Novel Pairings: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Novel Pairings, a podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun. Each episode we’ll discuss one classic book and share some recommendations for more contemporary reads that feature similar themes. As two nerdy bookworms, we appreciate the role of classic lit, but we but we won’t get too academic about it. We’ll talk about the books we love and the books we loath, and help stock your TBR pile with old and new reads for every literary taste.
Today’s episode is a special one! Twice a year, we choose a big bucket list classic to read together as a community. For every big book we read, Chelsey and Sara dust off their English teacher skills to break down plot, themes, style, and more in...
In today's recap episode, we discuss Book One of The Custom of the Country (that's chapters 1-10 if your book is not divided into books). This episode includes detailed discussion of the plot and characters introduced in this first section of the...
We’re taking it back to the classroom in today’s episode! Chelsey and Sara reflect on their experience with high school summer reading as both students and teachers: the good, the great, and the hot takes. While we aren’t assigning any reading...
Today, we’re wrapping up our spring season with Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, a theme-driven novel that recreates the social world of an elite liberal arts college, exploring issues through nuanced satire on race, class, and beauty. We dig into the...
Get ready for your summer TBR to pile high as we share our most anticipated titles releasing this summer! Plus, each new release that we preview in today’s episode is perfectly paired with a backlist book or two, giving us plenty to read while...
On today’s Modern Readers episode, we’re placing “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift in context with pieces of contemporary political satire. We'll explore how satire is being used today to comment on politics and social issues, and the...
We're thrilled to welcome back Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks Podcast, for a thought-provoking discussion on one of Shakespeare's darkest comedies, Measure for Measure. In this conversation, we'll dive deep into the play's timeless themes including...
If aesthetics, British aristocracy and nostalgia sounds like an appealing combination, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh is the book for you. In today's episode, we talk through the key themes, relationships, Waugh's stated purpose for writing...
Today, Chelsey and Sara share their most anticipated spring book releases paired with backlist selections. After listening today, your TBR will be filled with delightful fiction, thrilling mysteries, historical romance and literary books from...
In today’s episode, we’re wrapping up Wharton in Winter with a conversation about The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. We focus on Undine and question whether she’s a signature unlikable heroine or an anti-hero. Our conversation also digs...
Reading The Custom of the Country this winter has felt like stepping into the most lush, dramatic, and marathon-worthy period piece–so today we’re sharing some of our favorite period dramas and pairing them with excellent books for cozy winter...
Today we’re sharing five tips for “reading” your favorite (or least favorite) TV shows and movies. These close reading tricks will help you get more critical while you watch television, which we hope prompts more engaging discussions with your...
It's time for our annual Superlative Soirée! (Okay, so we've never called it that before, but it fits, right?!) Today Chelsey and Sara share their favorite and least favorite books of 2023, plus everything in between. YOU helped us come up with some...
We’re wrapping up the 2023 season with a final Short Story Club, this time exploring a prime example of Postmodern fiction with Jorge Luis Borges’ “The Garden of Forking Paths.” Borges is often considered one of the most important literary...
Ever wonder what it’s like to attend a class at Novel Pairings University? We have a special treat for our listeners as we prepare for #WhartonInWinter and our readalong of Edith Wharton’s Custom of the Country. Today on the main feed, we’re...
Today, Chelsey and Sara explore TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf, investigating Woolf’s intention to put “real life” on the page, analyzing her prose and structure, discussing themes and characters, and contextualizing historical references....
Get ready for your TBR pile to actually topple over as we discuss a truly abundant season of publishing and books. The fall publishing calendar has a lot of hype-worthy titles, and in today’s episode you’ll hear our pared down lists (it was a struggle!) of excellent fall fiction due to hit shelves soon. This includes big books from BIG authors, intriguing titles from small indie presses, and a smattering of assorted fiction and non-fiction we think you’ll love. Plus, each title we preview in today’s episode is perfectly paired with a backlist book for your consideration, giving us the option to explore additional titles while we wait for our library holds and pre-orders to come in.
If you love the work of public scholarship and the mission of Novel Pairings, we’d love for you to take a moment and share a review of the show over on Apple Podcasts. These reviews greatly help our shows visibility, and mean that other readers and lifelong learners have the opportunity to join our community. Novel Pairings also offers bonus content, classes, and a virtual book club through Patreon and we’d love to have you join. Tiers start at just $5 a month, and a 10% discount on annual subscriptions is available. Head over to patreon.com/novelpairings to sign up today!
Books Mentioned:
- The Fraud by Zadie Smith
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Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
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The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
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Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, American captivity narratives
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Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
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Jubilee by Margaret Walker
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America Fantastica by Tim O’Brien
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In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien
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Absolution by Alice McDermott
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The Mountains Sing by Ngyuen Phan Que Mai
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Peach Pit: Sixteen Stories of Unsavory Women, edited by Molly Llewellyn & Kristel Buckely, ft. Deesha Philyaw, Lauren Groff, & more (Dzanc Books)
- The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
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My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
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Company by Shannon Sanders
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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
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Bluebeard’s Castle by Anna Biller (Verso)
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Rebecca and Jane Eyre
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North Woods by Daniel Mason
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Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
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Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch
- Bringing Up Baby (1938)
- When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
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A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin
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People Collide by Isle McElroy
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Orlando by Virginia Woolf
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Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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One Woman Show by Christine Coulson
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump
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This Other Eden by Paul Harding
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Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a Nation by Tiya Miles
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End of the Rope: Mountains, Marriage, and Motherhood by Jan Redford
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The Loneliness Files by Athena Dixon
- Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
You may have heard us mention the term “public scholarship” when talking about the mission of our podcast and our community of readers here at Novel Pairings. But what exactly is public scholarship, and how does it apply to us as lifelong learners? Today in our first Modern Readers episode, we’re sitting down to define public scholarship, share how our backgrounds in academia and the classroom help us on our mission of public scholarship, and discuss how we hope this framework will open up conversations and allow our fellow readers to think of themselves as public scholars, too. You’ll also hear about our recent reads that surprisingly fit the theme of today’s discussion, and we’ll share some additional titles and resources readers can check out to keep learning about this topic.
Episode Timestamps
Recent Reads - 2:42
What is Public Scholarship? - 11:15
Further Reading for Public Literature Scholars - 38:39
Books Mentioned
Critical Theory: A Very Short Introduction (and the whole very short introduction series)
Norton Critical Editions
The Literature Book from DK
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Forester
Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf
Reader Come Home by Maryanne Wolf
Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
These Truths by Jill Lepore
Substack Recommendations
Novel Pairings
Sweater Weather (Brandon Taylor)
Submakk (Rebecca Makkai)
Culture Study (Anne Helen Peterson)
So Many Thoughts (Elizabeth Holmes)
Today we're sharing our (sometimes controversial) opinions about some of the buzziest books of LAST summer. We love it when our reading overlaps off the podcast and gives us a chance to come together for some off-the-cuff book conversation. Of the slew of buzzy books that released in Summer 2022, there were a handful both of us somehow made time to read. We're deep diving into five of those books, sharing what worked for us, what didn't, and why we can love a reading experience even when we don't love a book.
This episode originally aired on our Patreon bonus feed. To hear all about the buzzy books we read THIS summer, sign up to join Classics Club at patreon.com/novelpairings. We would love to see you in our community this semester!
Books Mentioned
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Beach Read by Emily Henry
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott
Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonne Garmus
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon
Today, we’re sharing six classic titles from the 1920s that make excellent additions to your late summer or early fall reading stack, whether you’re reading them for the first time or returning with fresh eyes. The 1920s is a time period we both love to read and explore. In this mini TBR-toppler episode, you’ll have your picks from dense and delightfully nerdy tomes, a slim spiritual journey in translation, a children’s series that sparked one thousand fantasies about running away from home, and a work of nonfiction that shaped the way women thought about the spatial and financial freedom to create.
This episode previously aired on our exclusive bonus Patreon feed. If you'd like to hear more episodes like this one, go to patreon.com/novelpairings to support the show for just $5 and access out backlog of bonus episodes. Thank you for keeping our show running!
Books mentioned:
Ulysses by James Joyce
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Hay Fever by Noel Coward
It’s the last stretch of our Slow Down Summer with The Odyssey, and for this week’s discussion, we’re sharing final thoughts on The Odyssey’s staying power and impact on modern literature. We dive into talking about what we noticed in our full read-though of Emily Wilson’s translation. We also share themes to consider when reading, thoughts on reading a text symbolically, and guesses for why the story of a complicated man like Odysseus has staying power—in scholarship, public discussion, and as an inspiration of countless retellings and allusions. Finally, if you need some more #MythologyGirl energy in your reading life, we share additional titles for discovery.
If you enjoyed today’s episode and would love to get even nerdier with us, we have a wealth of extra content for all our listeners. Our Patreon is the place to be for our listeners who want to feel like they're back in English class without the homework. Head on over to patreon.com/novelpairings and sign up for instant access to all our recorded classes, webinars, and bonus episodes. In addition to all our recorded content, we host monthly book discussions and for August we’ll be discussing Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer. We’d love to have you join the discussion.
Further Reading:
Claire North (Ithaca and House of Odysseus)
Madeline Miller (Song of Achilles and Circe)
Stephen Fry (Mythos, Heroes, and Troy)
Olympus, Texas by Stacy Swan
Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Do you love the feeling of happening upon a subtle reference to a great literary work in the midst of your current read? Or do you feel like you’re on the outside when books allude to works you haven’t read? In today’s episode, we’re getting extra nerdy and breaking down all things literary allusions. For our discussion, we share what a literary allusion is and what kinds of allusions are referenced most widely. Plus, we’ll share tips on how to access these oft-referenced stories to illuminate your reading experience, and we’ll share book recommendations to build your TBR with classic and contemporary literature.
If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would love our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship, get a little more academic, and talk about books with a smart, eclectic group of readers. Subscriptions start at just $5 a month, and yearly discounts are available. To learn more about our Patreon, visit patreon.com/novelpairings.
Classic Books for Allusions:
The Odyssey by Homer (NP episode 123)
Paradise Lost by John Milton
Dante’s Inferno
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (NP episode 32)
Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (NP episode 111)
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (NP episodes 77 + 79)
Rebecca by Daphne Du Mauier
Beloved by Toni Morrison (NP episode 12)
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (NP episode 20)
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (NP episode 51 + 53)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (NP episode 26)
Other Books Mentioned:
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Telephone by Percival Everett
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
This summer on Patreon, our Classics Club has been voyaging across the Aegean Sea with Odysseus, reading Emily Wilson’s brilliant translation of Homer’s epic poem. To deepen our experience with this ancient text, we’re offering ongoing opportunities for public scholarship and reading in community. Today we’re sharing one of these Patreon exclusive episodes with all of you and inviting you to come set sail with us this summer because it’s not too late!
Join at the Literature Scholar level to access all of our Odyssey bonus material plus our back catalog of classes and episodes to go deeper into whatever books you’re picking up this summer. Enrollment is always open and we’d love to see you there!
If you would like you stay connected to what’s happening at Novel Pairings, make sure to sign up for our Substack and follow us over on Instagram. You can make sure you never miss an episode of the podcast by subscribing to the show wherever you get your podcasts. And if you love the work we’re doing, make sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Today we are re-airing one of our very first episodes of Novel Pairings: Episode 18 on Homer’s Odyssey, in which Sara reveals her nerdy middle school obsession, Chelsey has strong opinions on defining “the classics,” and we have a LOT of fun discussing the complicated character of Odysseus. You don’t need to have any knowledge of mythology or The Odyssey in order to enjoy this episode. This episode is mostly spoiler-free, except for a brief discussion of the ending. We’ll warn you in advance before we get into it, and timestamps are listed below.
If, after listening to today’s rerelease, you’re interested in joining us for a Slow Down Summer Odyssey, head over to the Novel Pairings Patreon page and join us at the $8 literature scholar tier. In addition to weekly podcast recaps of each section of The Odyssey, you’ll also get invitations to monthly book club discussions and classes to help you get more out of this epic poem, along with our regular Friday bonus episodes and access to our entire back catalog of bonus episodes and class recordings. Perhaps most exciting of all, Patreon supporters will get first access to our limited edition merch shop opening this month! We’d love to explore The Odyssey and beyond with you this summer so head to patreon.com/novelpairings to join our classics crew.
Our discussion includes:
- What is a “mythology girl?” [13:08]
- Analyzing Odysseus: a larger-than-life character [20:10]
- More on Odysseus as a complex, flawed and nuanced hero [29:30]
Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic, including a business book and a book in translation.
Notes:
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology
“Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood
“ Penelope” by Carol Ann Duffy
The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy
Madeline Miller: Circe and The Song of Achilles
Gareth Hinds graphic novel The Odyssey
Bull by David Elliot
Pairings:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger [40:35]
The Martian by Andy Weir [46:06]
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown [53:05]
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood [37:10]
The Songs of the Kings by Barry Unsworth [42:55]
Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera [48:35]
Also mentioned:
Chelsey: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow recommended by Bezi @beingabookwyrm
Sara: Rick Riordan Presents
We’re closing out our spring semester of children’s classics with one final book about a book—and another richly imagined story in translation, The Wild Book by Juan Villoro. This modern story reached great acclaim in Mexico, with an English translation finally reaching America in 2017. We found this work a compelling companion to our first children’s work in translation, Inkheart, and we share our thoughts on the book’s proposed relationship between books and reading, how this modern work stacks up besides tried-and-true classics, and the supernatural elements that feel grounded in the magical realism traditions of incredible Lantix authors.
We love reading and discussing books with our listeners, and we hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers for a summer of EPIC reading over on our Patreon at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 25:50
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Books Mentioned:
The Wild Book by Juan Villoro
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Get ready to load your summer totes (ahem…your summer Novel Pairings totes, more to come on that) with lots of good reads; we’re talking about our most anticipated summer reads on today’s episode! We’ve carefully culled our long lists of interesting books coming out this summer to provide some high-interest titles that are sure to topple your TBR while also providing backlist books that will pair perfectly and are available right now.
Today we talk about forthcoming humorous memoirs (including one woven with lots of 90s nostalgia), a searing, fictional critique of contemporary publishing, and plenty of engrossing tales you’ll want to curl up with poolside. And if that’s not enough, we take a shot at solving the mystery surrounding the unnamed Flatiron title prior to it being settled by the New York Times (and Chelsey will add amateur sleuth to her list of alternate career options should occasion arise).
We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price!
Books Mentioned
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Disorientation by Elian Hsieh Chou
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
All Sinners Bleed by S.A. Crosby
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
My Murder by Katie Williams
Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Banyan Moon by Thao Tai
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
Loot by Tania James
The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson
Wannabe: Reckoning with the Pop Culture that Saved Me by Aisha Harris
Piccolo is Black by Jordan Calhoun
Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens
A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
Babel by R. F. Kuang
Half-Life of a Stolen Sister by Rachel Cantor
Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg
Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart by Claire Harman
The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell
History’s Angel by Anjum Hassan
Members Only by Sameer Pandya
The Lost Ranger by Peter Heller
Congratulations, the Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas
Here for It by R. Eric Thomas
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Our Town by Thorton Wilder
As voracious readers we love to dive into stories about books and reading, whether it’s paying homage to the source of procuring books (think publishing, bookshops, and libraries) or the physical books themselves. In today’s episode, we’re taking you on a dark, mysterious, and twisty adventure in translation with Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart. A plot-packed novel for the not-so-faint-of-heart, we discuss what Funke’s international bestseller has to say about the power stories hold for children, the necessity to engage a child’s imagination, and how the tone of this children’s classic spooked us (just a little bit). If you’re looking for more imaginative fantasies, we’ve paired this sweeping novel with a rich, outlandish romantic historical fantasy and a slim work of non-fiction about the nature of books from one of the most renowned writers and translators of our time.
A quick note: we had some technical difficulties, so the audio on this episode may sound slightly different than usual. It'll be back to normal in our next episode!
[Pairing Timestamp: 41:33]
Books Mentioned:
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri
- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
- Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alex E. Harrow
Other Books Mentioned
- The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
- Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. This week, we’re discussing E. L. Konigsburg’s Newbery award-winning novel From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a 1960s romp about a pair of siblings who find refuge and mystery at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. From the Mixed-Up Files is a story simple in prose, yet imbued with rich descriptions and detail to leave a lasting impression. In today’s episode, we talk about our own mixed-up, nostalgic memories of reading Mrs. Frankweiler, the alluring nature of Konigsburg’s novel for generations of readers, and the need to have our own private “somethings.” Plus, we help you dive deeper into the world of art and art forgery with a novel in translation and prepare for beach reading with a summer-y story about two teenage misfits, first love, and their creative endeavors.
We’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature, and there’s still time to join us for the last month that we’re reading children’s classics! Sign up to join our community of nerdy readers where we host bonus mini-episodes, lectures, seminars, and book clubs. Head on over to patreon.org/novelpairings to join our Classics Club today. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 39:22
Books Mentioned:
Portrait of an Unknown Lady by María Ganzia
Now That I Found You by Kristina Forest
Possession by A. S. Byatt
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley
Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson
Anne-with-an-e Shirley, a hallmark figure in children’s literature, provides a formative childhood reading experience for many readers. An imaginative and loquacious orphan who finds home and community with the Cuthbert siblings at Green Gables of Avonlea, Anne is a feisty, feminine, and dramatically charming protagonist. In today’s episode, we talk about how this sweet and endearing novel worked for us compared to other “warm hug” classics that missed the mark, the aspects of Anne’s character that make her loveable and realistic, our favorite scenes from the book, and whether Montgomery’s work can be considered feminist. Plus—our pairings today include a whimsical fairy story loosely based on the premise of Anne, as well as a novel that features another unforgettable protagonist from a Canadian author.
We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Thank you for supporting the show!
Pairings Timestamp: 44:16
Books Mentioned
- The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
- The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett
- Blue Cedar Falls series by Jeannie Chin: try The House on Mulberry Street
- Fight Night by Miriam Toews
- J. Ryan Stradal: try Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club
- The Lucy Barton series by Elizabeth Strout: try My Name is Lucy Barton
Also Mentioned:
Why Anne Makes Us Dizzy by Julia McQuillan and Julie Pheiffer (Critical Study)
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a staple in high school classrooms and a foundational piece of American literature. This children’s classic is a boisterous and satirical novel addressing a vast array of social and political issues couched in an episodic coming-of-age tale. In today’s episode, we address some of the teaching baggage that comes along with this book, consider Huck’s moral development, and wrestle with the complexities of encountering this book as a modern reader. As always, we also offer contemporary pairings including a National Book Award winner and a sweet and tender father-and-son story.
Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 39:14
Books mentioned:
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
- This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
- The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
Also mentioned:
- Percival Everett’s Huck Finn Retelling
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
- Lonesome Dove episode
- Toni Morrison on Huck Finn
- Jane Smiley on Huck Finn
Catherine, Called Birdy has been a surprise hit with our listeners and book club community, and today Chelsey and Sara share their experience with Karen Cushman’s award-winning work of middle grade historical fiction. We share what we remember about the book from childhood, why we connected with it more now, and why a book about a girl trying to avoid marriage in the 13th-century feels so relevant today. We also go down a couple of rabbit holes of our own this episode, including a discussion about how we teach and model gender for children and the role of literature in that development.
Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 42:00
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Books mentioned:
- Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton
- Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
- Matrix by Lauren Groff
- My Lady Jane, My Plain Jane, My Contrary Mary, My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Also mentioned:
- Dear America, The Royal Diaries, and American Girl Dolls
- The Men–and the Boys–are Not Alright
While we’re spending most of this season discussing classic children’s literature, today Chelsey and Sara break from form to share our most anticipated spring book releases. Spring is a busy time in the publishing cycle and we will topple your TBR with feel-good fiction, literary books from favorite writers, and a surprising number of intriguing nonfiction titles, all releasing between late February and early May. Today is all about those new releases, but if you want to hear us offer backlist pairings for these anticipated buzzy titles, head over to our Patreon community to get that bonus content delivered to your podcast feed. To shop for all of the titles mentioned in today’s episode while supporting our show, head to our Bookshop.org affiliate storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/novelpairings
Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
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Books mentioned:
- I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
- The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
- Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
- Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
- In Springtime by Sarah Blake
- How to Think Like a Woman by Regan Penaluna
- Ten Planets by Yuri Herrera
- Lone Women by Victor Lavalle
- Above Ground by Clint Smith
- Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
- Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
- Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
- Greek Lessons by Han Kang
- The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
- Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
- Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Chelsey and Sara discuss Mildred D. Taylor’s Newberry Award winning novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. We gush about the writing, share our favorite characters, and unpack a few memorable scenes. We also spend some time considering why this book feels like it could be classified as an adult novel and the value it would add to a middle or high school curriculum. And, of course, we each offer a couple of books to pair with this middle grade classic. This conversation is largely spoiler-free, and we encourage you to listen whether or not you’ve read this book recently or at all!
Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 42:05
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Books mentioned:
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
- Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose
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Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes
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Stealing by Margaret Verble
- Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Also mentioned:
- Profile: Mildred D. Taylor
- Novel Pairings Not Without Laughter episode
Chelsey and Sara discuss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman as individual children’s classics and explore the way they are in conversation with each other. We chat about each novel’s philosophical framework, storytelling style, and depiction of childhood, which leads into a larger conversation about the role of Kid Lit in ethical and moral development. We thoroughly enjoyed returning to both of these fantastical stories, but each brought up some big questions for us as readers and new moms.
Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 1:07:05
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Books mentioned:
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- Babel by R.F. Kuang
- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
- A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge
- The Princess and the Goblin by George Mac Donald
- The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Also mentioned:
- Watch clips from the BBC adaptation on YouTube
- Reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with C.S. Lewis
- C.S. Lewis: An Experiment in Criticism
- Phillip Pullman: Far from Narnia
Chelsey and Sara chat about another children’s classic: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, reflecting on the difference between reading it as a kid versus our current adult perspectives. We discuss this novel’s unique characters and content, as well as the distinctive nature of the author herself. Allusions abound in this novel, from the biblical to the literary. As part of our exploration of children’s literature, we explore some themes and tropes of children’s literature that will certainly keep coming up throughout this semester as we explore the world of Classic Children’s Literature in your podcast feed and with our Patreon community.
Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.
Pairings Timestamp: 39:10
Books mentioned:
- The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
- A Circle of Quiet or The Crosswick Journals by Madeleine L’Engle
- A Wrinkle in Time the Graphic Novel by Madeleine L’Engle & Hope Larson (Illustrator)
- When You Reach Me by Rebecca Steed
- The Story Of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
Also mentioned:
- What time is it when you pass through A Wrinkle in Time?
Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay. We discuss the classic nature of this novel along with some of its modern elements, as well as our own personal impressions and individual reading experiences of the book. This Harlem Renaissance novel explores themes that pushed the boundaries of its time: disability, the physical body, race, migration, post-colonialism, Marxism, economics. If you’re looking for a short classic novel that covers many modern ideas, consider this one alongside some of our pairings.
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Books Mentioned
Some links are affiliate links. Every time you make a purchase through one of these links, it helps us keep the podcast running. Thank you!
Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay (Penguin Classics)
Listen to our pairings: [41:05]
Chelsey:
- At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop
- A Country for Dying by Abdellah Taïa
Sara:
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
- You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Also Mentioned:
The Best New Novel Was Written 90 Years Ago by Molly Young (Vulture)
A Book So Far Ahead of Its Time, It took 87 Years to Find A Publisher by Tayla Zax (NYTimes)
It’s that time of year, readers! Pull out your favorite book tote and get thee to pre-ordering (or library requesting) because we’ve got an episode full of our most anticipated reads for summer 2022. Since we can’t help ourselves, we’ve paired each buzzy new title with a backlist pick. We’re also talking about summer reading hopes (not goals), our favorite summertime genres, and what’s happening in Classics Club this season.
If you’re enjoying our content, please write a review on Apple Podcasts, share an episode with a friend, or shout us out on social media. Growing this show is only possible because of our lovely listeners. Thank you!
A Special thank you to The Lost City for sponsoring this episode.
- Love these episodes? Support us on Patreon patreon.com/novelpairings and get bonus episodes full of reading recs this summer.
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Books mentioned (thanks for supporting us by shopping our Bookshop affiliate links!):
May
5/3 The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
- Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price, Sense & Second Degree Murder
5/3 When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
- Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister
5/17 We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
5/17 Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces by Elamin Abdelmahmoud
- Piccolo is Black: A Memoir of Race, Religion, and Pop Culture by Jordan Calhoun
5/24 Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
- Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
5/31 Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith
- Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones, Half Light
June
6/7 Woman of Light by Kali Farjado-Anstine
- A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
6/7 Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang
- Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
6/14 Horse by Geraldine Brooks
- The Son by Philip Meyer
6/28 American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
- The Royal We, Red, White & Royal Blue, or American Royals
- Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay
July
7/5 Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
- Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link
7/5 Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty
- There, There by Tommy Orange, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
7/12 The Crane Wife by C.J. Hauser
- The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy
7/12 Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevinn
- The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
7/19 Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Today Sara and Chelsey discuss Jane Austen’s silly, ridiculous, and absolutely delightful work of juvenilia: Love and Freindship. From fainting spells to the history of parody, this episode is full of nerdy information and fun Austen context. If you’re looking to lighten up your reading life with irreverent novels and humorous romance, today’s pairings are for you, regardless of whether you’ve picked up Love and Freindship. * Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/novelpairings. * Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter. * Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores.
Books mentioned: Love and Freindship by Jane Austen
Chelsey:
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters by Mallory Ortburg
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
Sara:
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbetson
Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin
How did Sara and Chelsey meet? What goes into making a Novel Pairings episode? And how do they find time to read with busy, curious babies in their lives? Today’s episode holds all the answers to YOUR questions about classic literature, teaching English, baby bookworms, reading habits, and more. (Plus plenty of book recommendations. We can’t help it.) The show notes are full of links today, so be sure to scroll down in your app or visit novelpairings.com.
Some links are affiliate links. Every time you make a purchase through one of these links, it helps us keep the podcast running. Thank you!
Books Mentioned:
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Episode: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Episode: The Crucible by Arthur Miller
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
Episode: The Odyssey by Homer
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Aubrey Niffenegger
Episode: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Episode: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
Circe by Madeline Miller
Episode: Passing by Nella Larsen
Episode: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Episode: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Episode: Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Houghton
Let’s Look at Animals by Marion Deuchars
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young
The Noisy Book by Soledad Bravi
Episode: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Episode: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Episode: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Episode: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Episode: Emma by Jane Austen
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
Love and Freindship by Jane Austen
Also Mentioned:
@fictionmatters
@chelseyreads
He Read She Read Podcast
The Novel Pairings Ultimate Spreadsheet
Sandra Boynton: Frog Trouble Album
Raising Readers with Anne Bogel
The Sleepy Bookshelf Podcast
@clumsy.words
Don’t forget to:
- Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/novelpairings.
- Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter.
- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.
- Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores.
Today Sara and Chelsey consider Middlemarch by George Eliot through a contemporary lens with paired books about marriage, community, and time-tested advice. You don’t need to read Middlemarch to put a book recommendation in your pocket today, so enjoy this unique collection of titles and a spoiler-free conversation.
We’re recording an Ask Us Anything episode! Submit your questions to novelpairingspod@gmail.com, DM us on Instagram, or stay tuned for a question box in our Instagram stories.
Need more Jane Austen in your life? Of course you do. Check out Live from Pemberley, from the creators and hosts of Hot & Bothered.
- Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/novelpairings.
- Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter.
- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.
- Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores.
Books mentioned:Middlemarch by George Eliot (Penguin Classics Deluxe)
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
Under the Rainbow by Celia Laskey
A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
You Learn by Living by Eleanor Roosevelt
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
Wahala by Nikki May
Today Sara and Chelsey check in and discuss Middlemarch by George Eliot. What does this 800-page Victorian novel have in common with Love is Blind on Netflix? Tune in to hear literary analysis, pop culture connections, and personal reflections on reading this giant tome. Plus, Sara and Chelsey reveal plans for a new episode format, coming soon. * Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/novelpairings. * Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter. * Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. * Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores.
Books mentioned:Middlemarch by George Eliot (Penguin Classics Deluxe)Emma by Jane Austen (The Annotated Version)Love and Friendship by Jane Austen
Picks of the week:
Chelsey: Love is Blind (Netflix)
Sara: My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead
Also mentioned:
“It Can Be Embarrassing to Love Dorothea” The Paris Review
After a few months off, we're back in your feeds today to discuss some of our favorite (and least favorite) books of 2021. We've organized this episode into bookish superlatives that let us share books you may not hear us talk about otherwise. We also offer a reflection on our reading year as a whole, including what it's been like to read with newborns around. It's great to be back at the mic talking all things books!
For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com.
Connect with us on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.
Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.
Links:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
Wintering by Katherine May
Insurrecto by Gina Apostol
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
We’re All in This Together by Amy Jones
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman
Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley
Detransition, Baby by Torrie Peters
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.” So begins the book that launched a million little girls’ love affair with reading. While we here at Novel Pairings have pretty mixed feelings about Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, our discussion of this beloved childhood classic is one of our favorites.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some discussion of Little Women, so whether you love them or loathe them, we hope you enjoy today’s rerelease as we deep dive into the world of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.
For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com.
Connect with us on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.
Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.
Books Mentioned:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Amazon)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Amazon)
Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Amy Boyd Rioux (Amazon)
So We Read On: How the Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures by Maureen Corrigan (Amazon)
March by Geraldine Brooks (Amazon)
Also mentioned:
Episode 40 with Annie B. Jones
Skip to the pairings with this timestamp: [36:14]
Shop the pairings with our affiliate links below:
Chelsey’s Pairings:
- More to the Story by Hena Khan (Amazon)
- Most Likely by Sarah Watson (Amazon)
- Writers & Lovers by Lily King (Amazon)
Sara’s Pairings:
- How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez (Amazon)
- The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas (Amazon)
- The Illness Lesson by Clare Beams (Amazon)
Picks of the week:
Home Cooking Podcast
Why the British Tell Better Children’s Stories
Here at Novel Pairings, if there’s one thing we love almost as much as reading it’s supporting independent bookstores. Today, we’re re-airing an interview with one of our favorite indie bookstore insiders, Annie B. Jones, owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia. Annie shares a little about her own reading life and tastes, and offers some sweet and moving book pairings for one of her favorite classics: Little Women.
Remember, you can support The Bookshelf or your favorite local indie bookstore and the Novel Pairings podcast by signing up or gifting a Libro.fm membership. Use our code NOVELPAIRINGS when you join, and help boost business at your favorite bookstore through another difficult holiday season.
For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com.
Connect with us on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.
Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.
Books mentioned:
Our book list includes a mix of affiliate links and links to The Bookshelf inventory. If you want to own one of the books we talked about today, we hope you consider supporting The Bookshelf with your purchase.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
The Baby-Sitters Club Box
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Franny & Zoey by J.D. Salinger
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konig
Bloomability by Sharon Creech
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Amy Boyd Rioux
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz
What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer
Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
House Lessons by Erica Bauermeister
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Ex Libris by Michiko Kakutani
HRH by Elizabeth Holmes
Passing by Nella Larsen
Emma by Jane Austen
Also mentioned:
“The Baby-Sitters Club Taught Me Everything I Needed to Know About Literary Fiction”
We love revisiting our favorite books for episodes of Novel Pairings, but there’s also something truly special about finding a new-to-us classic that becomes a forever favorite. There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset was a book neither of us had read or even knew much about before deciding to cover it on the podcast.
What we found was a beautiful and nuanced novel of manners that both echoed many of our favorite works while offering something wholly original. We keep this episode spoiler-free to encourage more readers to give this novel a chance. We hope you’ll listen and then pick up this too long neglected Harlem Renaissance classic.
For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com.
Connect with us on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.
Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.
Skip to the pairings with this timestamp: [33:15]
Shop the pairings with our affiliate links below:
Books mentioned:
There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset (Amazon)
Passing by Nella Larsen (Amazon) [30:39]
Chelsey’s Pairings
Pride by Ibi Zoboi (Amazon) [36:06]
This Lovely City by Louise Hare (Amazon) [42:23]
Becoming by Michelle Obama (Amazon) [49:18]
Sara’s Pairings
On Beauty by Zadie Smith (Amazon) [33:33]
No One is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts (Amazon) [39:35]
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour (Amazon) [45:52]
Picks of the week:
Chelsey: How WWI Sparked and Artistic Movement that Transformed Black America [53:30]
Sara: New Yorker article on Fauset (by Morgan Jerkins) [52:09] and Women of the Harlem Renaissance by Cheryl A. Wall [52:40]
