancient tribal codes than by any central government. Her writing blends observation and introspection, offering glimpses of rugged hospitality, isolated customs, and the physical demands of mountain travel. The book remains a rare first-hand account of a Western woman’s experience in one of the most remote corners of Europe during a period of great transition.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.
In the last episode, concluding chapter 16, Mr. Elliot continues his frequent visits to Camden Place, charming Sir Walter and Elizabeth with his polished manners and apparent desire to reconnect with the family. Lady Russell, once indifferent to him, now views him as a highly suitable match for Anne.
Anne, however, remains cautious. Though she acknowledges Mr. Elliot’s attentiveness and refinement, she is not fully at ease with his motives. His flattery feels calculated, and she senses a lack of emotional sincerity.
She compares his composed charm with the deeper, more genuine feeling she once shared with Captain Wentworth. As Mr. Elliot’s admiration grows more obvious, Anne is left feeling both flattered and wary of his true intentions.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, for our Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read from "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" translated poetically into English by Edward Fitzgerald. This first edition, inspired by Persian rhymed quatrains, together known as a “rubaiyat”, were rooted in the 11th to 12th century. They reflect the philosophical musings of the original author Khayyam who was not only a poet, but an accomplished mathematician and astronomer.
As a seminal piece of Persian literature, the collection delves into themes related to the transience of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness amidst the inevitability of death. The content of the "Rubaiyat" encapsulates a dialogue between the speaker and the cosmos, often expressed through the metaphor of wine and revelry.
The Rubáiyát also made its way into American pop culture, perhaps most charmingly in the classic 1957 musical The Music Man. In one scene, it’s cited as one of the books the mayor’s wife wants banned from the town library. The book’s verses are condemned for their supposed licentiousness—proof, perhaps, of just how intoxicating these quatrains have always been. Though in truth, the work is more meditative than scandalous, filled with musings on time, nature, and the fleeting sweetness of life.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read “The Mirror of Matsuyama,” a story found in Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki in 1908.
This tale explores the quiet strength of familial love and the power of memory, all seen through the lens—literally—of a small hand mirror. It begins with a mother who gives her daughter the mirror as a keepsake, and unfolds into a story that blends gentle superstition with emotional resilience. The mirror itself becomes a symbolic object, reflecting not only appearances but also devotion and loss.
Yei Theodora Ozaki was born in England to a Japanese father and an English mother, and she devoted much of her life to retelling Japanese folktales in English with great care and lyricism. Her collection introduced many readers in the West to the stories and moral traditions of Japan. “The Mirror of Matsuyama” is one of the more intimate tales in the collection—less about mythical creatures or grand adventures, and more about the enduring connection between a mother and her child.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the complete story of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”, a Norwegian fairy tale, collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe.
In this story, a talking bear approaches a poor peasant and asks if he will give him his daughter as a wife in return for making the family rich.
The tale belongs to a broader class of folktales known as “Animal Bridegroom” stories, where a maiden is betrothed to a mysterious creature whose true identity is hidden. It shares roots with stories like Cupid and Psyche and Beauty and the Beast, though its northern setting and surreal imagery give it a distinct, dreamlike quality. The journey “east of the sun and west of the moon” evokes a place that lies just beyond the edges of the known world—a poetic way of describing an impossible quest.
In the second half of the story, a “gold carding-comb” is mentioned several times. Not well-known nowadays, but in the past readers were more likely to know that a carding-comb is a tool used to brush and untangle wool before it’s spun into thread. The one in this story, made of gold, is more symbolic than practical—a glittering gift meant to dazzle, rather than do chores.
Asbjørnsen and Moe, sometimes called the “Grimms of Norway,” gathered this story during the 19th century as part of a national effort to preserve the country’s oral traditions. Their collections helped shape the image of Norwegian folklore: filled with towering mountains, icy winds, trolls, talking animals, and brave heroines who outwit enchantments. This story in particular has captivated readers for generations with its eerie beginning, evocative landscapes, and a heroine whose strength lies not in spells or swords, but in her persistence.
--read by 'V'--
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Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life” written by English author George Eliot, and originally published in 1871.
George Eliot is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans. The novel is set in a fictional English Midlands town in the early 1800s, following many separate characters whose lives intersect at times. Issues include the status of women, the nature of marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, political reform, and education. Initial reviews were mixed, but it is now seen widely as her best work and one of the great English novels.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read selections about baking breads and cakes from “The Charlotte Sunshine Cook Book” published in 1906.
This episode begins with a long-form poem that sings the praises of homemade bread, followed by a collection of recipes for classic loaves—many with ingredients familiar to the early 20th-century Southern kitchen. In the latter half, we turn to cakes, including several that call for hickory nuts, lending a rustic and deeply flavorful character to the confections.
Hickory nuts, closely related to walnuts and pecans, grow on various species of hickory trees native to North America. While some varieties like the bitternut are too bitter to enjoy, others—such as the shagbark—have a sweet, buttery flavor prized by foragers. Though their thick shells can be a challenge to crack, the reward is a nut considered by some to be the most delicious of all. In early American kitchens, especially before widespread commercial nut distribution, these wild-harvested treasures were a special ingredient in baked goods, adding richness and texture to cakes, cookies, and breads.
Cookbooks like The Charlotte Sunshine Cook Book were often compiled by women's clubs, church groups, or civic organizations, reflecting the everyday wisdom and resourcefulness of their communities. They serve as snapshots of a particular time and place—capturing regional tastes, available ingredients, and even local customs. In this case, the cookbook comes from Charlotte, North Carolina.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll continue the 1928 children's book by A. A. Milne “The house at Pooh Corner”.
In the last episode of Winnie-the-Pooh Tigger told Roo that Tiggers can do everything–even climb trees. So Tigger and Roo did and until Tigger realized he couldn’t get down. Eventually Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin and even Eeyore came along to rescue the pair.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Little Mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen and adapted by Snoozecast.
In the first half, we learn about the little mermaid and her family. The little mermaid saves a handsome prince from drowning at sea and falls in love with him from afar.
Andersen’s original tale shifts in tone during its second half, moving from wonder and curiosity to longing and sacrifice. The young mermaid, desperate to be near the prince, makes a pact with a sea witch—exchanging her voice for a pair of human legs. But her transformation comes at a great cost.
This portion of the story is rich with emotion and filled with themes of devotion, heartbreak, and spiritual transformation. Andersen’s writing doesn't offer the tidy happy endings we often expect from fairy tales—instead, it lingers in the gray spaces of love unreturned and the power of selflessness.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Little Mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen and adapted by Snoozecast. The second half will air in our next episode. This story follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid in order to marry a prince and become human.
Originally published in 1837, The Little Mermaid was part of a collection simply titled Fairy Tales Told for Children. Andersen, a Danish author known for his poetic and sometimes melancholy storytelling, wrote many tales that have become classics, including The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and The Snow Queen. Unlike the cheerful retellings most children grow up with today, Andersen’s original mermaid tale is more bittersweet, filled with longing, sacrifice, and questions about the soul.
The story is notable for its vivid underwater world, where mermaids live for centuries but do not possess immortal souls, and where the surface world is mysterious and dangerous. The little mermaid, youngest of her sisters, is drawn not just to the handsome prince she saves, but to the idea of a different kind of existence—one filled with love, human emotion, and perhaps, a soul of her own.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, for our one thousandth episode, we’re doing something a little different—a bit of meta fun as we take a look back.
Toward the end, we share a special joint reading of an original story: The Secret Bakery of Bramble Hollow.
Thank you to all of our dear listeners for your continued support over these past six years.
With gratitude,
N & V
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Tonight, we’ll read a selection of marmalade and sweetmeat recipes from Miss Leslie’s New Cookery Book, published in 1857.
A type of sugar confectionery, “sweetmeats” is where the term “sweets” comes from nowadays. Despite the name, they have nothing to do with meat—at least, not in the way we think of it today. The word “mete” in Old English simply meant “food” in general, which is why older texts sometimes use it in unexpected ways. In other words, we are talking about candy.
Eliza Leslie, the author of this cookbook, was one of the most influential culinary writers of 19th-century America. Known for her precise, detailed instructions, she catered to middle-class households eager to refine their domestic skills. Her recipes reflected the evolving tastes of the time, blending European traditions with distinctly American ingredients and methods. From citrus preserves to candied nuts, the art of making sweet confections was a way to showcase both skill and hospitality.
These historical recipes offer a fascinating glimpse into the past—not just in terms of flavors, but also in the way food was prepared and enjoyed in an era before mass-produced candy.
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Tonight, we'll read the full, Snoozecast-adapted version “A Case of Identity”, a story from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, written by Arthur Conan Doyle and first published in 1892. Snoozecast has aired this story in two sections previously.
In general, the stories in Sherlock Holmes identify, and try to correct, social injustices. In this story, a wealthy woman’s fiancé disappears and she hires the detective to help find him.
This tale stands out among the Holmes stories for the quiet, almost domestic nature of its mystery. Rather than a murder or theft, the puzzle at hand is one of manipulation and emotional deceit. Holmes must unravel a curious vanishing act that seems, at first glance, too mundane for criminal interest—but which conceals a twisted motive rooted in control and inheritance.
Though not as famous as some of Holmes’s more sensational cases, this one is a compact study in character and motive, and a fine example of how Doyle could draw drama from even the most seemingly ordinary circumstances.
— read by 'N' —
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