The Novel Tea

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Greenwood, a multigenerational family saga tied together with a repeating motif of trees and forests. We discuss themes of legacy, inheritance, nature, and addiction, and we also share our critiques of the book, from its character construction to its central message.

Interview with Michael Christie

Shelf Discovery:
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Playground by Richard Powers
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

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We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss - you can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].
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In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Annihilation, the first book of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy. We discuss its world building, character development, and share our many theories about the central mystery and the book's ending.

Shelf Discovery & Books Mentioned:
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

If you would like to get additional recommendations, analyses, and behind-the-scenes content related to this and all of our episodes, subscribe to our free email newsletter on Substack.

We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss - you can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].
This episode description contains links to Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. If you use these links we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss What We Can Know, Ian McEwan's latest speculative novel about a lost poem, climate change, and the power of stories. We discuss this novel through the themes of memory and preservation, and talk about our differing opinions on some of the major twists in the novel.

Shelf Discovery & Books Mentioned:
Possession by A.S. Byatt
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Universality by Natasha Brown

If you would like to get additional recommendations, analyses, and behind-the-scenes content related to this and all of our episodes, subscribe to our free email newsletter on Substack.

We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss - you can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].
This episode description contains links to Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. If you use these links we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Jon Krakauer's famous account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, Into Thin Air. They discuss his chosen narration style, clarify what actually happened on that mountain, and talk about the role of a writer in controlling their story.

Shelf Discovery
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Call of the Wild by Jack London

If you would like to get additional recommendations, analyses, and behind-the-scenes content related to this and all of our episodes, subscribe to our free email newsletter on Substack.

We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss - you can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].
This episode description contains links to Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. If you use these links we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New year, new season! In this episode we introduce the theme for our upcoming season, The Natural World - then we get into the eight books we'll be discussing over the next few months.

Vote for your choice of novel here

Books Mentioned:
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer
Greenwood by Michael Christie
Barkskins by Annie Proulx
We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Moby Dick by Herman Melville

If you would like to get additional recommendations, analyses, and behind-the-scenes content related to this and all of our episodes, subscribe to our free email newsletter on Substack.

We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss - you can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at [email protected].
This episode description contains links to Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. If you use these links we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.