The Currently Reading Podcast

Ready for your newly slimmed down show notes? (Don't worry, the timestamps and links are STILL HERE):

Meredith and Kaytee are discussing:

• Bookish Moments: a digital library challenge and an audiobook realization

• Current Reads: five-star books by black authors, suspense and MG winners

• Deep Dive: Buddy Reading

• Book Presses: a graphic novel for adults lands and as classic middle grade pick

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Book of the Month:

(These are Goodreads links, since we hope you'll use our BOTM link to sign up if you're interested!)

1:29 - Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk

2:28 - The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

2:32 - One Day in December by Josie Silver

2:42 - Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

2:47 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Use our Link and the code CURRENTLYREADING to get your first book for just $9.99!

Bookish Moments:

6:10 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

6:22 - Amazon Echo Dot (or Echo) to access Alexa for listening to audiobooks at home

7:05 - Audible try it out for free!

Current Reads:

7:46 - The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

11:11 - Mr. Gedrick and Me by Patrick Carman

11:18 - Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

13:45 - Pride by Ibi Zoboi

13:48 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

16:20 - The Blinds by Adam Sternbergh

17:55 - Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

18:54 - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

21:11 - The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Deep Dive - Buddy Reading:

27:28 - An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

28:23 - We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates

30:48 - I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

32:25 - The Stand by Stephen King

32:36 - The Outsider by Stephen King

35:27 - The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

36:08 - Still Life by Louise Penny

37:55 - Patreon will get you into our Buddy Read discussion on 4/19!

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

39:05 - March by John Lewis

40:50 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

50:53 - Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

42:31 - The Home Maker by Dorothy Canfield

42:57 - The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

43:04 - Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Kaytee and Mindy are ready for a Currently Reading first: award season!

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a buddy read with a daughter and thrifting for books

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. This week's books are full of big sighs in ways both good and bad, and sweet stories that will stick with you.

For our deep dive this week, we are giving out our first Golden Earbud Awards. During award season, we're evaluating red carpet looks and the best stories to consume on audio and you won't want to miss our categories!

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a book that's perfect for anyone who works with or love a young adult, and a memoir that is unforgettable.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Bookish Moments:

1:50 - Book of the Month

1:53 - The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Current Reads:

4:40 - Love from A to Z by SK Ali

7:03 - The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

7:15 - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

7:46 - Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

8:26 - Patreon (We do Patron buddy reads)

8:40 - Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

11:52 - Black Enough by Ibi Zoboi

15:16 - Dataclysm by Christian Rudder

15:22 - Episode 19 of Season 1 with Scott Monday

20:04 - Lost for Words by Stephanie Butland

21:13 - Patreon (Patrons get bonus episodes)

20:32 - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

20:33 - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

20:39 - Dante and Aristotle Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

25:55 - The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

Deep Dive - Golden Earbud Awards:

Narrators are all linked to the audiobook. New members to Audible get a free audiobook on us!

If It Weren't Audio, I Would Have Skipped It:

30:47 - Shogun by James Clavell (narrated by Ralph Lister)

30:49 - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel (narrated by David Colacci)

30:53 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (narrated by Lee Horsley)

31:03 - 11/22/63 by Stephen King (narrated by Craig Wasson)

Required to Listen:

32:47 - Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (narrated by Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, and a full cast)

32:50 - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (narrated by the author)

32:53 - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (narrated by Frazer Douglas)

33:01 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (narrated by the author)

Best Series on Audio:

34:13 - Harry Potter by JK Rowling (narrated by Jim Dale)

34:15 - The Passage by Justin Cronin (narrated by Scott Brick, Adenrele Ojo and Abby Craden)

34:19 - The Selection by Kiera Cass (narrated by Amy Rubinate)

34:24 - The Three Pines Series (staring with Still Life) by Louise Penny (narrated by Ralph Cosham [books 1-10] and Robert Bathurst [books 11+])

For Adult Ears Only:

36:29 - The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (narrated by Katie Schorr)

36:31 - A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole (narrated by Karen Chilton)

36:34 - The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (narrated by Carly Robbins)

36:47 - Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski (narrated by the author)

Who Knew?

38:41 - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain (narrated by Nick Offerman)

38:48 - Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (narrated by Rachel McAdams)

38:54 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal)

39:05 - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (narrated by Tim Curry)

Best True Story

40:07 - Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski (narrated by the author)

40:11 - The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton (narrated by Bryan Stevenson)

40:14 - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (narrated by Amy Landon)

40:24 - I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott (narrated by the author)

Best Read by the Author:

41:33 - Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe (narrated by the author)

41:45 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (narrated by the author)

41:48 - Becoming by Michelle Obama (narrated by the author)

42:38 - Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan (narrated by the author)

Best Narrator:

44:36 - Guy Lockard

44:37 - Julia Whelan

44:39 - Jim Dale

44:55 - Bahni Turpin

Best Full Cast:

46:23 - Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (narrated by Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Lena Dunham and a full cast)

46:26 - As You Wish by Carey Elwes (narrated by Carey Elwes and cast)

46:30 - Emma by Jane Austen (narrated by Emma Thompson & cast)

46:51 - Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (narrated by Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt & a full cast)

Best Overall:

48:02 - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (narrated by the author)

48:08 - Beartown by Fredrik Backman (narrated by Marin Ireland)

48:13 - 11/22/63 by Stephen King (narrated by Craig Wasson)

48:29 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (narrated by J.K. Simmons)

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

50:19 - Doing Life with Your Adult Children by Jim Burns

53:13 - Becoming by Michelle Obama (narrated by the author)

Kaytee and Meredith have lots to share with you today, Bookworms! We hope you love this episode!

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a bookish realization, and a crafty bookish gift.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We've got some romance and some thriller and some non-fiction and some middle grade. Our reading lives are all over the place!

For our deep dive this week, we are talking getting free books for review. Kaytee has been getting her hands on Advance Review Copies (ARCs) for years now, and she's sharing her wisdom about how to get signed up and ingratiate yourself with publishers.

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a retelling that's fairy tale adjacent, and one that's not for reading on the plane.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Bookish Moments:

1:26 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

4:20 - Cross Stitch Bookmark Kits (this is the one I bought and modified to make this, but this storefront has lots of great designs available!)

Current Reads:

5:32 - The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson

5:39 - Rump: The Fairly True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Leisl Shurtliff

8:02 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

8:36 - Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper

10:55 - The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

11:12 - The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

14:47 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

15:06 - The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

18:53 - A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

20:57 - The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

23:55 - Jason Reynolds

24:37 - Jacqueline Woodson

24:42 - Kwame Alexander

24:47 - Caroline Starr Rose

Slow But Steady:

25:54 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

26:32 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

26:35 - Roots by Alex Haley

27:15 - Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough

27:17 - Shogun by James Clavell

39:24 - Laura Tremaine on Ten Things to Tell You

Deep Dive - How to Get Free Books for Review:

28:59 - NetGalley.com

31:52 - Edelweiss.plus

32:11 - A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

40:32 - Wicked by Gregory Maguire

42:19 - Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

42:50 - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

42:53 - This Is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankl

Meredith and Kaytee are chatting about current reads and how to squeeze more satisfaction out of your reading life today!

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a big change in the reader status of a family member, and a new bookish podcast you'll love.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We're chatting about books from writing teams, and sequels and classics that go down easy.

For our deep dive this week, we are talking about making 2020 your best reading year yet. Does that mean more books? Maybe. But perhaps it means better books and more time to read them. What are your favorite tips for reading more or better?

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a young adult selection perfect for February in more ways than one and a murder-y book that is cold as well as bone-chilling.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Bookish Moments:

4:24 - Diving In Podcast

Current Reads:

6:10 - Murder As A Fine Art by David Morrell

9:33 - Book Drop Book subscription box

9:51 - The Network by LC Shaw

10:01 - Liv Constantine's books

10:26 - The Pelican Brief by John Grisham

10:27 - The Firm by John Grisham

12:54 - You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

13:04 - Book of the Month

16:04 - An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

16:07 - The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

17:23 - El Deafo by Cece Bell

17:32 - Bonus episode for Patrons

17:43 - Relish by Lucy Knisley

19:09 - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

25:46 - Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

25:53 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman

28:28 - The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Deep Dive - How to Read More:

31:46 - Episode 6 of Currently Reading

33:55 - Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Trebole and Elyse Recsh

37:53 - Libby app through your local library

39:21 - Audible - try it for free

39:29 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

40:58 - My favorite earbuds by SoundPeats

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

45:04 - The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

46:03 - (her other one) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

46:53 - Episode 5 of Currently Reading

47:03 - All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage

48:10 - The Current by Tim Johnston

48:15 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Kaytee and Mindy are handling this week while Meredith recovers from surgery. We are so glad to have Mindy step in during tough times!

As we get started, you'll hear our first advertisement on the podcast. We have always said we'd be extremely discerning about advertisers, so Book of the Month was a perfect match for us, since we are both loyal (paying) customers. We hope you'll give them a try and get your first book for just $9.99 when you use the code CURRENTLYREADING! If you're interested, please use our link so they know we sent you.

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a bookish sticker from an online friend, and a "book dictionary" brag that occurred at a local bookstore.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. Every single book this week was a "turn" from the previous title discussed, so we are running the gamut.

For our deep dive this week, we are chatting about reading while sick. Mindy and Kaytee were both battling viruses this week of different kinds, so we talk about how illness effects our reading lives and the tips we have to keep reading while you're not feeling 100 percent.

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a brick of a biography and a collection of stories that will open your heart.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Announcement:

1:37 - Book of the Month - OUR FIRST SPONSOR!

(the following are Goodreads links because we hope you'll check out BOTM if you're interested in any of them!)

2:56 - The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

3:28 - The Holdout by Graham Moore

Bookish Moments:

10:11 - @flypaperproducts on Instagram

10:45 - Op.Cit Books in Santa Fe, NM

11:40 - Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale

Current Reads:

12:57 - Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde

15:31 - The Lady From the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara

15:49 - Episode 176 of What Should I Read Next

18:37 - Reading Glasses Podcast

19:01 - The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall

22:14 - Searching For Sunday: Loving Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans

22:44 - A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

23:15 - The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

25:45 - Night Theater by Vikram Paralkar

25:28 - 15 Books by Small Presses article

26:01 - Patreon and the Currently Reading Bookish Friends!

28:55 - The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

30:13 - Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

35:59 - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Deep Dive - SIck Reading:

38:54 - Mindy's Bluetooth Sleep Mask

42:36 - How to Survive a Plague by David France

44:26 - Beartown by Fredrick Backman

44:28 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen

44:29 - Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

47:05 - Bonhoffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

50:21 - Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle

51:55 - I'll Have What Phil's Having on PBS

Meredith and Kaytee are giddying up with a new episode of spicy opinions.

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a new, most favorite ever, local bookshop win, and a triumphant return to the library.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. There's a whole slew of goodness in here, as well as a plea for a certain title from a certain author, and reflections on re-reading a decades-old favorite.

We've got a brief Slow But Steady update to share with you and then it's onward to our deep dive.

For our deep dive this week, we are chatting about cozy mysteries. Why read them? What makes a mystery cozy? What are Meredith's favorite titles in the canon? Do they require baking and puns? Inquiring minds need to know.

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a tale reminiscent of the old west and a fun bookish fictional title that we both adore.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Bookish Moments:

2:01 - Fabled Bookshop in Waco, TX

4:23 - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

4:33 - Currently Reading's Top 10 Reads of 2019

Current Reads:

5:19 - Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

5:45 - The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

8:15 - The Long Call by Ann Cleeves

8:27 - Raven Black (the Shetland Series) by Ann Cleeves

8:49 - Louise Penny Interview with Ann Cleeves

12:58 - The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

17:10 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

17:11 - The Home Maker by Dorothy Canfield

18:19 - Beauty by Robin McKinley

18:22 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

18:25 - The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson

21:01 - The Hunger by Alma Katsu

22:09 - Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

24:14 - Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

25:10 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

25:12 - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

26:20 - Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

26:24 - The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

28:25 - The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

29:26 - Salt Fat Acid Heat on Netflix

29:42 - Somebody Feed Phil (and I'll Have What Phil's Having) on Netflix

Slow But Steady:

30:14 - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

30:30 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

31:13 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

32:01 - Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

Deep Dive - Cozy Mysteries:

34:15 - Louise Penny (ahem, NOT cozy)

38:58 - Aunt Dimity Series by Nancy Atherton

40:18 - The Secret, Book, and Scone Society by Ellery Adams (Book 2) (Book 3)

41:20 - Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

41:31 - On What Grounds (The Coffeehouse Mysteries) by Cleo Coyle

41:43 - Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs

42:09 - The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (The Cat Who… Series) by Lillian Jackson Braun

42:24 - Agatha Raisin series and Hamish MacBeth series by M.C. Beaton

42:53 - The Unexpected Mrs. Polifax (Mrs. Polifax series) by Dorothy Gillman

43:05 - A Murder At the Vicarage (Miss Marple series) by Agatha Christie

43:24 - Death on Demand by Carolyn G. Hart

43:56 - Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

46:00 - @howjessreads on Instagram (check out her #sillysundayshelf collections!)

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

46:53 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

47:02 - Miss Jane by Brad Watson

47:09 - MomAdvice Book Club with Amy Allen Clark

47:18 - Amy's Interview with the author, Brad Watson

49:39 - The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

Kaytee and Mindy are chatting this week while Meredith hosts a leadership retreat in Waco, TX.

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: stealing a book out of the hands of a reader, and helping another rediscover her love of "fun" reading.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We've got YA and WWII and memoir and coming-of-age novels to chat about and we cannot wait to share those opinions with you!

For our deep dive this week, we are chatting about the kids' book club that Mindy started for her 11 year old son. We're talking about logistics and book picks and what the kiddos talk about, and it's a great discussion that's sure to inspire a reader in your life.

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: one from a new "author crush" and one that has been referenced so many times on the podcast that it has finally earned its place on the Press list.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Bookish Moments:

4:04 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Current Reads:

5:19 - Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

13:10 - One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

15:29 - One of Us is Next by Karen McManus

16:05 - The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China by Frank Langfitt

16:31 - @montanaonlineteacher on Instagram

20:14 - From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein

23:18 - The Gatekeepers: How White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple

23:20 - Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonoco

24:11 - The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel

27:27 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

28:03 - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

31:03 - How to Be A Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery

Deep Dive into Kids' Book Clubs:

36:42 - Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

36:44 - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

37:55 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

40:59 - The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

43:30 - Book Club discussion questions

46:16 - Other books the boys have discussed: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend, Holes by Louis Sachar

Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands:

47:08 - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

47:26 - Dataclysm by Christian Rudder

48:09 - @cheesehead.reader on Instagram

48:10 - @katieproctorwritesandreads on Instagram

48:32 - Scribd membership - try it for 60 days free!

51:39 - Ghost by Jason Reynolds

52:45 - Season 1, Episode 3

52:47 - The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

54:31 - The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Meredith and Kaytee are back with the episode you've been waiting for. Our favorite books of 2019!

Rather than spending time on all our regular segments, we are diving right into the good stuff. No Bookish Moments, no Current Reads, no Deep Dive, no Pressed books, just a reflection on our 2019 reading year and then the top 10 lists you've been waiting for!

We are each sharing 10 books we LOVED this year (plus a couple bonus picks that we slide in under the radar). We do a lot of gushing, we have a lot of words, and we think this episode contains the real gems for us and readers like us.

If you have books you think we'll love based on these lists, put them in the comments! If you agree or disagree with a pick, put that in the comments as well! We love hearing from you!

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Let's Talk About Stats, Baby:

3:22 - Kaytee on Goodreads

3:23 - Kaytee's spreadsheet (with excessive stats) comes from the BookRiot spreadsheet with some special modifications. You can grab a copy directly from BookRiot though! Patrons get my copy with all the bonus challenges and stats already included.

3:26 - 2020 Reading Journal

Top 10 Lists:

(Titles in Italics and parentheses are books we mentioned that are not part of the official top 10 list)

13:40 - Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

14:11 - (Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier)

15:02 - Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

15:41 - (Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson - book 2)

15:46 - (The Winterhouse Mysteries by Ben Guterson - book 3)

16:14 - Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

16:28 - (Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski)

17:08 - A Better Man by Louise Penny

18:50 - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow

19:56 - The Whisper Man by Alex North

20:00 - (Book of the Month subscription)

20:59 - The Passengers by John Marrs

21:11 - (The One by John Marrs)

22:02 - The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

22:11 - Episode when listeners press books into OUR hands

23:23 - Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

25:08 - The Current by Tim Johnston

25:15 - (Shelf Subscription from Bookshelf Thomasville)

27:31 - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

29:28 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

31:28 - (Sarah's Bookshelves Life interview with Garrett)

32:00 - We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

33:20 - American Royals by Katherine McGee

35:13 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

37:06 - (Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry)

37:40 - (The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides)

37:44 - The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

39:41 - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

39:57 - (Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead)

40:54 - The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

42:39 - The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

44:47 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Kaytee and Meredith are excited for a new year and some new bookish recommendations!

As always, we start out with a "bookish moment of the week" from each host. Some fame-treatment and bonus reading time.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We've got five-star books and strong opinions and all the things you love in this segment this week, so it's a fun one!

We are skipping our Slow But Steady check-in this week, but be sure to chime in with your picks on Instagram or Facebook for this challenge!

For our deep dive, we are throwing some serious side-eye at the Goodreads Best Books of 2019 lists and the ways these collections are put together. We have STRONG opinions about the winners for a number of these categories, but it's not all negative. We'll also share our picks for "best lists that actually reflect good 2019 reading" with you.

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we're trying something a little different with a "guest press" this week, and including a category of book that has never shown up on the press list before.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Current Reads:

6:52 - Bookshelf Thomasville Shelf Subscriptions

7:01 - The Last by Hannah Jameson

9:37 - Stephen King's books

9:38 - Agatha Christie's books

9:56 - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

11:10 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

11:20 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

11:21 - Run by Ann Patchett

11:22 - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

11:23 - This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

11:27 - The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

11:32 - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

18:18 - The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Carlson

18:30 - Read Aloud Revival

20:05 - The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

21:19 - Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness

21:22 - Naturally Tan by Tan France

24:57 - @girlaboutlibrary on Instagram

25:04 - The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

26:46 - Furious Hours by Casey Cep

30:05 - Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

30:13 - Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines

Deep Dive:

34:35 - Goodreads Best of 2019 List:

35:18 - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

36:10 - Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

36:18 - Audible's Best of 2019 List

37:08 - Recursion by Blake Crouch

37:31 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

37:49 - The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

38:40 - The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan

39:43 - Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

40:07 - Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

40:20 - Book of the Month (DJ&TS is their Book of the Year)

40:38 - The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

40:45 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

41:11 - Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis

41:13 - American Royals by Katherine McGee

41:25 - Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness

43:14 - New York Times Best of 2019 List

43:16 - NPR's Best of 2019 List

43:24 - Libraryreads.org Best of 2019 List

44:03 - Lithub.com best of best of lists

44:33 - Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

44:34 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

44:36 - Normal People by Sally Rooney

45:00 - Amy Allen Clark at Momadvice.com best of 2019 List

Presses:

47:37 - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

50:14 - El Deafo by CeCe Bell

Meredith and Kaytee are joined by Mindy today in a three-host show full of bookish delights.

You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host. A book club win for kids, a book train with friends, and strong opinions about a bookish movie.

Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. There's some serious gushing over books in this week's titles, plus a couple "I didn't like this" strong opinions. Hold onto your earbuds.

We are doing a brief Slow But Steady check-in this week to let you know what we're choosing for our next reads for this challenge.

For our deep dive this week, we are playing around with book pairings for TV shows that we've enjoyed in the past. We each chose two shows to dive deep into and then find ways to replicate some of those same feelings in our reading. What fun!

Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a "very favorite" read-aloud book, one that will work, even if you're down to the wire on a challenge category, and a book that is perfect for gift-giving.

As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!

*Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*

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Announcements:

1:19 - Episode 32 of Season 1

1:45 - 2020 Reading Challenge Printable

2:38 - 2020 Reading Journal for purchase (free for Patrons!)

Bookish Moments:

4:57 - Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

6:38 - Eye of the Elephant by Delia and Mark Owens

6:42 - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

7:43 - A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

8:13 - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Current Reads:

10:34 - Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beales

13:55 - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

14:42 - Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

18:17 - Wild Robot by Peter Brown

21:41 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen

22:00 - Episode 38 of Season 1

22:16 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

23:04 - Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

26:42 - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

28:10 - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

31:24 - City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

31:57 - Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Slow But Steady:

36:22 - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

36:40 - Gone with The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

37:10 - The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

37:29 - The Art of Typing by Ginger Lapig-Bogda

38:18 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

38:20 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

38:24 - East of Eden by John Steinbeck

38:30 - Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

38:40 - Persuasion by Jane Austen

38:48 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Deep Dive:

Pairings with Grey's Anatomy:

40:22 - Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult

40:49 - The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

41:19 - The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

Pairings with Parenthood:

42:09 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

42:24 - The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

Pairings with West Wing:

43:43 - Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonico

44:28 - The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple

45:03 - Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin

45:19 - The Brethren by John Grisham

45:22 - Term Limits by Vince Flynn

Pairings with Dr. Quinn or When Calls the Heart:

46:37 - Christy by Catherine Marshall

47:15 - Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness by Robert Specht

Pairings with Elementary:

49:06 - Sherlock Holmes canon by Arthur Conan Doyle

49:37 - The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

49:54 - The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

50:11 - A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

50:38 - A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George

Pairings with Dexter:

51:17 - Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsey

51:25 - You by Caroline Kepnes

51:45 - My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

52:11 - The One by John Marrs

Presses:

52:58 - Episode 32 of Season 1

53:07 - I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borden de Trevino

54:18 - Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

56:03 - The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini

56:11 - Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini