The Novel Tea

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...

In this episode we discuss Bangkok Wakes to Rain , a novel of interconnected stories set in Krung Thep (Bangkok) over several decades. We discuss how the idea of time is explored through the story, and how each character encounters displacement in their own way. We then get into a conversation about aging, beauty trends, and the afterlife, before our final Filter the Chai and Shelf Discovery segme...

Welcome to a new season! Today we’re talking all about cities in literature – what cities represent, what ‘setting as character’ really means, and books we’ve read that really capture the magic of cities. We then share the seven books we’ll be reading this season, along with context and background, and the themes and elements we’ll be paying attention to as we read. Books Mentioned: Uglies by Scot...

In this episode we zoom out and talk about all the books we covered over the past few months, discussing favorites and least favorites, as well as highlighting some themes that emerged, including strong settings and ‘the madwoman’ in literature. We then get into adaptation theory – some background on adaptations, and what we think makes a good adaptation (with a few tangents into the upcoming Harr...

In this episode we talk all about All's Well , a novel that is in part a retelling, in part an homage to theater, and a completely wild ride of a book. We discuss the way perception plays into the story, and how repetition functions to serve the narrative - and of course, we explore All's Well That Ends Well and MacBeth , the two plays at the heart of this novel. Shelf Discovery: Bunny by Mona Awa...

Neha and Shruti discuss Home Fire , a retelling of Antigone set in the present day that explores questions of family, loyalty, beliefs, and legacy. We share some background about Sophocles' Antigone to help ground the discussion, discuss the parts of the novel that we loved, and share some of our issues with its construction. And as always, we share book recommendations in our Shelf Discovery segm...

In this special bonus episode, we are so excited to be joined by Izzy of What the Austen? as we talk all things relating to Austen adaptations! We discuss what makes a good adaptation, and that special quality to Austen's prose and which movies and TV shows succeed at capturing her magic. And, of course, we talk about our favorite (and least favorite) screen adaptations! Follow Izzy on her Youtube...