Novel Pairings

Latest Episodes:

135. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

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 takeaways from Woolf's work. We share our own experiences reading and teaching this seminal piece of feminist critique, Woolf's use of figurative and practical language to provide compelling arguements, and limitations of the essay, including who was included in Woolf's critique and who was left out.

If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have even more content to enjoy over in our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship 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.

Listeners can also stay in the loop with all things Novel Pairings by giving us a follow on Instagram and subscribing to our weekly newsletter on Substack. Thank you for supporting public scholarship! Books Mentioned:

The Baby on the Fire Escape by Julie Phillips
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
How to Think Like A Women by Regan Penaluna
Cross Stitch by Jasmina Barrara
The Marriage Question by Claire Carlilse

134. Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

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 retelling, and a polarizing love-it-or-hate-it novel that is perfect for group discussions.

If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would also love our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship 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.

Books Mentioned:

Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Disoriental by Negar Djavadi

The Queue by Basma Abdel Aziz

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

133. The modern reader's guide to historical fiction Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

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 and book recommendations to pair with our nuanced conversation.

If you enjoyed today's episode and want more conversations similar to this nerdy genre deep dive, you should check out our Patreon community where for just $5 a month, you can access weekly bonus episodes just like this one. At our $10 Literature Scholar level, patrons have access to classes and our virtual book club, where we'll be discussing The Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat this month. To join, visit patreon.com/novelpairings.

For more updates from Novel Pairings, make sure to follow us over on our Instagram or subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter.

Timestamps

Recent Reads - 2:13

What is Historical Fiction? - 10:23

What makes a text Literary Historical Fiction? - 23:19

Novel Pairings Historical Fiction Episodes

The Remains of the Day (Episode 6)

Beloved by Toni Morrison (Episode 9)

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (Episode 98)

Books Mentioned

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

How Can I Help You by Laura Sims

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel

Phillipa Gregory (try The Other Boleyn Girl)

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

132. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

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 classic.

Read today's short story club selection HERE.

Special thanks to our executive producers: Emma, Dilma, Cathy, Amy, and Jodie for making Short Story Club possible!

131. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

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 spoilers, so we included fair warning and a timestamp if you wish to avoid them.

To access our deep dive on unreliable narrators, go to patreon.com/novelpairings and join our community for just $5.

Spoiler alert timestamp: [37:27]

Pairings timestamp: [53:19]

Books mentioned:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (out 10/3)

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong (out 12/5)

Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

Also mentioned:

Jane Eyre Episode

Rebecca Movie Episode

130. Backlist book pairings for an abundant Autumn reading season Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

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

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, American captivity narratives

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

Jubilee by Margaret Walker

America Fantastica by Tim O'Brien

In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien

Absolution by Alice McDermott

The Mountains Sing by Ngyuen Phan Que Mai

Peach Pit: Sixteen Stories of Unsavory Women, edited by Molly Llewellyn & Kristel Buckely, ft. Deesha Philyaw, Lauren Groff, & more (Dzanc Books)

Company by Shannon Sanders

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller (Verso)

Rebecca and Jane Eyre

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

People Collide by Isle McElroy

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

One Woman Show by Christine Coulson

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump

This Other Eden by Paul Harding

Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a Nation by Tiya Miles

End of the Rope: Mountains, Marriage, and Motherhood by Jan Redford

The Loneliness Files by Athena Dixon

Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino

129. What is public scholarship? Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

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)

128. Hot takes on the buzzy books of last summer Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

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

127. 1920s classics to challenge and delight your To Be Read list Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

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

126. Leaving a Legacy: The Odyssey in modern literature Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

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.

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