It takes an ex-believer to make a film as holy as Wake Up Dead Man
The latest Benoit Blanc mystery offers a bracing look at what makes faith so necessary and so dangerous, writes Emily St. James.
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The Last Samurai is about so much more than education
Helen DeWitt's modern classic is as much about things that can't be taught as it is about Ancient Greek.
Woodworking mailbag!
Emily celebrates the paperback release of her novel Woodworking by answering your many burning questions!
Episodes Monday Rundown May 18–24 2026
This week: the Colbert finale, Olivia Rodrigo, and a triptych of heterosexuality.
Submit your questions for a special Woodworking mailbag!
Hello beloved subscribers! Emily's first novel, Woodworking, is out in paperback on Tuesday, May 26. It's an exciting occasion, and, to celebrate, we've got a special Episodes mailbag lined up for that day. All questions about Woodworking — the creative process, the book tour, whether