Between The Covers

Even posh Brits have family problems, and Evelyn Waugh's exploration of the aristocratic Flyte family through the perspective of upwardly-mobile Charles Ryder touches on the allure of a bygone era, religion and the waning of privilege in 20th century Great Britain. Join us for a discussion of why this novel is lovable... and check in with Chaos Reader, too.

📚 Special Banned Books Week Episode! 🚨 We’re diving back into one of our most iconic episodes: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee! This beloved classic is also one of the most banned books of all time—yet its lessons about justice, empathy, and courage are more important than ever. Join Jay and Stacey as we break down why this book remains a must-read. 🎙️ Want to fight against book bans? Here’s how: •Support your local library! 📚 •Join or create a book club. •Share your favorite banned books with others! Watch the episode and discover why To Kill a Mockingbird is still a story for our times. #BannedBooksWeek #ReadWithUs #FightBookBans   Links  JayRuud.com  StaceyMargaretJones.com    Amazon  Treasure of Sherwood book https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8 Mr. Catherine book https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG   Publishers Encircle Publications https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/ Creators Publishing  https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine BIOS Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.    Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.   

In this episode of Between The Covers, Jay and Stacey dive into the world of Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis, a sharp, witty satire of American middle-class life. Set in the 1920s, Babbitt follows George F. Babbitt, a real estate agent stuck in a life of conformity, who begins to question everything around him. Is the American Dream all it’s cracked up to be, or is Babbitt just in a midlife crisis? We’ll break down why this novel still resonates today, from its hilarious social commentary to its critique of materialism. Tune in to find out why Babbitt has earned its place on the list of 100 most lovable books—and why you need to read it! Links  JayRuud.com  StaceyMargaretJones.com    Amazon  Treasure of Sherwood book https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8 Mr. Catherine book https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG   Publishers Encircle Publications https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/ Creators Publishing  https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine BIOS Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.    Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.   

In Episode 8 of Between The Covers, Jay and Stacey dive into Kazuo Ishiguro’s haunting and unforgettable novel, Never Let Me Go. What makes this dystopian story so lovable, despite its emotional intensity? We unravel the mysteries, explore the powerful themes of memory, identity, and loss, and explain why this book has captured the hearts of so many. If you’re a fan of stories that stay with you long after the last page, you won’t want to miss this one! 📖✨ Links  JayRuud.com  StaceyMargaretJones.com    Amazon  Treasure of Sherwood book Mr. Catherine book   Publishers Encircle Publications Creators Publishing    BIOS Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.    Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.  

"Impudent strumpet!"  Up next on Between The Covers is Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Listen in as Jay and Stacey delve into why this beloved yet controversial book deserves a spot on the 100 Lovable Books list and where it ranks. Plus, don’t miss the CHAOS READER segment! Please like, share, and subscribe!     Poem mentioned in the episode Dover Beach by Mathew Arnold   Links  JayRuud.com  StaceyMargaretJones.com    Amazon  Treasure of Sherwood book Mr. Catherine book   Encircle Publications https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/   Creators Publishing  https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine BIOS Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.   Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.

"That's some catch, that CATCH-22" Episode 2 of Between the Covers finds married authors Jay Ruud and Stacey Margaret Jones breaking down Joseph Heller's Catch 22 and why in belongs on the 100 Lovable Books list. Plus Chaos reader returns and it's not a Presidential biography. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode. Also, leave a review which helps other listeners find the show!    Links  Dover Beach by Mathew Arnold   JayRuud.com  StaceyMargaretJones.com    Amazon  Treasure of Sherwood book Mr. Catherine book   Encircle Publications https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/   Creators Publishing  https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine BIOS Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press. Website http://jayruud.com   Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka on TikTok at @normfluencers or via her Website staceymargaretjones.com

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any list of lovable books must include Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and married authors Jay Ruud and Stacey Margaret Jones break down why they love the book, what's not to love and where it ranks on the master list of 100 Lovable Books so far.   Links  JayRuud.com  StaceyMargaretJones.com    Amazon  Treasure of Sherwood book  Mr. Catherine book   Encircle Publications https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/

Saul Bellow’s comic, yet philosophical novel Henderson the Rain King is Jay’s most lovable novel this week for his list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language. Henderson’s mid-life crisis and the resulting international journey leads to a greater exploration of his own inner self. Chaos Reader checks in on her progress reading a biography of Gerald Ford (still).

Jay’s lovable novel this episode is AMERICAN PASTORAL by Philip Roth, in which the hero, Seymour “Swede” Levov, struggles to understand his life in late 20th  century America, and how the 1960s still reach into his family to trouble and unsettle him and those he loves. Chaos Reader introduces a new book she’s just picked up, one of Trollope’s Victorian-era Palliser novels, to fulfill her goal of having a long-book reading year. NOTE: Jay erred when he called Swede’s wife, “Donna.” Her name in the novel is “Dawn.”

Jay makes his case that The Crying of Lot 49 is the most lovable of Thomas Pynchon’s novels as he dives into the plot of the 1966 conspiracy-theory, suspenseful novel. (It’s also Pynchon’s shortest novel.) Chaos Reader checks in on the progress she’s making in Kawabata’s The Sound of the Mountain.

This week, Jay’s pick is the 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange, which focuses on a violent teen subculture and a dystopian society’s attempt at reformation. Chaos Reader updates her progress on the biography she’s reading of Gerald Ford.

Jay’s entry this week to his list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language is Thomas Hardy’s 1892 novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles, and it raises issues 21st century readers are still grappling with. Chaos Reader discusses her reading goals for 2026. A NOTE ON THE SOUND: We discovered a mic issue after we recorded, so we know the sound is off on this one, but it wasn’t possible to fix in editing. We apologize and hope you’ll stick with this episode anyway.

This week’s entry on Jay’s list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language is William Makepeace Thackeray’s VANITY FAIR, often considered the Victorian domestic novel that kicked off this sub-genre of fiction. Jay talks about why he has so much affection for the 1848 book that follows the lives of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley through British society. Chaos Reader checks in on the biography she’s reading of Gerald Ford.

Jay chose Anthony Doerr’s CLOUD CUCKOO LAND for this episode’s lovable novel.  While the plot sounded a bit wackadoodle to Stacey, Doerr’s deft ability to link the book’s different narratives to a common theme that booklovers can relate to makes an effective case for its lovability. Chaos Reader discusses her personal reaction to being in a musical based on Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Jonathan Swift’s 1726 novel GULLIVER’S TRAVELS is Jay’s pick this week for his list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language, and Stacey admits she had a very narrow view of what the book was like to read or what it is really about. (Spoiler: It’s not a children’s story.) Chaos Reader discusses a recent New Yorker essay that made an impact on her.

Walter Scott’s IVANHOE: A ROMANCE is Jay’s choice for his 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language list this week. A 19th century example of medievalism, the book takes readers back to England in the Middle Ages and influenced how people think of this era today and significantly influenced 19th, 20th and 21st fiction to come. Chaos Reader buys a collection of poems by Margaret Atwood.

Jay chose Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN for this week’s lovable novel (which is also a lovely Christmas read) and surprises Stacey with the backstory of how it got written and how some savvy young readers green-lit the manuscript to get it published. After this discussion of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy’s passage from girlhood to womanhood in Civil War-era New England, Chaos Reader picks up a biography of Gerald R. Ford about his passage from Congressman to President.  

This week Jay enters Jack London’s 1903 naturalist fiction novel The Call of the Wild, which Stacey was surprised to learn is not a children’s or young-adult novel. London’s dog hero Buck and his struggles highlight many issues inherent in a growing industrial economy as it trickles down to the creatures upon whom the work depends. Chaos Reader revisits Exit Interview for an update.

Jay convinces Stacey to read James Baldwin’s 1953 semi-autobiographical novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, a coming-of-age novel that grapples with race and religion in mid-twentieth century America. Chaos Reader gives a progress report and shares a tribute to a big influence in her reading life after his recent passing.

This week, Jay puts Louise Erdrich’s The Night Watchman on his list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language. Stacey wants to know how he chose from Erdrich’s extensive list of works, because she too loves this American author and her entire canon. Chaos Reader checks in on her progress reading the Irish novel The Star of the Sea.