The Novel Tea

Dec 04 2024 47 ep. 46 mins
The Novel Tea Podcast artwork

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?
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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida: change our minds - with Brown Girl Bookshelf

Dec 04 2024 40 mins  
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 idiosync

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka: dignity and chance

Nov 27 2024 59 mins  
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, p

Another Country by James Baldwin: love and pain; grief and forgiveness

Nov 13 2024 64 mins  
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 bette

Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel: survival and mistrust

Oct 30 2024 56 mins  
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

The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño: youth and narcissism

Oct 16 2024 39 mins  
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 recommendatio

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami : memory and protection

Oct 02 2024 48 mins  
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 relat

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai: class and entitlement

Sep 18 2024 51 mins  
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

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen: loyalty and duality

Sep 04 2024 49 mins  
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

Season 4: Beyond Borders

Aug 20 2024 25 mins  
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

The Novelties: 2024 Mid-Year Reading Spotlight

Jul 10 2024 43 mins  
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 Dea