The Novel Pairings 2023 Gift Guide
classic picks for classic readers
We recently announced the release of our limited edition Novel Pairings merch, and we can’t wait for listeners to be able to cozy up with our super soft, vintage wash Novel Pairings University sweatshirts this winter! If you didn’t get a chance to see our new design, look no further.
Pre-orders are already open and details about ordering can be found here. Our shop is open until November 30th!
To celebrate the release of our limited edition merch, we’re pairing up our cozy new look with giftable picks for the bookworms in your life. Plus, there’s no shame in subtly sending this post along with a *wink wink, nudge nudge* this year. There’s a little something on our list for everyone, and each of our literary-inspired gift ideas pairs perfectly with our merch or a Patreon membership for fun, thoughtful gift bundles.
Give the Gift of Public Scholarship
Obviously, we’re biased—but we can’t think of anything better to gift (or receive) this holiday season than an annual membership to our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Every month, you or your gift recipient will get the chance to engage in literary learning with classes, book club events, printable handouts, and bonus episodes. This is the perfect time to share a Patreon membership because we’re launching our Edith Wharton readalong in January. If you’ve been on the fence about joining our Classics Club, you’ve joined in the past and miss our fun educational events, or you have a nerdy loved one in mind, sign up for an annual subscription and receive a 10% discount. As a reminder, here’s what’s included in a Patreon membership.
Literature Lover - $5
Friday Bonus Episodes to enhance your reading experience, including:
Educational Mini Episodes featuring historical, cultural, biographical, and literary context for our monthly classic book selections.
Personal Pairings Episodes featuring Chelsey and Sara’s individual book recommendations paired with their current literary or pop culture interests.
Literary Landscape Episodes featuring conversations on publishing trends, education, and hot topics in the book world.
Bonus TBR Toppler Episodes featuring themed book lists (ex: Women in Mythology).
Seasonal Announcement Episodes featuring our upcoming book selections and themes, released weeks before we announce the line-up to the public.
Access to our Novel Pairings Spreadsheet featuring pairings from every Classic Books episode on the main podcast feed.
Access to the Novel Pairings Discord Chat to connect with fellow Classics Club members.
Occasional Treats like book selection polls, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and discounts on Novel Pairings merchandise.
Literature Scholar - $10
This tier includes the same content as the $5 tier, plus:
Monthly Classes and Events featuring our English teacher expertise (ex: Literary Lenses 101, Deciphering the Classics, and A Guide to the Gilded Age). We record these events for those who cannot attend live and publish them as podcast episodes for easy-to-access content on the go.
Monthly Book Club Discussions featuring a vibrant community of nerdy readers who love to learn from one another. In these casual video meet-ups, on-screen member participation is encouraged but not required.
Biannual Recap Episodes featuring summaries, close reading, and analysis questions for our winter and summer “Big Book” readalongs (ex: The Odyssey recaps).
Access to exclusive Literature Scholars Discord Threads for those who want to discuss our book selections in real time or share insights and reflections from our book club discussions.
Novel Pairings Producer - $20
This tier includes the same content as the $5 and $10 levels, plus:
Executive Producer Credit on the Novel Pairings podcast.
Annual State of the Podcast Meeting with Chelsey, Sara, and your fellow producers to learn about what we’re working on behind-the-scenes, upcoming book selections, and our goals for the show.
The 2023 Novel Pairings Gift Guide
For the reader who loves cozying up with a warm beverage, this solidly-made mug with some of the most iconic opening lines of literature is the perfect vessel. Add something to brew like NovelTea’s Don Quixote’s Man of Lamanchai for an extra pairing.
For those who love to add a pop of color to spaces with blooms, this Bibliophile Vase by Jane Mount is perfect for holding fresh stems.
We love a baseball cap that represents literary tastes, and thanks to Books Are Magic, we can represent our love for independent bookstores while staying warm with their funky beanie. Want something a little more classic? Strand Bookstore has you covered.
Literary references make for the best inside jokes and this Pride and Prejudice tea towel takes the cake (err…potatoes).
Shorter days call for warm and inviting mood lighting. A candle from Noble Objects, like their If Beale Street Could Talk candle helps bring the scents described in iconic literature to life.
For those who love audiobooks, this puzzle featuring classic titles makes for a relaxing weekend project.
Who wouldn’t love this charming glass-blown book stack ornament from Anthropologie?
Books that help parents share their love of their favorite books with their kids, such as The Little Books of Little Brontes or Goodnight, Anne, can be a meaningful gesture and a way to build a treasury of books for families.
Need more gift ideas?
Sara shared her holiday gift guide, including giftable books and favorite things:
And Chelsey shared two guides, one for little bookworms and one for bookish besties:
If you have any questions about merch or Patreon memberships, send us an email at novelpairingspod@gmail.com. We can’t wait to see you in your NPU sweatshirts!
Thank you for supporting the podcast and our work to make public scholarship fun and accessible. Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links. 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!