Welcome to Novel Pairings, a podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun. 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.
…
continue reading
We pair wine with movies, TV, music, books, and comics with guests from the wine and entertainment industries.
…
continue reading
Two men visting the US from London meet a pair of charming women who return the visit the following year in London. Romantic intrigues, miscommunication and cultural faux pas abound in this short but delightful novel.
…
continue reading
BLACK MAGIC, is a new short story by Dan Shaurette, a prequel to his upcoming novel, BLACK CASTLE. Capt. Matt Black and Dr. Andrew MacGillivray are a pair of paranormal private eyes hot on the trail of someone — or something — killing women during the raucous 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Stranger things are afoot however when their friend, L. Frank Baum, finds a man who was brutally attacked not far from the Fair. Featuring the voice talents of Mat Weller, Murdo Morrison, Ma ...
…
continue reading
Words about books, boardgames, music, film and videogames by Andy Johnson.
…
continue reading
On a rainy day after losing at pub trivia for the 874th time (we still know you cheated, Cave Dwellers), three friends with a mutual love for literature and liquor decided to quit while they were behind and start a podcast instead. Welcome to Lit & Liquor, where the only pretentious thing is our profile picture. We love our books and we love our booze and see no reason not to enjoy them together, recording for y'all's enjoyment. We cover every book genre there is, from our romance novel face ...
…
continue reading
When Elizabeth Bennet met Miss Darcy, it was loathing at first sight - unless, of course, it wasn't? {Queer} Pride and Prejudice is the story you know and love, only significantly gayer than most other adaptations. Using Austen's words and setting, {Queer} Pride and Prejudice retells the classic romance with a reminder that we have always been here.
…
continue reading
Chat-Man and Robin is a weekly talk show, the discussion wandering all over everything from comic books, movies, art, and geek / nerd culture to sex and sexuality, body modification, and everything in-between. Married couple Max and Bird dance the dance of the wed into a pair of microphones (read: argue, , and make each other laugh), treating all comers and all subjects with the snarky irreverence honed through years of long, cold winters in northern Michigan. Max (a lifelong geek) does his ...
…
continue reading
A blizzard cripples an isolated stretch of US Highway where freezing to death would be a mercy. An antique broker holds the internet in the palm of his hand and learns what really brought the system down. In the forests of upstate Connecticut, a pair of college students visit the site of legendary hauntings. Welcome to the Vault. Phil Rossi, author and twisted mind behind Crescent, brings you a collection of stories that will take you on a terror-fueled ride from the cold abyss of space to y ...
…
continue reading
A timeless classic of fantasy literature, She is recognized as the groundwork for the lost world literary sub- genre. First published serially in The Graphic magazine from 1886 to 1887, the novel has reached critical acclaim with approximately 100 million copies sold and is regarded as one of the best-selling books of all time. Exploring themes of imperialism, lost civilization, female authority and psyche, the novel also serves as a mirror to reflect Victorian issues such as gender and race ...
…
continue reading
The first novel in her renowned series of detective fiction, Sayers introduces Lord Peter Wimsey, a bon vivant gentleman, whose hobby of playing detective is put to the test, as he is launched into his first official crime investigation. The mystery begins when the body of an unidentified man has been found in the bathtub of local architect Mr. Thipps. Adding to the peculiarity of the situation is the fact that the corpse is stark naked except for a pair of expensive pince-nez glasses. Due t ...
…
continue reading
A picaresque novel written by French satirical polemicist and philosopher Voltaire, Candide blatantly attacks the ideology of philosopher Leibniz. Candide follows the series of unfortunate events encountered by the young, yet blindly optimistic Candide. Shifting from one adventure to the next, Voltaire’s signature piece does not cease to grip its audience with its humorous criticism of power, wealth, love, religion, philosophy and especially optimism. The novel begins with the introduction o ...
…
continue reading
Published in 1900, Sister Carrie follows its protagonist, Carrie, as she resolutely makes her way through the bustling city of Chicago in the hope of achieving her ultimate goal of a securing a better and more glamorous life for herself. Effectively illustrating his reputation as one of America’s greatest naturalists, Dreiser deviates from the established norms and moral values present in the Victorian era, and instead focuses his attention on accurately portraying the basic instincts that i ...
…
continue reading
Burroughs’ second book in the classic Barsoom series, The Gods of Mars is a scientific fiction novel following the adventures of John Carter as he returns to Mars after a ten year hiatus in the hope of being reunited with his wife, child and the Red Martian people. First published as a five-part serial in a pulp magazine in the course of 1913, the novel was later published as a whole in 1918. A tale of audacity, honor, optimism, and perseverance, Burroughs successfully builds on to the previ ...
…
continue reading
1
152. The Custom of the Country Book One Recap
1:15:20
1:15:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:15:20
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…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Music: LA REVANCHA DEL TANGO by Gotan Project (2001) - Part 2
54:48
54:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:48
Send us a Text Message. OR, for additional bonus content, interactive chats, polls, and the sometimes longer UNCUT episodes, join us on our Substack at: https://wineand.substack.com Today's guest is screenwriter KATE REUSCHEL, a wine creative, writer and educator who specializes in Portuguese wine. She writes the Substack SURVIVES ON WINE, which is…
…
continue reading
1
#118 Schlock and awe: The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
7:47
7:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:47
Get in touch with a text message! Charles L. Harness' 1953 novel The Paradox Men was originally published under the title Flight Into Yesterday. It is a classic example of elevated pulp, which features swordfights, superpowers, voyages to the sun, and a strange furry creature that can speak - if only to speak the phrase "don't go..." The Paradox Me…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Music: LA REVANCHA DEL TANGO by Gotan Project (2001) - Part 1
53:52
53:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:52
Send us a Text Message. OR, for additional bonus content, interactive chats, polls, and the sometimes longer UNCUT episodes, join us on our Substack at: https://wineand.substack.com Today's guest is screenwriter KATE REUSCHEL, a wine creative, writer and educator who specializes in Portuguese wine. She writes the Substack SURVIVES ON WINE, which is…
…
continue reading
1
#117: Man and machine: “A Meeting with Medusa” (1971) and The Medusa Chronicles (2016)
7:28
7:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:28
Get in touch with a text message! Originally published in the December 1971 issue of Playboy, “A Meeting With Medusa” is generally thought of as Clarke’s last significant shorter work. Notably, it won the Nebula Award for Best Novella the following year. It was also an early inspiration for two of Clarke’s successors in the British SF scene. 45 yea…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Comics: The Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot
1:13:35
1:13:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:13:35
Send us a Text Message. OR, for additional bonus content, articles, interactive chats, polls, and the fully UNCUT version of this episode (22 more minutes of discussion!) join us on our Substack at: https://wineand.substack.com Follow all things Bryan Talbot at: https://www.bryan-talbot.com You can download Bryan's very first Luther Arkwright short…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Music - EMOTION by Carly Rae Jepsen (2015)
1:26:51
1:26:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:26:51
Send us a Text Message. OR, for additional bonus content, interactive chats, polls, and the fully UNCUT version of this episode (which includes discussion of EMOTION SIDE B), join us on our Substack at: https://wineand.substack.com Today's guest is screenwriter MARK PALERMO (Detention), who also hosts his own excellent movie-themed podcast, MOVIES …
…
continue reading
1
151. Introduction to The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
43:36
43:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:36
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…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Movies: Shin Godzilla (2016) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
1:07:55
1:07:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:55
Send us a Text Message. OR, for additional bonus content, interactive chats, polls, and more, join us on our Substack at: https://wineand.substack.com Today's guest is STRIKER REESE, the founder of ANIME AND WINE, the site where he...you guessed it!...pairs wine with anime. A man after our own heart. Striker is a wine lover and educator and is WSET…
…
continue reading
1
#116 End of days: The Forge of God (1987) by Greg Bear
7:44
7:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:44
Get in touch with a text message! In The Forge of God (1987), the Earth’s demise is an inevitability. Greg Bear’s novel of apocalypse was published when he was establishing himself as a leader of American hard SF in the 1980s. This is a sophisticated, chillingly believable, and scientifically rigorous view of the end of the world. Crucially, Bear i…
…
continue reading
1
150. Ten classic novels you should read this summer
40:58
40:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:58
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…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Music: Ege Bamyasi by CAN (1972)
1:14:42
1:14:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:42
Send us a Text Message. For the full UNCUT version of this episode - 16 additional minutes! - plus bonus content, interactive chats, polls, and more, join us at: https://wineand.substack.com Dallas picked our first music album to discuss, the 1972 album by the hugely influential and batshit crazy German prog-adjacent/experimental band, CAN. We disc…
…
continue 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 stories of the Belsey and Kipp families and Smith’s use of the academic setting to discuss identity and so…
…
continue reading
1
#115 Faith in the stars: To Open the Sky (1967) by Robert Silverberg
7:55
7:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:55
Get in touch with a text message! Robert Silverberg's To Open the Sky (1967) combines five pre-planned stories originally published in Galaxy magazine in 1965 and 1966, it is an interestingly structured piece of work published at a time when Silverberg was just entering his own personal golden age. It also combines themes of religion, psychic power…
…
continue reading
1
Wine and...Movies - Speed Racer (2008)
1:18:29
1:18:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:29
Send us a Text Message. For the full UNCUT version of this episode - 20 additional minutes! - plus bonus content, interactive chats, polls, and more, join us at: https://wineand.substack.com 1st episode! Canadian filmmaker and podcaster extraordinaire, Justin Decloux (Impossible Horror, Teddy Bomb), joins us for an epic chat about the 2008 feature …
…
continue reading
1
148. We can't wait to read these brand new summer 2024 books and backlist pairings
1:00:40
1:00:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:40
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, …
…
continue reading
1
#114 A Thousand Worlds: Dying of the Light (1977) and Tuf Voyaging (1986) by George R.R. Martin
11:20
11:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:20
Get in touch with a text message! George R.R. Martin is easily one of the best-known, most successful, and wealthiest genre writers still working today - albeit slowly. While Martin is a giant of modern fantasy writing, even some of his ardent fans may not be aware that he first made an impact in science fiction. This episode first covers his debut…
…
continue reading
1
147. The limits of satire & A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
55:10
55:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:10
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, …
…
continue reading
1
#113 A pair of Aces: The Atlantic Abomination (1960) and Sanctuary in the Sky (1960) by John Brunner
10:14
10:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:14
Get in touch with a text message! John Brunner was a startlingly prolific British writer of science fiction, whose reputation rests on four acclaimed books he published from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. However, earlier in his career he wrote many SF adventures which while less ambitious, are a rich source of pulp excitement. This episode focus…
…
continue reading
1
#112 Empire in time: The Fall of Chronopolis (1974) by Barrington J. Bayley
7:34
7:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:34
Get in touch with a text message! Pure SF pulp, The Fall of Chronopolis (1974) is the fifth novel by British author Barrington J. Bayley. While it superficially resembles a space opera, it is really more of what could be called a "time opera". The Chronotic Empire rules hundreds of years of human history, using powerful time-ships to head off threa…
…
continue reading
1
146. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
1:12:54
1:12:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:54
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…
…
continue reading
1
#111 SF’s greatest partnership? Three novels by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth (1952 - 1959)
17:34
17:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:34
Get in touch with a text message! This special feature episode focuses on three novels written in partnership by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbbluth - The Space Merchants (1952), Gladiator-at-Law (1955), and Wolfbane (1959). Each unique in their own way, these three books are classics of the genre in the 1950s. They are the products of a special …
…
continue reading
1
#110 Outside context problem: Excession (1996) by Iain M. Banks
8:13
8:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:13
Get in touch with a text message! Winner of the BSFA Award for Best Novel, Excession (1996) is the fourth novel in Iain M. Banks ever-popular Culture series of SF novels. In this entry, the awesome power of the post-scarcity Culture civilisation is challenged by two linked threats. One is the increasing aggression of a cruel species, the Affront. T…
…
continue reading
1
145. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare with Traci Thomas
1:10:03
1:10:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:03
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…
…
continue reading
1
#109 No brakes: Tau Zero (1970) by Poul Anderson
10:45
10:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:45
Get in touch with a text message! Poul Anderson's Tau Zero, published in 1970, is a landmark of hard SF which pushes out far further, beyond the Milky Way and into the frightening emptiness of intergalactic space. It also deals memorably with time dilation, and a vast spain of eons. Significantly, Anderson does all of this in a scientifically convi…
…
continue reading
1
#108 Fashion victim: The Garments of Caean (1976) by Barrington J. Bayley
8:58
8:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:58
Get in touch with a text message! The Garments of Caean is a science fiction novel by the British author Barrington J. Bayley (1937 - 2008). It forms a part of his classic run of unusual and energetic books in the mid-1970s, and is included in guide 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels. This is a space opera with an odd hook - it is about clothes, …
…
continue reading
1
#107 Living with the dead: The Falling Woman (1986) by Pat Murphy
8:17
8:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:17
Get in touch with a text message! American fantasy in the 1980s is often associated with big, bloated series of novels steeped in Tolkien and Dungeons and Dragons. The Falling Woman is something very different. It isn't set in some imagined world stuck in the middle ages - the story occurs in contemporary Mexico, in and around an archaelogical dig …
…
continue reading
1
144. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
59:38
59:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:38
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…
…
continue reading
1
#106 Raising Titans: Imperial Earth (1975) by Arthur C. Clarke
13:43
13:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:43
Get in touch with a text message! Imperial Earth is the second of three novels Arthur C. Clarke published during the 1970s - and of those three, it is the least well-known. The main focus of this episode is to assess this tale of 2276, which takes in the quincentennial of the United States, a technological utopia, and Clarke's coy take on sexuality…
…
continue reading
1
143. Seasonal book pairings for new releases in spring 2024
50:54
50:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:54
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…
…
continue reading
1
142. The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
1:20:01
1:20:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:20:01
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…
…
continue reading
1
#105 Pulling the trigger: Use of Weapons (1990) by Iain M. Banks
10:37
10:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:37
Get in touch with a text message! Use of Weapons (1990) is the third novel in the Culture series of science fiction novels by the much-missed author Iain M. Banks. Originally drafted in 1974, the book follows the interstellar supersoldier Cheradenine Zakalwe, an efficient agent of the Culture. Combining two interleaved narratives, Use of Weapons te…
…
continue reading
1
141. Bookish pairings for our favorite period dramas
1:02:55
1:02:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:55
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…
…
continue reading
1
#104 Finding a place in the future: China Mountain Zhang (1992) by Maureen F. McHugh
13:42
13:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:42
Get in touch with a text message! Maureen F. McHugh published her debut novel China Mountain Zhang in 1992 and it went on to win multiple awards. An impactful social science fiction story, the book is set in a 22nd century world in which China is the dominant superpower. Zhang Zhongshan is a young, gay construction engineer in New York City, trying…
…
continue reading
1
140. Five tips for reading television and movies with a critical lens
1:16:29
1:16:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:16:29
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…
…
continue reading
1
139. The best, the backlist, and the buzziest books of 2023
1:15:45
1:15:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:15:45
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…
…
continue reading
1
#103 A dishonourable discharge? Commandos: Strike Force (2006)
13:01
13:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:01
Get in touch with a text message! In 2006, Spanish developers Pyro Studios had big hopes for the fourth entry in the successful Commandos series. Strike Force was intended to help them break into the World War II shooter market, and onto consoles. Unfortunately, it was a critical and commercial disaster. Strike Force sank the Commandos series, and …
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Edgar Rice Burroughs
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Voltaire
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Henry James
…
continue reading
1
01 – The Magnet Attracting: A Waif Amid Forces
17:39
17:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:39
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Theodore Dreiser
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Dorothy L. Sayers
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy H. Rider Haggard
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Edgar Rice Burroughs
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Voltaire
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Henry James
…
continue reading
1
02 – What Poverty Threatened: Of Granite and Brass
12:20
12:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:20
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Theodore Dreiser
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Dorothy L. Sayers
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy H. Rider Haggard
…
continue reading
More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Edgar Rice Burroughs
…
continue reading