Ep 536: Classic novels ripe for discussion (and excursions to pair with them)

2026-08-04

Download

If you’ve ever felt intimated by old books, or haven’t been sure you’re reading them “correctly”, it is NOT just you. We regularly hear from readers seeking tips and advice on how to read the classics. Earlier this season New Yorker Lizzey McFarlin sent us her guest submission asking for help to approach the classics in a different way. She’d been trying to read them the way she’d approach any other book—late at night, hoping to sink in and quickly turn the pages—but was too often growing so bored she would abandon them. She knew th...

Earlier this season New Yorker Lizzey McFarlin sent us her guest submission asking for help to approach the classics in a different way. She’d been trying to read them the way she’d approach any other book—late at night, hoping to sink in and quickly turn the pages—but was too often growing so bored she would abandon them. She knew that strategy wasn’t working, but she wasn’t sure what to do instead. Lizzey would appreciate some fresh ideas, and Anne has those to share today.

You'll also hear about Lizzey's local book club and the themed excursions they pair with the classics they read each quarter.

We hope you’ll find this conversation inspiring and empowering. Find the list of titles mentioned today and share your ideas for excursions over on our show notes page.

We’re excited to share that beginning today, August 4, we are adding a new option to enjoy our weekly What Should I Read Next? episodes without ads. When you sign up for our new ad-free tier on our Patreon platform and add your personal subscriber link to your favorite podcast player, you’ll get an ad-free version of our weekly episode automatically each week. Learn more about our Patreon options and join us at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

Chapters:

04:00 Meet Lizzey

15:26 How Lizzey's reading habits have changed recently

19:54 East of Eden by John Steinbeck

22:38 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

24:30 A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

27:14 The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

35:35 What Lizzey is hoping for in today’s conversation

54:46 Passing by Nella Larsen

58:01 The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

1:03:26 Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin

1:08:27 What will Lizzey read next?