I went down a bit of a rabbit hole as we’ve been reading Jayber Crow together. I had some questions come up and thought that I might be missing something in the story.
So I started digging, and I think I uncovered a hidden gem: a full Close Reads series on Jayber Crow from the CiRCE Institute.
Here’s the interesting part…
These episodes are not showing up on Apple Podcasts (or the usual places we’d normally listen). They’re mp3 files on the CiRCE website. And even though they date back to 2015, I think they’re worth listening to alongside our reading.
I had to do quite a bit of searching to track them all down, so I wanted to gather them here in one place for you to make it easy to listen (or revisit sections of the book).
About the Close Reads Podcast
If you’re new to Close Reads, it’s essentially a virtual book discussion. They pick one book and read a few chapters together each week over the course of several weeks (depending on how long the book is).
Instead of rushing through a book or summarizing it, the hosts:
- read carefully
- notice patterns, themes, and language
- ask questions that make you pause and think
It feels a lot like sitting in on a really good book club conversation. And, for a book like Jayber Crow, that kind of reading is just what I was looking for.
Jayber Crow Close Reads Series (All Episodes)
Here are all 11 episodes in order:
Episode 1: Close Reads #6: Jayber Crow, Chapters 1-2
Episode 2: Close Reads #7: Jayber Crow Chapters 3-6
Episode 3: Close Reads #8: Jayber Crow Chapters 7-9
Episode 4: Close Reads #9: Jayber Crow Chapters 10-12
Episode 5: Close Reads #10: Jayber Crow Chapters 13-15
Episode 6: Close Reads #11: Jayber Crow, Chapers 16-18
Episode 7: Close Reads #12: Jayber Crow Chapters 19-22
Episode 8: Close Reads #13: Jayber Crow Chapter 23
Episode 9: Close Reads #14: Jayber Crow Chapters 24-25
Episode 10: Close Reads #15: Jayber Crow, Chapters 26-28
Episode 11: Close Reads #16: Jayber Crow, the Final Chapters
How You Might Use These
You definitely don’t need to listen to every (or any) episode to enjoy the book, but if you’re hoping to gain a little more insight, this is a helpful resource.
A few simple ways to use them:
- Listen after finishing a section to reflect more deeply
- Choose just one or two episodes that align with where you are
- Save them for after you finish the book as a way to process it all
Even listening to part of one episode might be helpful.
One Last Thought
One of the things I love most about reading together is this: We’re not just finishing books, we’re learning how to notice and find beauty in the stories.
These episodes are a beautiful extension of that. A really good book isn’t something you rush through…open yourself up to the story and then allow yourself to return to your everyday ordinary with a new perspective.
If you end up listening, I’d love to hear what stands out to you.
