Between The Covers

This week, Jay goes rogue and chooses a whole trilogy of books as the next entry on his list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. He and Stacey discuss the theology behind what Pullman never meant to be young-adult literature, even if the main characters are young people. The page-turning fantasy novels are a very engaging delivery dev...

Something in the King Arthur canon was bound to make it onto Jay’s list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language, and this week Jay and Stacey discuss the linked novellas that comprise this modern classic, the historical influences on White and the new takes that make this novel officially Lovable. Chaos Reader finally gets reading again with one of the New York Times best fiction bo...

This week our married authors discuss Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair, the most recent entry on Jay Ruud’s list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language. The novel focuses on the jealousy and obsession that come to the narrator Maurice after his lover Sarah ends their illicit relationship for her own reasons in the tumultuous time after WWII has ended in England. Chaos reader c...

A coming-of-age story about two boys, Owen and John, growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in rural New Hampshire. While the premise may seem unremarkable and relatable, there is nothing normal about Owen. Chaos Reader also checks in with a recommendation for Princess Diana-philes.

This week’s entry on the 200 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language list is Things Fall Apart by Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe. We talk about Okonkwo, whose life is destroyed by colonialism’s effects on his community. Even if it sounds heavy, Jay makes a case for its lovability and ranks it on his ongoing list. Chaos Reader also checks in.

Jay and Stacey discuss the iconic, influential novel (novella?) by Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. The journey of the plot is also a journey of the soul for the characters and their country, as well as an indictment of colonialism. Chaos Reader also reports for duty.

Jay and Stacey discuss Virginia Woolf's masterpiece, entering the life of the mind of Clarissa Dalloway and her social set in this watershed novel of the early 20th century. Chaos reader talks about her own novel, Mr. Catherine. 

This week's entry on Jay Ruud's 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language is Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel, Night Watch, a time-traveling fantasy on a flat planet that considers the nature of power, the repetition of history and the role of the moral individual in relationship to autocratic government. And it's funny! Jay considers how he chose this novel from the pantheon of Pratchett's...

Jay's entry on his 100 Most Lovable Books List this week is one of Stacey's most loved books ever. Join them for their discussion of 1870s New York and its moneyed high society as Wharton's Newland Archer navigates his own conflicting desires for social convention or social rebellion. And chaos reader picks up another favorite reread as well.

Jay and Stacey discuss the comedy-sci-fi twentieth-century classic The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, chatting about the first novel in the franchise, which is the gateway-drug to the international sales juggernaut of the six-novel franchise. And chaos reader weighs in with a novel that feels completely opposite of Hitchhiker, Jane Eyre.

Jay and Stacey discuss a novel dear to both of their hearts, George Eliot's Middlemarch, where marriage, aspiration, ambition and social class shape the lives of characters in a small English community in the 1800s. Eliot has written of England's past in her lovable novel, just as Edith Wharton has written of the Old New York of her childhood in Chaos Reader's pick this week, The Age of Innocence....

Even posh Brits have family problems, and Evelyn Waugh's exploration of the aristocratic Flyte family through the perspective of upwardly-mobile Charles Ryder touches on the allure of a bygone era, religion and the waning of privilege in 20th century Great Britain. Join us for a discussion of why this novel is lovable... and check in with Chaos Reader, too.

Sarah Waters' novel The Little Stranger is a surprise addition to the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language list, but after this discussion of how this gothic novel illuminates 20th century Britain and the ghosts of past ways of life that may continue to haunt us all, you'll likely be adding it to your list. We introduce a new feature this week, a friend of the pod sharing her favorite b...

Jay and Stacey discuss Colson Whitehead's masterpiece, The Nickel Boys, and how the exploration of a great American tragedy can still produce a lovable novel. And chaos reader weighs in, too. 

Jay and Stacey explore Robert Penn Warren's ALL THE KING'S MEN in this week's entry in Jay's list of the 100 Most Lovable Novels in the English Language. This 80-year-old American political novel is as relevant now as it was in 1946 when Warren crafted the story of the charismatic and flawed governor Willie Stark and the moral journey of those around him.

Alice Walker's Pulitzer-Prize winning novel The Color Purple is one of those Big Deal books, but what makes this story of the degradation and the triumph of two sisters in the American South lovable to read? Jay talks about why it landed on his list and Chaos Reader chimes in with this week's pick.

Billy Pilgrim is unstuck in time. He survives the firebombing of Dresden and goes to the planet Tralfamador. But don't worry: Death is only in your imagination. #SlaughterhouseFive #KurtVonnegut #BookPodcast #Podcast #SciFiBooks #SoItGoes #Tralfamadore #ClassicBooks #BookTube #BetweenTheCovers #BookTok #BookLovers   https://linktr.ee/betweenthecoverspodcast

It’s the most read-able time of the year! In this festive episode of Between the Covers with Jay and Stacey, we’re diving into the books that have made our holidays brighter—whether they were wrapped under the tree, gifted in a pinch, or devoured by the fireplace. Tune in to hear stories of favorite books, favorite gifted books, and a whole lot of last minute gift ideas.  All the Links  https://li...

Pack your bags because we’re heading to Victorian England with David Copperfield—no, not the magician, the original hero of Charles Dickens’s masterpiece! This isn’t just another coming-of-age story; it’s a rollercoaster of life’s highs, lows, and all the colorful characters in between. In this episode of Between the Covers, we spill the tea on Dickens’s most personal novel, from slimy villains li...

Holden Caulfield is calling—and we’re answering! This week, we’re diving into J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Why does this angsty teenager’s story still resonate? Join us as Between The Covers looks at what makes this book unforgettable and where it belongs on the 100 most loveable books!      https://linktr.ee/betweenthecoverspodcast #ilovebooks #betweenthecovers #bestbooks #bestbookstor...

In this episode, we journey into the heart of Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children,” a novel that masterfully blends history with magical realism. We explore Rushdie’s rich prose, the novel’s profound themes, and its enduring impact on literature. Join us for an engaging discussion that will inspire you to experience this Booker Prize-winning masterpiece firsthand. Links    https://linktr.ee/betw...

Get ready to relive the emotional rollercoaster of Ian McEwan’s “Atonement”! In this special rerun, Jay and Stacey dive deep into this unforgettable story of love, betrayal, and the power of forgiveness. We’ll explore the twists and turns that make this novel a must-read and why it has secured a spot on our list of the 100 most lovable books. Whether it’s your first listen or you’re joining us aga...

Hold onto your carrots, folks! This week on Between the Covers, Jay and Stacey tumble down the rabbit hole into the wacky and wild world of Richard Adams’ Watership Down! We’re talking high-stakes bunny drama—think Game of Thrones but with more fur and fewer betrayals (well, maybe the same amount of betrayals). Join us as we discuss how a band of fluffy fugitives turned a quiet meadow into the set...

Ready to dive into a world where magic, art, and superheroes collide? In this episode of Between the Covers with Jay and Stacey, we’re unmasking the brilliance of Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Join us as we explore the thrilling escapades of two Jewish cousins in 1930s New York City who create a comic book superhero that takes the world by storm. From daring escap...

🌟 An adventure packed with mystery, magic, and unforgettable characters. We unravel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. Jay and Stacey take you on Milkman Dead’s epic journey—filled with family secrets, quests for identity, and the mystical allure of flight. We’ll break down why this novel is a must-read with its unforgettable characters and poetic prose that stay with you long after the final page...