Pride, Prejudice & Plot Twists | Book Lounge by Libby Season 4

This week, Joe is joined by returning guest and friend of the show Jananie K. Velu for a literary love letter to classic femme-driven fiction. From Jane Austen to the Brontë sisters and beyond, we're talking about our relationships with the classics, and what happens when contemporary authors take familiar literary foundations in unexpected new directions. 

We're diving into modern retellings, feminist reimaginings, swoony romances, gothic twists, queer adaptations and stories that turn everything you thought you knew about a classic on its head. Plus, we're sharing a whole stack of recommendations for readers who love a little literary history with their plot twists. 

Whether you're a lifelong Austen devotee or someone who has never quite made it through Wuthering Heights, there's something here for you. Consider this your invitation to revisit the classics, rethink the stories and add a few new favorites to your reading list.

Who’s in this episode: 

• Joe – Instagram
• Jananie K. Velu – Links

Book recommendations:

Jananie's picks:   

• Much Ado About Nada – Uzma Jalaluddin 
• Ayesha At Last – Uzma Jalaluddin 
• The Earl That Got Away – Diana Quincy 
• These Violent Delights – Chloe Gong 
• The Daughter of Doctor Moreau – Silvia Moreno-Garcia 
• Local Heavens – K. M. Fajardo 
• The Secret World of Briar Rose – Cindy Pham 
• A Dowry of Blood – S. T. Gibson 
• Hungerstone – Kat Dunn 
• Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrel 
• The Beautiful Ones – Silvia Moreno-Garcia 

Sonali Dev’s The Rajes series  

• Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors 
• Recipe for Persuasion 
• Incense and Sensibility 
• The Emma Project 

Nisha Sharma’s If Shakespeare Were an Auntie Series  

• Dating Dr. Dil 
• Tastes Like Shakkar 
• Marriage & Masti 

 Joe's picks:   

• Jane Steele – Lyndsay Faye 
• The Winters – Lisa Gabriele 
• Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – Rey Terciero
• Dan in Green Gables – Rey Terciero
• Northranger – Rey Terciero 
• The Secret Garden on 81^st Street – Ivy Noelle Weir 
• Recommended Reading – Paul Coccia 
• Behind Five Willows – June Hur 

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title 
00:00:19 Intro 
00:01:04 Catching up with Jananie 
00:01:30 Talking about classics and reimaginings 
00:16:16 Pride, Prejudice & Plot Twists recommendations 
00:52:16 Comment Question 
00:52:45 Thanks and Outro 

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 

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Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace. 

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/42363

Happy Reading!