New episode! The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Hey, listeners!
We are thrilled to share today’s episode on The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. This was a reread for both of us, and while we both thoroughly enjoyed this high drama classic, we also found quite a bit to take issue with in our discussion. We chat about the complicated and at times unlikable character of Lily Bart, the limited options for women during this time, and what exactly we think Wharton is saying about class in America through this novel. It’s a really fun conversation, and while we do discuss the ending, we give you ample warning so you can avoid spoilers if you haven’t read yet.
Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app (don’t forget to rate and subscribe!).
For further reading on Edith Wharton and the Gilded Age:
Edith Wharton’s essay “Confessions of a Novelist.”
A Rooting Interest: Edith Wharton and the problem of sympathy.
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Coming up:
Next week we’re dropping our bi-annual superlatives episode and revealing our favorite books of the year so far. In this episode, we share the best books we read in categories including best audiobook, best nonfiction, best surprise, and best book by a beloved author. We’ll also divulge our most disappointing reads of the year and the upcoming releases we cant wait to get our hands on.
Then on August 3rd, we’ll be discussing Tennessee Williams’ classic play A Streetcar Named Desire. It’s a quick read, but be sure to check out content warnings before diving in. We’ll also be hosting a watch along of the Marlon Brando / Vivien Leigh film for our Patrons in August. We had so much fun at our last watch along and can’t wait to do it again. Sign up for our Patreon community at the $5 tier to join us!
In case you missed it, we shared our summer selections on IGTV and in an Instagram post.
Currently reading:
Sara recently read The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon. It’s a super steamy (very open door!) romance set in the world of public radio and the podcasting jokes really made the book. Chelsey is reading and loving The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris and is prepping her TBR for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Readers’ Weekend coming up this week.
*You can support your favorite independent bookstores and get two Libro.fm audiobooks for the price of one by signing up with our link, or entering code NOVELPAIRINGS at checkout!
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 Sara at @fictionmatters and her newsletter. We love hearing what you’re reading, so 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!
-Sara and Chelsey