Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Book Club

“You were challenged beyond the bounds of what could be done, and found a path to make it true.”

In our conversation we talk about the boundaries women have to negotiate to take care of themselves and their families. Survival can look like selfishness and even fair bargains can be traps. In Novik’s story there is a battle between the fire demon Chernobog and the Staryk King of winter. The people of Lithvas are trapped in between. Miryem, Irina, and Wanda find ways to help themselves, their family, their people, and each other.

We linger in a discussion of how sometimes utilitarian arrangements or market transactions between indifferent people can lead to real understanding and even love as they learn and grow and change. Loving one person who is really different from you can open up a whole new world of people to love. We enjoy the twists in the story and the numerous charming references to other stories and folk tales.  We also talk about the mentions of tax rolls in the story! Nice work, Naomi Novik! They are rare but always appreciated.

We do leave some questions unanswered, especially whether the Staryk coldness is a kind of virtue or goes too far and becomes a vice. We hope you’ll let us know what you think.

A special thanks to our first-time guest Ashley Zappe whose suggestion of Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver sparked the original idea of having a Romantasy season. Ashley is a psychology professor and science communicator, with a soft spot for speculative fiction. The only thing she loves more than a good romantasy or space opera is the weird and wild realm of actual reality. Her beautiful children's book about New Mexico wildflowers can be found here: https://www.dawnwheat.com/styled-2/

Next up for the Book Club Podcast is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern followed by The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen. You can get your copies of all the books using our affiliate links at our bookshop.org page. When you buy from us, you support us and your favorite indie book store at no additional cost to you. (Christy supports The Secret Nook: Coffee & Books in Conway, Arkansas. Carly supports Collected Works in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Try it! You’ll like it).

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We hope you enjoy the opening question and all the ones that come after.

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