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PODCAST

The Novel Tea

Welcome to The Novel Tea, where your favorite English class meets your neighborhood book club. Join us as we go beyond the traditional classics, exploring books from diverse authors and backgrounds. Each episode, we"ll talk about a book through different themes, analyzing characters, plot, and writing styles, to determine: does it stand the test of time? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

arts books

All Episodes

31:35

Season 5: Adaptations - What makes a good book...

The Novel Tea ·

2025/01/29

In this episode we introduce our theme for the season: adaptations! We discuss some of the best and worst adaptations we've seen, what makes a good adaptation, and the new trends in book adaptations. And, of course, we share what we'll be reading (and watching!) over the next few months for Season 5.Books and movies mentioned:Little Women by Louisa May AlcottWickedEragon by Christopher PaoliniHarry Potter by J.K. Rowling10 Things I Hate About YouShe's the ManThe Lion KingHamlet by William

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49:27

2024 in Books: Our Top Ten, New Releases, and More!

The Novel Tea ·

2024/12/30

It's finally here - our year in books! In this bonus episode, we share the 10 best books we read this year, ranging from new releases, to classics, to non-fiction. We also share a few honorable mentions that we loved. And, towards the end of the episode, we spill the tea on a few 2024 releases, including some that we loved and others that didn't quite hit the mark.Books Mentioned:The GuestThe Night SwimThey Called Us ExceptionalEducatedThe Little StrangerYellowfaceThe Left Hand of DarknessMy

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34:37

Borders, Revisionist Literature, and Edward Said:...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/12/23

Neha and Shruti discuss all 8 books we've covered over the last few months, thinking about our favorite and least favorite reading experiences. We also get nerdy and discuss Edward Said, revisionist literature, and more!This episode is spoiler free, so if you were wondering which book to start with, the episode might help you decide.Books mentioned:Culture and Imperialism by Edward SaidTermush by Sven HolmHomegoing by Yaa GyasiWe Have Always Been Here by Samra HabibThey Called Us Exceptional by

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57:23

The Parisian by Isabella Hammad: belonging and...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/12/18

Neha and Shruti discuss The Parisian by Isabella Hammad, a book that follows Midhat Kamal, a Palestinian man, between the First and Second World Wars. We talk about the 19th century European novel, prominent themes we noticed in the book, and our thoughts on the characters and their development. We also get into the historical context of the events unfolding in the book.LinksIsraelPalestine For Critical Thinkers on YoutubeEmpire Podcast [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify]Books Mentioned & Shelf

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40:02

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida: change our minds -...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/12/04

This week we are so excited to invite Sri Ramesh of Brown Girl Bookshelf to chat with us! Last week, Neha and Shruti got into some of their critiques of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, and this week, Sri is here to tell us what she loved about. Will she change our minds?We also talk more broadly about Sri Lankan literature, the Booker prize, book endings, and our reading idiosyncrasies.LinksWhat Makes a Book a 'Classic'? [The Novel Tea Newsletter archive]BooksA Passage North by Anuk

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59:51

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/11/27

Neha and Shruti discuss The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, a book that starts with the death of a photographer and follows him in the afterlife as he attempts to find his murderer and his missing photographs. We talk about the nature of death and the afterlife, and share historical context about the Sri Lankan Civil War. We also explore why people might be afraid to critize books, particularly works by marginalized communities.Books mentioned & Shelf DiscoveryHalf of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda

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1:04:38

Another Country by James Baldwin: love and pain;...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/11/13

Neha and Shruti discuss Another Country by James Baldwin, a book that follows a group of friends and lovers in New York City in the mid-20th century. We talk about the characters and their relationships, the inaction that fills the novel, and the importance of having 'difficult' conversations with the people you love. We also go on a brief Gossip Girl tangent as we attempt to better understand the characters in this book :)Links:Another Country by Claudia Roth Pierpont [The New Yorker]Jazz by Toni

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56:15

Daughters of the Deer: survival and mistrust

The Novel Tea ·

2024/10/30

Neha and Shruti discuss Daughters of the Deer, by Danielle Daniel, a work of historical fiction that follows an indigenous woman and her daughter in a 17th century French colony that is now Quebec, Canada. We talk about the historical context of the book, discuss the characters and their journeys, and reflect on the importance of telling these stories.Shelf Discovery:East by Edith PattouFever 1793 by Laurie Halse AndersonHope Leslie; Or Early Times in Massachusetts by Catharine Maria SedgwickIf you

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39:48

The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño: youth and...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/10/16

Neha and Shruti discuss The Savage Detectives, the story of two poets and the people and world that surrounds them, as they journey across Mexico. We talk about some of the cultural context of this book, the challenges we faced while reading, and share some strong opinions.Shelf DiscoveryAmerican Gods by Neil GaimanIf you would like to get more in-depth analysis, book recommendations, and cultural commentary, subscribe to our free newsletter.We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss

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48:25

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami : memory and...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/10/02

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Other Americans by Laila Lalami, a novel about an immigrant family that includes a romance, family drama, and a mystery. After a quick discussion of the It Ends With Us drama, we share a quick summary and dive into some themes we noticed in The Other Americans, including memory, regret, and protection. We talk about some of the key relationships and conflicts, major plot points, and Lalami's writing style.Shelf DiscoveryThe Night Watchman by Louise

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51:05

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai: class and...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/09/18

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, which follows four characters from different social and financial classes, whose stories are linked through familial relationships and employment. As the book continues, their lives become more intimately intertwined and political unrest starts to reach their homes.We talk about the themes of class and entitlement, the historical landscape of India in the post-independence decades, and discuss how this book is

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49:06

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen: loyalty and...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/09/04

Neha and Shruti discuss The Sympathizer, the 2016 Pulitzer winner for fiction, through the themes of loyalty and duality. This book is a thriller and a satire, following a mixed race narrator who moves to the United States after the fall of Saigon, and must navigate his identity and his role as a communist spy. We talk about the book's historical context, its commentary on race and pop culture, and more.Links:Interview with Viet Thanh Nguyen [NPR]Shelf Discovery:The Great Indian Novel by Shashi

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25:02

Season 4: Beyond Borders

The Novel Tea ·

2024/08/20

In this episode, Neha and Shruti introduce the theme for Season 4: Beyond Borders! We talk about the books we've selected to read in this theme, and share what we're excited about in the upcoming months.Books Mentioned:The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh NyugenThe Inheritance of Loss by Kiran DesaiThe Other Americans by Laila LalamiThe Savage Detectives by Roberto BolañoDaughters of the Deer by Danielle DanielAnother Country by James BaldwinThe Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan KarunatilakaThe

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43:38

The Novelties: 2024 Mid-Year Reading Spotlight

The Novel Tea ·

2024/07/10

It's time for the best, the worst, and everything in-between: in the 2024 Novelties, Shruti and Neha give awards to their favorite reads of 2024 so far. Ranging from classics to new releases, we share our picks for most unexpected, best character, worth the hype, best page-turner, weirdest book, and more! Books Mentioned:Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Belleza and Emily HardingMy Death by Lisa TuttleMy Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeThe Hunchback of Notre Dame by

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33:40

Season 3 Wrap: Other Worlds, the Genre Debate, and...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/06/26

In our last episode until the fall, we talk all about speculative fiction: our favorite fictional worlds, the best reading experiences we've had this season, and more. We also share the books that didn't make the cut for this season (even though we want to read them all), and get into the great realistic vs. genre fiction debate.Books mentioned:Dark Matter by Blake CrouchMexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-GarciaSnow Crash by Neal StephensonTill We Have Faces by C.S. LewisNeverwhere by Neil

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54:02

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke: death and discovery

The Novel Tea ·

2024/06/19

Today, Neha and Shruti talk about Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, a dreamy, fantastical novel set in a beautiful House where there are birds, fish, tides, and statues. We talk about the narrator's unique perspective, the writing style, and our thoughts on the underlying meaning of the story. We also get into the book's many allusions and references, from C.S. Lewis, to Plato's Allegory of the Cave.Shelf Discovery & Books Mentioned:Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna ClarkeThe Little Prince

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54:37

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel:...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/06/05

Shruti and Neha talk about Sea of Tranquility, the latest book from speculative fiction author Emily St. John Mandel. We dive into the differences between loneliness and solitude, past vs. present tense in fiction, time travel, the history of the simulation hypothesis, and much more!Spoilers start at 15:53.Shelf DiscoveryThe Glass Hotel by Emily St. John MandelThe Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey NiffeneggerThe New York Trilogy by Paul AusterIf you would like to get more in-depth analysis, book

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53:44

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón:...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/05/22

In this episode, Neha and Shruti dive into the historical underbelly of Barcelona where they find twisted tales, hidden secrets, family drama, and heartbreak. We read The Shadow of the Wind through themes of obsession and memory, talk about Gothic fiction and mystery stories, and finally get to our problems with the book's ending.Shelf Discovery:Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia MarquezThe Starless Sea by Erin MorgensternThe Book Thief by Markus ZusakIf you would like to get more

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47:17

Fledgling by Octavia Butler: home and innocence

The Novel Tea ·

2024/05/08

Shruti and Neha discuss Fledgling, Octavia Butler's last novel before her untimely death, through the themes of home and innocence. We talk about vampire lore (including Twilight and The Vampire Diaries), the ethics of genetic manipulation, and race through the lens of childhood.Links:Code Switch: Taylor Swift and the unbearable whiteness of girlhoodShelf Discovery:The Vegetarian by Han KingThe Bluest Eye by Toni MorrisonIf you would like to get more in-depth analysis, curated book recommendations,

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59:26

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin:...

The Novel Tea ·

2024/04/24

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss one of the most acclaimed science fiction novels of all time: Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness. We give you all the context you need to understand this complex and nuanced novel, and even some information you may not have thought you needed, including: the evolutionary biology of menstruation, gender constructs & stereotypes, conflicts of love and trust, and much more.Spoilers start at 33:19Links:How and Why did Women Evolve Periods? by

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