The Novel Tea

In our last episode before our summer hiatus, Neha and Shruti zoom out to look at the big picture. We discuss some broader themes that crop up in all of the books, including the city vs. the country, movement, safety, and hope. We also talk about the theme of season one, The American Dream - where it came from, how it has evolved, and how it may represent something new for the 21st century. If you...

Jazz, a lyrical and complex story about passion and fear in urban life, is one of Toni Morrison's most unique books. Neha and Shruti talk about violence and ambition as central themes, explore how Morrison draws on traditions of Black art and expression, and come away with more questions than answers. If you would like to hear more in-depth literary and cultural analysis, curated book recommendati...

Shruti and Neha read and cry about Crying in H Mart, a memoir by Michelle Zauner, best known as singer and songwriter for Japanese Breakfast. We talk about the mother-daughter relationship, family dynamics in an Asian household, and the importance of food as an expression of love. If you would like to hear more in-depth literary and cultural analysis, curated book recommendations, and critical com...

After reading The Last White Man, Neha and Shruti had mixed feelings. In this episode, we discuss the captivating idea behind the book, its questionable execution, and different ways that authors can play with a novel's form. If you would like to hear more in-depth literary and cultural analysis, curated book recommendations, and critical commentary, subscribe to our free newsletter . You can also...

We loved Passing so much that we had to do another episode. Shruti and Neha take a deep dive into the complicated relationship between Irene and Clare, discuss its parallels to Mean Girls, and ruminate some more on the book’s mysterious ending. We also discuss the 2021 Netflix movie adaptation. If you would like to hear more in-depth literary and cultural analysis, curated book recommendations, an...

Neha and Shruti introduce their first book pair! Passing by Nella Larsen, and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, published nearly 100 years apart, perfectly complement one another as they both revolve around themes of race, discrimination, identity, and belonging. We discuss similarities and differences between the characters and their choices, compare our reading experiences, and gush over the b...

In The Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich introduces us to a rich cast of characters in weaving a story based on her grandfather's fight against Native American dispossession. We work our way through some confusing moments of magical realism, and discuss the importance of passing on these kinds of stories to new generations of readers. If you would like to hear more in-depth literary and cultural anal...

For our first book, Neha and Shruti discuss The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - one of the first books we ever read that resonated with us as first generation immigrants, and third culture kids. We explore how our feelings have changed re-reading the book all these years later, and reflect on how relevant immigrant stories are to every generation. If you would like to hear more in-depth literary and c...

Welcome to The Novel Tea! We are so excited to launch this podcast. In this short trailer, we introduce ourselves and give a brief overview of how our episodes will be structured. You'll also hear some teasers for the episodes to come. Stay tuned for book discussions coming soon, and follow us on Instagram @thenoveltea.pod to find out what our first book will be! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...