Hello, listeners!
As Chelsey mentioned last week, we’re both very much in the throws of figuring out online teaching. There are some nice things about this change—sleeping in past 6:00am and getting to snack all day come to mind—but it’s also hard to be away from our students. The other balancing act I’m trying to maintain is staying informed without getting sucked into the black hole of the news cycle. To help keep me off my phone, I’ve taken up embroidery and I am LOVING it. I turn on an audiobook and get to work creating beautiful things for my home. It’s truly delightful and I love being able to channel my inner Austen heroine.
Of course near weekly recording sessions with Chelsey are my favorite way to keep busy under stay-at-home orders. We’ve had so much fun planning and recording bonus content, and we’re excited to connect with you all weekly. From our extra long discussion of comforting classics to reliving our English major days in our feminist and gender lens episode, we’ve loved getting all kinds of bookish content into your earbuds.
This week, though, we’re returning to our classic episode format. We’re discussing Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and then offering six contemporary books to pair with it. You’ll hear me say this multiple times on the podcast, but I love this book. And not only do I love this book, but the pairings in today’s episode also include four of my all-time favorite books. It’s a seriously great episode and I’m confident you’ll find something to add to your TBR.
And if you’re looking for more great historical fiction, check out these links:
Book Riot’s choices for the 50 best historical fiction books.
Oprah’s choices for best historical fiction (I love the diversity on this list).
Some of these links are Bookshop affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links (plus, you support independent bookstores).
Currently Reading:
Like Chelsey, a lot of my reading is still through audiobooks* right now. I just finished listening to Severance by Ling Ma (yes, my book club chose to read a pandemic book) and now I’m listening to Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. This was inspired by our feminist and gender episode, and I’m absolutely loving it. I’ve also been reading The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende because I was in the mood to get swept up in a long book. And once I finish that, I’ll start The Widow of Rose Hall by Diana Biller next so I can discuss it with Chelsey!
*Listeners, we’re excited to be partnering with Libro.fm to offer you three audiobooks for the price of one. Just click this link to get three audiobooks for $15 all while supporting the pod and independent bookstores!
Where to find us:
Download episodes of Novel Pairings wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Find Chelsey at @chelseyreads or @hereadsheread. Find me at @fictionmatters and my blog. We love hearing what you’re reading so feel free to tag us!
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