In today’s episode, we’re wrapping up Wharton in Winter with a conversation about The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. We focus on Undine and question whether she’s a signature unlikable heroine or an anti-hero. Our conversation also digs into the other dynamic characters, themes of motherhood, greed, marriage, business, and Edith’s incredible writing. Every plot point builds to a bigger narrative in this timely classic. At the end of the episode, we share our complementary pairings , and we hope you add one to your TBR pile!
If you loved our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have even more content to enjoy over in our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship and talk about books with a smart, eclectic group of readers. Subscriptions start at just $5 a month, and yearly discounts are available. To learn more about our Patreon, visit patreon.com/novelpairings.
Shows Mentioned:
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
Selling Sunset
Downton Abbey
Books Mentioned:
Italo Calvino
Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
There Is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset
Emma by Jane Austen
Free Food For Millionares by Min Jun Lee
These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore
Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz
One Woman Show by Christine Coulson
Wahala by Nikki May
Trust by Hernan Diaz
53. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Part Two
52. Backlist pairings for our most anticipated Spring 2021 book releases
51. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Part One
50.5 Five tips for reading Pride and Prejudice (or any Austen novel)
50. Quarterly Favorites: the stand-out books we read in Winter 2020-2021
49. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter and twisted Gothic fairytales to read in one sitting
48. Fairytale retellings for readers of all ages
47. There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset and ambitious family stories that span generations
46. Love letters to books: nonfiction books about the reading life
45. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff and charming books for devoted bibliophiles
44.5 Anticipated book releases for winter 2021 and backlist books to read while you wait
44. Short Story Club: The Hunter's Wife by Anthony Doerr and wintry books to cozy up with this season
43. Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde and books that center intersectional feminism
42. Superlatives for underrated, surprising, and well-loved books we read in 2020
41. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and contemporary book recs inspired by the March sisters
40. The joy of nostalgic reads and books that Jo March would love with Annie B. Jones, owner of The Bookshelf
39. My Antonia by Willa Cather, plus books about community and survival to read this winter
38. The Best Audiobooks We Read in 2020
37. Quarterly Favorites: the best books we read in Fall 2020
36. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told by Alex Haley, with Traci Thomas of The Stacks
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Voice of Mushfik
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
A Tale of Two Cities
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Fresh Air
The Count of Monte Cristo