Novel Pairings

Welcome to Novel Pairings, a podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun. Each episode we’ll discuss one classic book and share some recommendations for more contemporary reads that feature similar themes. As two nerdy bookworms, we appreciate the role of classic lit, but we but we won’t get too academic about it. We’ll talk about the books we love and the books we loath, and help stock your TBR pile with old and new reads for every literary taste.

14. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and light summer reads with literary nostalgia

Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, one of the first novels categorized as Young Adult fiction. We discuss the nostalgia associated with our favorite children’s books. Today’s discussion includes:

 

  • Formative experiences with books from our childhoods [8:40]
  • Which couples we ship and which handsome actor captured our hearts in the movie version [15:00]
  • Who should read this book? Downton Abbey fans, we’re looking at you…[20:17]

 

Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic including a YA novel in verse and a Regency-era romance novel.

 

Shop the pairings: https://bookshop.org/shop/novelpairings

Resources mentioned:

I Capture the Castle film 

Comforting Classics episode

 

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Today’s episode is brought to you by Bookshelf Tees, a small female-owned business we love. We each own several comfy t-shirts from Bookshelf Tees and always look forward to Lauren’s new designs. You can get 20% off your next order by using code NOVELPAIRINGS at checkout.

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Pairing spoilers ahead!

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Chelsey’s Pairings:

I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest [28:05]

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare [35:56]

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert [43:22]

 

Sara’s Pairings:

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo [25:03]

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell [32:10]

By the Book by Amanda Sellet [39:36]

 

Chelsey’s Pick of the Week: Never Have I Ever on Netflix

Sara’s Pick of the Week: Harry Potter vs. Huckleberry Finn

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