We’re excited to be back in your podcast feeds to pair highly anticipated fall book releases with beloved backlist favorites. Prepare to overload your TBR pile as we dive into an exciting fall publishing season filled with moody, atmospheric titles. In today’s episode, we’ll share our carefully curated lists of outstanding upcoming fiction from bot…

As the summer reading season comes to a close, we’re turning our eyes to fall. With Chelsey on maternity leave, we’ve made some thoughtful adjustments to our plans and structure here at Novel Pairings. Our goal is to ensure that we stay connected and continue to foster the amazing community we’ve built together. The best way to stay connected this …

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 novel, so spoilers abound. We discuss our initial impressions of the unforgettable character that is Un…

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 recurring recap podcast episodes. We have our Big Book Summer Read Along of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérable…

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 in this episode, we are sharing 10 classics that would make for great summer reads at any age! For an enha…

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 stories of the Belsey and Kipp families and Smith’s use of the academic setting to discuss identity and so…

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 waiting for pre-orders and library holds to come in. If you enjoy our recommendations on today’s episode, …

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 power, or limits, of its influence. Throughout our discussion, we discuss the lasting legacy of Swift’s essay, …

In today’s episode, we’re discussing The Importance of Being Earnest by the ever-delightful Oscar Wilde. A classic example of British theater, this play is known for its biting social satire and brilliant comedic dialogue. Throughout our conversation, we dive into the play’s themes, discuss Wilde’s mastery of wordplay, and his ability to write char…

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 punishment, gender, power, and politics. We discuss how these themes continue to resonate with mode…

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 Brideshead, and we ask: is Brideshead Revisited a satire or a novel with satirical elements? Plus, toda…

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 favorite writers, all releasing between late February and May. As always, our go-to pairings will keep your…

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 into the other dynamic characters, themes of motherhood, greed, marriage, business, and Edith’s incredib…

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 reading. We discuss the appeal of watching historical fiction versus reading it, the throughline from read…

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 friends and family. We’re using The Buccaneers (Apple TV) as our main example in this episode, but you don…

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 creative categories to cover in this official wrap-up episode, and we can't wait to hear what you th…

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 figures of the 20th century and credited as an early writer of magical realism, lo real maravilloso. In today’…

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 releasing the audio from our Patreon Class Gilded Age Literature: Entering Edith Wharton's World for everyon…

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. For a deeper reading and listening experience, check out our episode on A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN and our bonus…

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 creativ…

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 an…

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, …

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, co…

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 jus…

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, int…

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…

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…

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 deligh…

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 read…

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 al…

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 …

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 O…

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 childre…

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 w…

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-p…

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 imbue…

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 tal…

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 bagg…

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 av…

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 no…

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 sch…

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 conversati…

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 bibli…

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 fee…

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 fat…

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…

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 In…

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…

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…

In anticipation of this month's book club read, we're sharing a whole stack of novels set in the 1920s. We are giving you a little bit of everything in this list: historical fiction, romance, mystery, backlist books, and new releases to help you step back in time and witness the opulence and turbulence of the Roaring 20s. We hope you find the perfe…