The To Read List Podcast

THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

SPEECH TEAM by Tim Murphy

Prepare your position papers and make sure you have your humorous interpretation memorized, because this week, Bailey dives into SPEECH TEAM by Tim Murphy! High School competition not really your style? That's okay, Andrew has plenty of thoughts about Madeline Miller's bestselling novel, THE SONG OF ACHILLES to tide you over. There's also a host of obscure Greek Gods, a breakdown of Andrew's caterpillar situation, and Bailey shames her former teachers!

THE LATHE OF HEAVEN by URSULA K LE GUIN /

THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by CLAIRE LOMBARDO

Dream a little dream of us, Page-O's! In this episode, Toby gives an 'effective' review of Ursula K Le Guin's THE LATHE OF HEAVEN plus an explanation of what exactly a lathe is. Then Bailey has a rip-roaring good time reviewing Claire Lombardo's THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD. All this AND a terrifying tale of plants gone mad await your ear-holes!

THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE by Erik Larson /

BEACH READ by Emily Henry

In this episode, we get to talk about two of our favorite authors--Emily "The Love Book" Henry and Erik "The Larsman" Larson. Will we be able to stop ourselves from reading every book they've ever written? Will we ever stop talking about Winston Churchill's bathtime? Will our college crush return our texts? Tune in to find out!

PALE BLUE DOT by Carl Sagan /

THE GIFT OF FEAR by Gavin de Becker

Toby makes his triumphant return to the podcast only to reveal his greatest shame yet! While "reviewing" PALE BLUE DOT, he makes us question how much we all care about space. Next, Bailey dives into THE GIFT OF FEAR, a thrilling self-help book that demonstrates why you should listen to your gut feelings (and be friends with Meryl Streep). Finally, we re-name the planets with the help of Gen Z. Enjoy!

THE UNWOMANLY FACE OF WAR by Svetlana Alexievich /

UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN by John Krakauer

The choosening really brought some heavy hitters to the book nook this time--these tomes pack a punch! First Andrew learns about the women of the Soviet Army during World War II in Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich's THE UNWOMANLY FACE OF WAR, a harrowing oral history. Then Bailey dives into John Krakauer's part true crime, part history UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN. There's plenty more in this episode, including a very intense job interview, some truly wild facts, and GAK!

THE LIAR'S CLUB by MARY KARR /

SURVIVOR by CHUCK PAHLANIUK

Tell the truth, Page-Os, you're excited for this one! In this episode, Toby reads Mary Karr's THE LIAR'S CLUB, a memoir so powerful that it is rumored to have revitalized the genre as a whole in the 1990s, and Bailey has her first Chuck Pahlaniuk experience (what!? I know, right?) with SURVIVOR, his slightly lesser-known but possibly-just-as-good-or-BETTER follow up to FIGHT CLUB. Plus, we get some advice about visiting Istanbul from Andrew, hear about Toby's shame, and play a game where we say, "UM, ACTUALLY…" quite a lot!

THE CITY OF BRASS by S.A. Chakraborty /

THE MITFORDS edited by Charlotte Mosley

Today's the day that Bailey finally reviews THE MITFORDS, the 800-page epistolary non-fiction that's been glaring at her from the shelf for over a decade. Plus, Andrew dives into a new fantasy series with THE CITY OF BRASS and gets a song stuck in our heads in the process. Don't miss a game that reveals our limited Broadway knowledge, an admission of delayed shame, and a series of wild speculations about the making of the Mitfords. Enjoy!

SORROWLAND by Rivers Solomon

THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD by Jade Chang

Bailey and Dillon are back, baby! Now that the crew has re-assembled, Toby can introduce us to a new friend in Rivers Solomon, and Bailey can finally review the Jade Chang book she read two months ago. Plus, Dillon shares his latest reads, Andrew witnesses an unexpected fight, and we all leave Toby by the side of the road. Enjoy!

BABEL by R.F. Kuang

BIRNAM WOOD by Eleanor Catton

This week the boys are joined by none other than composer extraordinaire (and Andrew's wife) Gillian Beth Durkee to discuss books, life, and New Zealand! First, Toby gives his verdict on BookTok sensation BABEL by R.F. Kuang. Then it's a group discussion of Eleanor Catton's eco-thriller BIRNAM WOOD off of resident bad boy Andrew's list. There are plenty of laughs, tears, and a game that tests the international cred of Toby and Gillian - it's a rollicking good time!

STAY TRUE by Hua Hsu

IN THE MISO SOUP by Ryu Murakami

Lads episode! Andrew and Toby take the wheel this week and it is as ROWDY and CHAOTIC as you would expect a book review podcast recorded by two men in their 30s to be! So, pretty normal and chilled out! Andrew reviews Hua Hsu's Pulitzer-Prize-winning memoir Stay True and flirts with a band that threatens to dominate his aesthetic and Toby, seemingly influenced by Ryu Murakami's sex-thriller In the Miso Soup, can't stop saying things like 'School is a seductive place.' Plus, the boys discuss their holiday shame, share their Goodreads goals of the past year and the year to come, and play a game with REAL FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.