Through the Pages
By your bookish podcast
Through the PagesMar 28, 2024
Shelf-Care | Q1 Reading Wrap Up
We are reviewing the good, the bad, the new and the (un)honourable mentions of our Q1 reading experience!
We're back on the Whodunnit train, do love ourselves some historical fiction and share one honourable and one unhonourable mention to end these first 3 months of reading in 2024.
Titles mentioned:
- The English Understand Wool by Helen deWitt
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- In Memoriam: A Novel by Alice Winn
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
- Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
- Brutes by Dizz Tate
- Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto
- What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
- Anthony Horowitz' works (notably: Magpie Murders)
- The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
- Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
- The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Thank you for listening!
"If you have big hobbit feet, you're not worthy of love" | Cinderella by The Brothers Grimm
Our most enchanted episode yet - or is it?
In this episode, we tackle our first fairy tale and chat about a story we probably all know: Cinderella. But if your first thoughts upon hearing this are Disney, glass slipper and happily ever after, you're in for a surprise. The original story, put into writing by the Brothers Grimm in 1812/15 in their collection of tales is slightly... bloodier and a tad more sinister.
We chat about evil stepmothers, dumb princes, the heavy moral of the story and wonder - have we now developed a phobia of pigeons?!
As always, we love to hear from you. Follow us @throughthepagespod.
Shelf-Care | Our Reading Intentions for 2024
After we both had a great reading year in 2023, we’re excited about all the bookish discoveries we’ll make in 2024. In this episode we chat about our reading intentions for the coming year, the books we’re looking forward to, what we’d like to read more of, and why we started the year with a bunch of short reads (short books for the win!).
Books mentioned in the episode 📚
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady*
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
The Diviners by Libba Bray
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
*and correction of the audio, the author is Scottish!
"The Elephant in the Room is a Cockroach" | The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
For the 100th anniversary of Kafka's death, we have decided to feature him on our podcast for a second time. This time with the absurd, cruel, and creepy novella about Gregor Samsa's terrifying awakening.
We talk about the elephant in the room and what it could mean and chat about why this particular story was particularly disturbing.
Let us know what you think! Have you read it? Did you prefer it to The Trial?
“Down the Rabbit Hole” | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
We all know the story, a lot of us grew up with it: Alice and her fun little trip to Wonderland. But, if like us, you’ve never actually read the story, this one’s for you!
Tag along as we go down the rabbit hole and try to wrap our head around Lewis Caroll’s novel that was first published in 1865. We chat about Alice’s unsettling trip and the characters she meets on the way, tackle the novel’s problematic background and the age old question: "Can we separate artists and their work?", and try to find some sense in the nonsensical. That’s right - it gets trippy.
As always, we love to hear from you. Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok & check out our Patreon to discover our additional bookish content!
"Rochester Slander Only" | Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
One of the most well known Bildungsromane, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë follows the life of the title character from one unfortunate event to the next. In this episode we talk about how this 1847 classic still translates well into our current time and inner monologues and how Rochester might make the top 5 worst men in literary history!
"Rollin' with the vampires" | Dracula by Bram Stoker
Perhaps the most anticipated episode of our podcast - at least definitely for one of our hosts. We discuss her favourite classic, Dracula by Bram Stoker. The 1897 novel introduced the famous father of all vampires and has since doubtlessly influenced every narrative of "The Undead" that we can think of.
Join us as we take a trip to Transylvania and chat about vampirism, the novel's memorable set of characters and structure, and how the story is surprisingly - silly?
Let us know what you think about the book and join the conversation! Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok and get in touch.
Check out our Patreon and discover additional bookish content! This month you'll find a Beyond the Book episode in which we discuss vampires in book to screen adaptations: https://www.patreon.com/ThroughthePages
"Roderick, are you okay?" | The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
The wait is over! Mike Flanagan's new gothic horror miniseries "The Fall of the House of Usher" if finally out on Netflix - and if you can't already tell: we're excited.
The series is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story of the same name (first published in 1839), so of course we had to go back to the original material and explore this classic short story! If a creepy house, a strange set of twins and an unreliable narrator are right up your street, this episode is for you.
Join the conversation! Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok and get in touch.
"It Comes Lightly and it Goes Lightly" | Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Though Truman Capote describes socialite Holly Golightly as being “top banana in the shock department” in his 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s - we beg to differ.
In this episode we discuss Breakfast at Tiffany’s, try to make sense of its main character (and creepy narrator), chat about what did not sit right with us when reading, how the novella inspired the iconic Audrey Hepburn film - and of course try to get to the bottom of the question of all questions: why is this book considered to be a classic?
What are your opinions on Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Let us know and follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok to get in touch and to let us know your thoughts
"There is No Postman in this Novel" | The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
It is considered one of the most outstanding crime novels of the 20th century, so we had to read it! We're discussing The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) and have contrasting opinions on its "enjoyability", realise there is no postman in it and talk about why it must have caused shock waves back in the 30s.
What did you think of it? Have you seen the adaptations?
Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok to get in touch and to let us know your thoughts!
"Steeping Away in the Bathtub Like an Old Bag of Tea" | Franny & Zooey by J. D. Salinger
Our very first Salinger and let's just say it might not have been our favourite classic so far. We discuss the different times of publications, how they would both make for amazing plays and why we did enjoy Franny more than Zooey! (& why thanks to Jack Edwards, we knew it was pronounced "Z-oo-ey" and not "Zoe-y").
Have you read it? What did you think? Let us know!
Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok to get in touch and to let us know your thoughts!
"Maybe You Should Get New Friends, Richard" | The Secret History by Donna Tartt
We are finally discussing the mother of all dark-academia books! The Secret History by Donna Tartt is undoubtedly a Modern American Classic and we are here to dissect the dynamics between characters, how horrible everyone is and how we wish we were as eloquent as Mother Tartt. What are your thoughts on this Secret History?
Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok to get in touch and to let us know your thoughts!
"The Shrieking Shack or white picket fence?" | The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
You may know The Haunting of Hill House from the acclaimed TV series - but at the heart of that adaptation is the 1959 gothic horror novel by American author Shirley Jackson. Considered to be the ghost story of the 20th century, this classic is a story about (yes, you guessed it) a haunted house and four characters determined to get to the bottom of the paranormal happenings. We chat about the novel’s eerie atmosphere, its fascinating character study, how we picture settings and characters while reading, and of course our thoughts on the TV adaptation.
Follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok to get in touch and to let us know your thoughts!
"Alien abduction or a good old possession?" | Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
We chat about the novel’s themes, its mystery/scifi elements, character dynamics, and try to get to the bottom of the myserious disappearance.
Tune in and follow us @throughthepagespod on Instagram and TikTok for behind the scenes content!
"Of impressive mustaches and underestimated old ladies" | An Agatha Christie Episode
In this pre-Holidays episode, we disucss The Queen of Crime, the creator of the modern Murder Mystery and the woman who mastered the Whodunnit. We each read the other's favourite Christie novel and discussed why we love them, our favourite adaptations and if we're team Poirot or Marple. Tune in, and let us know which cosy crime story is your favourite?
"Which animal would we be on the farm?" | Animal Farm by George Orwell
"Pinocchio Meets German Horror Fairytale" | The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann
🎃 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 👻 - It's Halloween, which is why today's special episode is a spine chilling horror novella straight out of Germany. E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Sandman was published in 1816 but is as creepy as ever! The figure of the Sandman has accompanied us throughout history and Hoffmann surely had a big influence on the dark side of this mythical character of European folklore. This short story is packed full of intrigue, love, machines, and insanity! Tune in and read along.
"What the Hound and the Shark from Jaws have in common" | The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
We couldn't start a podcast about classics and never read a Sherlock Holmes story! For this installment, we read the third of Conan Doyle's four novels and arguably the most loved and most famous one: The Hound of the Baskervilles. And don't worry, there were no spoilers about the ending!
Originally serialised in "The Strand Magazine" from 1901 to 1902, this tale has got it all. A supernatural whodunnit, featuring the world's favourite detective duo. We talk about our diabolical-hound-expectations, how creepy the characters were and the importance of the Dartmoor setting. Tune in and read along.
"Is the Monster actually Santa Claus?" | Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
We're back with a creepy classic for the Spooky Season! Frankenstein by Mary Shelley came out January 1st 1818 and was written when Mary was only 18 years old! We dissect this horror story, partially set in our home country and find ourselves empathising with an unexpected character! Listen and read along.
“It’s all about the screen adaptations” | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“You go, Delany!” | Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany
We chat about galaxies, spaceships, strong lead characters, and the topic at the heart of the novel: language and how it influences our thinking and understanding of the world.
Let us know what you thought about the book and connect with us via Instagram @throughthepagespod.
“Gaslighting à la 1892” | The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“Escape read with demons and haunting ghosts” | The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
“Having some fun in the afterlife” | The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
This is a textbook gothic ghost story – think old, haunted house, poltergeist-y moving objects and a ghost with an agenda.
Do we have opinions? Yes.
Were we deeply traumatised by the film that was inspired by the book? Yes.
Did we have way too much fun adding creepy sound effects into this episode? Most certainly.
Join us on our Halloween reads journey this month and connect with us on Instagram via @throughthepagespod.
“Bottom line: We all hate Rufus” | Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
“Horror? More like dark comedy” | The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
This 1982 epistolary novel by Alice Walker is an integral part of US American literature and one that was on our radar for a long time. We now finally got to reading it and it was one of our more intense reading experiences. Told through letters to God by 14 year old Celie, we get a glimpse of what her life was like in the South of the early 1900s. Walker raises the issues of racism, sexism, classism and the strong relationships formed by women in one of the most interesting narratives we have read so far. What are your thoughts on The Color Purple?
Let us know and connect with us @throughthepagespod on Instagram!
The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft
This week we chat about H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu, written in 1926 and published in a pulp magazine in 1928. Lovecraft is considered to be one of the pioneers of horror and sci-fi writing and has influenced countless other writing and story-telling of the same genres.
But is The Call of Cthulhu an entertaining monster/horror story or a highly problematic piece detailing the author’s harmful views? And should it even still be read and counted as a classic?
This and more in this week’s episode. Connect with us on Instagram @throughthepagespod!
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
CW: Talk about suicide, self harm, rape
This was a heavy and dark read where the conversation afterwards was needed. The Bell Jar is the depiction of a period in Esther Greenwood's life as she struggles with her mental health, life and societal norms. It is a sad tale, considering also the author's own history with mental illness and is definitely one that we wouldn't recommend to just anyone. If you have read it and would like to share your thoughts, please contact us via DM @throughthepagespod on Instagram.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
This week we talk about Toni Morrison’s prize winning novel Beloved, published in 1987.
Book discussion starts at: 10:30
This was an extremely tough, yet hauntingly beautiful read. Join the conversation as we touch on the theme of trauma, the novel’s ghost story elements, attempt an interpretation, and swoon over Morrison’s evocative writing. As always, let us know your thoughts & impressions if you’ve read the book or would like to read it – we’re @throughthepagespod on Instagram.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
...aaand we're back! We're kicking off the new season with a big one - 100 Years of Solitude has been a wild ride of magical realism and is definitely one that we'll carry with us for a while. We have also made some changes to our format and will be launching an episode every Wednesday!
Book discussion starts at 10:10
BONUS: The Talented Mr. Ripley with The Blank Was Better Podcast
A Bonus Episode before we depart on a 2 week summer break! We teamed up with The Blank Was Better Podcast (@thepodcastwasbetter on Instagram) talking about the book and movie adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley. We couldn't be more excited to share this with you as we all had a blast recording it; talking book vs. movie, a dreamy Jude Law, plot changes and the burning question: Which was better?
Minisode 09: Summer Reads
We chat about the perfect beach reads (even if there's no beach in sight, these can be enjoyed from a sofa or balcony!), recommend holiday books we’ve read in the past, mention books that are perfect for a bit of escapism, and talk about the books we’ll delve into this summer!
Let us know what your favourite summer reads are over on Instagram @throughthepagespod!
Books mentioned:
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
Park Avenue Summer by Renée Rosen
Circe by Madeline Miller
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Sorry I’m Late... I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan
Night Film by Marisha Pressel
Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
This week we read an American classic, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (published 1952) – a story of black identity and invisibility. A heavy, at times uncomfortable, but absolutely necessary read (“was published in 1952, could have been written last year”). We discuss themes of powerlessness, disillusionment and the fight for individuality.
Let us know your thoughts and get in touch via our Instagram @throughthepagespod.
Minisode 08: A Bookish Quickfire Q&A
What is more fun than a bookish Q+A? A bookish Q+A with a question for each letter of the alphabet!
We found these fun Qs on elgeewrites.com (her instagram is @elgeewrites) and thought we'd each answer half of those in a more-or-less quickfire manner. What was your favourite question or answer? Let us know in the comments or via DM on our Instagram @throughthepagespod.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
This week, we delve into one of THE American classics – published in 1952, one of Hemingway's later works, and the shortest book yet on our list (which, to be honest, we were not too sad about). It earned a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and contributed to Hemingway being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
We chat about themes of human vs. nature, endurance and death, and the omnipresent question: why is this a classic?
Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram @throughthepagespod!
Minisode 07: Judging Books by Their Covers
You shouldn't judge a book by its cover - and while we agree on that, we still like our editions to be pretty! In this Minisode we discuss our favourite cover design, if we prefer paper over hardbacks and how we like to treat our books! If you want to see the covers for yourselves, head over to Instagram @throughthepagespod where we upload our #bookstagrams. Let us know about your favourite cover designs!
1984 by George Orwell
Arguably the most famous dystopian novel to date, 1984 by George Orwell had us hooked from the start. In this episode we share our thoughts on this 1949 classic and talk about how much of the plot resonates with what is happening in today's world and how timeless this novel really is. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this novel - connect with us on Instagram @throughthepagespod and let us know your thoughts about it!
Minisode 06: Reading in Anxious Times
For this week's Minisode we decided to share our go-to books and literary habits when the world feels heavy and anxiety spikes. These are by no means cures against anxiety, but we hope that maybe one or the other book recommendation can get you out of a negative and anxious headspace and help you take care of yourself in the overwhelming year, that is 2020.
Books mentioned: The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur, One Day by David Nicholls, Various works by Matt Haig, Thinking with Type by Elle Lupton, , The Anatomy of Story by John Truby, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
This week we discuss Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, published in 1937.
We chat about its lyrical language, the racism its characters face, the story of a woman looking for love – and the birds and the bees!
Connect with us on Instagram @througthepagespod and let us know your thoughts about the book.
Beyond the Book: The Trial
It's our first Beyond the Book episode (the segment in which we chat about anything that goes beyond the book/classic we read for our book discussion the same week)!
This week we chat about the 1962 film adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Trial, starring Anthony Perkins (yes, the guy from Psycho) and directed by Orson Welles. How does it compare to the book? How well does the adaptation from a 1920s German book to the Hollywood big screen work? We have opinions!
Give it a listen and let us know what you think on our Instagram @throughthepagespod.
The Trial by Franz Kafka
Written around 1914 and posthumously published in 1925, The Trial is a strange and absurd tale of a young man who arrested for a crime nobody ever learns what it is about - not even the reader! We discuss the dream-like nature of the novel, how frustrating the story gets and why we kind of understand how it has become a classic. This episode also includes a great bookish podcast recommendation that we are sure you will enjoy!
Introducing: Beyond the Book
We're introducing a new segment! Beyond the Book will be a short episode in which we'll chat about anything that goes beyond the book we're reading that same week! Often the story doesn't stop with the book itself – it continues in films and art and influences other writing. Consider this a "behind the scenes" of a book; an added snippet to our weekly discussions with the question "what happens before and after the book?"
Stay tuned on our Instagram @throughthepagespod!
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This week we read one of the American classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, first published in 1850. Our first literary journey to the 19th century! That is not to say it was a smooth ride...
Prepare for rambles about pesky narrators, the concept of penitence, why this story might still be relevant today – and the ultimate question: can The Scarlet Letter be read as a feminist text?!
Have you read The Scarlet Letter? Let us know what you thought (and say hi!) via @throughthepagespod!
Minisode 05: Non-English Literature
Since Tuesday featured our first non-English classic, we decided to dedicate this Minisode to our other non-English favourites! We talk about books we read in school, some of our favourite German and French literature and included our listeners' favourites, that they submitted on our instagram @throughthepagespod ! Thank you for sharing your favourite books with us!
Books mentioned: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, Perfume: Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, The Chips Are Down by Jean-Paul Sartre, Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle, Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane, Haruki Murakami's body of works, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
This week's classic is our first non-English classic! Published in 1972 by Giulio Einaudi Editore, Invisible Cities is a story about storytelling with a very unusual structure, which made for a great discussion! A twist on the standard travel-literature genre, that in the end reveals more about the reader/listener than the storyteller. Have you read any of Calvino's works before? Let us know what you thought via @throughthepagespod
Minisode 04: "Go Read Women"
This week's minisode is all about women's voices! We chat about works of women that have inspired us, our favourite books by them and some wonderful empowerment. All voices are important and that's why it's so important to read as many of them as possible! Let us know what you think @throughthepagespod
Books/Authors mentioned: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Virginia Woolf's works, Jane Austen, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, Circe by Madeline Miller, The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson, Die zwei Schwerter des Samurai by Natalie Marrer, Becoming by Michelle Obama and last but not least Notes to Self: Essays by Emilie Pine
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In our chattiest episode yet, we discuss the characters in Little Women, the 2019 film adaptation (now finally available online as of this week) – and of course which March sister we are.
Let us know your thoughts & connect with us on Instagram @throughthepagespod!
Minisode 03: Favourite Crime Fiction
