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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss Shakespeare’s</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Tragedy of Macbeth</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. 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.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Listen to Our Pairings: [51:35]</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chelsey:</span></p> <p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781982169671"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">All’s Well by Mona Awad</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781250095299"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780316489775"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter</span></a></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sara:</span></p> <p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780393332148"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith </span></a></p> <p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780061470844"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Serena by Ron Rash</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780735215092"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin</span></a></p> <p> </p