The Novel Tea
Episodes
Greenwood by Michael Christie: legacy and inheritance
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Greenwood, a multigenerational family saga tied together with a repeating motif of trees and forests. We disc...
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer: entropy and uncertainty
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Annihilation, the first book of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy. We discuss its world building, char...
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan: memory and preservation
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer: conceit and control
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 narrat...
Season 7: The Natural World
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 di...
2025 in Books: Our Favorite Books, Reading Reflections, and More
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our final episode of 2025, we talk about what our reading lives were like this year, and discuss our stand-out reads through superlatives. Listen i...
Cities, Places, and Settings in Books with Strong Sense of Place
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get your TBR lists ready, because in this wrap up episode we talk all about the books we read in Season 6, and then welcome David and Melissa of Stron...
The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk : narcissism and honor
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Neha and Shruti discuss The Museum of Innocence, by Nobel prize winner Orhan Pamuk, through themes of narcissism and honor. We discuss...
Such A Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry: forgiveness, misfortunes, and miracles
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shruti and Neha travel to Mumbai in Rohinton Mistry's Booker shortlisted novel Such a Long Journey, through themes of forgiveness, mi...
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin: erasure and morality
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti discuss the speculative novel The City We Became, a story about New York City's five avatars who must band together to defend the city...
White Teeth by Zadie Smith: disappointment and rejecting coexistence
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Neha and Shruti discuss Zadie Smith's debut novel, White Teeth. We talk about themes of religion, inheritance, class, history, and th...
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf: perception and inadequacy
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Virginia Woolf's incredible novel Mrs. Dalloway turns 100 this year! Shruti and Neha talk about this book and its themes of perception, inadequacy, me...
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín: family and duty
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti discuss Brooklyn, a historical novel about a young woman who immigrates from Ireland to America in the 1950s, through the themes of fa...
Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad: time and displacement
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss Bangkok Wakes to Rain, a novel of interconnected stories set in Krung Thep (Bangkok) over several decades. We discuss how t...
Cities & Urban Literature: Introducing Season 6
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a new season! Today we’re talking all about cities in literature – what cities represent, what ‘setting as character’ really means,...
Adaptation Theory, the 'Madwoman' in Literature, and Upcoming Movies: Wrapping Up Season 5
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we zoom out and talk about all the books we covered over the past few months, discussing favorites and least favorites, as well as hig...
All's Well by Mona Awad: perception and repetition
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk all about All's Well, a novel that is in part a retelling, in part an homage to theater, and a completely wild ride of a book....
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie: convictions and pentads
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti discuss Home Fire, a retelling of Antigone set in the present day that explores questions of family, loyalty, beliefs, and legacy. We ...
Jane Austen Adaptations with What The Austen?
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus episode, we are so excited to be joined by Izzy of What the Austen? as we talk all things relating to Austen adaptations! We dis...
Emma by Jane Austen: Adaptations
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the many adaptations of Jane Austen’s Emma: Emma (1996 with Gwyneth Paltrow), Emma (1996 with Kate Beckinsale), Emma (202...
Emma by Jane Austen: autonomy and companionship
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss, laugh about, and delight Jane Austen's Emma. We talk about the novel’s themes of autonomy and companionship and how the...
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles: imagination and balance
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shruti and Neha discuss Amor Towle's beloved tale of confinement, A Gentleman in Moscow, through the themes of balance and imagination. We provide som...
Rebecca: Movie Adaptations
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Neha and Shruti discuss the two movie adaptations of Rebecca: the 1940 masterpiece directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and the 2020... somet...
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: wildness and the elements
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss the Gothic masterpiece Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier. We talk about the main characters and what they might r...
Wide Sargasso Sea and other Jane Eyre Adaptations
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Neha and Shruti discuss Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys through the themes of liminality and bias. We talk about the book as its own wo...
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: adventure and self-respect
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Shruti and Neha discuss one of the most beloved classics of all time: Jane Eyre. We discuss Jane's character through the themes of adv...
The Fall of the House of Usher and What Moves the Dead: dreams and denial
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss the short story The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe, its many interpretations – from institutional decay, ...
Season 5: Adaptations - What makes a good book adaptation, our favorite adaptations, and our season 5 books
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ad...
2024 in Books: Our Top Ten, New Releases, and More!
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Borders, Revisionist Literature, and Edward Said: Season 4 Wrap
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti discuss all 8 books we've covered over the last few months, and talk about themes that emerged - getting a little nerdy along the way....
The Parisian by Isabella Hammad: belonging and edification
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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....
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida: change our minds - with Brown Girl Bookshelf
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka: dignity and chance
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Another Country by James Baldwin: love and pain; grief and forgiveness
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel: survival and mistrust
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño: youth and narcissism
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Other Americans by Laila Lalami : memory and protection
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai: class and entitlement
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, which follows four characters from different social and financial cla...
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen: loyalty and duality
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Season 4: Beyond Borders
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
The Novelties: 2024 Mid-Year Reading Spotlight
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 fa...
Season 3 Wrap: Other Worlds, the Genre Debate, and Speculative Fiction Books to add to your TBR
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke: death and discovery
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel: wilderness and loneliness
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shruti and Neha talk about Sea of Tranquility, the latest book from speculative fiction author Emily St. John Mandel. We dive into the differences bet...
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón: obsession and memory
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Neha and Shruti dive into the historical underbelly of Barcelona where they find twisted tales, hidden secrets, family drama, and hea...
Fledgling by Octavia Butler: home and innocence
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shruti and Neha discuss Fledgling, Octavia Butler's last novel before her untimely death, through the themes of home and innocence. We talk about vamp...
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin: hospitality and shifgrethor
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
The Humans by Matt Haig: survival and curiosity
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shruti and Neha discuss The Humans by Matt Haig, a novel that is dressed up as science fiction, but is really about learning to love life. We talk abo...
Mythology & Retellings
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this fun bonus episode, Shruti and Neha dive into everything mythology-related, including: what are myths? Why are Greek mythology retellings so po...
American Gods by Neil Gaiman: deception and survival
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
*Note: this episode was recorded and published before the information on Gaiman's exploitation and abuse of women was made public. We do not support t...
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood: justice and persuasion
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss one of Margaret Atwood's lesser known works, The Penelopiad - a retelling of The Odyssey from the perspective...
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: aesthetics and paranoia
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti discuss The Secret History, a book that has gained a cult following in the last few decades - and as we discuss the book, we start to ...
How to Read Like an English Teacher with Novel Pairings
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Shruti and Neha invite some special guests to talk about books: Chelsey and Sara of Novel Pairings! We talk all about reading c...
Season 3: Speculative Fiction and Other Worlds
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're back, and we're so excited to delve into the worlds of speculative fiction with you all! In this episode, we share the theme we'll be reading th...
Was it Worth the Hype? 2023 Reads in Review
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Shruti and Neha share the most popular books they've in 2023, including Bookstagram favorites, award-winners, and Tik Tok darli...
Season 2 Wrap: Global Reads, Trauma Narratives, and International Books to add to your TBR
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this (mostly) spoiler-free* episode, Neha and Shruti reflect on the experience of reading books from around the world. We zoom out and talk on a br...
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton: destiny and truth
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Neha and Shruti talk about the Booker prize winning novel The Luminaries, by Eleanor Catton. We discuss the characters, the structure ...
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami: fate and destiny
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Warning: NSFW because this book was very, very weird. Shruti and Neha talk about fate and destiny, Freud, and the spiritual realm, and also throw some...
Pachinko Pt. 2 with Books & Boba
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We had so much to say about Pachinko that we had to record a part 2! Joining us on this episode are special guests Marvin and Reera from Books & B...
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: pride and virtue
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for part 1 of our discussion on Min Jin Lee's best-selling novel Pachinko, a sweeping family saga that chronicles several generations of a Kor...
The Mahabharata
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this comprehensive, full-exposure, no-holds-barred* bonus episode, Neha and Shruti dive deep into the Mahabharat, starting out with its history, ve...
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this expansive debut novel by Shashi Tharoor, the characters and stories of the Mahabharat are transposed onto the Indian independence movement. Sh...
The Palace of Illusions with Brown Girl Bookshelf
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Combining myth, history, fantasy, and philosophy, The Palace of Illusions tells the story of Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, in a retelling of the Ind...
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie: isolation and respect
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Half of a Yellow Sun, award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie chronicles the years leading up to the Nigerian Biafran war in the 1960s throug...
Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius: silence and more silence
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stolen, by Ann-Helén Laestadius, is a mystery, thriller, coming-of-age story that completely captured our hearts. Shruti and Neha discuss some of the...
Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras: spaces and sacrifice
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti head to Colombia, delving into the world of Pablo Escobar and drug cartels as they discuss the second book of the season, Fruit of the...
The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia: faith and wonder
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Murmur of Bees is a lyrical novel set during the Mexican revolution about a special young boy and the family who adopts him. Neha and Shruti discu...
Get to Know Us!
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Finally, Shruti and Neha are answering all your burning questions! Listen in to find out more about us including the books we loved, books we hated, h...
Season 2 Intro: Around the World in 8-Tea Books
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shruti and Neha are traveling around the world! Through books, that is. In this episode we share our reading list, some important background for each ...
Season 1 Wrap: The American Dream - its history, evolution, and its representation in books
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode before our summer hiatus, Neha and Shruti zoom out to look at the big picture. We discuss some broader themes that crop up in all ...
Jazz by Toni Morrison: violence and ambition
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jazz, a lyrical and complex story about passion and fear in urban life, is one of Toni Morrison's most unique books. Neha and Shruti talk about violen...
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner: humor and expression
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shruti and Neha read and cry about Crying in H Mart, a memoir by Michelle Zauner, best known as singer and songwriter for Japanese Breakfast. We talk ...
The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid: fear and grief
09 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After reading The Last White Man, Neha and Shruti had mixed feelings. In this episode, we discuss the captivating idea behind the book, its questionab...
Passing part 2 and the Netflix Movie
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We loved Passing so much that we had to do another episode. Shruti and Neha take a deep dive into the complicated relationship between Irene and Clare...
Book Pair! Passing & The Vanishing Half
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neha and Shruti introduce their first book pair! Passing by Nella Larsen, and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, published nearly 100 years apart, pe...
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich: power and resistance
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In The Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich introduces us to a rich cast of characters in weaving a story based on her grandfather's fight against Native Am...
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: guilt and alienation
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For our first book, Neha and Shruti discuss The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - one of the first books we ever read that resonated with us as first genera...
Prologue
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Novel Tea! We are so excited to launch this podcast. In this short trailer, we introduce ourselves and give a brief overview of how our...