Neha and Shruti discuss The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, a book that starts with the death of a photographer and follows him in the afterlife as he attempts to find his murderer and his missing photographs. We talk about the nature of death and the afterlife, and share historical context about the Sri Lankan Civil War. We also explore why people might be afraid to critize books, particularly works by marginalized communities. Books mentioned & Shelf Discovery Half of a Yellow Sun by...

Neha and Shruti discuss Another Country by James Baldwin, a book that follows a group of friends and lovers in New York City in the mid-20th century. We talk about the characters and their relationships, the inaction that fills the novel, and the importance of having 'difficult' conversations with the people you love. We also go on a brief Gossip Girl tangent as we attempt to better understand the characters in this book :) Links: Another Country by Claudia Roth Pierpont [The New Yorker] Jazz...

Neha and Shruti discuss Daughters of the Deer, by Danielle Daniel, a work of historical fiction that follows an indigenous woman and her daughter in a 17th century French colony that is now Quebec, Canada. We talk about the historical context of the book, discuss the characters and their journeys, and reflect on the importance of telling these stories. Shelf Discovery: East by Edith Pattou Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Hope Leslie; Or Early Times in Massachusetts by Catharine Maria...

Neha and Shruti discuss The Savage Detectives, the story of two poets and the people and world that surrounds them, as they journey across Mexico. We talk about some of the cultural context of this book, the challenges we faced while reading, and share some strong opinions. Shelf Discovery American Gods by Neil Gaiman If you would like to get more in-depth analysis, book recommendations, and cultural commentary, subscribe to our free newsletter. We love to hear from listeners about the books...

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Other Americans by Laila Lalami, a novel about an immigrant family that includes a romance, family drama, and a mystery. After a quick discussion of the It Ends With Us drama, we share a quick summary and dive into some themes we noticed in The Other Americans, including memory, regret, and protection. We talk about some of the key relationships and conflicts, major plot points, and Lalami's writing style. Shelf Discovery The Night Watchman by...

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, which follows four characters from different social and financial classes, whose stories are linked through familial relationships and employment. As the book continues, their lives become more intimately intertwined and political unrest starts to reach their homes. We talk about the themes of class and entitlement, the historical landscape of India in the post-independence decades, and discuss how this book is...

Neha and Shruti discuss The Sympathizer, the 2016 Pulitzer winner for fiction, through the themes of loyalty and duality. This book is a thriller and a satire, following a mixed race narrator who moves to the United States after the fall of Saigon, and must navigate his identity and his role as a communist spy. We talk about the book's historical context, its commentary on race and pop culture, and more. Links: Interview with Viet Thanh Nguyen [NPR] Shelf Discovery: The Great Indian Novel by...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti introduce the theme for Season 4: Beyond Borders! We talk about the books we've selected to read in this theme, and share what we're excited about in the upcoming months. Books Mentioned: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nyugen The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai The Other Americans by Laila Lalami The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel Another Country by James Baldwin The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan...

It's time for the best, the worst, and everything in-between: in the 2024 Novelties, Shruti and Neha give awards to their favorite reads of 2024 so far. Ranging from classics to new releases, we share our picks for most unexpected, best character, worth the hype, best page-turner, weirdest book, and more! Books Mentioned: Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Belleza and Emily Harding My Death by Lisa Tuttle My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Piranesi by Susanna Clarke The Hunchback of Notre...

In our last episode until the fall, we talk all about speculative fiction: our favorite fictional worlds, the best reading experiences we've had this season, and more. We also share the books that didn't make the cut for this season (even though we want to read them all), and get into the great realistic vs. genre fiction debate. Books mentioned: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis Neverwhere by Neil...

Today, Neha and Shruti talk about Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, a dreamy, fantastical novel set in a beautiful House where there are birds, fish, tides, and statues. We talk about the narrator's unique perspective, the writing style, and our thoughts on the underlying meaning of the story. We also get into the book's many allusions and references, from C.S. Lewis, to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Shelf Discovery & Books Mentioned: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke The...

Shruti and Neha talk about Sea of Tranquility, the latest book from speculative fiction author Emily St. John Mandel. We dive into the differences between loneliness and solitude, past vs. present tense in fiction, time travel, the history of the simulation hypothesis, and much more! Spoilers start at 15:53. Shelf Discovery The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster If you would like to get more in-depth...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti dive into the historical underbelly of Barcelona where they find twisted tales, hidden secrets, family drama, and heartbreak. We read The Shadow of the Wind through themes of obsession and memory, talk about Gothic fiction and mystery stories, and finally get to our problems with the book's ending. Shelf Discovery: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern The Book Thief by Markus Zusak If you would like to...

Shruti and Neha discuss Fledgling, Octavia Butler's last novel before her untimely death, through the themes of home and innocence. We talk about vampire lore (including Twilight and The Vampire Diaries), the ethics of genetic manipulation, and race through the lens of childhood. Links: Code Switch: Taylor Swift and the unbearable whiteness of girlhood Shelf Discovery: The Vegetarian by Han King The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison If you would like to get more in-depth analysis, curated book...

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss one of the most acclaimed science fiction novels of all time: Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness. We give you all the context you need to understand this complex and nuanced novel, and even some information you may not have thought you needed, including: the evolutionary biology of menstruation, gender constructs & stereotypes, conflicts of love and trust, and much more. Spoilers start at 33:19 Links: How and Why did Women Evolve...

Shruti and Neha discuss The Humans by Matt Haig, a novel that is dressed up as science fiction, but is really about learning to love life. We talk about reading the right book at the right time, science fiction's relationship to colonialism, and bigger questions about the way we live today. We also wonder if there is a such thing as self-help fiction. Shelf Discovery: An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith...

In this fun bonus episode, Shruti and Neha dive into everything mythology-related, including: what are myths? Why are Greek mythology retellings so popular, and is that problematic? Does mythology still exist today? We talk about all this and more, referencing The Hero's Journey, Joseph Campbell, and world mythologies. *Spoilers for American Gods between 20:50-21:10 Books Mentioned: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling American Gods by Neil Gaiman The Secret History by Donna...

In this episode Neha and Shruti tackle one of the living titans of speculative fiction: Neil Gaiman. We discuss American Gods through the themes of deception and survival, tracking the characters through the story as we ponder stories of immigration, faith, and disillusionment. We also talk about the importance of reading challenging novels and taking our time with certain books. Spoilers for the ending start at 21:50. Content warning: the book contains references to historical violence...

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss one of Margaret Atwood's lesser known works, The Penelopiad - a retelling of The Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope, and the twelve hanged maids. Even if you haven't read the book, we think there's a lot you'll enjoy in this episode! We consider the themes of justice and persuasion as we talk about modern feminism (and the #MeToo movement), how myths evolve, and trends in mythology retellings. We also talk about Atwood's character portrayals and...

Neha and Shruti discuss The Secret History, a book that has gained a cult following in the last few decades - and as we discuss the book, we start to see why. We talk about the characters, the atmospheric setting, and how Tartt brilliantly creates and sustains tension. We also provide some background for the book's classical allusions, and share all our theories about the book's shocking climax. And as always, we provide recommendations in our Shelf Discovery segment for books to read next if...

In this bonus episode, Shruti and Neha invite some special guests to talk about books: Chelsey and Sara of Novel Pairings! We talk all about reading carefully and deeply, public scholarship, and tools to help sharpen your analytic lens. Along the way, we talk about some of our childhood favorites, trends in literature, high school English classes, and more! Listen to Novel Pairings, follow them on Instagram, and visit their Patreon for extra classes. If you would like to hear more in-depth...

We're back, and we're so excited to delve into the worlds of speculative fiction with you all! In this episode, we share the theme we'll be reading through for the next few months: Other Worlds. We talk about the books we'll be reading for the next few months, including important background about these works and their authors, and why we picked them. If you love fantasy, science fiction, supernatural, and dystopian fiction, then this season is for you! And if these aren't your preferred...

In this bonus episode, Shruti and Neha share the most popular books they've in 2023, including Bookstagram favorites, award-winners, and Tik Tok darlings from the past few years. We summarize the books and give our honest opinions on whether or not these books were worth the hype - and for the books we didn't like, we give some recommendations for books that we thought were better. Listen in to find out if these books are worth reading - and if you loved a book that we hated (or vice versa),...

In this (mostly) spoiler-free* episode, Neha and Shruti reflect on the experience of reading books from around the world. We zoom out and talk on a broad level about narrative voice, villainy, disability representation and its portrayal in literature, and post-colonial writing. We also do a deep dive into trauma narratives - why are they so popular nowadays? What stories are being promoted, and how does this limit the stories being told by authors of color? We had so much to say on these...