🍂New Episode: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Plus Gothic novels, eerie reads, and an upcoming mystery episode
Hi, listeners!
Today we have an episode for you that is just perfect for spooky season. Chelsey and I are discussing Mary Shelley’s Gothic horror classic, Frankenstein and pairing it with some eerie reads to fit every fall reading mood. We may say this every week, but this episode is really fun. We own up to some of our bad English major habits, share the fascinating history of this original sci-fi novel, and get extra nerdy with a discussion about the Romantic and Gothic literary movements.
Some great links for additional reading…
Did you know that Mary Shelley also wrote a sci-fi novel about a pandemic?
Check out 50 Gothic novels ranging from classic to contemporary.
Jill Lepore’s insights into Shelley’s life and the creation of Frankenstein is truly insightful.
Read about why Frankenstein is relevant, but complicated.
Some of our links are Bookshop affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links (plus, you support independent bookstores).
Coming up:
We’ve loved digging into all things spooky this October, but next week we’re celebrating the cozier side of fall with a special episode. Courtney Wallace, better known on Instagram as @incessantbookworm, joins us to talk about reading challenges, seasonal books, back-to-school reading, and Gilmore Girls (yes, you read that right). Plus we’re pairing some great books with our favorite fall activities. It’s a comfy, cozy listen that you won’t want to miss!
And the, on November 3rd, we’re dropping our first ever mystery episode with a discussion about Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. It’s a quick read so there’s still time to read it before our episode, but we keep most of this episode general and spoiler-free. It’s a great listen even if you haven’t picked up this classic locked room murder mystery.
Currently Reading:
Revisiting our Crucible episode from a couple weeks back has put me in the mood for witches. I’m currently reading The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman and The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. I’m thoroughly enjoying both and I don’t think they’ll be the last witchy books of 2020 for me.
Of course, I’m also finishing up the last few submissions for the Aspen Literary Prize. I have until October 28th to conclude my reading and some of these last few have been particularly good. Most recently I’ve really enjoyed All My Mother’s Lovers by Ilana Masad, The Mountains Sing by Phan Que Mai Nguyen, and Enter the Aardvark by Jessica Anthony.
Listeners, we’re excited to be partnering with Libro.fm to offer you two audiobooks for the price of one. Just click this link to get two audiobooks for $15 all while supporting the pod and independent bookstores!
Or click here to give the gift of audiobooks to your favorite bookworm.
Where to find us:
Download episodes of Novel Pairings wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Check out our blog for bonus pairings, reading tips, and book recommendations. Find Chelsey at @chelseyreads or @hereadsheread. Find me at @fictionmatters and my newsletter. We love hearing what you’re reading, so feel free to tag us in your #bookstagram posts!
We declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!
Have a lovely week, everyone!
-Sara