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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A podcast about fanfiction. If ever there were sommeliers for fanfic, it would be Grace and Claire. So pour yourself a drink, and get ready for the slow burn of a lifetime.
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Life is hard, pair it with alchohol Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Pop culture, juicy romance and hilarious conversations come together in One True Pairing. Join Erica Martirano and Marissa Sangiacomo as they revisit their favorite couples from across TV, movies, books, and pop culture. From Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Ross and Rachel, this roller coaster of bad boys, break-ups, and HEAs (Happily Ever Afters) combines love, feminism, sex, and relationships with the gossip you love.
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Africa's southernmost winery. Tempestuous winds ensure cool-climate finesse. Tempestuous snakes ensure fleet-footed staff.
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A podcast about pairing wine with art and culture! Every other week, Emma, your host, talks with various guests about how to pair wine with the things that they love- and they're not talking about food! Learn more about wine and which bottles to look out for through a discussion of art, books, movies, music, theater, and more.
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We like board games and beer. We've decided to pair them and we think you should too. Welcome to Table Hops! Every other week, Stephen and Cris discuss and review games and brews in lighthearted and comedic conversations. If you like board games and craft beer then this podcast is for you! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tablehopspodcast/support
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We’re excited to be back in your podcast feeds to pair highly anticipated fall book releases with beloved backlist favorites. Prepare to overload your TBR pile as we dive into an exciting fall publishing season filled with moody, atmospheric titles. In today’s episode, we’ll share our carefully curated lists of outstanding upcoming fiction from bot…
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153. Dishing our opinions on the hottest summer books of 2023
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As the summer reading season comes to a close, we’re turning our eyes to fall. With Chelsey on maternity leave, we’ve made some thoughtful adjustments to our plans and structure here at Novel Pairings. Our goal is to ensure that we stay connected and continue to foster the amazing community we’ve built together. The best way to stay connected this …
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152. The Custom of the Country Book One Recap
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In today's recap episode, we discuss Book One of The Custom of the Country (that's chapters 1-10 if your book is not divided into books). This episode includes detailed discussion of the plot and characters introduced in this first section of the novel, so spoilers abound. We discuss our initial impressions of the unforgettable character that is Un…
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Today’s episode is a special one! Twice a year, we choose a big bucket list classic to read together as a community. For every big book we read, Chelsey and Sara dust off their English teacher skills to break down plot, themes, style, and more in recurring recap podcast episodes. We have our Big Book Summer Read Along of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérable…
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We’re taking it back to the classroom in today’s episode! Chelsey and Sara reflect on their experience with high school summer reading as both students and teachers: the good, the great, and the hot takes. While we aren’t assigning any reading in this episode, we are sharing 10 classics that would make for great summer reads at any age! For an enha…
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149. On Beauty by Zadie Smith
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Today, we’re wrapping up our spring season with Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, a theme-driven novel that recreates the social world of an elite liberal arts college, exploring issues through nuanced satire on race, class, and beauty. We dig into the stories of the Belsey and Kipp families and Smith’s use of the academic setting to discuss identity and so…
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148. We can't wait to read these brand new summer 2024 books and backlist pairings
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Get ready for your summer TBR to pile high as we share our most anticipated titles releasing this summer! Plus, each new release that we preview in today’s episode is perfectly paired with a backlist book or two, giving us plenty to read while waiting for pre-orders and library holds to come in. If you enjoy our recommendations on today’s episode, …
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On today’s Modern Readers episode, we’re placing “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift in context with pieces of contemporary political satire. We'll explore how satire is being used today to comment on politics and social issues, and the power, or limits, of its influence. Throughout our discussion, we discuss the lasting legacy of Swift’s essay, …
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Frankly my dear, I don’t write fanfic - Finale Part 2
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And so we have come to the final chapter of (6 seasons and) the movie season. This week we found out that each of us could write a couple more 5 star review fanfics… Sincerely, the Fine Pairings Club Editor's Note: During the 3rd fic, we say the name "Elena" when it should be "Elara." Please forgive this random incorrect name usage. - Sour Worm Coc…
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146. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
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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 char…
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Here's Looking at You Fics - Finale Part 1
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Here we find ourselves at the first half of the finale of Season 7! This week we have the first half of our 5 Star Requested Fics. Enjoy the first half! - Infused Twizzler Vodka Lemonade - Infuse vodka with Twizzlers by allowing Twizzlers to marinate in the vodka overnight. Mix infused vodka with lemonade and enjoy! Junior Mint Cinnamon Hot Chocola…
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145. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare with Traci Thomas
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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 mode…
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Part Two for You Glen Coco
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Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by redemption arcs… It's the last regular episode of season seven and Josie returns as host, with an update on the Mean Girls fic from episode 1! - On Thursdays we read fan fiction (boozy version) - Mix together 1.25oz navy strength gin, 0.75 oz green chartreuse, 0.5 oz lime juice, 0.5 oz le…
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It's Barbie Bitch. We're having a girls night. We're snuggling on the couch. We're looking into each other's eyes. We're making it awkward for your 16 year old daughter. Don't forget your rollerblades! - Bi-Pride Barbie Cosmo - To a shaker of ice add 1.5oz vodka, 1 oz cranberry juice cocktail, 0.75oz orange liqueur, 0.75 lime juice, 0.5oz blue cura…
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Turns out Claire never understood the Matrix. So she took the blue pill and brought something fluffy instead. Trinity is going to make a sweet treat for Neo! - Neo-vardier - Mix 8 ounces of apple cider, 4 ounces of bourbon, 2 ounces of Aperol, and 2 ounces of dry vermouth in a container with ice. Strain and serve your post-matrix cocktail. - Want t…
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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, toda…
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Is a fic still considered crack if it makes you cry? This week we explore the ship of dreams, the Titantic. It too had dreams of it's own, to find it's purpose, to find love. And doesn't love have a funny way of cracking us open to our most vulnerable? - Rose's Last Word - Mix 0.75 oz gin, 0.75 oz green chartreuse, 0.75 lime juice, 0.75 oz rose syr…
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Before he ever met Wesley or Princess Buttercup, Inigo Montoya was a hired hand for Vizzini. He was focused solely on his revenge plot, until their ship started to sail for Greenland. - Calimocho - Mix together equal parts red wine and cola soda. Enjoy with friends! - Want to read this fic for yourself? Give this author the kudos they deserve. You …
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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…
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142. The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
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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 incredib…
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141. Bookish pairings for our favorite period dramas
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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 read…
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She's beauty and she's Grace! And she's brought us a Miss Congeniality fic that will take the crown. FBI Agent Gracie Hart will have a lot to investigate where Miss Texas is involved. - Tubey Thing Shooter - Into a test tube add 1 oz apple vodka, 0.25 oz Midori, and a dash of lime juice - Want to read this fic for yourself? Give this author the kud…
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Every club has a secret handshake, and ours is crying when things get fluffy. The Kingsmen are an elite group of operatives with the best skills to take down the villains of the world, but what happens when the villain lies in the palm of your hand? - The Queen's Cocktail - Pour one part gin and two parts Dubonnet into a small wine glass, or chalic…
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140. Five tips for reading television and movies with a critical lens
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Today we’re sharing five tips for “reading” your favorite (or least favorite) TV shows and movies. These close reading tricks will help you get more critical while you watch television, which we hope prompts more engaging discussions with your friends and family. We’re using The Buccaneers (Apple TV) as our main example in this episode, but you don…
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3 strikes and you’re out of the closet! Kit Keller has a lot to learn in her new league, both on and off the field. - Rockford Peach Shandy - Mix 1/2 cup lager or light beer, 1/2 cup lemonade, and 1/3 cup "peach slurry" (1/2 cup of peaches, 1 tablespoon of water, 1 teaspoon sugar, blended together) - Want to read this fic for yourself? Give this au…
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Now that our New Year resolutions have worn off, we know just what you thneed: Cookies! Just watch out, you may learn just like the Onceler that not all the liquor cooks out of these whiskey cookies. - In a tumbler garnished with chocolate syrup, mix 2 ounces of bourbon and ½ ounce of chocolate liqueur. Add ice. Top with 4-6 dashes coffee bitters a…
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139. The best, the backlist, and the buzziest books of 2023
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It's time for our annual Superlative Soirée! (Okay, so we've never called it that before, but it fits, right?!) Today Chelsey and Sara share their favorite and least favorite books of 2023, plus everything in between. YOU helped us come up with some creative categories to cover in this official wrap-up episode, and we can't wait to hear what you th…
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It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! After the events of the movie, Dani is exploring her new identity as a witch, and her old friend Binx is there to help her along the way. But as she grows her feelings for Binx do as well. - White Witch - Shake together with ice 0.75 oz Cointreau, 0.5 oz lime juice, 0.75 oz gin, 0.75 oz green chartreuse, and 0.25 o…
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Goonies never say die, but they might say...yes? It's getting close to the high school prom and Stef still doesn't have a date. There is however a guy with a big mouth and a big heart that's hoping he can be the answer to that question. - Death by Chocolate - In a blender pour 1 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur, and 1 oz creme de cacao, then add 2 sco…
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Today is the Winter Solstice and to celebrate we're going to take a little trip to the warmer climes of Midsommar. Grace brings a fanfic that follows the characters of Midsommar through the rest of their lives and just a warning....it gets DEEP. - Midsommar Love - Mix 1.5 oz aquavit, 0.5 oz elderflower liquor, 0.5 oz lemon juice, and 1.5 oz lemonad…
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138. The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges
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We’re wrapping up the 2023 season with a final Short Story Club, this time exploring a prime example of Postmodern fiction with Jorge Luis Borges’ “The Garden of Forking Paths.” Borges is often considered one of the most important literary figures of the 20th century and credited as an early writer of magical realism, lo real maravilloso. In today’…
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This week Claire brings a Parent Trap fic, where Chessy and Meredith dance around their attraction for each other. - Starting with a ready-made margarita mix (with the alcohol) add rhubarb syrup and lime to taste. - Want to read this fic for yourself? Give this author the kudos they deserve. You can find this fic on archiveofourown.org! Title: the …
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Ever wonder what it’s like to attend a class at Novel Pairings University? We have a special treat for our listeners as we prepare for #WhartonInWinter and our readalong of Edith Wharton’s Custom of the Country. Today on the main feed, we’re releasing the audio from our Patreon Class Gilded Age Literature: Entering Edith Wharton's World for everyon…
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We're all in this together! And we know that Chad and Ryan need to have a serious conversation when they reconnect at the High School (Not a Musical) Reunion. This may be the start of something new. - Wildcat 08 - Mix 1 oz gin, 0.5 oz simple syrup, 0.5 oz lemon juice, 1/2 cup raspberry lemonade, and 1/2 cup champagne into a glass. Serve and remembe…
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Shut up! We're doing a Princess Diaries episode. Princess Mia Thermopolis is in a bit of a pickle, she needs a husband to be queen. Nicholas Devereaux wants to get out from under the thumb of his uncle. Perhaps a proposal could be drafted... - Add 1.5 oz gin, 1/2 oz St-Germain, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup, and a bar spoon of fresh pear …
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136. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
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Today, Chelsey and Sara explore TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf, investigating Woolf’s intention to put “real life” on the page, analyzing her prose and structure, discussing themes and characters, and contextualizing historical references. For a deeper reading and listening experience, check out our episode on A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN and our bonus…
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You better shape up, 'cause I need a man. And our episode is set in Grease! This week Grace brings a fic from Danny's POV. He's starting at a new school and with that comes a new identity, new friends, and new leather jackets. - Greased Lightning - Add 1.5 oz spiced rum into a chilled glass and top with root beer. Top with one scoop of vanilla ice …
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It's time to buzz the tower because Claire brought a Top Gun fanfic! Is anyone surprised? No. Rooster and Hangman are caught with their pants down...by none other than Maverick. - Empennage - Into a chilled glass add 2 oz whiskey, 2 oz Budweiser, and top with 2 oz of ginger beer. - Want to read this fic for yourself? Give this author the kudos they…
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135. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
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We’re kicking off our month of Virigina Woolf with an episode exploring Woolf’s dense and sprawling extended essay, “A Room of Own’s Own.” At just over one hundred pages, Woolf gives herself ample space on the page to explore and consider the issues that keep women from the forefront of the literature and what might be done to give them the creativ…
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Stop Trying to Make Fanfic Happen
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Get in loser, we're launching season seven! It's the first episode of season seven and Josie joins as host, with her offering: A Mean Girls Fanfic! - On Wednesdays, We Drink Pink - Mix together 1 oz tequila blanco, 1 oz grapefruit simple syrup, 1 oz grapefruit juice, 0.25 oz Aperol, and 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters; On Thursdays, We Read Fanfiction …
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134. Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat
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If a dark and twisty stream of consciousness narrative in translation sounds like an intriguing read, Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat is perfect for you. Penned by the forefather of the Modernist movement in Iranian literature, this surrealist story blends Western influences, Iranian folklore, and psychology. In today’s episode, we discuss key themes an…
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What is the difference between literary historical fiction and “woman with her back turned on the cover” historical fiction? In today’s episode of Modern Readers, we’re discussing the literary landscape and rise in popularity of the historical fiction genre. We explore the definition of historical fiction, significant time periods, craft vs. plot, …
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Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, first published in The New Yorker in 1948, feels relevant in every decade. Whether it’s discussed in the high school classroom or revisited in adulthood, this shocking story leaves a mark. We're back with another Short Story Club episode on Novel Pairings in which we take a closer look at Jackson’s haunting text, co…
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131. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
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Let’s discuss one of our most requested classics! Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is an eerie gothic novel with elements of mystery, fairy tale, and domestic suspense–and you’ve been asking for us to cover it on the show for years. In today’s episode, we speculate on why this classic remains so popular today, discuss the magic of reading a classic jus…
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130. Backlist book pairings for an abundant Autumn reading season
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Get ready for your TBR pile to actually topple over as we discuss a truly abundant season of publishing and books. The fall publishing calendar has a lot of hype-worthy titles, and in today’s episode you’ll hear our pared down lists (it was a struggle!) of excellent fall fiction due to hit shelves soon. This includes big books from BIG authors, int…
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You may have heard us mention the term “public scholarship” when talking about the mission of our podcast and our community of readers here at Novel Pairings. But what exactly is public scholarship, and how does it apply to us as lifelong learners? Today in our first Modern Readers episode, we’re sitting down to define public scholarship, share how…
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My Niche Fandom: Red Queen
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The first installation of My Niche Fandom! Bonus episodes where we overexplain a less-known fandom we're a part of so we can read a fic in which almost none of it matters. This week, Josie gives us the book series that reignited her love of reading fantasy: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard! - Bloody Mare: 1.5 oz vodka, 4 oz tomato juice, .25 oz lemon …
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Today we're sharing our (sometimes controversial) opinions about some of the buzziest books of LAST summer. We love it when our reading overlaps off the podcast and gives us a chance to come together for some off-the-cuff book conversation. Of the slew of buzzy books that released in Summer 2022, there were a handful both of us somehow made time to…
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Today, we’re sharing six classic titles from the 1920s that make excellent additions to your late summer or early fall reading stack, whether you’re reading them for the first time or returning with fresh eyes. The 1920s is a time period we both love to read and explore. In this mini TBR-toppler episode, you’ll have your picks from dense and deligh…
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It’s the last stretch of our Slow Down Summer with The Odyssey, and for this week’s discussion, we’re sharing final thoughts on The Odyssey’s staying power and impact on modern literature. We dive into talking about what we noticed in our full read-though of Emily Wilson’s translation. We also share themes to consider when reading, thoughts on read…
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