Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. It’s been awhile since we discussed a Shakespeare play and we’re thrilled to be back with the Bard for spooky season to chat about witches, ghosts, murder, and betrayal. Take a listen to hear us discuss why Macbeth feels different from other tragedies, the way staging decisions can impact the meaning of this play, and how much of this story is inspired by the real King James I’s fears and paranoias. We also touch on what we actually admire about the Macbeths’ marriage and just how much Game of Thrones owes to the Scottish Play. For today’s pairings we have a Macbeth retelling set in Appalachia, two tales of things gone wrong in the theater, plus a modern classic, an epic fantasy novel, and a quiet meditation on the power of prophecy. This episode is great for Shakespeare lovers as well as readers less familiar with his works.   Listen to Our Pairings: [51:35]   Chelsey: All’s Well by Mona Awad If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter   Sara: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith  Serena by Ron Rash The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin   Coming Up November: The Chosen and The Beautiful by Nghi Vo To support Novel Pairings:  Write a review in Apple Podcasts.  Subscribe to our newsletter at novelpairings.substack.com Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/novelpairings. Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter.  Send this episode to a bookish friend! 

104. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare and pairings for theatrical, political, or fantastical readers

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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In today’s episode, we’re discussing The Importance of Being Earnest by the ever-delightful Oscar Wilde. A classic example of British theater, this play is known for its biting social satire and brilliant comedic dialogue. Throughout our conversation, we dive into the play’s themes, discuss Wilde’s mastery of wordplay, and his ability to write characters that satirize Victorian society in the cleverest ways. As always, we share our complementary pairings, and we hope this episode adds a few books to your TBR pile!  If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would also love participating 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 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: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby Nevada by Imogen Binnie Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris The Best of Me by David Sedaris I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett Dr. No by Percival Everett What a Difference a Duke Makes by Lenora Bell On Beauty by Zadie Smith   Also Mentioned: Bonus: 127. An Introduction to The Importance of Being Earnest Hamlet by William Shakespeare  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead R. Eric Thomas  

146. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

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

104. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare and pairings for theatrical, political, or fantastical readers

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