Ep 8: Unimportant Joy, Stylin' Mermaid & Cocktail Time (with Jeremy Hornik)

In this episode of Doug Reads With Friends, Doug talks with his oldest friend, Jeremy Hornik, about nearly 50 years of friendship, ridiculous Shakespeare summers, Chicago improv, slot machine design, family, loss, reading, and the pure comic pleasure of Cocktail Time by P.G. Wodehouse. Jeremy’s choice leads to a conversation about books that do not need to be “important” to matter, the serious craft behind unserious delight, and the strange brilliance of Wodehouse’s language, callbacks, country houses, idiot lords, smart servants, and angry swans. Next time, Doug talks with Tammy Draughon about The Longest Race. Music for Doug Reads With Friends is by Eiren Caffall; learn more about her work at https://www.eirencaffall.com/. 00:05 INTRO: A hotel apartment, a ceasefire, and an interrupted podcast 03:01 Almost 50 years of friendship 04:33 Stylin’ Mermaid and stupid Shakespeare 07:31 Chicago improv, famous people, and terrible scenes10:45 From You Don’t Know Jack to slot machines 17:26 Rockababy, family, and remembering Donna 22:07 Reading, Goodreads, rereading, and creative energy26:18 OK, now the book: Cocktail Time by P.G. Wodehouse31:43 The serious pleasure of unserious books 35:16 Wodehouse’s language, callbacks, and one angry swan 41:28 Next time: Tammy Draughon and The Longest Race