Just the Best Literature

Hosted by Dennis Leap

Just the Best Literature inspires you to not only read printed books, but to read only the best books. Besides books, host Dennis Leap will lead discussions on other current literature such as essays and important articles.

#258: Introducing Ishmael and Queequeg

Aired Monday, November 1, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   31 minutes

Host Dennis Leap with special guest Grant Turgeon begin discussing the first nine chapters of Melville’s American classic Moby Dick. Dennis and Grant focus on the first first four chapters, which introduce us to the characters Ishmael and Queequeg.

#257: Why Read Moby Dick?

Aired Monday, October 25, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   31 minutes

Host Dennis Leap introduces the JBL short series on Herman Melville’s classic American novel, Moby Dick or the Whale, using quotes from Nathaniel Philbrick’s small book, Why Read Moby Dick?

#256: Jim Does Not Run

Aired Monday, October 18, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   32 minutes

Host Dennis Leap and special guest Deborah Leap discuss the final two chapters of Lord Jim. Jim naively believes that scoundrel Brown will leave Patusan peacefully. Yet Brown, with the help of Cornelius, unleashes an act of cold-blooded ferocity on Dain Waris’s camp. This time Jim does not jump or run away from the problem. With the help of Doramin, he dies a romantic hero.

#255: The Scoundrel Brown Invades Patusan, Part 2

Aired Monday, October 11, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   30 minutes

Host Dennis Leap discusses the fateful conversation between Jim and the scoundrel Brown, which took place at the muddy creek Jim jumped over to escape imprisonment by the Rajah.

#254: The Scoundrel Brown Invades Patusan, Part 1

Aired Monday, October 4, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   29 minutes

Host Dennis Leap discusses the sadistic nature of evil pirate Brown, who plans to tear the people of Patusan to pieces.

#253: Marlow Leaves Jim at Patusan

Aired Monday, September 27, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   30 minutes

Host Dennis Leap discusses Jim and Marlow’s parting as Marlow returns to the outside world.

#252: Remember: This Is a Love Story

Aired Monday, September 20, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   32 minutes

Host Dennis Leap and special guests Deborah Leap and Gabe Greaser discuss Jim’s profession of his love for Jewel and Marlow’s analysis of Jewel.

#251: Jewel Saves Jim From Assassination

Aired Monday, September 13, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   32 minutes

Host Dennis Leap and special guests Deborah Leap and Gabe Greaser discuss Jewel’s intervention in a plot to assassinate Jim.

#250: Jim—The Romantic Hero, Part 2

Aired Monday, September 6, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   31 minutes

Host Dennis Leap and guest Gabe Greaser continue to discuss Jim’s love affair with Jewel, and the dark side to Cornelius’s character.

#249: Jim—The Romantic Hero, Part 1

Aired Monday, August 30, 2021   ·   08:00 AM CDT   ·   31 minutes

Host Dennis Leap and guest Gabe Greaser discuss Jim’s love affair with Cornelius’s stepdaughter, whom he names Jewel, and the mounting number of enemies planning his assassination.