The Novel Tea

Neha and Shruti discuss the ultimate gothic sci-fi classic, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . We talk about how loneliness drives the men in this story, and the power shifts that occur between Frankenstein and the monster. We also get into its parallels to today's technology, AI and robots, beauty standards, and of course, we bring it all back to colonialism and empire. Books Mentioned & S...

In this special bonus episode, author Paige Lewis joins Shruti and Neha to talk about their debut novel Canon , the story of an unlikely hero and a woman prophet who embark on a journey to win God's favor. Paige tells us about the stories they loved as a child, how they found inspiration for their characters, and what it was like to go from writing poetry to writing a novel. We chat about epic...

Neha and Shruti discuss Transcription by Ben Lerner , considering themes of distortion, truth, parenthood, memory, and of course, transcription. In addition to discussing technology and smartphones, we get into the strangeness of dreams, and the ways liminal spaces appear in this novel. Finally, we consider what a novel actually is, and what it is for - especially in today's technological day...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti talk about Galatea 2.2 by Richard Powers. Published in 1995, it describes a group of scientists who are attempting to create an intelligent machine that they can feed the great classics of literature. We get into the ethics of the situation, its similarities and differences to the current AI crisis, and draw comparisons to the many versions of the Pygmalion myth th...

Shruti and Neha dive in to The Candy House by Jennifer Egan, a kaleidoscopic novel of connected short stories set in a world where our memories can be uploaded to the cloud. We talk about the parts of the book that were successful, some aspects that we didn't love, and what Egan was ultimately trying to say about our relationship to technology. Shelf Discovery: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jenni...

In this episode of The Novel Tea, Shruti and Neha introduce Season 8: Technology. We talk about the way technology has become integrated into our lives, share thoughts on the AI crisis, and share some books we've enjoyed that have explored technology and its implications. And, of course, we share the six books we'll be reading together over the next few months. Books Mentioned The Dream Hotel by L...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti tackle the natural world in books - we zoom out to consider the eight books we discussed this season, talking about our favorite and least favorite reads, themes that emerged, and questions it raises about what fiction is for, and the way we read. Plus, we share tons of books recommendations, and talk about the books next up on our TBRs. Books Mentioned: Into Thin...

In this episode Shruti and Neha discuss the great American classic, Moby Dick , by Herman Melville. We discuss the book's themes of otherness and obsession, but we also get in to so much more, including its racism and (maybe?) progressiveness, naturalism and Darwin, H.P. Lovecraft, and prophecies. Finally, we ponder its status as a classic; does this book deserve to stand the test of time? Links:...

Shruti and Neha discuss Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, a novel of three stories that unfold over the course of one Appalachian summer. We discuss themes of female desire, fertility, familial love, and harmony. We also make connections between characters and their symbolic representations, discover a new critical lens to read through, and question the veracity of 'moon cycles.' Shelf Discove...

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Seedkeeper by Diane Wilson, exploring themes of reclamation, integration, and motherhood. We share some historical context, discuss the book's structure, and weigh in on the key relationships in the novel. Books Mentioned & Shelf Discovery Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel The Night Watchman by Loui...

Shruti and Neha discuss Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy, a story of a young woman trying to reintroduce wolves into the wild in the Scottish Highlands, only to find a darker side of the town that has troubling echoes with her own past. We discuss the story through the themes of instinct, villainy, and monsters. We also share some context on real-world conservation efforts, and get in...

Author Alli Hoff Kosik joins us to discuss her new book Too Blessed to Stress , a novel following four Christian influencers as they navigate their online lives and deal with private struggles becoming public. We talk about communication and the internet as tools of power, how gossip can be wielded for good and for evil, and the ways social media has begun to appear in novels in a variety of ways....

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Greenwood , a multigenerational family saga tied together with a repeating motif of trees and forests. We discuss themes of legacy, inheritance, nature, and addiction, and we also share our critiques of the book, from its character construction to its central message. Interview with Michael Christie Shelf Discovery: What We Can Know by Ian McEwan The Overst...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Annihilation , the first book of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy. We discuss its world building, character development, and share our many theories about the central mystery and the book's ending. Shelf Discovery & Books Mentioned: His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher Piranesi by Susanna Clarke If you would...

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss What We Can Know , Ian McEwan's latest speculative novel about a lost poem, climate change, and the power of stories. We discuss this novel through the themes of memory and preservation, and talk about our differing opinions on some of the major twists in the novel. Shelf Discovery & Books Mentioned: Possession by A.S. Byatt Station Eleven by Emily St....

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Jon Krakauer's famous account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, Into Thin Air . They discuss his chosen narration style, clarify what actually happened on that mountain, and talk about the role of a writer in controlling their story. Shelf Discovery The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin The Call of the Wild by Jack London If you would like to get a...

New year, new season! In this episode we introduce the theme for our upcoming season, The Natural World - then we get into the eight books we'll be discussing over the next few months. Vote for your choice of novel here Books Mentioned: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer What We Can Know by Ian McEwan Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer Greenwood by Michael C...

In our final episode of 2025, we talk about what our reading lives were like this year, and discuss our stand-out reads through superlatives. Listen in to hear the best page-turners, best characters, and most unexpected reads we encountered this year, to name a few! Books Mentioned The Margot Affair by Sanae Lemoine Diary of a Void by Emi Yogi The Bee Sting by Paul Murray The Wall by Marlen Hausho...

Get your TBR lists ready, because in this wrap up episode we talk all about the books we read in Season 6, and then welcome David and Melissa of Strong Sense of Place for a special guest segment! They tell us about their favorite travels, settings they've loved, and unique books that have transported them. We also get into our issues with short stories, and discuss ways to get into reading them. B...

In this episode Neha and Shruti discuss The Museum of Innocence , by Nobel prize winner Orhan Pamuk, through themes of narcissism and honor. We discuss the idea of legacy, cultural norms and the patriarchy, and the way that the book's framing affects the way we interpret the story. Plus, we talk through the book's intriguing ending and reach new insights about what the book is trying to do, and it...

In this episode, Shruti and Neha travel to Mumbai in Rohinton Mistry's Booker shortlisted novel Such a Long Journey , through themes of forgiveness, miracles, and misfortunes. We discuss the novel's loveable and sometimes frustrating characters, the symbolism of animals, and the looming specter of death in daily life. Books Mentioned & Shelf Discovery A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry Family M...

Neha and Shruti discuss the speculative novel The City We Became , a story about New York City's five avatars who must band together to defend the city from a looming enemy. We discuss our thoughts on the book's premise and structure, get into H.P Lovecraft's legacy of horror and racism, and more! Books Mentioned & Shelf Discovery: The Call of Cthulu by H.P. Lovecraft Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Zadie Smith's debut novel, White Teeth. We talk about themes of religion, inheritance, class, history, and the need for control; we explore what those 'white teeth' in the title might mean; and finally we get into our issues with the book, and discuss the genre of Hysterical Realism. Links: Human, All Too Inhuman by James Wood How White Teeth transcends its...

Virginia Woolf's incredible novel Mrs. Dalloway turns 100 this year! Shruti and Neha talk about this book and its themes of perception, inadequacy, memory, illness, and death. They discuss the effect of the past on the characters, the book's imperialist and pro-colonialism project, and the disappearance of the narrator. Books Mentioned & Shelf Discovery: On Being Ill by Virginia Woolf Culture...

Neha and Shruti discuss Brooklyn , a historical novel about a young woman who immigrates from Ireland to America in the 1950s, through the themes of family and duty. We discuss the character of Eilis Lacey and her passivity, Tóibín's spare writing style, and the various forces pulling at the characters in this book. We also draw comparisons to Henry James, and share a few thoughts on the movie ada...