In Half of a Yellow Sun, award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie chronicles the years leading up to the Nigerian Biafran war in the 1960s through the eyes of three main characters. Neha and Shruti explore the interactions between households and families in a time of immense political upheaval. We discuss the impact of the book, and more broadly, how these stories are told and how we interact with these texts.

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Shelf Discovery:

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Shruti - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Neha - Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo, and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

*Content warning: physical violence, sexual assault

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Stolen, by Ann-Helén Laestadius, is a mystery, thriller, coming-of-age story that completely captured our hearts. Shruti and Neha discuss some of the contextual elements of the book, discuss the theme of silence, and of course, break down the shocking ending! They also talk about themes of belonging, alienation, youth, the patriarchy, and mental health.

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Links:

Interview with Ann-Helén Laestadius on Bookanista

Shelf discovery:

Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius

Neha - East by Edith Pattou

Shruti - Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko

*Content warning: animal cruelty, suicide

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Neha and Shruti head to Colombia, delving into the world of Pablo Escobar and drug cartels as they discuss the second book of the season, Fruit of the Drunken Tree. We talk about the historical context in which this story is set while unpacking how the characters are affected by their sacrifices and the spaces they occupy. They also get into a discussion about the origins of the term ‘magical realism,’ and the questionable colonialist mindset that fuels the term’s use in today’s age.

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Links:

Essay: What We Talk About When We Talk About Magical Realism

Shelf Discovery:

Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Shruti - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett; and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Neha - Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo

*Content warning: sexual assault. Skip through 33:15-36:00 to skip this section

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The Murmur of Bees is a lyrical novel set during the Mexican revolution about a special young boy and the family who adopts him. Neha and Shruti discuss themes of faith and wonder, good versus evil, and magic realism. They share what they loved about the book, while also touching on the importance of authorial intent, asking the question: is history still being written by the winners?

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 connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

Shelf Discovery:

The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia

Neha - The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles; and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Shruti - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke; and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

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Finally, Shruti and Neha are answering all your burning questions! Listen in to find out more about us including the books we loved, books we hated, how we started this podcast, and (perhaps most importantly), the ultimate Harry Potter book ranking.

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 connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

Books Mentioned:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Holes by Louis Sachar

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Normal People by Sally Rooney

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalinithi

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

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Shruti and Neha are traveling around the world! Through books, that is. In this episode we share our reading list, some important background for each of the books we’ve picked, and what we’re excited about for Season 2.

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 connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

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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 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 connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

Books mentioned:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

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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 recommendations, and critical commentary, subscribe to our free newsletter. You can also connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

Links:

Eight Works to Take in After or Alongside Toni Morrison's 'Jazz': New York Times article

Characteristics of Negro Expression: 1934 essay by Zora Neale Hurston, African-American novelist and anthropologist

Shelf Discovery:

Jazz by Toni Morrison

Shruti - Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee

Neha - none

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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 commentary, subscribe to our free newsletter. You can also connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

Links:

Crying in H Mart: essay by Michelle Zauner first published in the New Yorker

Choosing Forgiveness: essay by Michelle Zauner published in Harpers Bazaar

Shelf discovery:

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Shruti - The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy; and Paula by Isabel Allende

Neha - Know My Name by Chanel Miller

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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 connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].

Shelf Discovery:

The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

Shruti - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Neha - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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