Novel Pairings

Today, in “Short Story Club,” Chelsey and Sara are chatting about “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Brudbury. This short story is about a group of young schoolchildren living on Venus, who have never seen the sun in their lifetime. It’s about sacrifice, the pain of nostalgia, bullying. It’s super short but packed with stunning detail and emotion. Our discussion includes: Bradbury’s descriptive language [11:07] That ending! We love an ambiguous ending. [15:34] Themes of sustainability and climate change [18:40]   Plus, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with this story, including an award-winning fantasy and a dystopian YA novel.   Past short story episodes: “Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton   Mentions: Fahrenheit 451 film Fahrenheit 451 Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life The Hunger Games The October Country by Ray Bradbury . . . Pairing spoilers ahead! . . . . . . . . . . . . Chelsey’s Pairings: The Martian by Andy Weir [30:12] & Artemis by Andy Weir [30:50] The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin [33:39] The Dry by Jane Harper [37:30]   Sara’s Pairings: Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah [31:42] Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman [35:22] Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson [38:58]  

Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about Homer’s The Odyssey. Sara reveals her nerdy middle school obsession, Chelsey has strong opinions on defining “the classics,” and we have a LOT of fun discussing the complicated character of Odysseus. You don’t need to have any knowledge of mythology or The Odyssey in order to enjoy this episode.    Our discussion includes:  What is a “mythology girl?” [11:38]  Analyzing Odysseus: a larger-than-life character [18:40]  More on Odysseus as a complex, flawed and nuanced hero [28:00]   Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic,  including a business book and a book in translation. Show Notes: Edith Hamilton’s Mythology “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood “ Penelope” by Carol Ann Duffy The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy Madeline Miller: Circe and The Song of Achilles Gareth Hinds graphic novel The Odyssey Bull by David Elliot . Pairings spoilers below! . . . . . . . . . Chelsey’s Pairings: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger [39:05] The Martian by Andy Weir [44:36] Dare to Lead by Brene Brown [51:35] Sara’s Pairings: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood [35:40] The Songs of the Kings by Barry Unsworth [41:15] Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera [47:05] Pick of the Week: Chelsey: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow recommended by Bezi @beingabookwyrm Sara: Rick Riordan Presents

Today Chelsey and Sara are  toppling your TBRs with backlist books to enjoy this summer. We know hardback books are pricey and library waitlists for the hottest new releases are long, so we’re going to be pairing some of 2020’s most exciting books of summer with older books that are easier to get your hands on.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novelpairingspod/ Shop our Backlist Recs on Bookshop:  https://bookshop.org/lists/buzzy-summer-books-and-backlist-favorites Use our referral code to get TWO  audiobooks for the price of one through Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/redeem/novelpairings Books mentioned: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett  Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld  American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld Abigail Adams: A Life by Woody Holton Beach Read by Emily Henry  The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert A Burning by Megha Majumdar  There There by Tommy Orange Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner  The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton All Adults Here by Emma Straub  Commonwealth by Ann Patchett  A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory  Dreamers series by Adrianna Herrera (American Fairytale #2) Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado Friends and Strangers by J Courtney Sullivan  Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan  A Room with a View by EM Forrester Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi Beloved by Toni Morrison   Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi Caste by Isabel Wilkerson  The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie   Other mentions: Kazuo Ishiguro’s new book The Stacks Podcast Attica and Tembi Locke

Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about Passing by Nella Larsen. Published in 1929, Passing is a book about two women: Clare and Irene, who grew up in the same middle class Black community in Chicago and come back into each other's lives as adults. Irene is living in Harlem with her husband, a successful doctor, while Clare has left the family and friends of her youth behind to marry a white man and pass as white. Clare and Irene’s bond is built on a shared past and a deep mutual affection, but also curiosity and jealousy over the lives each of them might have had. As their lives become more and more intertwined the tension builds, and a sense of impending doom makes this book impossible to put down.   Our discussion includes:  Gatsby connections galore, and an argument for replacing Gatsby with Passing [16:35]  Intersectionality and Irene’s struggle with loyalty across race, gender, and class lines [27:56]  Who should pick this up? [32:15]   Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic,  including a literary thriller and one of this summer’s buzziest books.   This episode will be mostly spoiler-free, except for a brief discussion of the ending. We’ll warn you in advance before we get into it, and timestamps are listed below.    Show Notes: Emily Bernard’s intro Excerpt from Vanishing Half @reggiereads review Pairings listed below! . . . . . . . Chelsey’s Pairings: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite [40:48] Black is the Body by Emily Bernard [47:05] The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert [53:17]   Sara’s Pairings: Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson [37:50] Born a Crime by Trevor Noah [43:14] The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [50:00]   Pick of the Week: You Must Remember This podcast “Passing for White, Merle Oberon” 13th the Ava DuVerny documentary

We’re excited to welcome our first guest on the podcast today! Alli Hoff Kosik is the host of the SSR Podcast, where she breaks down an old school read from her tween and teen years with a special guest every Tuesday. Today, we’re chatting about classic and contemporary YA lit, the magic of middle grade, how childhood books stick with us into adulthood, and more. As always, we’re offering some novel pairings—this time with classic kid lit or YA books and contemporary adult reads.  You can find the SSR Podcast wherever you download your podcast episodes. Follow Alli on Instagram and Twitter and say hello!  PS: Congratulations on 100 episodes, Alli! Listen to Chelsey and Alli talk about Tuck Everlasting on Ep. 34 Listen to Sara and Alli talk about Jacob Have I Loved on Ep. 87 . . . . . Books mentioned: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne The Lord of the Flies by William Golding The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin Speak by Laurie Hals Anderson The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar . . . Pairings: Little Women & The Most Fun We Ever Had The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks & Fleishman is in Trouble The Baby-Sitters Club & Most Likely . . Guest Rec: Open Book by Jessica Simpson

Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, one of the first novels categorized as Young Adult fiction. We discuss the nostalgia associated with our favorite children’s books. Today’s discussion includes:   Formative experiences with books from our childhoods [8:40] Which couples we ship and which handsome actor captured our hearts in the movie version [15:00] Who should read this book? Downton Abbey fans, we’re looking at you...[20:17]   Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic including a YA novel in verse and a Regency-era romance novel.   Shop the pairings: https://bookshop.org/shop/novelpairings Resources mentioned: I Capture the Castle film  Comforting Classics episode   For more links: Subscribe to our Substack newsletter   Today’s episode is brought to you by Bookshelf Tees, a small female-owned business we love. We each own several comfy t-shirts from Bookshelf Tees and always look forward to Lauren’s new designs. You can get 20% off your next order by using code NOVELPAIRINGS at checkout. . . . Pairing spoilers ahead! . . . . . . . . . . . . Chelsey’s Pairings: I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest [28:05] Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare [35:56] City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert [43:22]   Sara’s Pairings: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo [25:03] Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell [32:10] By the Book by Amanda Sellet [39:36]   Chelsey’s Pick of the Week: Never Have I Ever on Netflix Sara’s Pick of the Week: Harry Potter vs. Huckleberry Finn

As we wind down our spring season,  Chelsey and Sara are talking about our favorite Novel Pairings episodes and the best books we read over the last three months. We also discuss some of the books we’ve both read recently including a celebrity memoir and a delightful book about the writing life.  Books mentioned in this episode: Open Book by Jessica Simpson [8:37], The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel [12:02], The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare [15:50], Beach Read by Emily Henry [19:29], The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende [24:43], Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo [27:19], Pride by Ibi Zoboi [28:38], The Illness Lesson by Clare Beams [29:25], Most Likely by Sarah Watson [31:24], We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan [34:24], Here for It: Or How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas [36:40], Wow No Thank You by Samantha Irby [37:46]  Severance by Ling Ma [38:13], The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham [41:51], Young Jane Young by Gabrille Zevin [44:42], Unscripted by Nicole Kronzer [47:26]   Shop our Quarterly Favorites on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/quarterly-favorites-spring-2020/   Listen to He Read She Read Episode 50 on The Duchess Deal   Use our referral code to get THREE audiobooks for the price of one through Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/redeem/novelpairings Next Episode: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about Beloved by Toni Morrison. This American masterpiece and 1988 Pulitzer winner tells the story of Sethe, a woman who escaped from slavery to find freedom for herself and her children, only to be haunted by the traumas of her past. It’s a story of motherhood, womanhood, freedom, and redemption, and Morrison’s genius and language are incomparable. Today’s discussion includes:   Sara sharing her experience with teaching this book and why it’s the perfect book to bring into the classroom [4:10] Reading Beloved symbolically and being okay with not understanding everything [10:30] Each of us sharing why we love Toni Morrison and why this book might just be THE Great American Novel [36:03]   Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic including a heartbreaking work of middle grade fiction and a debut novel from an award-winning nonfiction writer.   Shop the pairings: https://bookshop.org/shop/novelpairings   Resources mentioned:   The Stacks Episode 60 [27:27] BBC World Books Toni Morrison Interview [30:28] Subscribe to our Substack newsletter . . . Pairing spoilers ahead! . . . . . . . . .   . . . Chelsey’s Pairings: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward [46:18] Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes [52:39] Conjure Women by Afia Atakora [57:53]   Sara’s Pairings: The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates [42:48] Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson [48:59] The Mothers by Brit Bennett [55:29]   Chelsey’s Pick of the Week: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am  Sara’s Pick of the Week: The 1619 Project

Today Chelsey and Sara are sharing the lineup for Novel Pairings’ summer season. We discuss what makes a great summer read, different readerly tastes in summer books, and then reveal the six classics we’ll be reading and discussing in June, July, and August. The books include a southern literature classic, a class work of young adult fiction, and several epic adventures. All of the books were chosen to suit a variety summer reading moods and to be perfect pairings for the contemporary books we love to read in the summer.   To shop all of the books in the summer lineup visit our Bookshop storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/novelpairings   SPOILERS AHEAD   Scroll down for time stamps and links to our six summer classics:   I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith [6:21] Passing by Nella Larsen [8:06] The Odyssey by Homer [9:51] Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston [11:24] Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel [13:17] The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein [14:50]

Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. We’re discussing iconic literary mothers and the depiction of motherhood in Amy Tan’s debut novel. Plus, we talk about the blurred lines between Tan’s fiction and her real life and which characters really captured our attention. Our discussion includes:    Our love for novels told in short stories that all tie together [9:50]  Approaching texts from cultures different from our own, as teachers and readers [11:42]  The beautiful theme of female friendship depicted along with complex mother-daughter relationships [27:42]   Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic include a and a YA graphic novel and a 2019 Booker Prize winner.   Today’s episode is brought to you by Libro.fm, the only audiobook company that allows you to purchase audiobooks directly from your favorite indie bookstore. You can get THREE audiobooks for $15 by clicking this link or by using code NOVELPAIRINGS at checkout.   Books Mentioned:   The Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi   Chelsey’s Pairings:   The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan [42:38] American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang [49:20] Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee [56:06]   Sara’s Pairings:   Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi [39:16] Girl Woman Other by Bernardine Evaristo [45:19] Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu [52:51]   Shop all the books from this week's episode: https://bookshop.org/shop/novelpairings   Picks of the Week: Ugly Delicious on Netflix Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong