Doesn't everyone need a bookish bestie? ❤️📚 My friend Jana and I adventured to Thomasville GA to see @annebogel at @bookshelftville and had so much fun! Swipe to see everything! Bonus pic of me fan-girl-ing meeting Anne, who was so sweet. And her convo with Annie was the perfect inspiration for summer reading! So this is your sign...take the adventure! ✨ #bookloversofinstagram #whatthelibrarianreads #whatthelibrarianwore #bookstagram #downtownthomasville #modernmrsdarcy #fridayfun #latergram #yourfocusdeterminesyourreality
A timely quote from this week’s guest Thao Thai! This Saturday April 27 is Independent Bookstore Day. Let us know if you’ll be stopping by your local indie!
9. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧 5/5 In this Irish novel, Rachel recounts her college student days in Ireland, after she moves out of her parents’ house to live with her closeted gay best friend, and lives through a tough time as a poor student during the recession of the late 2000s… relationships get complicated, and involve one of her college professors. It’s witty, unpredictable, with a strong sense of place and unique characters. Loved it on audio for the awesome accents. #iulireads2024 #therachelincident #bookstagram #fictionbooks #irishbooks #literaryfiction #modernmrsdarcy
Today we have a special treat for you! We’re sharing our spoiler-free @MMDBookClub conversation with author Thao Thai about her novel Banyan Moon. The book follows three generations of Vietnamese American women in the wake of the death of their beloved matriarch. Across the generations and in rotating points of view, we see each woman deal with both the burdens she inherited and the secrets she keeps from her daughter out of love, and how these well-intentioned choices cause terrible harm to all. @thao_writes and I talk about what writers and readers bring to the page, how we navigate the secrets we keep, immigrant stories, and so much more. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
Get to know the artist behind some of your favorite bookish designs! @shannanenjoyslife sat down with Jane Mount of @IdealBookshelf for a Patreon bonus episode! Jane shares how she created Ideal Bookshelf, how her study of anthropology influenced her work, and her newest release, Books Make Good Friends.
This week’s guest is looking at the changes in his reading life as an invitation to reframe expectations and enjoy the moment.
Let’s take a closer look at one of my recommendations for this week’s guest! In The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection, chef and Episcopal priest Robert Farrar Capon begins by laying out a recipe for a dinner party in a wry, gently snarky tone. He walks the reader through how to approach food, whether meditating on an onion or what to ask a butcher. He talks about food and how we can enjoy it, but also what it means and how to be present while you’re dicing that onion or are part of a gathering. Plus, he has a good sense of humor. Have you read it?
As a routine-oriented person, Caleb Wilson-Johnson used to love planning his entire reading year in advance. His recent marriage and move across the state has really impacted his previous reading routine. Instead of trying to get back to the way things were before, he’s curious about exploring what a new path forward might look like. That’s what @calebjohnsonlive and I will think through today! To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
What are your preferred reading formats? Print books, ebooks, audiobooks, all of the above or some combination in between? A simple question about reading formats can reveal so much about a person’s reading life, as illustrated in the latest Patreon bonus episode. And now we want to hear from you!
Having fun at the Festival of Faith and Writing this week! A few of our librarians are introducing and interviewing guest speakers, like Amanda Matthysse here this morning with Anne Bogel - author, podcaster, and creator of Modern Mrs Darcy - we loved what she had to say about reading communities and finding your next gread book! ❤️📚🤩 What are you enjoying most at FFW2024? #HekmanLibrary #CalvinUniversity #CalvinSeminary #AcademicLibraries #FestivalOfFaithAndWriting #FFW2024 #ModernMrsDarcy #ReadersAdvisory #WhatShouldIReadNext #ReadingRecommendations
This week’s guest loves dry wit and observational humor. Do you have any recommendations for her?
It’s the most wonderful time of year! The 13th annual Modern Mrs Darcy Summer Reading Guide and Unboxing event will be here on May 16! There are three ways to get the guide: 1. Join MMD Book Club 2. Support Patreon 3. Purchase a la carte. If you’ve ever considered becoming a member, now is an excellent time to jump in. I can't wait to talk summer books with you all! For more information and to sign up, comment SRG.
Cultivating a To Be Read list is an art unique to each reader. Tara Bañuelos has recently gone through a career shift that's delivered the unexpected benefit of doubling her reading time and finally allowing her to read for pleasure again. She’s reveled in exploring new-to-her genres and discovering backlist titles she missed out. So many books, so little time! To say she’s feeling overwhelmed by her choices is an understatement. We’re going to hone in on her reading taste and create a plan for moving forward so she doesn't end up with hundreds of library holds coming in all at once while still not knowing what to read next. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
I cannot confirm or deny there's an exciting announcement in tomorrow's episode. 😉
Good book recommendations are everything.
April is National Poetry Month! This is a great excuse to dip into a beloved poetry collection, explore work by a new poet, or try poetry for the first time. What’s one of your favorite poetry collections? If you’re looking for suggestions of what to read, comment LINK and we’ll send you “5 favorite poetry collections for National Poetry Month.”
Tiffany Vicars struggled through a major reading slump for years until she stumbled on to book subscription boxes. These days she’s thrilled with her overflowing, never-ending TBR but she’d like to make sure she’s not just reaching for what she calls the “new and glittery books”. Tiffany loves to cross-reference her to-be-read pile with other sources of book recommendations, so today she’s asking for my help in deciding which of the titles on her TBR deserve to be bumped to the top of her priority list. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
What's the best book you read last month and what did you love about it? Make a pitch to your fellow readers who might want to read it next! P.S. We’ll pin a few of the best, most interesting descriptions.
We generally do not encourage buying books from Amazon, but sometimes there are deals on books so good, you just can't pass them up. A Place for Us is a slow burn, but it is a fantastic family drama. The Switch is a light-hearted rom-com with an adorable multi-generational slant. Both were #readbyamy Forever, Interrupted is a Taylor Jenkins Reid backlist that I picked up today! Thanks to @whatshouldireadnext 's Modern Mrs Darcy for always providing the details on the deals!! 👩🏻🤝👩🏼2️⃣8️⃣1️⃣📖 #bookdeals #bookdealsforbrokebibliophiles #booklover #bookaddict #bookstagram #modernmrsdarcy
Do you love the podcast What Should I Read Next and Modern Mrs. Darcy? We’re thrilled that @annebogel is coming to The Bookshelf for a talk and signing! As a part of our Indie Bookstore Week festivities, Anne will visit The Bookshelf on Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:50 p.m.) for a brief conversation with Annie about summer reading. 📖 A signing and meet-and-greet will follow. Anne’s books and reading journals will be available for purchase, as well as the books she and Annie discuss. Stop by the store or tap the link in our bio to get tickets! Anne Bogel Talk and Signing Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:50 p.m. The Bookshelf 126 S. Broad Street Thomasville, GA 31792 Standing room only (with chairs provided if needed). There are no physical tickets. We will check you in at the door with the name you used to purchase your ticket(s). Tell your book club buddies and get your tickets in the shop or at the link in our bio! • • • #bookshelftville #indiebookstore #bookstagram #downtownthomasvillega #tallahasseefl #whatshouldireadnext #bookishpodcast #modernmrsdarcy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Girls and Their Horses Author: Eliza Jane Brazier Source: Orlando Public Library I have been a member of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club for many years, and our fearless leader @annebogel recently recommended Girls and Their Horses. I am unsure I would have selected this book if I found it in the wild, but I trusted Anne and ordered it from the library. The minute the book arrived, it jumped over the other 10+ TBR books from the library, and I opened it to the first chapter. Holy cow, or I should say, Holy Horse Sh*t…this book was excellent. Murder mystery, the workings of a horse academy, the crazy money spent on horses, the pettiness (and that is just the Mom’s), the sabotage, the jealousy, the greed, and so much more. I thought this was a truly good read, and I couldn’t stop till my eyes wouldn’t stay open. Great writing, a good plot, and a fabulous cast of characters. Read this one. #GirlsAndTheirHorses #horseriding #showingHorses #jumping #PurebredHorses #Expense #fees #rivalries @elizajanebrazier #modernmrsdarcybookclub #modernmrsdarcy @whatshouldireadnext @annebogel @gthorton @ocls @berkleypub 🧲 #book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader reader #reviewer
We all know no book is for everyone…and yet we still have beloved books we will defend at all costs from people who have the “wrong” opinion. 😉
@SusanMeissnerAuthor selected The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride as an example of one of her favorite quiet novels in this week’s episode. It was one of my favorite novels of 2023. Have you read it? About the book: I’ve read James McBride differently since I heard him say writing is like music for him; this story is nothing if not a dance. Here he paints a rich portrait of Pottstown, PA’s Chicken Hill neighborhood in the early 1930s, populated mostly by Jewish immigrants and Black people who comfortably coexist, despite the ominous proximity of the Klan. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is the neighborhood’s beating heart: residents gather to shop and gossip, welcomed by its beloved Jewish owner Chona, who treats all with kindness and freely extends credit to anyone in need. When a government inspector brings trouble to their community, the residents band together to protect their own. An exuberant, intricately-plotted tale with a wide cast of beguiling characters.
Susan Meissner is a reader, WSIRN listener, and historical fiction author with a readerly dilemma. Lately there have been whispers in the industry that the kind of “quieter” historical fiction she writes is not what readers want right now. Short, snappy, and plotty books are selling right now, and books with long, thoughtful chapters are NOT. At least, that’s the conventional industry wisdom these days. What makes a book quiet and what makes a quiet book WORK for a wide variety of readers? Today @susanmeissnerauthor and I are going to unpack the quiet novel and discuss its place in today’s literary landscape. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
I spy a Spring Book Preview book in the wild! I came upon this display of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown while visiting @TheBookDragonShop in Staunton, VA. About the book: This contemporary SFF mystery is set in a world just like ours, with one notable exception: collectors throughout the world hunt a series of magical books, each of which grants their owners one unique ability, like the power to inflict pain, move at great speed, or disappear entirely. Bookstore clerk Cassie discovers this firsthand when a favorite customer dies and leaves her in possession of the Book of Doors, which functions as a portal to any door throughout space or time that she pictures in her mind’s eye. At first Cassie uses it to visit her late grandfather and revisit favorite vacation destinations, but she quickly discovers she is in grave danger, because powerful people want to use her book for their own evil ends. Fast-paced, inventive, and fun; perfect for fans of The Cartographers and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. This would be a good gateway fantasy pick for readers who don’t often or ever read the genre.
When you can’t travel, literary tourism is the next best thing! Pick up a book set in the place you’d like to go.
📚 I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel “I’m grateful for my one life, but I’d prefer to live a thousand—and my favorite books allow me to experience more on the page than I ever could in my actual life. A good book allows me to step into another world, to experience people and place and situations foreign to my own day-to-day existence. I love experiencing the new, the novel, the otherwise impossible—especially when I can do it from my own comfy chair.” 🌞 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book is for the readers!! A sweet collection of musings from a fellow book loving kindred spirit. Although this book reads like a memoir of Anne’s reading life, there are so many ways for the bibliophile to relate. These short essays made me laugh and think and add way too many books to my TBR! 🥳📖 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #whatimreading #bookreview #bookish #reading #readersofinstagram #bookishlove #bookishlife #booklove #booklover #bookworm #bookcommunity #kyleesreads #idratherbereading #annebogel #modernmrsdarcy #nonfiction
Did you know we have an on-going Literary Tourism series on Modern Mrs Darcy? We share book lists focused on different cities, states, and countries. Here’s what we’ve done so far: Chicago Florida Hawai’i Maine Michigan New York City Aotearoa New Zealand England Iceland Paris Scotland South Korea Which place do you hope we’ll cover next?
It’s time for some good old-fashioned literary tourism! Joy loves to travel, whether in real life or through reading. She’s hoping books will fulfill her wanderlust and take her vicariously to places she can’t get to right now in real life. Joy loves travel narratives, fiction with travel elements, and especially travel-oriented memoirs, but she’s never had a good system for finding the ones she really enjoys most. That’s where I come in! To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
🍀Review🍀 Ooh… this book was special. Maggie O’Farrell is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. I’ve seen this book listed as a favourite of Modern Mrs Darcy’s- it’s been on her summer reading guide, and I’ve heard her make references to it on podcasts, etc. so I’ve had it on my radar to read for ages (it was published in 2016, so it’s not a new one) and it was just as good as I hoped it would be. It’s the perfect book to feature today since O’Farrell is an Irish author, and parts take place in Ireland. But it also spans continents and decades with interconnected stories. It was enthralling and complex and touched on so many themes including family, love, grief, second chances, and how the past affects the present. I loved it. Here’s your warning, book friends, that if you plan on doing the “12 books from 12 friends” challenge next year, I already know this will be my pick to force y’all to read it! 🍀Happy St. Patrick’s Day today. I started dating my husband MANY years ago on this day. 💚🍻He does claim to have “the luck o’the Irish” (we aren’t Irish 🤣). Any favourite books by an Irish author?
☘️ Happy St. Patrick’s Day! My #coffeeandcurrentlyreading is The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange. It is the story of a family going through some hard stuff. Thirty-year-old Tara has just been released from prison, where she was serving time for a drug charge. She heads home, where she lives with her sister Geraldine and her brother Eddie and his young son Conor. But as they try to reassemble their family life, more problems are brought to light. Last March I read Lange’s first novel, We Are the Brennans, which just happens to be this month’s #mmdbookclub selection. I’m looking forward to the author interview with @annebogel later this week! So far, I’m loving The Connellys! What are you reading on this St. Patrick’s Day weekend? #theconnellysofcountydown #irishreads #bookofthemonth #modernmrsdarcy
The best library notification!
It’s been a while since I shared the notes I took while recording with a guest! Here’s what my discussion with this week’s guest @julievancan looked like. I never know where a conversation will take us or what recommendations will result!
Julie Van Huizen’s love of reading was reignited in late 2022 when she found a path into the bookish zeitgeist by reading a super-popular series. At about this same time, she found herself inspired, intimidated, and challenged by the end-of-year reading wrap-ups she saw online. That led @julievancan to declare 2023 as her year of intentional reading. We talk about her monthly reading formula, literary salads, the power of getting plugged into what she calls “the book people network,” and more. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
WSIRN guest and literary agent Elisabeth Weed recommended One Woman Show by Christine Coulson in episode 413. The author worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 25 years, where one of her last jobs was writing the 75-word wall labels for the museum's new British galleries. She imagined a novel in that form, and this life story of Kitty Whitaker is the result: a sly and stylish novel told solely through museum wall labels about a 20th-century woman who transforms herself over the course of her lifetime. This short novel could easily be read in one sitting, and is an excellent pick for structure nerds or art and design fans. Have you read it?
Book lovers, have we got the thing for you! Get your copy of 100 Book Recommendations for Every Mood by signing up for our newsletter. We’re partial to the WSIRN newsletter 😉 where you'll get updates about the show (including weeks like this when there isn't a new episode) and alerts about special listener opportunities. But you can choose any or all newsletter options. Comment WSIRN and we’ll send you the sign up link! (Current subscribers, this link should work for you too.)
It's Middle Grade March! Middle grade novels can work for readers of all ages in all kinds of different life circumstances. These are great books! Consider this your gentle nudge to pick up a middle grade book, even if you think you’ve outgrown them. For recommendations, comment MG and we’ll send you “15 Re-readable middle grade novels that adults will love, too.” What’s one of your favorite middle grade novels and what do you love about it?
No new episode today. We’ll be back next week! Enjoy this throwback quote from WSIRN episode 343. May it encourage you to embrace the genres and topics you love, regardless of what others might say.
My book Don’t Overthink It turned four over the weekend! If you identify as an overthinker, I hope you’ll find it illuminating, practical, and full of joy. That’s the reason I wrote this book: not to focus on the overthinking itself, but how to put it aside in order to bring more peace, love, and joy into our lives. (I got the mug from a shop in Tulsa a few years ago.)
No book can please everyone! This is why our aim has always been to help readers figure out which books that are right for *them*.
What's the best book you read this month and what did you love about it? Make a pitch to your fellow readers who might want to read it next! P.S. We’ll pin a few of the best, most interesting descriptions.
Have you figured out the themes of your favorite reads? Courtney Dezahd appreciates a wide range of reading experiences, from WWI history to outdoor survival stories to the classics. She started noticing trends in her favorite reads and honed in on themes she always finds satisfying: stories of unrequited love, survival, and the triumph of the human spirit. I’m here to help her find novels that will stick with her long after she turns the last page. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
What gets you through the winter seasons of your life? Team member @shannanenjoyslife recorded a One Great Book episode about a book that’s been meaningful for her: Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. She was diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder about ten years ago and has amassed various strategies to survive and thrive during the winter season. This book has proven to be a great resource for her. Comment LINK and we’ll send you Shannan’s Patreon bonus episode.
Author @FarrahRochon discussed how her love of travel influences the way she writes her books in this week’s episode. What’s a book you love with a really strong sense of place? (Bonus points if that book is a romance, the genre Farrah writes.)
Imagine being the personal librarian for JP Morgan in the early 1900’s? Yeh, I can’t either! This book was simply amazing. I had never heard of Belle da Costa Greene before being introduced to this book by the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. I have gone down many rabbit holes reading more and more about her story. It’s simply fascinating. I am so happy I picked it up and savored every word. Historical Fiction is my second favorite genre, right behind memoirs and this book did not disappoint. I’ve already looked up The Morgan Library and Museum in NYC and I can’t wait to visit it. Belle’s story was captivating and I can’t wait to chat with the authors of The Personal Librarian tomorrow night with the MMD book club! I’ll be sure to share more! Have you read this one? If so, do you now also want to be a personal librarian like me? #thepersonallibrarian #modernmrsdarcy #mmdbookclub #mybookishlifestyle #readeveryday #whattoread #booksandplants #bookloversunite #plantsandbooks #bookwormforlife #bookphotograph #bookphotos #bookishfeature #bookclubofinstagram #readingmakesmehappy #readinglife #idratherbereading #bookishgirl #bookloversworld #readingwomen #bibliophilelife #literarylifestyle #audiobookstagram #njbookstagram #meetthebookstagrammer
@FarrahRochon is a passionate reader and prolific romance author with forty-five books to her name. Today we chat about what drew her to this particular genre, the state of the industry, and her current writing process as an obsessive plotter. We also touch on Disney, traveling, New Orleans, and her two upcoming releases. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
Placing bets on how long it will take me to put away the stacks of books from the Spring Book Preview...
This is the *third* book festival 3️⃣ that I’ve gotten to meet up with @tiffany_reads_too_many_books (one in Winston Salem and the other one here in Savannah another year 🍑) and her sister and it’s just delightful to meet internet friends in real life.👋 I’m also currently listening to Episode 166 of the #WhatShouldIReadNext podcast when @annebogel of #ModernMrsDarcy chats 🎙️ with Tiffany about her Literary Society (NOT book club) 📚 down in Mount Dora, Florida (like Stars Hollow with palm trees) 🌴 and now I want to visit and hang out with her LitSoc crew. 🤓📖
Do you have a reading philosophy?
Happy Valentine’s Day! I know I'm not the only one who turns to romance novels for comfort and escape. Pictured here are three of the books featured in our Modern Mrs Darcy book list, "18 fresh and flirty contemporary romance novels for your TBR." It’s filled with great options for romance veterans or those looking to try the genre. To get the full list, comment LINK.
Amy Rohn joins me to talk about literal literary matchmaking, the ups and downs of her life as a reader in search of real-life romance. We’re exploring what she looks for in a partner, whether they’re a reader or not, and truly baffling stories from her attempts at talking to men on dating apps about books. We’re also touching on her newfound love affair with nonfiction, plus the book she had a huge grudge against in middle school. (This episode originally aired back in 2020 as episode 221.) To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
Do you read medical nonfiction? Team member Leigh is immediately interested whenever she comes across these books for reasons both professional and personal. If a doctor is writing a memoir, rest assured it’s on her TBR. Same with any behind-the-scenes on some aspect of our healthcare system. And if it touches on end-of-life issues, she doesn’t think twice before picking up a copy. To find out alllll of her recommendations, comment LINK and we’ll send you this Patreon bonus episode.
[9] For fans of #TheMaid or #ElinorOliphantIsCompletelyFine but featuring a medical doctor in New York City in the months leading up to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Joan was born in the US but her parents and brother were born in China and her parents move back to China as soon as she’s off to college meaning she’s on the other side of the world from them when her Dad dies. The book deals with the grief of losing a parent and also of feeling the strain of being a first generation American. Joan is an extremely competent doctor but misses other people’s basic cues and interactions in ways that causes misunderstandings with her family, colleagues, and neighbors. I loved the #AuthorTalk with #WeikeWang on the #MMDBookClub - the behind-the-scenes and backstory always add so much depth to the final “product” of the book. 📖 “Director, the first time I put on my white coat, it felt like home. From having moved around so much, and with no childhood or ancestral home to return to, I didn’t think myself capable. I didn’t prioritize home or comfort because if everyone did, then immigrants like my parents, brother, and sister-in-law couldn’t exist. Home was not a viable concept for them until later and it wasn’t a concept for me until the day I put on that coat - this coat!” I pulled at my white lapel to show him. “From then on I knew that my occupation would become my home. To have a home is a luxury, but I now understand why people attach great value to it and are loyal to defend it. Home is where you fit in and take up space.” [62%] ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #JoanIsOkay #BooksAboutDoctors #ModernMrsDarcy #Bookstagram #BookReview
We love libraries! What’s something your library offers other than books?
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is one of this week’s guest’s favorite books, a great choice for this time of year. Have you read it? About the book: I loved this magic-infused story about love, loss, and the wildness of nature, based on a wintery fairytale. It's Alaska, 1920, the night of the first snowfall, which inspires a typically serious couple to indulge in a bit of silliness: they build a child out of snow, just for fun. In the morning, the snow child is gone, but the couple spies a young girl they've never seen before running through the trees. From there, a magical and tender story unfolds.
[7] This was suggested to me after I enjoyed Maggie Smith’s “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” 🌸 but they could not be two more different memoir-esque takes on marriages in crisis.💔 He is a hilarious writer, 🎙️ but sometimes the humor is too heavy-handed when talking about such vulnerable moments in love, and in a marriage. 😬 Using his life this way, as material, feels like he is boiling real people down to caricatures of themselves.👨🏻👩🏼 Something about the tone is just… off. 🫣 He’s self depreciating, his own emotions 😭 and thoughts 💭 and actions 😤 are used as material as well - he certainly doesn’t spare himself any of that humorous scrutiny. 🧐 He addresses this aspect of comedy saying, “but man, funny people sure can make a marriage lonesome.” [Ch 8] 😢 He has such talent as a hilarious writer, I’m just not convinced humor is a great way to deal with these issues (and minimizes very real and reasonable complaints she has about his emotional and actual logistical unavailability and the motivation she has to seek solace and fulfillment in someone who IS willing to be an actual partner). ❤️🩹 They apparently WANT to make it work, so I guess I’m glad they are. 💗 But *shudders.* 😱 Sometimes divorce is the right answer. 😰✌️👋 📚 “Lauren had begun looking at me the way you look into a sack of fast food when the order is wrong and you are already 2 miles down the road.” [Ch 8] 📚 “We won’t be traumatizing our children with our divorce, we’ll traumatize them with our marriage, as God intended.” [Ch 38] ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #HowToStayMarried #Bookstagram #BookReview #HappilyMarriedWomensDivorceBookClub #ModernMrsDarcy
You may have heard of hygge, the Danish art of creating joy and coziness in life's everyday moments. But have you applied that concept to your reading life? This week’s guest Sarah Butler has always loved winter. After discovering the Scandinavian approach to the cold and dark months, she’s embraced the season even more in her life and in her reading life. I’m excited to recommend a stack of wintry books @sarahcbutler_art can really burrow into this winter, preferably with a hot beverage and cozy blanket. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
We're leaning in to all things cozy this week! Get your hot beverage ready and tune into the new episode tomorrow...
I would have read so many classics as a kid if this had been a rule when I was growing up. What was your go-to childhood series?
What's the best book you read in January and what did you love about it? Make a pitch to your fellow readers who might want to read it next! P.S. We’ll pin a few of the best, most interesting descriptions.
All kinds of books can make an impact on us and leave us thinking about them years later, as you'll see with one of this week's guest's favorite novels. Reagan Jackson is an author and co-executive director of a youth-serving nonprofit. She’s passionate about stories and the people who tell them, and she’s here today to get my help in finding compelling reads for the year ahead. I’m excited to give @reaganejjackson fresh suggestions for the genres she loves and wants to explore. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
Do you have a favorite bookish accessory? Book darts are definitely one of mine.
What are your reading rituals?
With the popular success of books like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, many readers are looking for the books to read after these engrossing stories. Team member @hollyfromthebigsky is here for you with the latest Patreon bonus episode!
I love Rilke’s framing of winter as a time to turn inward and tend to our souls. Whether literal or metaphorical, winter can create room for us to rest, give ourselves grace, and focus on activities that refill our cup. Reading can play a part in that. In 2020, Natalie Nava realized she was dealing with serious burnout. She made significant changes to her life and work. Since then, she’s learned to “cultivate her inner garden,” regulated her nervous system, and reclaimed reading as one of her favorite pastimes. Today we’re talking about the techniques Natalie used to recover from burnout, from the daily wind-down ritual Natalie loves to the specific style of stories she loves most. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.
“If a book is well written, I always find it too short.” - Jane Austin So true!!! In fact, I’m in the middle of a book that I’m already grieving the moment it ends. Speaking of books (and who isn’t?!), did you know there are entire podcasts devoted to the love of reading? It’s true! Not only are there bookish podcasts, but every year (apparently) they have “Best Of” episodes where they spend the entire time chitchatting about their favorite books of the year. Fun! 🤓 📖 Soooo … Attention fellow book lovers: If this sounds interesting to you, here are a couple to check out. If you have and enjoy a reading life, the Modern Mrs Darcy website and podcast is filled with treasures and worthy of checking out on any day, but the link below will take you to podcast where Anne Bogel (aka Modern Mrs Darcy) and her husband discuss their year’s favorites. Anne Bogel is an author and podcaster and all around lover of story. If you want to take a deep dive into reading, Modern Mrs Darcy is your girl. https://modernmrsdarcy.com/412-episode/ Laura Tremain is an author and a podcaster. Her podcast is called 10 Things to Tell You. She’s funny. I like funny. I’ll listen to a reading of the Farmers Almanac if it’s funny! 😄 She invites her own book club to join her on the podcast to discuss their year’s favorites. The result sounds like a book conversation you might have with your own bookish friends. What I also liked about this podcast episode is their discussion of book clubs in general. Some good inspiring thoughts. https://www.10thingstotellyou.com/podcast/199 Some thoughts on Book Talk podcasts: 🧐 You will not agree with every book that’s chosen. And that’s okay. So, then, why bother listening? Well, it’s a hoot to listen to other people get excited about a story they found exceptional. It’s encouraging to know other people love books too. Fellow book nerds are good company! Because of the possibility that you will hear about your next favorite book. And that is the best reason of all. Any favorite books you read last year? I love a good recommendation. #happysunday #modernmrsdarcy #10thingstotellyou #bestbooks2023 #booktalk
Book Review: Family Family by Laurie Frankel “Regardless of how it gets made, family is a force to be reckoned with.” India Allwood knew she wanted to be an actor since she was 10 when her mother Sarah first took her to see Guys and Dolls. The novel occurs in two timeline, flashing between that period of India’s life and the present allowing us to see how she becomes who she is today. Present day, India is a rising TV star in Hollywood. When India is courted to star in her first movie, a film about adoption, she would like to be excited. The problem is, she thinks it’s a bad movie. The mother of adopted twins, she thinks she can tell a better story. When she accidentally shares her thoughts with a journalist, you know what hits the fan! In step her kids to try to save the day. If you guessed that things only get more complicated, then you would be correct! Laurie Frankel has become an automatic read author. Family Family is as compelling as her last two novels, This It How It Always Is and One Two Three. You can expect Frankel to smartly present important social issues with a lot of heart and humor. In Family Family, she tackles the very personal subject of adoption with all its joys and complications. In typical fashion, Frankel challenges the reader to reconsider what they think they know or to turn prevailing social views on their head. Here she succeeds in interrogating prevailing notions about adoption and commonly held misconceptions. If you’re looking for a story about what it means to be family, whether by blood or choice, then Family Family is for you. I suggest you go in blind to fully enjoy the twists and turns. The Author’s Note is a must read as it is sure to capture your ♥ Many thanks to the author @Laurie.Frankel, @HenryHoltBooks, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Look for it! Pub Date: 23 Jan 2024 . . .
Over the years of this podcast, we’ve had many examples of how one person’s favorite book can be someone else’s hated book. Case in point: Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews did not work for this week’s guest, while team member Ginger Horton counted it as one of her favorites in WSIRN Episode 283: Don’t save the good stuff. The “why” is illuminating: Amy and Ginger have different reactions to unlikeable narrators and that’s okay! About the book: Aspiring writer Florence is determined to get her stories published—no matter what it takes. But after her initial underhanded efforts to get a book deal result in getting fired from her low-level publishing job, she receives a fortuitously-timed offer to play assistant to a blockbuster novelist whose identity is a closely-guarded secret. Soon she’s privy to the secrets of “Maud Dixon,” who hit the bestseller charts with her debut about a sinister Southern murder, but whose sophomore novel is long overdue to the publisher. When the prickly writer invites Florence to accompany her on a research trip to Morocco, Florence can’t say yes fast enough … and that’s when the book takes a suspenseful turn I never saw coming.
This week’s guest shared how the library made it easier for her to take risks on books…and to DNF (Did Not Finish) them. Does checking a book out from the library make it easier for you to DNF?
Are you a library lover? Share how often you stop by your library or the title of the last book you checked out!
This week’s guest has a reading dilemma I’m sure many of you will relate to. Amy has always always struck a good balance between borrowing from her local library and buying new releases. But recently, her family’s budget has changed, and for the time being, she’s not buying any new books. Amy would love my help in reframing her reading selections so she doesn’t feel like she’s missing out when she can’t read a new release right away. I have ideas to help her make the most of her current reading reality, plus a proposed paradigm shift to turn this unplanned for-reality into a lovely limitation. It’s not pie in the sky, it’s for real. To get the show notes with all the books we discussed, comment LINK.