Is This Book a Classic?

In this episode, Grace and Liz read Toni Morrison’s Sula and discuss why it’s been considered a classic.  What can Sula tell us about the mystery of identity? How are friendships affected when people take different life paths? Why is this book still so relevant today? These are just some of the questions they ask in the episode.  Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠ All links can b...

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend and talk about whether it will one day be considered a classic.  What can the novel teach us about girlhood and our understanding of female friendships? Do you consider yourself more of an Elena or a Lila? Will My Brilliant Friend one day be given a place in the literary canon? They discuss this and more in the podcast. We...

In this episode, Grace and Liz read Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and discuss why it’s been considered a classic.  First published in 1847, the novel follows the story of Heathcliff, an orphan adopted into the Earnshaw family. Hindley Earnshaw, the eldest brother in the family, grows jealous of Heathcliff and is frequently cruel to him. His sister Cathy, however, becomes close to the orphan and...

In this episode, Liz and Trudy read Han Kang’s “The Vegetarian” and talk about whether it will one day be considered a classic.  The story follows a quote ‘unremarkable’ woman who, following a series of strange and violent dreams, decides to become a vegetarian. The novel tracks how this decision goes on to impact her relationships with the characters around her, resulting in a series of strange a...

In this episode, Grace and Liz read Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and discuss why it’s been considered a classic.  First published in 1897, the novel revolves around Count Dracula, a vampire from Transylvania who seeks to move to London. Jonathan Harker, a lawyer, Mina, his fiancée, Lucy, her friend, and John Seward, a doctor with a mysterious patient, all fall prey to the dangerous influence of Dracula...

In this episode, Liz and Trudy read Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” and talk about whether it will one day be considered a classic.  In this episode, Liz and Trudy ask why the Twilight series became the subject of such ridicule online. At one time, fans of the books were the butt of late-night jokes, they were ranted about by YouTubers and in 2009, a group of people actually stormed Comic-Con and sho...

In this episode, Liz and Grace read Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr Ripley” and discuss why it’s been considered a classic.  Is Tom the villain, or the hero of the book? Why do we find ourselves rooting for him? What made Patricia Highsmith so radical? And why are we still talking about her work? These are just some of the questions they ask in the podcast.  Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclas...

In this episode, Liz and Lily discuss Donna Tartt’s iconic novel “The Secret History”. In it, they talk aesthetics, immorality and elitism as they debate the book that launched a thousand dark academia books.  Why has this novel been such a popular success? What should we make of Donna Tartt’s portrayal of women? What makes dark academia so alluring – and why does it always seem to involve the hum...

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and why it’s been considered a classic.  Is Mr Darcy actually the villain of the book? Has Mrs Bennet been overlooked? Why do we love the “enemies to lovers” trope? What makes “Pride and Prejudice” so great? And is it Jane Austen’s best book? These are just some of the questions Liz and Grace explore in the podcast.  Websit...

In this episode, Liz and Trudy turn their attention to the ultimate cool girl novel: Sally Rooney’s “Normal People”. Heavily promoted, widely loved and critically acclaimed, “Normal People” is a knockout success. This episode looks at whether that popular success could translate into critical longevity as a classic.  Here, Liz and Trudy talk “Sad Girl Literature”, millennial disaffection and diffi...

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Thomas Hardy’s “Jude the Obscure”. Why was this Hardy's most controversial novel? Why do depressing books matter? How was Hardy ahead of his time? And why did he gain a place in the canon? These are just some of the questions Liz and Grace will be asking in the podcast. All links can be found on our Instagram Cover art: @jinny_lee_photography Music: Isla Cumm...

“Misery porn” or a bona fide classic? Liz and Trudy discuss love, trauma, and friendship as they debate the book that has shaken both critics and the internet. “A Little Life” follows four friends who, after graduating, move to New York City and attempt to navigate their adult lives. As they grow and their complex relationships evolve, Yanagihara grapples with one key question: can anyone truly re...