Mark Reads A Quite Good Book
Books & Literature
Experience magical tales from the literary world using your ears. Listen to stories from the fantastic imaginations of both classic authors as well as from authors who are as yet unpublished. There is many a treasured tale to be discovered. The readings will be across all genres and for all ages.
Each week there will be two audio only podcasts. One will be a weekly serialised reading from one of the great classics of English Literature, think Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Animal Farm etc. The second weekly podcast will be a serialised reading from a story from an independent author, a chance to discover a brand new literary talent.
Podcasts will be audio only and will run for approximately 25-35 minutes each, one to be published on a Monday, the other every Friday. these are ideal to listen to whilst eating your working lunch or even as you endure your daily commute.
Location:
United Kingdom
Description:
Experience magical tales from the literary world using your ears. Listen to stories from the fantastic imaginations of both classic authors as well as from authors who are as yet unpublished. There is many a treasured tale to be discovered. The readings will be across all genres and for all ages. Each week there will be two audio only podcasts. One will be a weekly serialised reading from one of the great classics of English Literature, think Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Animal Farm etc. The second weekly podcast will be a serialised reading from a story from an independent author, a chance to discover a brand new literary talent. Podcasts will be audio only and will run for approximately 25-35 minutes each, one to be published on a Monday, the other every Friday. these are ideal to listen to whilst eating your working lunch or even as you endure your daily commute.
Twitter:
@quitegoodbooks
Language:
English
Contact:
07450843500
Website:
https://www.quitegoodbooks.com/
Email:
quitegoodbooks@gmail.com
Episodes
Frankenstein - Chapters 3-4
11/8/2024
Victor is soon so captivated by natural philosophy that he neglects all other aspects of his life, including his family.
He rapidly advances, and after two years of intense labor he succeeds in uncovering the key to animating life.
Duration:00:43:54
Frankenstein - Chapters 1-2
10/21/2024
The stranger, who the reader soon learns is Victor Frankenstein, begins his narration. He starts with his family background, birth, and early childhood, telling Walton about his father, Alphonse, and his mother, Caroline. Alphonse became Caroline’s protector when her father, Alphonse’s longtime friend Beaufort, died in poverty. They married two years later, and Victor was born soon after.
Duration:00:35:12
Frankenstein - The Letters
10/11/2024
We are introduced to Robert Walton, a 28-year-old sea captain who is embarking on a journey to the North Pole region in order to find a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic. He writes the letters to his sister, Mrs. Saville, in London, England. He has talked about making this expedition for six years: it has been a favorite dream of his, and he is pleased that he finally has a chance to make good on his promise to himself. Other dreams, such as becoming a poet or a playwright, have not worked out. Therefore, this vision must succeed. The writer of letters is thrilled that he will satisfy an "ardent curiosity" by setting foot on a part of the world never visited by man.
Duration:00:46:14
David Copperfield - Chapters 63-64
9/30/2024
David muses on the state of affairs at the time of his writing. He sees Miss Betsey, old but still upright, accompanied by Peggotty, who is also old but still bright and happy. Mr. Dick is still working on his autobiography. Mrs. Steerforth and Miss Dartle argue as usual. Doctor Strong continues to work on his dictionary while he and Annie live in marital bliss. Traddles is a successful lawyer and happily married to Sophy, and Agnes is forever the light of David’s life.
Duration:00:33:27
David Copperfield - Chapter 62
9/30/2024
Agnes and David remain friends. One day, when he can bear it no longer, David demands to know whom she loves more than anyone else. She sobs, and David realizes he is her true love. They are engaged and married within two weeks.
Duration:00:25:53
David Copperfield - Chapter 61
9/30/2024
David receives a letter from Mr. Creakle, who has heard of David’s fame. Now a magistrate, Mr. Creakle asks David to come to his prison to witness his new form of punishment, which he says is the perfect way to reform prisoners. At the prison, David and Traddles are told of two prisoners who prove just how well Mr. Creakle’s system works. The first of the prisoners is Uriah, who is serving a life term in prison for defrauding the Bank of England. Uriah tells David, Traddles, and the guards that he wishes everyone could go to jail to improve their lives. The second prisoner is Littimer, who attempted to rob someone but was apprehended by Miss Mowcher, who recognized him in the street and stopped his getaway.
Duration:00:35:05
David Copperfield - Chapter 60
9/30/2024
David returns to Miss Betsey’s, where Mr. Dick and Peggotty now live. David and his aunt talk through the night. He inquires whether Agnes has any lovers. Miss Betsey tells him that Agnes has many admirers but only one love—but she does not reveal the identity of Agnes’s love. The next day, David goes to visit Agnes. He tells her how much he reveres her, no matter what new ties she should choose to make in her life. Agnes seems troubled by his declarations of affection.
Duration:00:27:11
David Copperfield - Chapters 58-59
9/20/2024
David travels abroad and eventually settles in Switzerland. He mourns the deaths of Dora, Steerforth, and Ham and begins to feel the weight of his sorrows for the first time. David receives a letter from Agnes and reflects how much he loves her. He resolves not to make any decisions about love or marriage until a full year has passed since Dora’s death. He decides to try to make himself a better man in the meantime.
Duration:01:08:22
David Copperfield - Chapters 56-57
9/20/2024
The corpse that has washed ashore with the long curly hair is none other than James Steerforth’s. Presently, the Yarmouth locals bear the corpse to a nearby house and there they lay it. David removes it to the inn, however, sensing that the locals still bear Steerforth a grudge.
Anxious to transport the corpse to Highgate and to Mrs. Steerforth and to avoid the scrutiny of the locals, David contacts Joram, who will provide the hearse, and decides to leave that very night instead of waiting for daylight. To David’s surprise and chagrin, many Yarmouth locals witness the scene, as David and Joram depart for Highgate.
Duration:00:53:09
David Copperfield - Chapter 55
9/20/2024
Not long before the ship for Australia is set to sail, Peggotty comes to London to see not only David, but also Mr. Peggotty and little Em'ly. David himself does not see Emily, but he spends a lot of time with the Peggottys, and one evening, Peggotty begins to talk about Ham's kindness and strength. As David walks home that night, he begins to reconsider leaving Ham's message for Emily on the day she will depart, since he thinks she might want a chance to respond. He therefore writes her a letter that same night relaying Ham's message.
Duration:00:35:28
David Copperfield - Chapters 53-54
9/20/2024
David is very distressed over Dora's death, and Agnes suggests that he go abroad in order to forget his unhappiness. She makes all the arrangements, but David must wait until after "the final pulverization of Heep" and until the emigrants leave.
The emigration of the Micawber family is to be financed by Miss Trotwood, who has regained her money. Traddles explains that he went over the Wickfield accounts and found that the business was not short of funds and that Miss Betsey's money would be returned, except for two thousand pounds that she had withdrawn some years before. Miss Betsey informs David that she didn't tell him about this nest egg because she wanted to see if he could get along without her financial help. Miss Betsey also agrees to pay Mr. Micawber's IOU's as they are now due, and Mr. Micawber can repay her after he makes good in Australia.
Duration:00:59:20
David Copperfield - Chapter 52
9/8/2024
David, Betsey, Mr. Dick, and Traddles go to Canterbury to keep their appointment with Mr. Micawber. Dora stays behind because she is sick. They arrange to meet Mr. Micawber at a hotel and from there they go to the Wickfield house.
When everyone is assembled, Micawber begins presenting his evidence against Uriah Heep. Heep warns them all to stop or he will ruin them all with the secrets he knows about them.
Duration:01:12:44
David Copperfield - Chapter 51
9/8/2024
David is walking with Miss Betsey in the garden early the next morning when Mr. Peggotty comes by to speak to David. Miss Betsey shakes Mr. Peggotty's hand and starts to go inside.
Mr. Peggotty asks her to stay. He tells them that he brought Emily to his lodging house the night before. Mr. Peggotty recounts Emily's story
Duration:00:47:59
David Copperfield - Chapter 50
9/7/2024
David doesn't hear anything from Martha Endell for several months, but she's in touch with Mr. Peggotty. David thinks more and more that Emily must be dead but Mr. Peggotty's faith that she's alive never changes.
Dora grows to like Mr. Peggotty and sees him quite often. One night, Mr. Peggotty tells David that Martha has been to see him, and to ask that Mr. Peggotty absolutely not leave England.
Duration:00:31:15
David Copperfield - Chapter 49
9/7/2024
David receives a letter at his law office that shocks him. The letter is from Mr. Micawber. Mr. Micawber writes that he has hit a run of bad luck, and that (even though he knows that David is busy and important these days) he wants to confide in his old friend.
Mr. Micawber has decided that he must take a brief vacation from Canterbury because life has become awful. He hopes that both David and Mr. Traddles will meet him when he comes to London for two days.
Duration:00:37:04
David Copperfield - Chapter 48
9/6/2024
David has been married for a year and a half, and he and Dora still have little luck with housekeeping. They employ a page, but this man constantly fights with the cook and steals food from them. He finally ends up in jail for stealing Dora's watch. David then decides that he should "form Dora's mind," so she can become more responsible in household management. He begins by reading Shakespeare to her and by giving out "little scraps of useful information, or sound opinion." This fails, and David begins to think about Agnes and to wonder what things would have been like if he hadn't met Dora
Duration:00:34:27
David Copperfield - Chapter 47
9/6/2024
David and Mr. Peggotty catch up with Martha just as she approaches the bank of a river (probably the Thames). David realizes she is about to commit suicide, and, with the help of Mr. Peggotty, he pulls her back from the edge of the water. Martha begins to sob that it would be best if she jumped in the river because her life is so miserable.
Martha blames herself for Em'ly's disappearance and is beside herself with grief because Em'ly had been so kind to her. David explains that she is not to blame and that they are there to ask her to help them find the missing girl. Martha now has a reason to live and vows never to give up until Em'ly is found.
Duration:00:32:35
David Copperfield - Chapter 46
8/19/2024
About a year has passed since David had gotten married. He has found such success at freelance writing that he is currently writing a book of fiction. Presently, as he is taking a walk, thinking about the book he is writing, he passes the Steerforths’ residence (which he has done so numerous times) and thinks how gloomy and dull the house is when he is waylaid by the Steerforth’s housemaid. She implores David to have a word with Rosa Dartle. David obliges.
Duration:00:38:41
David Copperfield - Chapter 45
8/19/2024
David frequently sees Dr. Strong and observes that his marriage is becoming more troubled. Mrs. Markleham, the "Old Soldier," drags Annie around to operas, concerts, and other forms of entertainment, even though Annie would prefer to stay at home. Although Dr. Strong encourages Annie to get out more, the selfish Mrs. Markleham widens the gap between the couple. Mr. Dick becomes disturbed over this because both Dr. Strong and Annie are his friends. Aunt Betsey, while speaking with David, predicts that Mr. Dick will soon "distinguish himself in some extraordinary manner."
Duration:00:45:23
David Copperfield - Chapter 44
8/19/2024
The glamour of the wedding wears off almost at once. Their servant, Mary Anne Paragon, is a poor cook. David tells Dora to talk to her about the preparation of meals, but Dora's only recourse is to cry. David asks his aunt to explain housekeeping to his wife, but she refuses and tells David that he must have patience with "Little Blossom" and to "estimate her . . . by the qualities she has, and not by the qualities she may not have." She goes on to say, "This is marriage, Trot; and Heaven bless you both in it, for a pair of babes in the wood as you are!"
Duration:00:42:30