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CostasNarrativeXP 2026 May feature
"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo
Published in March 10, 1969

Content Warning: This work contains depictions of violence and explicit adult content that may be sensitive for some listeners.

The rise and unraveling of the Corleone family through loyalty, violence, ambition, and the intoxicating pull of power.

Book Six Chapter 24
00:32 24 Michael hides in Sicily, marries Apollonia, but a car bomb meant for him kills her. After recovering from the blast, Michael returns home to join his father's empire.
Book Seven Chapter 25-26
11:13 25 Kay teaches in New Hampshire, remaining faithful to Michael despite his three-year silence. Discovering he returned six months ago, she reunites with him, accepting his criminal life for marriage.
35:45 26 Johnny saves an alcoholic Nino. Dr. Segal diagnoses Nino as terminal without institutionalization. Lucy visits, and Johnny mentions Michael’s upcoming Vegas meeting, noting his own singing voice has returned.

Characters
Vito Corleone - The powerful and composed patriarch of the Corleone family, the godfather; known for his authority and deep sense of loyalty
Fredo Corleone - The middle son, gentle and less assertive, struggling to match the strength of his brothers
Michael Corleone - The youngest son, intelligent and reserved, initially distant from the family’s affairs
Connie Corleone - The only daughter, spirited and emotional, navigating her place within a tightly controlled family
Tom Hagen - The Don’s informally adopted son and shrewd consigliere, the calm, legal bridge between the Corleone family and the legitimate world
Kay Adams - Michael Corleone’s girlfriend and later wife, an educated, independent-minded woman who initially stands outside the Corleone family world
Johnny Fontane - A famous singer and movie star closely tied to the Corleone family, whose career depends as much on influence as on talent
Peter Clemenza - Jovial, lethal caporegime who has served Corleone for decades, overseeing a regime of soldiers with seasoned, cold-blooded efficiency
Carlo Rizzi - Hot-tempered groom from Nevada whose marriage to Connie gains him entry into the family, though he remains excluded from the business

Costa's Wordbook
Benighted adj without knowledge or morals, pitiful or contemptible intellectual, moral, or social darkness; overtaken by darkness or night (be Nighted)

To beat ones crullers in - slang. to bash ones head in

‘Mild adult stable’ - Adult Stable Diabetes: (Now Type 2) It typically developed in adulthood. It was called "stable" because the patient's blood sugar levels were relatively predictable and didn't wildly spike or crash from hour to hour, as opposed to type 1, juvenile brittle diabetes

Bandbox adj Impeccable appearance; the phrase "fresh out of a bandbox" refers to someone who is flawlessly neat, dapper, and well-dressed

Selections of 2026
Brave New World, The Little Prince, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights, East of Eden, The Stranger, The Godfather, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Inferno, The Two Towers, Den of Thieves, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner.

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP 2026 May feature
"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo
Published in March 10, 1969

Content Warning: This work contains depictions of violence and explicit adult content that may be sensitive for some listeners.

The rise and unraveling of the Corleone family through loyalty, violence, ambition, and the intoxicating pull of power.

Book Six Chapter 23B
00:32 23B During his Sicilian courtship and marriage to Apollonia, Michael learns Luca Brasi’s horrific backstory just before receiving the devastating news that his brother Sonny has been murdered.

Characters
Vito Corleone - The powerful and composed patriarch of the Corleone family, the godfather; known for his authority and deep sense of loyalty
Fredo Corleone - The middle son, gentle and less assertive, struggling to match the strength of his brothers
Michael Corleone - The youngest son, intelligent and reserved, initially distant from the family’s affairs
Connie Corleone - The only daughter, spirited and emotional, navigating her place within a tightly controlled family
Tom Hagen - The Don’s informally adopted son and shrewd consigliere, the calm, legal bridge between the Corleone family and the legitimate world
Kay Adams - Michael Corleone’s girlfriend and later wife, an educated, independent-minded woman who initially stands outside the Corleone family world
Johnny Fontane - A famous singer and movie star closely tied to the Corleone family, whose career depends as much on influence as on talent
Peter Clemenza - Jovial, lethal caporegime who has served Corleone for decades, overseeing a regime of soldiers with seasoned, cold-blooded efficiency
Carlo Rizzi - Hot-tempered groom from Nevada whose marriage to Connie gains him entry into the family, though he remains excluded from the business

Costa's Wordbook
Pagliaio n ita, haystack or barn
Zygoma n the paired, irregular bone located on the upper side of the skull, forming the prominence of the cheeks, contributes to the outer eye socket (orbit), and joins with the temporal bone to create the zygomatic arch (Sai go ma)
Maxillofacial n relates to the jaw (maxilla) and the face (Max sil loe facial)
Baronial adj pertains to, or is befitting of, a baron (bur Rone nial)
Wisteria n a genus of long-living, woody climbing vines known for their cascading, grape-like clusters of purple, blue, pink, or white flowers (wis Sti ria)
Ringleted adj have hair worn or shaped into small curls or coils (Ring leet ted)
Votive adj an object or action given, displayed, or performed to fulfill a vow, express gratitude, or seek a favor from a deity or supernatural force (Voe tive)
Putty adj a thick, dough-like paste used primarily in construction and repairs to fill holes, seal joints, or secure windowpanes
Putty in one’s hands - phr, one who is easily influenced, manipulated, or controlled by someone else

Selections of 2026
Brave New World, The Little Prince, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights, East of Eden, The Stranger, The Godfather, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Inferno, The Two Towers, Den of Thieves, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner.

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI intro + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP 2026 June feature
"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie
Originally published in June 1926

Set in the village of King’s Abbot, the story follows Dr James Sheppard as Hercule Poirot investigates a suspicious death that exposes a tightly woven network of secrets, motives, and deception.

Chapter 11-14
00:29 11 Poirot Pays a Call
13:35 12 Round the Table
28:56 13 The Goose Quill
40:30 14 Mrs. Ackroyd

Characters
Hercule Poirot – retired private detective, living in the village
Dr James Sheppard – The village doctor and narrator, observant and socially embedded in King’s Abbot, whose perspective frames the events that follow
Caroline Sheppard – Dr Sheppard's unmarried sister, sharp, inquisitive, acts as a local source of gossip and interpretation
Roger Ackroyd – A wealthy widower of Fernly Park whose private affairs and recent revelations set the central mystery in motion
Mrs Ferrars – A recently deceased wealthy widow whose suspected past and secret confession cast a shadow over the unfolding case
Mrs Cecil Ackroyd – widow of Roger's brother Cecil
Flora Ackroyd – Ackroyd’s niece, engaged to Ralph Paton, emotionally driven and deeply invested in protecting him
Captain Ralph Paton – Ackroyd’s stepson and Flora’s fiancé, with his good looks and charm, covets his heredity
Major Hector Blunt – Ackroyd's friend, a quiet, observant guest at Fernly Park
Geoffrey Raymond – Ackroyd's personal secretary
John Parker – Ackroyd's butler
Elizabeth Russell – Ackroyd's housekeeper

Costa's Wordbook
Bartolozzi - Francesco Bartolozzi (1727–1815), a wildly celebrated Italian artist who spent most of his career in London as the "Engraver to the King."
Winning adj persuasive, charming
Émigré n (fr adopted) a person who has migrated out of their native country, specifically because of political turmoil, revolution, or war (Emi gray)
Bien entendu - fr, of course
Amour propre - fr, self love
Pas de blagues - fr, no jokes
C’est dommage - fr, its a shame
Diamorphine hydrochloride - the pure, medical-grade formulation of diamorphine, which is more commonly known by its illicit name, heroin (Dyer morphine)
Go phut - phr inf to break down, stop working completely, or fail (Futt)
Elucidation n explain, clarify, or cast light upon an obscure or complex subject (E lu ci dation)
In extremis adv latin, in an extremely difficult, dire, or desperate situation; point of death (extreme mis)

2026 Selections
Brave New World, The Little Prince, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights, East of Eden, The Stranger, The Godfather, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Inferno, The Two Towers, Den of Thieves, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner.

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI intro + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM