Novel Pairings

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents." So begins the book that launched a million little girls' love affair with reading. While we here at Novel Pairings have pretty mixed feelings about Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, our discussion of this beloved childhood classic is one of our favorites.  Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without some discussion of Little Women, so whether you lo...

Here at Novel Pairings, if there's one thing we love almost as much as reading it's supporting independent bookstores. Today, we're re-airing an interview with one of our favorite indie bookstore insiders, Annie B. Jones, owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia. Annie shares a little about her own reading life and tastes, and offers some sweet and moving book pairings for one of her favorit...

We love revisiting our favorite books for episodes of Novel Pairings, but there's also something truly special about finding a new-to-us classic that becomes a forever favorite. There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset was a book neither of us had read or even knew much about before deciding to cover it on the podcast.  What we found was a beautiful and nuanced novel of manners that both echoed...

Our penchant for pairings goes far beyond books and in today's gift guide rerelease we're offering a variety of suggestions for what to give the literary minded loved ones in your life. Each book and gift pairing is put together with a particular type of reader in mind to help you find the perfect holiday gift no matter who you're shopping for this season.  Our Gift Guide: https://novelpairings.co...

When we first released our episode on Passing by Nella Larsen in June of 2020, we were already professing our excitement for the new movie starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Nega. This month, the film is finally releasing on Netflix.  We can't wait to watch and see how the palpable tension and twisty tone translate to the screen. This episode contains spoilers, but we give you ample warning so feel...

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. We've read this story more times than we can count—as students and as teachers, and today we're sharing new insights and appreciation for its themes, tone, and terrifying ending. We cover connections to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's biography, historical context, and deeper analysis as we talk through this 1892 classi...

Today, we welcome Raelyn Torngren to the podcast to educate us on the horror genre. From defining tropes to engaging in literary criticism to offering excellent book recommendations, we cover a lot of ground! This episode is excellent for readers who are ready to lean into their darker tastes this season or readers who are new to the genre. You can find Raelyn on Instagram @reading.reverie and fol...

This season we've been getting into the autumnal mood with Gothic short stories, Victorian fiction, and an upcoming exploration of horror literature. Today, we're rereleasing our episode on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a work that fits perfectly into our seasonal theme.  We hope listening or relistening to our discussion about this classroom staple will be enhanced by all the additional Gothic con...

In case you missed it, we're reading Middlemarch together! We're both excited (and, let's be honest) a little apprehensive about diving into George Eliot's Middlemarch with you this fall and winter. This is a BIG book filled with lots of historical references and Eliot's signature attention to the smallest of details. It's also a cozy and thoughtful depiction of a small town that brings us relatio...

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. This delightfully creepy story ushers in (that pun was NOT intended, but let's go with it) chilling fall breezes, spooky October vibes, and atmosphere galore. We walk through a close reading of this classic horror story and cover Poe's signature writing style and the horror tropes he plays with here, leaving a leg...

Today, Sara and Chelsey share the backlist books they're putting on their To Be Read lists for the next few months. We speculate on which books will carry us through the early days of motherhood and which reading formats might work best in a totally unpredictable season. This episode is for anyone who wants to read more backlist, readers who have a hard time focusing right now, and bookworms eager...

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss chapters 27 through the end of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. We discuss Jane's journeys from coming of age to literally hiking on the moors, the juxtaposition of Rochester and another romantic interest, the ending (of course), and whether or not we think this qualifies as a "feminist text." Plus, we offer six pairings that touch on the tone, themes, and legacy of B...

When Chelsey and Sara found out we were both expecting new family members, literally just a few days apart, many conversations of course turned to all things pregnancy and baby. We wanted to consider how motherhood would impact our reading lives and today we're thrilled to have Anne Bogel on the podcast to talk about raising readers and reading in the hazy newborn days. Anne is an author, blogger,...

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss chapters 1-26 of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. We've each read this Victorian Gothic novel multiple times, learning something new with each reread. In today's conversation, we reflect on past reading experiences and dive into analysis. We share our thoughts on the early coming of age chapters, Jane and Rochester's romance, and what's going on in the attic at Thornf...

Today, Sara and Chelsey share some of their favorite tips for getting the most out of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre . Our tips include some general advice for reading a dense Victorian novel alongside our thoughts about the genre conventions and stylistic elements of Jane Eyre that can enhance your reading of this novel in particular. This episode is designed to help you get the most out of this no...

Today, Sara and Chelsey reflect on their summer reading season with short reviews of their favorite reads, and they look ahead to their upcoming fall season. Do you enjoy hearing about our recent reads? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get weekly reading updates and podcast news or joining our Patreon community, where we share bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and a whole bunch of book talk at p...

Today, Sara and Chelsey gush about a new favorite novel-in-short-stories: The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor. We focus on Naylor's memorable prose and mastery of structure, avoiding spoilers so you can listen before reading. Plus, as always, we offer six contemporary pairings that capture similar themes, featuring short story collections and well-crafted memoirs. For more bonus episodes,...

Influenced by a delightful book club discussion with Stacey Swann, author of Olympus, Texas , Chelsey and Sara share a pile of  mythology-inspired books in today's TBR toppling episode. Myth retellings and adaptations might be a hot trend in publishing right now, but their popularity dates back centuries. In today's discussion, Chelsey and Sara explore the resurgence of Greek mythology, what makes...

Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss a melodramatic classroom staple: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. We relive our classroom experiences, investigate why this play is still taught, and dig into the iconic characters made famous by Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh in the 1951 film adaptation. Plus, as always, we offer six contemporary pairings that capture similar themes. For more bonus e...

We have an extra special Friday bonus episode for you! We've expressed our love for Laurie Frankel and her new book One Two Three on the podcast. Today, we're sharing an episode from Storybound, in which Laurie reads an excerpt from her book. This is paired with an original piece of music to make an immersive soundscape of original music and sound effects.  Storybound comes to you from The Podglom...

Today, Sara and Chelsey share their favorite books of the year (so far) with a series of bookish superlatives to guide them. From most surprising to most disappointing, we discuss the books that have shaped our reading lives in the first half of 2021. We love this low pressure format for sharing "the best" books and would love to hear about YOUR favorites, using our superlatives list. For more bon...

Chelsey and Sara discuss The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton*, a glittering Gilded Age classic that feels particularly relevant today. We chat about our experiences rereading one of Wharton's early novels, how we felt about the divisive character Lily Bart, and our recommendations for contemporary pairings—including one of our favorite essay collections and a coming of age novel set at a boarding...

Today in "Short Story Club," Chelsey and Sara are discussing "The Prairie Wife" by Curtis Sittenfeld . It's a quick, absorbing read about summer camp, social media, and how stories shape our identities.  We'd love to hear your thoughts on it! Note: Short Story Club episodes do contain spoilers. Read the story first, and then come back to hear our nerdy discussion. Join our Patreon community for an...

Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss The Summer Book by Tove Jansson*, a contemplative and vivid book in translation about a young girl, her grandmother, and the little island they inhabit. We discuss our favorite vignettes, the endearing characters, and our recommendations for contemporary pairings—including memoir, literary fiction, and poetry.  *This episode is spoiler-free. For more bonus episodes,...

Today, Sara and Chelsey share their favorite classic and contemporary sweeping family sagas. We recommend intergenerational stories that take place over decades or centuries—or across multiple continents. We also define and discuss this sub genre and speculate about why it's become such a popular phrase in publishing. Do you have a favorite novel that fits on our list? For more bonus episodes, ner...