Category: Uncategorized

85. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and perfectly psychological pairings

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Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. We’ve read this story more times than we can count—as students and as teachers, and today we’re sharing new insights and appreciation for its themes, tone, and terrifying ending. We cover connections to Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s biography, historical context, and deeper analysis as we talk through this 1892 classic and classroom staple. In Short Story Club we do share spoilers, so read this story for free and then tune in to our discussion—or listen to see what you remember from a previous reading experience. As always, we offer pairings with similar themes to add to your TBR.

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.

Skip to the pairings: [48:10]

Photo: @penguinclassics

Books mentioned:

Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links! 

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Read “The Yellow Wallpaper” for free

“The Yellow Wallpaper” audiobook on Hoopla

Chelsey:

Sara:

Picks of the week:

Chelsey – “The Yellow Wallpaper” The Musical and All’s Well by Mona Awad

Sara – Gaslight (1944)

84. Literary terms, book recommendations, and learning about the horror genre with Raelyn Torngren

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Today, we welcome Raelyn Torngren to the podcast to educate us on the horror genre. From defining tropes to engaging in literary criticism to offering excellent book recommendations, we cover a lot of ground! This episode is excellent for readers who are ready to lean into their darker tastes this season or readers who are new to the genre. You can find Raelyn on Instagram @reading.reverie and follow her Youtube channel, Reading Reverie for video essays and book recommendations. She also hosts a horror book club!

For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk,  join our Novel Pairings  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.

Photo: @reading.reverie

Books mentioned:

Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links! 

Also mentioned:

83. Revisiting Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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This season we’ve been getting into the autumnal mood with Gothic short stories, Victorian fiction, and an upcoming exploration of horror literature. Today, we’re rereleasing our episode on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a work that fits perfectly into our seasonal theme. 

We hope listening or relistening to our discussion about this classroom staple will be enhanced by all the additional Gothic content in the Novel Pairings feed this fall.

Our discussion includes:

  • Sara’s experience with teaching Frankenstein in the high school classroom [8:20]
  • The stranger-than-fiction true story behind the novel [10:30]
  • Defining “Gothic novels,” historical and contemporary [20:05]

Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic,  including graphic novels and absorbing nonfiction.

Shop our pairings: https://bookshop.org/lists/novel-pairings-for-frankenstein

Sign up for Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/redeem/novelpairings

What to read or skip in Frankenstein:

  1. Victor thinking about creating his creature
  2. Creating the monster
  3. Monster talking to Victor
  4. Skip all of the wandering around the countryside

Shop the pairings:  

Chelsey’s Pairings:

Sara’s Pairings:

Picks of the Week:

Chelsey: Penny Dreadful on Showtime/Netflix

Sara: Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge illustrations: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626725003

82. How to read a BIG book: an introduction to Middlemarch by George Eliot

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In case you missed it, we’re reading Middlemarch together! We’re both excited (and, let’s be honest) a little apprehensive about diving into George Eliot’s Middlemarch with you this fall and winter. This is a BIG book filled with lots of historical references and Eliot’s signature attention to the smallest of details. It’s also a cozy and thoughtful depiction of a small town that brings us relationships to root for, villains to hate, and characters we’ll remember for a long time to come.

Today, we’re sharing some logistics of how our big book readalong will work, basic background information on the text, and tips for making your reading experience valuable and enjoyable.

We can’t wait to get reading with you!

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.

Links:

Middlemarch by George Eliot (Penguin Classics Deluxe) 

Middlemarch on the Serial Reader app 

Middlmarch on Spotify 

A brief biography of George Eliot 

“Silly Novels by Lady Novelists” by George Eliot 

Virginia Woolf on George Eliot 

Henry James’ review of Middlemarch 

Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith 

My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead

A Secret Sisterhood by Emily Midorikawa and Emma Claire Sweeney 

81. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe and creepy fictional houses to explore

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Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe. This delightfully creepy story ushers in (that pun was NOT intended, but let’s go with it) chilling fall breezes, spooky October vibes, and atmosphere galore. We walk through a close reading of this classic horror story and cover Poe’s signature writing style and the horror tropes he plays with here, leaving a legacy for modern authors and even filmmakers in the horror genre. As always in Short Story Club, we offer four contemporary pairings to add to your gothic reading pile this fall. 

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.

Skip to the pairings: [43:50]

Books mentioned:

Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links! 

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe

Poe’s stories on audio

A collection of Poe’s short stories

Chelsey:

Sara:

Both (Bonus):

Picks of the week:

Chelsey – For students: The Poe Museum  & Common Lit For teachers: Drunk History, Edgar Allan Poe feuds with Rufus Griswold

Sara – The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez and The Fall by Bethan Griffin

80. Forecasting our fall reading with anticipated backlist titles from our shelves

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Today, Sara and Chelsey share the backlist books they’re putting on their To Be Read lists for the next few months. We speculate on which books will carry us through the early days of motherhood and which reading formats might work best in a totally unpredictable season. This episode is for anyone who wants to read more backlist, readers who have a hard time focusing right now, and bookworms eager to add overlooked titles to their book stacks. 

Click here to listen to the episode or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

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! 

Also mentioned:

Marlon and Jake Read Dead People

79. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Part Two

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Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss chapters 27 through the end of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. We discuss Jane’s journeys from coming of age to literally hiking on the moors, the juxtaposition of Rochester and another romantic interest, the ending (of course), and whether or not we think this qualifies as a “feminist text.” Plus, we offer six pairings that touch on the tone, themes, and legacy of Brontë’s iconic novel. We think you’ll be shocked by one of Sara’s pairings and can’t wait to hear what you think!

Click here to listen to the episode, or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

Skip to the pairings: [46:35]

Books mentioned:

Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links! 

Chelsey:

Sara:

Picks of the week:

Chelsey – What a Difference a Duke Makes by Lenora Bell (Amazon)
Sara – Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës by Isabel Greenberg (Amazon)

78. Raising Readers with biblio therapist Anne Bogel

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When Chelsey and Sara found out we were both expecting new family members, literally just a few days apart, many conversations of course turned to all things pregnancy and baby. We wanted to consider how motherhood would impact our reading lives and today we’re thrilled to have Anne Bogel on the podcast to talk about raising readers and reading in the hazy newborn days. Anne is an author, blogger, and host of the What Should I Read Next podcast. She’s also one of our favorite literary therapists, who happens to be a mom of four. In this conversation, we talk about simple strategies to encourage a love of reading in kids as well as tips for maintaining a robust reading life as a new parent. And, of course, we couldn’t let Anne leave without recommending a few books to us! She shares some of her favorites for readalouds alongside some adult fiction that touches on themes of parenthood.

Click here to listen to the episode, or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Preorder Anne’s new book journal, My Reading Life (out September 21st), to access a batch of preorder goodies that are perfect for avid readers. And keep up with Anne’s reading life by following her on Instagram at @annebogel and @whatshouldireadnext or by visiting her blog ModernMrsDarcy.com.

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 us through our affiliate links!

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Kevin Lewis

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault and Bill Martin

The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak

Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel

The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger 

Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger 

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger 

The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvili

Landslide by Susan Conley

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan

77. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Part One

ChelseyLeave a comment

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss chapters 1-26 of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. We’ve each read this Victorian Gothic novel multiple times, learning something new with each reread. In today’s conversation, we reflect on past reading experiences and dive into analysis. We share our thoughts on the early coming of age chapters, Jane and Rochester’s romance, and what’s going on in the attic at Thornfield. We’ll give you a heads up for major spoilers, but we think this is a great episode to listen to before, during, or after you read Brontë’s iconic novel. 

We’ll discuss Part Two on September 21st. 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!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination by Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Also mentioned:

Charlotte Brontë biography

Sorry, but Jane Eyre Isn’t the Romance You Want It to Be, from JSTOR Daily

Bluebeard fairytale 

Picks of the week:

Chelsey – The Rom Pod series “On Eyre”

Sara – Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

75. Wrapping up summer with our favorite reads and reflections

ChelseyLeave a comment

Today, Sara and Chelsey reflect on their summer reading season with short reviews of their favorite reads, and they look ahead to their upcoming fall season. Do you enjoy hearing about our recent reads? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get weekly reading updates and podcast news or joining our Patreon community, where we share bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and a whole bunch of book talk at patreon.com/novelpairings.com.

Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. 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! 

Read with us this fall season:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre Norton Critical Edition (great introduction, annotations, and scholarly articles)
Jane Eyre Vintage Classics (wide margins for annotating, affordable, and a nice paperback weight)
Jane Eyre Penguin Classics Deluxe (one of the coolest covers out there)

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
Read the story for free online
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works 

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Read the story for free online
The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Gibbs Smith Women’s Voices Series)
The Yellow Wallpaper and Selected Writings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Penguin Vitae Collection)