We're kicking off our month of Virigina Woolf with an episode exploring Woolf's dense and sprawling extended essay, "A Room of Own's Own." At just over one hundred pages, Woolf gives herself ample space on the page to explore and consider the issues that keep women from the forefront of the literature and what might be done to give them the creative freedom to write unencumbered. In today's episode, we're following along closely with the text while helping our fellow readers pull out key takeawa...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 135
If a dark and twisty stream of consciousness narrative in translation sounds like an intriguing read, Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat is perfect for you. Penned by the forefather of the Modernist movement in Iranian literature, this surrealist story blends Western influences, Iranian folklore, and psychology. In today's episode, we discuss key themes and questions raised by Hedayat's text (so. many. questions). Today's pairings include a contemporary Iranian work in translation, a Persian fairy tale ...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 134
What is the difference between literary historical fiction and "woman with her back turned on the cover" historical fiction? In today's episode of Modern Readers, we're discussing the literary landscape and rise in popularity of the historical fiction genre. We explore the definition of historical fiction, significant time periods, craft vs. plot, and "literariness" to understand whether a historical book is literary or a really entertaining read—or both! Plus, we share Novel Pairings episodes a...
Oct 17, 2023•54 min•Ep. 133
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", first published in The New Yorker in 1948, feels relevant in every decade. Whether it's discussed in the high school classroom or revisited in adulthood, this shocking story leaves a mark. We're back with another Short Story Club episode on Novel Pairings in which we take a closer look at Jackson's haunting text, considering its wider themes, and touch on how one of the most widely known short stories by an American writer continues to live on as a quintessential...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 132
Let's discuss one of our most requested classics! Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is an eerie gothic novel with elements of mystery, fairy tale, and domestic suspense–and you've been asking for us to cover it on the show for years. In today's episode, we speculate on why this classic remains so popular today, discuss the magic of reading a classic just for fun (and then returning to it with literary lenses), and analyze our unnamed narrator. This is the kind of book that you can't discuss without s...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 131
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 tod...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 130
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 conve...
Sep 05, 2023•55 min•Ep. 129
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'...
Aug 22, 2023•39 min•Ep. 128
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...
Aug 08, 2023•27 min
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 ...
Jul 25, 2023•44 min•Ep. 126
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 y...
Jul 11, 2023•54 min•Ep. 125
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 acc...
Jun 27, 2023•58 min•Ep. 124
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 bef...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 123
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 stack...
May 30, 2023•43 min•Ep. 122
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 o...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 121
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 ...
May 09, 2023•56 min•Ep. 120
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 M...
May 02, 2023•57 min•Ep. 119
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 t...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 118
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...
Apr 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 117
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 abo...
Mar 28, 2023•59 min•Ep. 116
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 p...
Mar 21, 2023•53 min•Ep. 115
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...
Mar 14, 2023•55 min•Ep. 114
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 ...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 113
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 certain...
Feb 14, 2023•55 min•Ep. 112
Chelsey and Sara discuss Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. This short, weird, and word play-filled story explores the "slipperiness" of language, the joys and fears of growing up, and the traditions of Victorian schooling. In addition to the historical and literary context for this classic, we also enjoyed talking about what it feels like to be a child in a world of rules. Today's pairings include magical middle grade novels and a cozy light academia fantasy, and we hope you fin...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 111
Chelsey and Sara discuss Langston Hughes's 1930 novel: Not Without Laughter , the story of a young boy coming of age in small-town Kansas with his matriarchal family. His mother Annjee works as a maid and cook for a wealthy white family, his grandmother Hager takes in laundry work, and his Aunt Harriet has big dreams of performing. His wandering father, Jimboy makes appearances as does his upper class Aunt Tempy. As a collective, these characters reveal varied philosophies and histories of the B...
Jan 24, 2023•54 min•Ep. 110
This spring semester, we are trying something a little different. We hope you all are up for venturing into uncharted territory together as we spend a few months reading Classic Children's Literature! From fantasy to historical fiction to adventure, we will explore the influences of children's stories on contemporary literature. Using our signature literary lens, we intend to reflect on some of our favorite books as young readers while scrutinizing how well they hold up to the modern kid lit can...
Jan 10, 2023•34 min•Ep. 109
Today we enter the towering stack of "Best Book" lists, but we like to think our annual episode stands out from the crowd. Instead of narrowing down a list of favorites every year, we share superlatives to include a wider variety of genres, themes, and reading experiences in our year end wrap up episode. Check our stories at @novelpairingspod on Instagram for templates to share your 2022 superlatives, and please do not forget to tag us! We would love to see which books you select in each categor...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 108
Join us as we discuss the sumptuous, sexy, and speculative adaptation of The Great Gatsby : The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo. We adored Vo's language, voice, and inventive storytelling and will give you a heads up for brief spoilers [20:35-25:00]. In addition to classic themes with a contemporary twist, we also discuss what we've learned over the course of this adaptation-themed semester in Novel Pairings University. We are not offering pairings for this episode, but we highly recommend c...
Nov 29, 2022•39 min•Ep. 107
Readers, today we are taking it way back to September 2020 (a lifetime ago!) when we discussed The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This month's book club is The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (a Gatsby retelling) so we're taking this opportunity to refresh our memories about the plot, characters, and themes of Fitzgerald's iconic work. We hope you enjoy this blast from the past, and we're so excited to discuss Vo's novel with you next week! Books mentioned: Chelsey's Pairings: Let Us D...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 106
