The Currently Reading Podcast

The Currently Reading Podcast

By Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee CobbSociety & CultureArtsBooks
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  • Typical duration

    57 min

    per episode

  • If it hooks

    42%

    finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

The Currently Reading Podcast episodes

  • Episode 26: Stroooong Bookish Opinions + Classics That Go Down Easy

    Kaytee and Meredith are so excited to get back into our discussion this week that we have a hard time keeping our bookish opinions to ourselves.

    You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each of the hosts: getting sucked in by a book to the detriment of…. the rest of your life, and fun book mail deliveries.

    Next, we discuss our current reads. We have some very seriously large opinions about our books this week. If you've ever wondered what it's like for Meredith to get spicy, you're in luck!

    Our deep dive this week centers on the Currently Reading Challenge! If you've been wondering about some of our favorite classics for that second category on your challenge sheet, you are in luck! We've got 20 titles for you for this category alone!

    As always, we finish up with A Book (yep, capitalized) that we'd like to press into every reader's hands: two more classics are on our lists this week. They're both lovely and SO vital to the reading cannon.

    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!

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    4:18 - Episode 7 with Jessica Turner

    4:32 - When I Pray for You by Matthew Paul Turner (one day left for that awesome pre-order bonus!) Get that here: http://matthewpaulturner.com/books/when-i-pray-for-you/

    6:18 - The Au Pair by Emma Rous

    6:30 - The Book Drop subscription

    10:08 - Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

    10:10 - Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

    10:11 - The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

    10:41 - The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

    10:47 - The Witch Elm by Tana French

    11:25 - The Lost Man by Jane Harper

    11:46 - The Dry by Jane Harper

    11:47 - Force of Nature by Jane Harper

    13:53 - The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

    16:05 - Mac Undercover (Mac B., Kid Spy #1) by Mac Barnett

    16:17 - The Impossible Crime (Mac B., Kid Spy #2) by Mac Barnett

    21:51 - Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin Manuel Miranda

    21:58 - Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

    24:54 - PBS Hamilton Documentary

    25:48 - Class Mom by Lori Gelman

    26:04 - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

    28:24 - Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

    29:42 - We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

    32:37 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live Podcast

    33:48 - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

    35:50 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

    37:05 - East of Eden by John Steinbeck

    38:53 - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

    39:34 - Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

    41:05 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    42:43 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

    42:45 - The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

    43:18 - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

    43:46 - 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

    44:21 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

    44:57 - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    45:46 - Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

    45:55 - Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

    46:04 - Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

    46:15 - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    46:16 - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

    46:35 - 1984 by George Orwell

    46:46 - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

    46:56 - Lord of the Flies by William Golding

    47:32 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

    47:57 - Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

    50:31 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    51:16 - The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

    51:46 - Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

    52:46 - Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

    52:48 - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Steve Hockensmith

    *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!*

    55 min
  • Episode 26: Stroooong Bookish Opinions + Classics That Go Down Easy
    we discuss our current reads. We have some very seriously large opinions about our books this week. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like for Meredith to get spicy, you’re in luck!
    Our deep dive this week centers on the Currently Reading Challenge! If you’ve been wondering about some of our favorite classics for that second category on your challenge sheet, you are in luck! We’ve got 20 titles for you for this category alone!
    55 min
  • Episode 25: When Your Books Tell You You're Wrong (But You're Listening) - A Special Interview with Beth and Sarah from Pantsuit Politics

    Meredith and Kaytee have to try to keep themselves under control this week as we have a bit of a longer deep dive segment. It's hard, listeners, to reign in the book talk, especially after a week away!

    You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each of the hosts: ditching a time-suck that was preventing reading, and a new bookish website.

    Next, we discuss our current reads. Since we had to limit ourselves, these four titles are all AMAZING. We dare you to not get excited about at least half of them, no matter what your wheelhouse is!

    Our deep dive this week includes and extra special interview with the ladies from Pantsuit Politics, Beth and Sarah. Whether you're already a fan, or these are new voices in your ears, you're guaranteed to learn something. I (Kaytee) did, and have been a raving fangirl for more than two years. It's unbelievable to me that I even got to talk to them!

    As always, we finish up with A Book (yep, capitalized) that we'd like to press into every reader's hands: a non-fiction pick from Sarah if you want to broaden your political reading, a poetic choice from Beth for sanity in turbulent times, and one from each of your regular hosts (a sweet picture book and a creepy true crime novel). That's a lot of pressed books!

    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!

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    4:00 -myTBR.co - Tailored Book Recommendations from Book Riot

    7:10 - Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

    10:24 - The Hunger by Alma Katsu

    10:46 - The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown

    13:54 - Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce

    17:48 - Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

    18:00 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend

    20:08 - The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

    20:12 - A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

    22:40 - I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening) by Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland

    45:59 - The Righteous Mind: Why People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

    47:05 - Hallelujah Anyway by Anne Lamott

    48:30 - The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

    49:00 - Pantsuit Politics Podcast and Website

    Pantsuit Politics on Twitter

    Pantsuit Politics on Instagram

    50:28 - Stellaluna by Jannell Cannon

    52:31 - The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule (set in Washington state)

    53:07 - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

    *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!*

    58 min
  • Episode 25: When Your Books Tell You You're Wrong (But You're Listening) - A Special Interview with Beth and Sarah from Pantsuit Politics
    We discuss our current reads. Since we had to limit ourselves, these four titles are all AMAZING.
    Our deep dive this week includes and extra special interview with the ladies from Pantsuit Politics, Beth and Sarah. Whether you’re already a fan, or these are new voices in your ears, you’re guaranteed to learn something. I (Kaytee) did, and have been a raving fangirl for more than two years. It’s unbelievable to me that I even got to talk to them!
    58 min
  • Episode 24: Books That Make You Run to the Library + Special Guest Co-Host Mary Heim

    While Kaytee vacations this week, Meredith holds down the podcast fort with a special guest co-host. Mary Heim is an online bookish friend of both of us (and I can freely admit that I am SO jealous she got to record with Mary and I didn't).

    You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each of the hosts: a sweet pregnancy reading moment, and bonding over husbands who read.

    Next, the ladies discuss what they are currently reading, and this week includes a thousand books that you'll want to reach for ASAP. I had a hard time restraining myself.

    In Mary's deep dive, we get to learn about her reading life. Childhood reads to the way her adult reading life developed. It's a walk down memory lane for your childhood reading memories. I can almost guarantee you'll love it.

    As always, we finish up with A Book (yep, capitalized) that we'd like to press into every reader's hands:

    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!

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    2:53 - Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

    2:49 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

    5:01 - Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

    6:55 - Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

    7:51 - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

    10:08 - Side Hustle by Chris Gillebeau

    10:20 - The $100 Start Up by Chris Gillebeau

    12:26 - Side Hustle School podcast

    12:54 - Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

    17:14 - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

    17:16 - Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia

    18:58 - The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

    19:45 - A Spanish Lover by Joanna Trollope

    23:16 - A Village Affair by Joanne Trollope

    23:33 - Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    24:16 - One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    24:21 - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    28:58 - The Family Gene by Joselin Linder

    34:34 - Harry Potter by JK Rowling

    36:23 - Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

    36:26 - The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

    36:31 - The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Hayes

    36:34 - American Girl Samantha Books by Maxine Rose Schur

    36:38 - The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne

    37:11 - Babysitter's Club series by Ann M. Martin

    37:34 - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

    37:37 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

    38:09 - Sweet Dreams Romance books by Jocelyn Saal

    38:58 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

    45:03 - 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

    48:49 - Boy's Life by Robert McKammon

    50:51 - The Body by Stephen King

    51:59 - It by Stephen King

    52:01 - Needful Things by Stephen King

    53:05 - Mary's Goodreads

    53:10 - @maryreadsandsips on Instagram

    *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!*

    55 min
  • Episode 24: Books That Make You Run to the Library + Special Guest Co-Host Mary Heim
    Special guest co-host Mary Heim joins us.
    You’ll hear a “bookish moment of the week”: a sweet pregnancy reading moment, and bonding over husbands who read.
    Next, the ladies discuss what they are currently reading, and this week includes a thousand books that you’ll want to reach for ASAP.
    In Mary’s deep dive, we get to learn about her reading life. I can guarantee you’ll love it.
    55 min
  • Episode 23: The Fun Side of Reading + What Is A Penelope?

    Meredith and Kaytee are back together this week and they are chatting books and Penelopes!

    You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each of us: a Harry Potter deep dive conversation and Little Free Library progress.

    Next, we discuss what we are currently reading, and this week includes quite a few thrillers, a book that makes Kaytee blush, and a new title from a favorite author.

    This week for our deep dive, we introduce a new section of the website for your first reading challenge category (A Book That Currently Reading Pressed Into Your Hands) and then have a conversation about a term we've mentioned in passing but never explained: Penelope. Who is this Penelope, and why do we care about her notebooks?

    As always, we finish up with A Book (yep, capitalized) that we'd like to press into every reader's hands: a book that MUST be consumed on audio and a happiness-boosting favorite.

    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!

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    3:24 - The Ultimate Harry Potter sorting test

    5:59 - Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

    9:25 - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Reyborn

    11:46 - Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels by Anne Perry (First is The Cater Street Hangman)

    12:35 - Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century by Peter Graham

    13:09 - A Ladder To The Sky by John Boyne

    13:12 - The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

    16:58 - The Child by Fiona Barton

    19:25 - The Widow by Fiona Barton

    19:50 - How to Be A Happier Parent by KJ Dell'antonia

    20:10 - Sorta Awesome episode 163: Ten Mantras for Happier Parents with KJ Dell'antonia

    21:35 - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

    23:49 - My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

    27:23 - New website of all the books we've pressed into your hands!

    29:12 - Sorta Awesome episode 85: Awesomely and Unapologetically Organized with Meredith Schwartz of Penelope Loves Lists

    38:50 - Episode 7 with Jessica Turner

    41:10 - Penelope Blue: River Blue from Benjamin Moore

    42:12 - Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

    44:23 - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

    44:30 - Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

    *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!*

    49 min
  • Episode 23: The Fun Side of Reading + What Is A Penelope?
    You’ll hear a “bookish moment of the week” from each of us: a Harry Potter deep dive conversation and Little Free Library progress.
    Current reads include quite a few thrillers, a book that makes Kaytee blush, and a new title from a favorite author.
    This week for our deep dive, we talk about the 2019 Reading Challenge and have a conversation about a term we’ve mentioned in passing but never explained: Penelope. Who is this Penelope, and why do we care about her notebooks?
    49 min
  • Episode 22: The Joy of the Re-Read + Guest Co-Host Morgan Tallman

    Meredith is on a leadership retreat this week, so Kaytee is joined by her friend Morgan Tallman to chat books this week.

    You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: busting out of a reading slump (and some tips), and a bookish resolution from a young family member.

    Next, we discuss what we are currently reading, and this week includes some fantasy, a funny thriller (is that a thing?), and a few non-fiction picks.

    This week's deep dive is a conversation with Morgan about re-reading. Since Meredith and Kaytee rarely re-read, we are chatting with someone who really loves to re-read books about what she gets from those re-reads. Morgan talks about the books she loves re-reading as well as the frequency of her re-reads.

    As always, we finish up with A Book (yep, capitalized) that we'd like to press into every reader's hands: a book to add depth to your Harry Potter love, and a sweeping historical novel with trigger warnings.

    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!

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    3:04 - Endling: The Last by Katherine Applegate

    3:09 - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

    3:49 - Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

    3:58 - Uprooted by Naomi Novik

    6:48 - My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

    9:13 - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

    10:12 - Stardust by Neil Gaiman

    10:13 - The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

    10:29 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

    10:31 - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

    11:24 - The Eternal Current by Aaron Niequist

    13:44 - Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

    15:02 - By the Book Podcast

    16:32 - Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

    17:33 - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    20:43 - Harry Potter Series

    22:26 - Morgan counted up last year's re-reads for me and found that she had had 55 re-reads of the 232 books she read in 2018 (including 3 re-reads of the Harry Potter series).

    23:38 - Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

    23:44 - Books by Brene Brown

    23:51 - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

    24:26 - This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

    24:32 - Louise Penny Inspector Gamache Series

    28:43 - Snape: A Definitive Reading by Lorrie Kim

    34:48 - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

    34:59 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

    *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!*

    40 min
  • Episode 22: The Joy of the Re-Read + Guest Co-Host Morgan Tallman
    Kaytee is joined by her friend Morgan Tallman to chat books this week.
    You’ll hear a “bookish moment of the week” from each host.
    Next, we discuss what we are currently reading, and this week includes some fantasy, a funny thriller (is that a thing?), and a few non-fiction picks.
    This week’s deep dive is a conversation with Morgan about re-reading. Morgan talks about the books she loves re-reading as well as the frequency of her re-reads.
    40 min

About The Currently Reading Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Currently Reading is a weekly book podcast for people who want honest book recommendations and a smarter way to choose their next read. Every Monday, hosts Meredith and Kaytee talk through the books they are currently reading and share spoiler-free book reviews across every genre.

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