10 Classics to Read This Summer
We're sharing our classic recommendations to pack for the beach!
Before we share more about our 150th episode (!!!), here’s what we’re reading as a community this summer:
Our Big Book Summer Read Along
There’s still plenty of time to join our annual summer readalong! This summer, we’re reading Les Misérables by Victor Hugo—a HUGE novel in translation with timely, and highly discussable, themes. We’ve already released an introductory recap episode, available on Patreon, and we had such a fun time recording the first recap of over 277 pages, many characters, and emerging themes. We know you’ll love reading along with our guided recaps and encouraging community.
Les Misérables is conveniently split into five sections, which we will recap over the summer for patrons in the $10 Literature Scholar tier. You can anticipate plot summaries, close reading, character analysis, and theme tracking in each recap as we guide you through this hefty novel. In addition to our recap episodes, you will find a vibrant community of nerdy readers eager to discuss their experiences along the way. In our Patreon Discord community, we share discussion prompts to go along with each recap episode. We’re busy planning exciting bonus episodes, classes, and book club events across the summer season, too!
You can find a complete recap schedule, including book club dates on Patreon.
Happy 150th Episode!
Today marks the official start of the Novel Pairings summer season and our 150th episode! We’re kicking it off by sharing 10 classics for your beach bag, along with some spicy opinions on assigned summer reading.
To guide your summer reading, we are sharing past episodes about each of the classics.
Episode 86: Palpable tension and shocking twists in Passing by Nella Larsen
Episode 136: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Episode 117: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Episode 114: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Episode 68: The Summer Book by Tove Jansson and contemplative books for moody summer reading
Episode 66: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende Part Two
Episode 64: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende Part One
Episode 20: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and romantic Black feminist heroines
Episode 126: Leaving a Legacy: The Odyssey in modern literature
Listen to today’s episode wherever you get your podcasts, and while you’re there, will you please take two minutes to write a review? Reviews in Spotify and Apple Podcasts have a direct correlation to the podcast charts (based on our unscientific, completely anecdotal but pretty firm evidence and observations), and they also make our day!
We will be back soon with a special recap peek for main feed listeners. Until then, we declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading. How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book!
Thank you for supporting the podcast and our work to make public scholarship fun and accessible. If you would like to stay connected to what’s happening at Novel Pairings, make sure to subscribe to this Substack and follow us on Instagram. Make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing to the show wherever you get your podcasts. And if you love the work we’re doing, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts!