F̶l̶a̶w̶e̶d̶ Beauty is in the ruins!

Yukio Mishima's The Temple of the Golden Pavilion unfolds in the enchanting city of Kyoto, capturing the story of a young Buddhist monk's obsession with the temple's beauty and his turbulent journey through jealousy, desire, and existential angst.

Penned in 1956, Mishima's masterpiece explores the destructive power of beauty and the conflicts between ephemeral desires and spiritual ideals. It's a profound narrative on how an individual's fixation on perfection can lead to catastrophic outcomes, touching on themes of identity, obsession, and the clash between tradition and personal turmoil.

Join Reuben, Zach, and Kehinde as they dive deep into Mishima's intricate storytelling, examining the protagonist's complex psyche and Mishima's genius in depicting the struggle between the sacred and the profane. Expect some personal revelations as the guys once again share a bit too much!

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T̶o̶x̶i̶c̶ Love is in the air!

James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room  is centred in the 'suave' Parisian inner city,  and focuses on the events of an American man's complicated feelings and frustrations with his relationships with other women and men in his life, most notably an Italian bartender named Giovanni.

Written in 1956,  Baldwin's literary (initially controversial) classic delves  into the complexities of love and sexuality, it's intersection with cultural norms and the impact of death, deceit and passion in the confines of both sexual and platonic relationships. 

Tune in and listen to Reuben, Zach and Kehinde debate about the intricacies of love and Baldwin's  approach to character development and world building. Also, the guys oversharing...again!

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One political treatise to rule them all, One political treatise to find them, One political treatise to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them...

The Prince, written by the great Niccolò Machiavelli is a 16th century instruction guide for new princes and royals.

Often referred to as the principalis of modern political philosophy, the treatise is set just prior to the Italian renaissance and details  the use of 'fear' as a tactic of control,  and the desirable attributes of a great leader: 'virtue' and 'prudence'.

Tune in and listen to the guys discuss Machiavelli's obsession with power, Kehinde's hate for the renaissance period, and who would have the coolest Italian name...?

Twitter: @ITSNOTABOOKCLUBPODCAST
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TikTok: @itsnotabookclubpodcast