Novel Pairings

Do you love the feeling of happening upon a subtle reference to a great literary work in the midst of your current read? Or do you feel like you’re on the outside when books allude to works you haven’t read? In today’s episode, we’re getting extra nerdy and breaking down all things literary allusions. For our discussion, we share what a literary allusion is and what kinds of allusions are referenced most widely. Plus, we’ll share tips on how to access these oft-referenced stories to illuminate your reading experience, and we’ll share book recommendations to build your TBR with classic and contemporary literature.  If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would love our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship, get a little more academic, and talk about books with a smart, eclectic group of readers. Subscriptions start at just $5 a month, and yearly discounts are available. To learn more about our Patreon, visit patreon.com/novelpairings. Classic Books for Allusions: The Odyssey by Homer (NP episode 123) Paradise Lost by John Milton Dante’s Inferno Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (NP episode 32) Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (NP episode 111) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte  (NP episodes 77 + 79) Rebecca by Daphne Du Mauier Beloved by Toni Morrison (NP episode 12) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (NP episode 20) Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (NP episode 51 + 53) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (NP episode 26)   Other Books Mentioned: On Beauty by Zadie Smith Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Telephone by Percival Everett Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark Lone Women by Victor LaValle  The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

This summer on Patreon, our Classics Club has been voyaging across the Aegean Sea with Odysseus, reading Emily Wilson’s brilliant translation of Homer’s epic poem. To deepen our experience with this ancient text, we’re offering ongoing opportunities for public scholarship and reading in community. Today we’re sharing one of these Patreon exclusive episodes with all of you and inviting you to come set sail with us this summer because it’s not too late! Join at the Literature Scholar level to access all of our Odyssey bonus material plus our back catalog of classes and episodes to go deeper into whatever books you’re picking up this summer. Enrollment is always open and we’d love to see you there! If you would like you stay connected to what’s happening at Novel Pairings, make sure to sign up for our Substack and follow us over on Instagram. You can make sure you never miss an episode of the podcast by subscribing to the show wherever you get your podcasts. And if you love the work we’re doing, make sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Today we are re-airing one of our very first episodes of Novel Pairings: Episode 18 on Homer’s Odyssey, in which 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. This episode is 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.   If, after listening to today’s rerelease, you’re interested in joining us for a Slow Down Summer Odyssey, head over to the Novel Pairings Patreon page and join us at the $8 literature scholar tier. In addition to weekly podcast recaps of each section of The Odyssey, you’ll also get invitations to monthly book club discussions and classes to help you get more out of this epic poem, along with our regular Friday bonus episodes and access to our entire back catalog of bonus episodes and class recordings. Perhaps most exciting of all, Patreon supporters will get first access to our limited edition merch shop opening this month! We’d love to explore The Odyssey and beyond with you this summer so head to patreon.com/novelpairings to join our classics crew. Our discussion includes:  What is a “mythology girl?” [13:08]  Analyzing Odysseus: a larger-than-life character [20:10]  More on Odysseus as a complex, flawed and nuanced hero [29:30]   Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic,  including a business book and a book in translation.   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: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger [40:35] The Martian by Andy Weir [46:06] Dare to Lead by Brene Brown [53:05] The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood [37:10] The Songs of the Kings by Barry Unsworth [42:55] Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera [48:35] Also mentioned:  Chelsey: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow recommended by Bezi @beingabookwyrm Sara: Rick Riordan Presents

We’re closing out our spring semester of children’s classics with one final book about a book—and another richly imagined story in translation, The Wild Book by Juan Villoro. This modern story reached great acclaim in Mexico, with an English translation finally reaching America in 2017.  We found this work a  compelling companion to our first children’s work in translation, Inkheart, and we share our thoughts on the book’s proposed relationship between books and reading, how this modern work stacks up besides tried-and-true classics, and the supernatural elements that feel grounded in the magical realism traditions of incredible Lantix authors. We love reading and discussing books with our listeners, and we hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers for a summer of EPIC reading over on our Patreon at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price. Pairings Timestamp: 25:50  . . . Books Mentioned:  The Wild Book by Juan Villoro Pet by Akwaeke Emezi Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng  The Sentence by Louise Erdrich  

Get ready to load your summer totes (ahem…your summer Novel Pairings totes, more to come on that) with lots of good reads; we’re talking about our most anticipated summer reads on today’s episode! We’ve carefully culled our long lists of interesting books coming out this summer to provide some high-interest titles that are sure to topple your TBR while also providing backlist books that will pair perfectly and are available right now.   Today we talk about forthcoming humorous memoirs (including one woven with lots of 90s nostalgia), a searing, fictional critique of contemporary publishing, and plenty of engrossing tales you’ll want to curl up with poolside. And if that’s not enough, we take a shot at solving the mystery surrounding the unnamed Flatiron title prior to it being settled by the New York Times (and Chelsey will add amateur sleuth to her list of alternate career options should occasion arise).   We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price!   Books Mentioned Yellowface by R. F. Kuang Disorientation by Elian Hsieh Chou Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel All Sinners Bleed by S.A. Crosby Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke My Murder by Katie Williams Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey Chouette by Claire Oshetsky  Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder Banyan Moon by Thao Tai Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo  Loot by Tania James The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson Wannabe: Reckoning with the Pop Culture that Saved Me by Aisha Harris Piccolo is Black by Jordan Calhoun Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi Babel by R. F. Kuang Half-Life of a Stolen Sister by Rachel Cantor Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart by Claire Harman The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell History’s Angel by Anjum Hassan Members Only by Sameer Pandya The Lost Ranger by Peter Heller Congratulations, the Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas Here for It by R. Eric Thomas  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Our Town by Thorton Wilder  

As voracious readers we love to dive into stories about books and reading, whether it’s paying homage to the source of procuring books (think publishing, bookshops, and libraries) or the physical books themselves. In today’s episode, we’re taking you on a dark, mysterious, and twisty adventure in translation with Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart. A plot-packed novel for the not-so-faint-of-heart, we discuss what Funke’s international bestseller has to say about the power stories hold for children, the necessity to engage a child’s imagination, and how the tone of this children’s classic spooked us (just a little bit). If you’re looking for more imaginative fantasies, we’ve paired this sweeping novel with a rich, outlandish romantic historical fantasy and a slim work of non-fiction about the nature of books from one of the most renowned writers and translators of our time.  A quick note: we had some technical difficulties, so the audio on this episode may sound slightly different than usual. It'll be back to normal in our next episode!   [Pairing Timestamp: 41:33]   Books Mentioned: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield   Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alex E. Harrow   Other Books Mentioned The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. This week, we’re discussing E. L. Konigsburg’s Newbery award-winning novel From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a 1960s romp about a pair of siblings who find refuge and mystery at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. From the Mixed-Up Files is a story simple in prose, yet imbued with rich descriptions and detail to leave a lasting impression. In today’s episode, we talk about our own mixed-up, nostalgic memories of reading Mrs. Frankweiler, the alluring nature of Konigsburg’s novel for generations of readers, and the need to have our own private “somethings.” Plus, we help you dive deeper into the world of art and art forgery with a novel in translation and prepare for beach reading with a summer-y story about two teenage misfits, first love, and their creative endeavors.   We’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature, and there’s still time to join us for the last month that we’re reading children’s classics! Sign up to join our community of nerdy readers where we host bonus mini-episodes, lectures, seminars, and book clubs. Head on over to patreon.org/novelpairings to join our Classics Club today. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.   Pairings Timestamp: 39:22   Books Mentioned:   Portrait of an Unknown Lady by María Ganzia Now That I Found You by Kristina Forest Possession by A. S. Byatt The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson

Anne-with-an-e Shirley, a hallmark figure in children’s literature, provides a formative childhood reading experience for many readers. An imaginative and loquacious orphan who finds home and community with the Cuthbert siblings at Green Gables of Avonlea, Anne is a feisty, feminine, and dramatically charming protagonist. In today’s episode, we talk about how this sweet and endearing novel worked for us compared to other “warm hug” classics that missed the mark, the aspects of Anne’s character that make her loveable and realistic, our favorite scenes from the book, and whether Montgomery’s work can be considered feminist. Plus—our pairings today include a whimsical fairy story loosely based on the premise of Anne, as well as a novel that features another unforgettable protagonist from a Canadian author.  We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Thank you for supporting the show!   Pairings Timestamp: 44:16   Books Mentioned The Lost Queen by Signe Pike The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett Blue Cedar Falls series by Jeannie Chin: try The House on Mulberry Street Fight Night by Miriam Toews J. Ryan Stradal: try Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club The Lucy Barton series by Elizabeth Strout: try My Name is Lucy Barton   Also Mentioned: Why Anne Makes Us Dizzy by Julia McQuillan and Julie Pheiffer (Critical Study) Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a staple in high school classrooms and a foundational piece of American literature. This children’s classic is a boisterous and satirical novel addressing a vast array of social and political issues couched in an episodic coming-of-age tale. In today’s episode, we address some of the teaching baggage that comes along with this book, consider Huck’s moral development, and wrestle with the complexities of encountering this book as a modern reader. As always, we also offer contemporary pairings including a National Book Award winner and a sweet and tender father-and-son story.  Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.    Pairings Timestamp: 39:14     Books mentioned: Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson Washington Black by Esi Edugyan This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger The Good Lord Bird by James McBride   Also mentioned: Percival Everett’s Huck Finn Retelling Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Lonesome Dove episode Toni Morrison on Huck Finn Jane Smiley on Huck Finn  

Catherine, Called Birdy has been a surprise hit with our listeners and book club community, and today Chelsey and Sara share their experience with Karen Cushman’s award-winning work of middle grade historical fiction. We share what we remember about the book from childhood, why we connected with it more now, and why a book about a girl trying to avoid marriage in the 13th-century feels so relevant today. We also go down a couple of rabbit holes of our own this episode, including a discussion about how we teach and model gender for children and the role of literature in that development.  Together, we’re learning to be better, more critical and thorough readers of classic and contemporary literature. We love discussing books and reading with all of you and hope you’ll join our group of nerdy readers at patreon.com/novelpairings. Annual subscriptions are now available at a discounted price.  Pairings Timestamp: 42:00 . . . . Books mentioned: Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Matrix by Lauren Groff My Lady Jane, My Plain Jane, My Contrary Mary, My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand,  Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows  Also mentioned: Dear America, The Royal Diaries, and American Girl Dolls  The Men–and the Boys–are Not Alright