The thought of tackling a classic novel can be intimidating. We get flashbacks to those English classes where we were forced to read dense, complicated tomes with turns of phrase that haven’t been commonplace in the past 200 years. And then, we were supposed to identify the themes and explain what we’d just read. Suggesting that we pick up one of “those” books now, when we don’t have to, is enough to put us into a cold sweat.
Solomon wrote, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Prov. 12:25). When it comes to classic literature, Storytime for Grownups (available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music) is kind, and host Faith Moore might be the most cheerful person in podcasting. The goal of her show is to make classic literature accessible and fun. Twice a week Faith invites us to settle in with our hot beverage of choice, and, after going over some comments and answering a few questions, reads a chapter from one of the classics. Along the way, she’ll pause to define a certain word or explain a difficult passage, like an annotated audiobook.
There’s nothing academic about the show, either. Rather, Faith wants to break through the barriers of archaic language and fear of complex themes to help us realize the lasting entertainment value of those old stories. She only explores themes or the historical context of a novel when she feels our having that information will facilitate that value.
So far Faith has read Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, A Christmas Carol, and she’s started 2025 with The Woman in White. Even though I thought I was familiar with all that there is to know about A Christmas Carol, Faith surprised me with some tidbits that made the well-worn tale that much more enjoyable. There’s never the sense that she’s talking down to us, just that she’s gleefully sharing something about which she is passionate.
Even if we’ve never heard of the book, or doubt it’s for us, the infectious joy that fills her voice will keep us coming back. And who knows? Maybe we’ll be inspired to pick up that dusty book for ourselves and find it’s not so intimidating after all.
About the Author
Trevor Denning is an alumni of Cornerstone University and lives, lifts weights, and spends too much time in his kitchen in Alma, Mich. His first short story collection is St. George Drive and Other Stories.