Today, Sara and Chelsey share their favorite books of the year (so far) with a series of bookish superlatives to guide them. From most surprising to most disappointing, we discuss the books that have shaped our reading lives in the first half of 2021. We love this low pressure format for sharing "the best" books and would love to hear about YOUR favorites, using our superlatives list. For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk,  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.   Books mentioned: Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links!  Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jandrowski (Amazon) Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian (Amazon) Anna K by Jenny Lee (Amazon) Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (Amazon) The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Amazon) Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters (Amazon) Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro  Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (Amazon) Writers & Lovers by Lily King (Amazon) Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First by Laura Tremaine (Amazon) One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (Amazon) Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (Amazon) Wintering by Katherine May (Amazon) How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America by Kiese Laymon (Amazon) Ariadne by Jennifer Saint (Amazon) Malibu Rising  by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Amazon) Matrix  by Lauren Groff (Amazon)  You Got Anything Stronger? by Gabrielle Union (Amazon)

71. Superlatives for the best books of 2021 so far

Welcome to Novel Pairings, a podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun. As two nerdy bookworms, we appreciate the role of classic lit, but we but we won’t get too academic about it. We’ll talk about the books we love and the books we loath, and help stock your TBR pile with old and new reads for every literary taste.

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We're thrilled to welcome back Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks Podcast, for a thought-provoking discussion on one of Shakespeare's darkest comedies, Measure for Measure. In this conversation, we'll dive deep into the play's timeless themes including punishment, gender, power, and politics. We discuss how these themes continue to resonate with modern audiences, revealing the parallels between the play and our contemporary world. We also talk about how Shakespeare masterfully uses this satire in this work, even when satire doesn't necessarily equate to laugh-out-loud humor. Listen to the end for Traci’s book recommendations, including Shakespeare pairings and a soon-to-be-released title.  Connect with Traci: The Stacks Podcast  Unstacked  Instagram: @thestackspod    Join our community! Patreon Substack Instagram: @novelpairingspod   Books Mentioned: Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race by Farah Karim-Cooper Blackface (Object Lessons) by Ayanna Thompson New People by Danzy Senna  Color Television by Danzy Senna Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu Erasure by Percival Everett Severance by Ling Ma Victim by Andrew Boryga Love’s Labor Lost by William Shakespeare All’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare Othello by William Shakespeare Richard III by William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare   Also Mentioned:  Ask a Shakespeare Professor   Macbeth The Stacks episode on Romeo and Juliet  

145. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare with Traci Thomas

If aesthetics, British aristocracy and nostalgia sounds like an appealing combination, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh is the book for you. In today's episode, we talk through the key themes, relationships, Waugh's stated purpose for writing Brideshead, and we ask: is Brideshead Revisited a satire or a novel with satirical elements? Plus, today’s pairings include a fantasy novel, historical fiction and a psychological thriller. If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would also love our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship and talk about books with a smart 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.   Books Mentioned: The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Come and Get It by Kiley Reid This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell American Gods by Neil Gaiman Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles   Also Mentioned: Downton Abbey   Brideshead Revisited Mini Series The Crown  

144. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Today, Chelsey and Sara share their most anticipated spring book releases paired with backlist selections. After  listening today, your TBR will be filled with delightful fiction, thrilling mysteries, historical romance and literary books from favorite writers, all releasing between late February and May. As always, our go-to pairings will keep your spring both entertaining and engaging.    If you love our recommendations on the podcast, we have even more books to share over in our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship 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. Listeners can also stay in the loop with all things Novel Pairings by giving us a follow on Instagram and subscribing to our weekly newsletter on Substack. Thank you for supporting public scholarship! Books Mentioned: Neighbors and Other Stories by Diane Oliver Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft  Intimacies by Katie Kitamura The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrush  Victim by Andrew Boryga Erasure by Pervical Everett The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett  Sirens of Sussex series by Mimi Matthews  James by Percival Everett  The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn by Mark Twain Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys Clear by Carys Davies Great Expectations by Charles Dickens The Colony by Audry McGee This Other Eden by Paul Harding A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay by Octavia Butler The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler How Long ‘Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Oracle of Delphi by William J. Broad  The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson Oye by Melissa Mogollon The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee House of Mirth by Edith Wharton A Gamble at Sunset by Vanessa Riley Also Mentioned: Beforeigners  Bridgerton Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story   Episode 141: Bookish Pairings for our favorite period dramas  

143. Seasonal book pairings for new releases in spring 2024

In today’s episode, we’re wrapping up Wharton in Winter with a conversation about The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. We focus on Undine and question whether she’s a signature unlikable heroine or an anti-hero. Our conversation also digs into the other dynamic characters, themes of motherhood, greed, marriage, business, and Edith’s incredible writing. Every plot point builds to a bigger narrative in this timely classic. At the end of the episode, we share our complementary pairings , and we hope you add one to your TBR pile!    If you loved our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have even more content to enjoy over in our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship 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.   Shows Mentioned: Mad Men Breaking Bad Selling Sunset Downton Abbey   Books Mentioned: Italo Calvino Vanity Fair by William Thackeray The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald  Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh There Is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset Emma by Jane Austen Free Food For Millionares by Min Jun Lee  These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz One Woman Show by Christine Coulson Wahala by Nikki May Trust by Hernan Diaz

142. The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton

Reading The Custom of the Country this winter has felt like stepping into the most lush, dramatic, and marathon-worthy period piece–so today we’re sharing some of our favorite period dramas and pairing them with excellent books for cozy winter reading. We discuss the appeal of watching historical fiction versus reading it, the throughline from reading Dear America books to watching Downton Abbey as a comfort show, and the complex nature of colorblind casting. We hope you find a new, or old, TV series or novel to enjoy after listening to today’s episode.  PS: if you hear some odd background noises in this episode, just imagine little toddler feet stomping above Chelsey's head!    For more pairings, classes, and nerdy conversation join our Patreon community! Go to patreon.com/novelpairings to sign up today.   Don’t miss our FREE weekly newsletter at novelpairings.substack.com.    Shows Mentioned: Downton Abbey Poldark Miss Scarlet and the Duke Gentleman Jack The Gilded Age Bridgerton Queen Charlotte The Crown Outlander The Empress The Great The Good Lord Bird  The Underground Railroad Reign   Books Mentioned: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin Longbourn by Jo Baker Poldark series by Winston Graham Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn Knockout by Sarah Maclean Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas Sarah Waters The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan The Davenports by Krystal Marquis Fiona Davis Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin Jane Austen The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan The Countess by Sophie Jordan Victoria by Daisy Godwin Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan Shakespeare’s history plays  Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett The Lost Queen by Signe Pike Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton James McBride John Brown by W.E.B. DuBois The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Beloved by Toni Morrison  Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward The Water Dancer by Ta Nehisi Coates Royal Diaries series My Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, et al Alison Weir Philippa Gregory Margaret George  

71. Superlatives for the best books of 2021 so far

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