Hello, I'm David Kern.

I'm Heidi White.

I'm Karen Swallow Pryor.

And you were listening to Close Reeds, a podcast for the Incurable Reader on which we are going to be discussing.

Thomas Hardy's novel, Tessa the Derbill's.

We're going to talk about Phase II, also known as chapters 12 through 15.

So just a warning, this week we don't talk about as many chapters.

Next week, however, many more chapters. So be prepared to have to, you know, if you're reading

along with us as we go, be prepared to have to spend a little more time reading.

I mean, it'll be time. It'll be well worth it. But, you know, who doesn't want to spend more

time in a book this good? But just be aware that next week, it will be more chapters. If you have

adapted yourself to the number of chapters that we've been doing through these first three episodes,

it will be time to unadapt yourself and adapt to a new sequence. So,

Karen, how's it going? How are you? Before we dive into this, this kind of extraordinary

section, what's going on? Well, it's been a crazy week. What else is new in my life?

But this is my refuge and my highlight. I come to the pages of great

literature and none greater than those of tests. I think a lot of people who are listening probably

feel the same way. And that's one of the reasons why they listen is because they turn to the pages of

great literature when things are a little crazy. And of course, there's a lot going on in the world right

now. So we'll get to spend an hour together as a refuge and we'll just kind of soak it in.

Heidi, how are you? I'm doing great. I am excited to be here, although it is close to the end of the

school year. So for those of us who are educators, there is a lot going on in the great big world.

...