What Should I Read Next? Ep 517: Seeking contemporary novels to complement Jane Austen classics
Mar 10, 2026
Tzipi Turner, director of special education in Phoenix and aspiring Jane Austen completist, shares her project to read all of Austen and her habit of getting distracted by new releases. She explores pairing each Austen classic with a contemporary novel to spark motivation. They discuss which Austen titles remain, pairing ideas for Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, and a fresh reading plan to get started.
52:45
Historical Fiction That Illuminated Cyprus Internment
- Tzipi loved The Teacher of Lost Orphans by M.Z. Daskal, a historical novel about a 1946 British internment camp in Cyprus for Jewish Holocaust survivors.
- She appreciated learning an overlooked piece of history and the author's personal connection through grandparents interned there.
Family Mystery With Layered Timelines
- Tzipi named The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell as a favorite for its family mystery structure and layered timelines between Esme's past and Iris's present.
- She enjoyed piecing together clues and the portrait of unjust treatment of Esme across decades.
Representation Appreciated But Characters Felt Flat
- Tzipi gave a mixed review of The Sideways Life of Denny Voss; she praised neurodivergent representation and humor but found characters one-dimensional.
- As a special education director, she values nuanced, multi-dimensional character portrayals and often DNF's books that feel superficial.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
Tzipi’s Jane Austen completist project
06:12 • 1min
Tzipi’s reading life and habits
07:40 • 2min
Ad break
09:18 • 2min
Why Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey remain
10:53 • 1min
What Tzipi wants from Austen pairings
12:23 • 3min
Ad break
15:43 • 3min
Books Tzipi loves and why
18:39 • 9min
A book that didn't fit
27:29 • 2min
Recent reads and genre stretch
29:43 • 2min
Why pairings might help
31:37 • 4min
Recommendation: The Foundling
35:15 • 5min
Recommendation: Burnham Wood
40:12 • 5min
Pairing Mansfield Park with This Motherless Land
44:48 • 5min
Pairing Northanger Abbey with The Beginner's Goodbye
49:23 • 4min
Next steps and reading plan
53:53 • 1min
Outro
55:05 • 1min
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The Beginner's Goodbye
Anne Tyler
Anne Tyler's 'The Beginner's Goodbye' follows a widower who experiences the lingering presence of his deceased wife while reassessing their marriage and his life.
Set partly in the world of a small vanity publisher, the novel blends gentle humor, pathos, and an affectionate look at literary life.
Tyler examines memory, regret, and the ways people narrate their relationships, revealing the gap between perception and reality.
The ghostly element serves as a device for introspection rather than supernatural thrills, giving the book a wistful, contemplative tone.
The work showcases Tyler's strengths: precise characterization, domestic observation, and compassionate irony.
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Wahala
Nikki May
Nikki May's 'Wahala' follows four friends navigating ambitions, betrayals, and identity in contemporary London, blending sharp social observation with interpersonal drama.
The novel explores race, class, and the pressures on friendships against the backdrop of modern urban life.
May's voice is direct and often wry, offering a compelling examination of how personal and cultural expectations collide.
The book established her as a fresh voice in contemporary fiction and set the stage for later, more ambitious works.
'Wahala' resonates for its vivid characters and moral ambiguity.
#582
• Mentioned in 55 episodes
Emma
Jane Austen
juan perez
The novel follows Emma Woodhouse, a beautiful, clever, and rich young woman who has lived nearly twenty-one years with very little distress.
Emma decides to take up matchmaking, despite the advice of her friend Mr. Knightley.
Her attempts to match her new friend Harriet Smith with various men lead to complications and ultimately test her own detachment from the world of romance.
The novel explores themes of education, courtship, and social class in Georgian-Regency England, highlighting Emma's journey of self-discovery and learning from her mistakes.
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Confessions of a Grammar Queen
Eliza Knight
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The Sideways Life of Denny Voss
Holly Kennedy
#79410
The Foundling
Stacey Halls
'The Foundling' is set in 18th-century London and tells the story of Bess Bright, a young mother who leaves her illegitimate baby at the Foundling Hospital, hoping for a better life for her child.
Six years later, she returns to reclaim her child, only to discover that her baby was reclaimed years earlier.
Determined to find out what happened, Bess embarks on a journey that uncovers secrets and challenges societal norms.
Stacey Halls explores themes of motherhood, identity, and social class.
Through a gripping narrative and vivid historical details, the novel delves into the lives of women in Georgian London.
#64216
Motherless Land
Nikki May
#851
• Mentioned in 42 episodes
Mansfield Park
Jane Austen
monica arcija
The novel follows Fanny Price, a young girl from a poor family who is sent to live with her wealthy uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, at Mansfield Park.
Fanny navigates the complexities of her new environment, dealing with the mistreatment by some family members and the kindness of her cousin Edmund.
The story unfolds with the arrival of the charming but morally dubious Crawfords, leading to a series of scandals and moral dilemmas.
Ultimately, Fanny's integrity and compassion guide her through the challenges, and she finds love and a sense of belonging with Edmund.
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The Teacher of Lost Orphans
M. Z. Daskal
#9110
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghy
#78683
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
Maggie O'Farrell
#2600
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
The Midnight Library follows Nora Seed, a 35-year-old woman who feels trapped in a life filled with regret and disappointment.
After a series of devastating events, she attempts to end her life but instead finds herself in the Midnight Library, a limbo between life and death.
Here, guided by her childhood librarian Mrs. Elm, Nora can explore countless versions of her life by entering books that represent different paths she could have taken.
As she navigates these alternate lives, Nora must confront her regrets, understand the complexities of choice, and discover what truly makes a life worth living.
The novel delves into themes of regret, the meaning of life, and the importance of living in the present.
#68624
Don't Overthink It
Anne Bogel
In Don't Overthink It, Anne Bogel addresses the pervasive issue of overthinking and its impact on daily life.
The book provides actionable strategies to help readers overcome negative thought patterns and replace them with positive ones, leading to more peace, joy, and love.
Bogel offers practical advice on simplifying decisions, identifying and avoiding triggers, and focusing on what truly matters.
The book is filled with real-life examples and actionable steps to help readers make comfortable choices and reduce decision fatigue.
#43
• Mentioned in 263 episodes
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth.
The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth.
The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect.
Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption.
The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.
#764
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
Sense and Sensibility
Jane Austen
Published in 1811, 'Sense and Sensibility' is Jane Austen's first published novel.
It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who, along with their mother and younger sister Margaret, are forced to leave their family estate after their father's death.
The novel explores the contrast between Elinor's practical sense and Marianne's emotional sensibility as they experience romantic relationships and heartbreak.
Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, who is secretly engaged to another woman, while Marianne becomes infatuated with the unscrupulous John Willoughby.
Through their experiences, Austen delves into themes of love, social class, and the balance between reason and emotion necessary for personal happiness.
#10844
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Burnham Wood
Eleanor Catton
#1997
• Mentioned in 22 episodes
Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey is a coming-of-age story that satirizes the Gothic novels of the late 18th century.
The novel follows Catherine Morland, a young and naive girl who loves reading Gothic novels.
When she is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, the home of the Tilney family, her imagination runs wild with expectations of mystery and horror.
However, the reality of the abbey is far from her Gothic fantasies.
The novel explores Catherine's growth as she learns to distinguish between fiction and reality, and it critiques the societal norms and expectations of her time.
Written by Jane Austen, the book was completed in 1803 but published posthumously in 1817 along with Persuasion.
#5590
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
10 To 25
David Yeager
It's no secret that we are fans of Jane Austen, completist author aspirations, and reading projects of all stripes. So when Tzipi Turner's guest submission landed in our What Should I Read Next? inbox, we could not wait to invite her on and talk about her project to become a Jane Austen completist herself.
Tzipi lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she works as the director of special education for a local school district and is a new grandmother. Tzipi decided to mark Jane Austen's recent 250th birthday by finally making progress towards, or maybe even actually reaching, her goal to complete all of Austen's works. But Tzipi's identified her tendency to get distracted by shiny new releases, which has inspired her to consider a book-flight kind of approach to help her kindle some enthusiasm for reading the remaining Austen titles on her list.
Tzipi imagines pairing each Austen classic with a contemporary book, but what should those modern picks be? Tzipi isn't sure about that, but she and Anne will talk about it today.
Find the list of titles discussed and leave your recommendations for Tzipi on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/517.
This week we are also celebrating the sixth anniversary of Anne's book, Don't Overthink It. Since its release in 2020, new readers continue to find their way to it and find it interesting and helpful when they do. If you have not yet picked up Don't Overthink It, we would love to invite you now to add it to your 2026 reading list. Find out more and get your copy of Don't Overthink It wherever you like to buy your books. We're also having a little sale in honor of the book's sixth anniversary, and that discount is reflected in our shop.
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