Novel Pairings

Today in “Short Story Club,” Chelsey and Sara are discussing “Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler. This post-pandemic story about the importance of language and communication feels incredibly prescient and relevant, like all of Butler’s work. “Speech Sounds” is a highly discussable, quick read. We’d love to hear your thoughts on it! Join our Patreon community for an extended Short Story Club discussion on Discord.  Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter.  Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. . . . . . . These links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Novel Pairings will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! Chelsey’s Pairings: Speak by Laurie Hals Anderson (Amazon) Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements  (Amazon) Sara’s Pairings: Vox by Christina Dalcher  (Amazon) Severance by Ling Ma  (Amazon) Picks of the week: Chelsey: Why Octavia Butler’s novels feel so relevant today Sara: Blindness by José Saramago

Today Chelsey and Sara are discussing Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. We both loved this evocative, ground-breaking classic and couldn’t wait to dig into its setting, themes, and stunning writing. As usual, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with Baldwin’s classic, including poignant YA novels, memoir, and essays. For access to our upcoming  class on literary theory and a book club style discussion of Baldwin’s novel later this month,  join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores. Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Find trigger warnings for each book mentioned today on our blog: novelpairings.com Skip to the pairings with this timestamp: [31:00] . . . . . . Chelsey Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian (Amazon) How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones (Amazon) James Baldwin: The Last Interview and Other Conversations (Amazon) Sara Real Life by Brandon Taylor (Amazon) Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski (Amazon) Here for It, or How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas (Amazon)   Also mentioned: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (Amazon) If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (Amazon) Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin (Amazon)   Picks of the week: Chelsey: Paris Blues (1961) Sara: I Am Not Your Negro

We couldn’t close our immersive Pride and Prejudice experience without sharing a bunch of book recommendations for readers who want to stay with Elizabeth and Darcy awhile longer. Today, Chelsey and Sara share their favorite and least favorite Pride and Prejudice pastiche, sequels, adaptations, and retellings.    For more Austen nerdiness, including a class on Jane Austen and a bonus episode on Regency customs, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com. Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.   Sequels, Pastiche, and Alternate Perspectives The Next Great Jane by K.L. Going (Amazon) Longbourn by Jo Baker (Amazon) Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (Amazon) The Clergyman’s Wife by Molly Greeley (Amazon) The Heiress by Molly Greeley (Amazon) First Impressions by Charlie Lovett (Amazon) The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow (Amazon) Cozy Classics (Amazon) Babylit Counting (Amazon)   Retellings Pride by Ibi Zoboi (Amazon) Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin (Amazon) Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (Amazon) Heartstone by Elle K. White (Amazon) Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev (Amazon) Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev (Amazon) Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal (Amazon) Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding (Amazon) Unequal Affections by Laura S. Ormiston (Amazon)   Also mentioned Why are so many romance novels set in the Regency period? Regency romance recommendations And a few more Regency romances Death Comes to Pemberley TV adaptation

In today’s episode, Chelsey and Sara discuss Part Two of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and share their contemporary pairings for romantic and insightful books that feature similar themes. We talk about the sweeping drama, swoony moments, and satisfying ending of the second half of Lizzie and Darcy’s love story, with plenty of nerdy asides. This episode covers Chapters 35-61 or Volume II, Chapter 12 - Volume III.  For more Austen nerdiness, including a class on Jane Austen and a bonus episode on Regency customs, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com. Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.   Skip to the pairings with this timestamp: [49:35]   Shop the pairings with our affiliate links below: . . . . . . . . Chelsey’s Pairings The Next Great Jane by K.L. Going (Amazon) The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa (Amazon) Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (Amazon) Sara’s Pairings Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (Amazon) Red , White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (Amazon) The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (Amazon)   Sara's pick of the week: Austenland Chelsey's pick of the week: Austen ASMR room

We’re back with another TBR toppling episode! Today,  Chelsey and Sara pair brand new and upcoming spring book releases with backlist titles that share similar themes, plotlines, or settings. We haven’t read all of these new releases, so our pairings are based on speculation and best guesses. If you pick up any of the books we mention today, we’d love to hear about it!  Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Check out our show notes to see every title in this episode on our blog.  For more literary content, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores. Books mentioned: These links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Novel Pairings will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! Out in March 3/2/2021 Infinite Country by Patricia Engel (Amazon) Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Lopero (Amazon)   What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster (Amazon) Nice White Parents podcast The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet (Amazon) There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset (Amazon)   3/9/2021 Brood by Jackie Polzin (Amazon) My Antonia by Willa Cather (Amazon) Barn 8 by Deb Olin Unswerth (Amazon)   The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chonda Prescod-Weinstein (Amazon) Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi (Amazon) Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Amazon)   The Salt Fields by Stacy D. Flood (Amazon) The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (Amazon) Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward (Amazon)   3/16/2021 That Way Madness Lies by Dahlia Adler (Amazon) His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler (Amazon) Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (Amazon) The Radical Element by Jessica Spotswood (Amazon) All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell (Amazon) Because You Love to Hate Me by Amerie (Amazon)   Lolita in the Afterlife by Jenny Minton Quigley (Amazon) Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov (Amazon) Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (Amazon) Excavation by Wendy C. Oriz (Amazon) My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (Amazon) Living with Shakespeare by Susannah Carson (Amazon) 3/23/2021 There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura (Amazon) Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (Amazon)   3/30/2021 Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge (Amazon) Everything Inside by Edwinge Danticat (Amazon)   Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce (Amazon) Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole (Amazon)   Libro.fm Reads The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins Culture Warlords by Talia Lavin Here for It by R. Eric Thomas   Out in April 4/6/2021 Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi (Amazon) Snowpiercer by Jaques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette (Amazon) Stream Snowpiercer or Parasite   Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian (Amazon) Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (Amazon)   4/8/2021 Hamlet by Gillian Flynn Anything in the Hogarth Shakespeare project   4/13/2021 Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin (Amazon) Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin (Amazon) Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (Amazon) Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (Amazon)   4/27/2021 Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Salfe (Amazon) Ellen @reading_theend Life After Life by Kate Atkinison (Amazon) Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore (Amazon) The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab (Amazon)   Out in May 5/4/2021 The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (Amazon) Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (Amazon) Maintenance Phase podcast   Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead (Amazon) Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead  (Amazon) Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead  (Amazon) Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (Amazon) Amelia Earhart by Doris Rich (Amazon)   Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon (Amazon) Beloved by Toni Morrison (Amazon) Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (Amazon)   5/25/2021 While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams (Amazon) The Coyotes of Carthage by Steven Wright (Amazon)   The Guncle by Steven Rawley (Amazon) Be Frank With Me by Julia Claybourn Johnson (Amazon) Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (Amazon)   Out in June  6/1/2021 The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Amazon) Passing by Nella Larsen (Amazon) The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell (Amazon) Luster by Raven Leilani (Amazon)

In today’s episode, Chelsey and Sara discuss Part One of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, including fond memories of reading the book and in-depth character analysis. (Plus plenty of gushing about Darcy and Elizabeth and MORE). We’d love for you to read along with us this month! Part One covers Chapters 1-34 or Volume I-Volume II, Chapter 11. You can listen to this episode before reading to guide you through Part One or after reading to feel like you’re in book club! For more Austen nerdiness, join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, annotated and edited by David Shapard Teacher Scholarships for Oxford Summer Program: https://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/study_abroad_for_teachers/programs_1/oxforduniv/ Learn a Regency dance: https://youtu.be/YaHoNnedp1g Sparknotes Character Analysis: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/characters/ The Proposal Scenes: https://youtu.be/h-CJ2CioJVc https://youtu.be/tWx7AF8B0R8 https://youtu.be/yBqyLoWtYg8 https://youtu.be/IGr8QbWY19s Picks of the week: The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After by Elizabeth Kantor  The Lizzie Bennet Diaries on Youtube

We’re sharing our top five tips for reading Jane Austen’s novels with you, whether you’re a frequent re-reader or new to her work. Today’s episode is meant to help you get the most out of any Austen novel, but we hope you’ll read Pride and Prejudice with us this month! To celebrate one year of podcasting and the launch of our new Patreon community, we’re enjoying all things Austen for the whole month of March with discussion episodes and a bunch of bonus content (available for our Classics Club members on Patreon). To sign up, go to patreon.com/novelpairings and listen in to hear about our plans for the Classics Club this month.  Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info and connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter.  Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores. March 9th Episode: Part One (we’ll discuss Chapter 1-34 or Volume I-Volume II, Chapter 11) March 23rd Episode: Part Two (we’ll discuss the rest of the book and share our pairings)   1. Listen to the audiobook Amazon: Rosamund Pike Libro.fm: Kate Redding, Emilia Fox, Elizabeth Klett and Karen Savage   2. Research some Regency customs Sparknotes context Historical context The Georgian Era (and more in our upcoming Patreon class!)   3. Investigate Jane Austen’s writing style Free indirect discourse Austen’s voice Austen Said Irony and Elizabeth Bennett   4. Use Sparknotes, LitCharts, or Schmoop   5. Watch a film adaptation Our favorite: 1995 BBC series on Hulu Most popular: 2005 film on Peacock or Amazon Prime Throwback: 1980 film on Amazon Prime  

Today, Chelsey and Sara share some stand-out titles they read over the winter season, including amazing audiobooks, short story collections, and page-turning romance. These quarterly wrap-ups include reflections on our winter season, previews of what’s coming up, and a bunch of book recommendations. We can’t wait to hear what you think of our favorites from the quarter. Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores. Books mentioned:   Chelsey: Whiteout by Adriana Anders (Amazon) Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (Amazon) The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (Amazon) The Toni Morrison Book Club (Amazon) Wintering by Katherine May (Amazon) Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (Amazon)   Sara: My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland (Amazon) On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee (Amazon) Anna K by Jenny Lee (Amazon) Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain (Amazon) Disability Visibility, edited by Alice Wong (Amazon) Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (Amazon)   Also mentioned: The Head on HBO Max Deesha Philyaw on The Stacks Podcast   Spring lineup: March 9th & 23rd: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen April 6th: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin April 20th: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut May 4th: In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez May 18th: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Today Chelsey and Sara are discussing The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter. This collection of twisted, Gothic fairytales is perfect for fans of Rebecca, Jane Eyre, or Edgar Allan Poe. We’re keeping this episode spoiler-free, though we do discuss specific aspects of several stories. We loved connecting this collection across literary movements, explaining the heroine’s journey, and (as always) recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic, including short story and poetry collections.   Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter.  Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Skip to the pairings with this timestamp: [35:15]   Shop the pairings with our affiliate links below:   Books mentioned: The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter (Amazon) Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier (Amazon) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Amazon) Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories (Amazon) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Amazon) 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James (Amazon) The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairytales by Sheldon Cashdan (Amazon)   Chelsey’s Pairings Burning Girls and Other Stories by Victoria Schanoes (Amazon) Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust (Amazon) A Universe of Wishes, ed. by Dhonielle Clayton (Amazon)   Sara’s Pairings Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link (Amazon) Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (Amazon) The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy (Amazon)   Picks of the week: Chelsey: Promising Young Woman (19.99 on Amazon Prime) & Wolfwalkers (Apple TV) Sara: The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairytales & Singing Bones Podcast   Also mentioned: Gail Carriger’s Heroine’s Journey  Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey More heroine’s journey resources

Today, Sara and Chelsey topple your TBR lists with fairytale retellings for every type of reader. They reminisce about the book that sparked their love of retellings and discuss why fairytales are still so appealing to adult readers.   You can find titles and links for every book mentioned in this episode at novelpairings.com. Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter.  Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1  and support independent bookstores. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Books mentioned: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Amazon) The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine (Amazon) Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (Amazon) The Princess Test by Gail Carson Levine (Amazon) Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Amazon) Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Amazon) The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (Amazon) Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (Amazon) Austenland by Shannon Hale (Amazon) Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)  by Marissa Meyer (Amazon) Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (Amazon) Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust (Amazon) Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly (Amazon) A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (Amazon) Thorn by Intisar Khanani (Amazon) House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (Amazon) The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (Amazon) Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory McGuire (Amazon) The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (Amazon) Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi (Amazon) Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno Garcia (Amazon) The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg (Amazon) My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me by Kate Bernheimer  (Amazon) An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (Amazon) The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (Amazon) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Amazon) The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (Amazon)   Also mentioned: SSR Podcast Episode 12: Ella Enchanted Gail Carriger’s Heroine’s Journey  Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey More heroine’s journey resources   Up next: The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter