104. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare and pairings for theatrical, political, or fantastical readers

Novel Pairings

Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. It’s been awhile since we discussed a Shakespeare play and we’re thrilled to be back with the Bard for spooky season to chat about witches, ghosts, murder, and betrayal. Take a listen to hear us discuss why Macbeth feels different from other tragedies, the way staging decisions can impact the meaning of this play, and how much of this story is inspired by the real King James I’s fears and paranoias. We also touch on what we actually admire about the Macbeths’ marriage and just how much Game of Thrones owes to the Scottish Play. For today’s pairings we have a Macbeth retelling set in Appalachia, two tales of things gone wrong in the theater, plus a modern classic, an epic fantasy novel, and a quiet meditation on the power of prophecy. This episode is great for Shakespeare lovers as well as readers less familiar with his works.

Listen to Our Pairings: [51:35]

Chelsey:

All’s Well by Mona Awad

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

Sara:

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Serena by Ron Rash

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Coming Up

November: The Chosen and The Beautiful by Nghi Vo

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