Well-Read

By Ann Cox and Halle Eisenman

As librarians, books are kind of our thing. Listen in as we talk about what we're reading, make book recommendations, and all sorts of book-related fun.... more

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FAQs about Well-Read:

How many episodes does Well-Read have?

The podcast currently has 164 episodes available.

Well-Read episodes:

March 10, 2017Well-Read Episode #45 - The Return of Out of Our Comfort Zones
We’ve revisited one of our favorite past episodes with some new “out of our comfort zone” titles. As always, we’ll close with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Episode 18 – Out of Our Comfort Zones
Sarah MacLean books
Eloisa James books
Love By Numbers series by Sarah MacLean
Ann’s picks:
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
– Dorothea Benton Frank books
– Debbie Macomber books
– We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Wool by Hugh Howey
– The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
– Divergent by Veronica Roth
– Silo series by Hugh Howey
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
– Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
– Jennifer Crusie books
Halle’s picks:
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
– Dava Sobel books
– The Illustrated Longitude by Dava Sobel
– The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis
– Nina Borg series by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis
– Hoopla (available via Beaufort County Library)
View with a Grain of Sand: Selected Poems by Wislawa Szymborska
– Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge group on Goodreads
– Pablo Neruda books
– Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
– The Rain in Portugal: Poems by Billy Collins
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
– Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
– Episode 23 – Award Winners
– National Book Award
– Jacqueline Woodson books
Halle: Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
– Beverly Jenkins books
– Old West series by Beverly Jenkins
– Book Riot’s Reading Lives episode with Beverly Jenkins
...more
54min
February 24, 2017Well-Read Episode #44 - Spring 2017 Book Preview
Despite some sound quality issues (sorry!), we’re back from our hiatus and ready to tell you what you’ll be reading this spring! As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Ann’s picks:
White Tears by Hari Kunzru (releases March 14, 2017)
The Gargoyle Hunters by John Freeman Gill (releases March 21, 2017)
American War by Omar El Akkad (releases April 4, 2017)
The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova (releases April 11, 2017)
– The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
– Episode 8 – Back to School
– The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
If We Were Villains by M.L.Rio (releases April 11, 2017)
– The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown (releases April 25, 2017)
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (releases May 9, 2017)
York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby (releases May 16, 2017)
– Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
– York series by Laura Ruby
– The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Halle’s picks:
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (releases March 7, 2017)
– Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul (releases March 7, 2017)
– Lindy West books
– Roxane Gay books
– Jenny Lawson books
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (releases March 7, 2017)
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck (releases March 28, 2017)
– The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
– Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
– The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn (releases May 2, 2017)
– Jane Austen books
– Lost in Austen (TV)
Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan (releases May 9, 2017)
– Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
– Commencements by J. Courtney Sullivan
– The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner (releases May 16, 2017)
– The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
– Episode 4 – Young Adult Books for Adults
– George R.R. Martin books
– A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: I See You by Clare Mackintosh
– Tana French books
– I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Halle: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (releases April 11, 2017)
...more
39min
January 13, 2017 Hiatus
Due to some unexpected events, the Well-Read podcast is going to be taking a brief hiatus. We will be back soon with more book recommendations for you!
...more
1min
January 06, 2017Well-Read Episode #43 - 2017 Reading Resolutions
The year has flown by! It’s time to revisit our reading resolutions of 2016, and make some new plans for the coming year. And we’ll close with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Episode 17 – 2016 Reading Resolutions
Goodreads Reading Challenge
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Pop Sugar Reading Challenge
Sarah MacLean books
Celeste Ng books
Daniel José Older books
Around the Year in 52 Books
Modern Mrs. Darcy
What Should I Read Next (podcast)
Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge
Litsy
#LitsyAtoZ Challenge
Eurovision
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Neopolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante
“The Subtle Genius of Elena Ferrante’s Bad Book Covers” (The Atlantic article by Emily Harnett
“Elena Ferrante: An Answer?” (The New York Review of Books article by Claudio Gatti)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace (TV)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French
In the Woods by Tana French
Three Pines (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache) series by Louise Penny
Still Life by Louise Penny
The Magicians series by Lev Grossman
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
“Damn, You’re Not Reading Any Books by White Men This Year? That’s So Freakin Brave and Cool” (Jezebel article by Jia Tolentino)
Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
– The Guardian
– Jessica Valenti books
– The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Halle: Leave Me by Gayle Forman
– Gayle Forman books
...more
44min
December 23, 2016Well-Read Episode #42 - Favorite Books of 2016
It’s time for our year-end favorites list! Find out what books we enjoyed the most this year. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.

Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Episode 16 – Favorite Reads of 2015
Goodreads
Ann’s Favorites of 2016:
In the Woods by Tana French
– Episode 29 – Tackling Our TBRs
– Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
– We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
People Who Knew Me by Kim Hooper
– Episode 31 – Books about the Lowcountry
Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
– Episode 37 – What to Read Next
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
– Episode 38 – Horror for the Brave and the Scaredy Cats
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
– Episode 41 – Holiday Book Buying Guide
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
– Episode 23 – Award Winners
A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn
– Detective Emmanuel Cooper series by Malla Nunn
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
– Still Life by Louise Penny
– Episode 18 – Out of Our Comfort Zones
– Sarah MacLean books
Halle’s Favorites of 2016:
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
– Episode 17 – Reading Resolutions for 2016
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
– Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
– The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
– Curtis Sittenfeld books
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
– Episode 29 – Tackling Our TBRs
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
– Taylor Jenkins Reid books
– Jojo Moyes books
– Liane Moriarty books
The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes
Anything For You by Kristan Higgins
– Blue Heron series by Kristan Higgins
– On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins (releases January 31, 2017)
March: Book One by John Lewis
– March series by John Lewis
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
In the Country by Mia Alvar
– Episode 26 – Short Stories
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodie Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
– The Princess Bride (film)
– As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer
– Rumpole of the Bailey (TV)
Halle: The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
– John Green books
...more
1h 6min
December 09, 2016 Well-Read Episode #41 - Holiday Buying Guide 2016
The holidays are here! Let Ann and Halle help you pick the perfect book for everyone in your life. We’ll end with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Books for your mom:Ann: Mrs. Whaley and Her Charleston Garden by Emily WhaleyHalle: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton– Kate Morton books
Books for your dad:Ann: I’m a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away by Bill Bryson– Bill Bryson booksHalle: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes– I Am Pilgrim (film in development)
Books for teens:Ann: The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor– Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll– The Looking Glass Wars series by Frank BeddorHalle: March Books 1-3 by John Lewis– National Book Award– John Lewis acceptance speech for National Book Award
Books for kids:Ann: The Book with No Pictures by B.J. NovakHalle: El Deafo by Cece Bell– Episode 39 – Retellings
Books for non-readers (who you think should become readers):Ann: Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth HaynesHalle: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson– Episode 2 – What to Read After The Girl on the Train– Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Books for a significant female in your life:Ann: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling– Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling– The Mindy Project (TV)– The Office (TV)Halle: Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed– Episode 28 – Our All-Time Favorites– The Rumpus (website)
Books for a significant male in your life:Ann: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane– Shutter Island (film)Halle: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Books for your Harry Potter-obsessed friend:Ann: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke– Harry Potter series by J.K. RowlingHalle: Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Books for your friend who loves books:Ann: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde– Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë– Thursday Next series by Jasper FfordeHalle: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan– Episode 30 – Books about Libraries and Librarians
Books for animal lovers:Ann: Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt– Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt– Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John GroganHalle: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein– Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn– Does the Dog Die (website)
Books for outdoorsy people:Ann: Hatchet by Gary PaulsenHalle: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Books for food lovers:Ann: A Tale of 12 Kitchens: Family Cooking in Four Countries by Jake TilsonHalle: A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg– Orangette (blog)
Books for sports fans:Ann: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander– Kwame Alexander books– Kwame Alexander reading from The Crossover– Newbery MedalHalle: Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger– Friday Night Lights (TV)– Friday Night Lights (film)
Books for gossip magazine fans:Ann: The Heiresses by Sara Shepard– Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard– Pretty Little Liars (TV)Halle: A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean– Scandal & Scoundrel series by Sarah MacLean
Swiss Army Knife book (good for anyone):– Book Riot (website)Ann: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown– Audie Awards– Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Lauren HillenbrandHalle: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman– Fredrik Backman books
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: Across the Universe by Beth Revis– Pop Sugar 2016 Reading Challenge– Across the Universe series by Beth Revis
Halle: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner– In Death series by J.D. Robb– Titanic (film)– The Martian by Andy Weir– Lost (TV)– Starbound series by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
...more
49min
November 25, 2016 Well-Read Episode #40 - Winter 2016-17 Book Preview
Pull out a cozy blanket - it's time to find out what you'll be reading this winter! As always, Ann and Halle end with what they're reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Ann's picks:
Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine by Sarah Lohman (releases December 6, 2016)
The Dry by Jane Harper (releases January 10, 2017)
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (releases January 10, 2017)
Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran (releases January 10, 2017)
Hey Harry Hey Matilda by Rachel Hulin (releases January 17, 2017)
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough (releases January 31, 2017)- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai (releases February 7, 2017)- The Jetsons (TV)- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch- Ernest Cline books
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (releases February 7, 2017)- Coraline by Neil Gaiman- Stardust by Neil Gaiman- Stardust (film)- The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Halle's picks:
Books for Living by Will Schwalbe (releases December 27, 2016)- The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel (releases December 27, 2016)
Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia (releases January 3, 2017)
The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen (releases February 7, 2017)- The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen- The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction- Episode 26 - Short Stories- In the Country by Mia Alvar
Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson (releases January 10, 2017)- The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson- Episode 2 - What to Read After The Girl on the Train - Rear Window (film)
The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker (releases January 31, 2017)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (releases February 28, 2017)
The Fortunate Ones by Ellen Umansky (releases February 14, 2017)
What We're Reading This Week:
Ann: The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney (releases January 24, 2017)- "The Gone Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the Train" (FiveThirtyEight article by Emily St. John Mandel)- The Girl Before (film)
Halle: Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed- Serial: Season 1 (podcast)
...more
39min
November 11, 2016 Well-Read Episode #39 - Retellings
Ann and Halle discuss one of their favorite things to read: retellings of classic literature. They'll end with what they're reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Eligible by Curtis SittenfeldPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Ann's picks:
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & the Beast by Robin McKinley- Beauty and the Beast
Jane by April Lindner- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë- Jane Austen books- William Shakespeare's complete works- Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye- Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
March by Geraldine Brooks- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- Ralph Waldo Emerson books- Henry David Thoreau books- Little Women (film)- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction- Geraldine Brooks books
Halle's picks:
Longbourn by Jo Baker- Downton Abbey (TV)
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James- Fairy Tales series by Eloisa James- House M.D. (TV)
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley- King Lear by William Shakespeare- National Book Critics Circle Award- The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh- The Arabian Nights- Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler- The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare- The Taming of the Shrew (film)
What We're Reading This Week:
Ann: By Gaslight by Steven Price- Episode 32 - Fall 2016 Book Preview- By Gaslight on Goodreads- Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle- The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton- East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Halle: El Deafo by Cece Bell- Episode 34 - Childhood Favorites- Newbery Medal- Wonder by R.J. Palacio- Episode 5 - Books That Make You Cry
...more
45min
October 28, 2016 Well-Read Episode #38 - Horror Novels for the Brave and the Scaredy Cats
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
A Nightmare on Elm Street series (film)
Ann’s picks:The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle
- Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
- Misery by Stephen King
- RA for All: Horror - Becky on the Five Things to Know in Horror
- Victor LaValle interview on NPR's Fresh Air
- Victor LaValle booksWytches Vol. 1 written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by JockA Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
- The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
- The Exorcist (film)
- Paranormal Activity series (film)
-We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
- Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul TremblayHalle’s picks:Coraline by Neil Gaiman
- Neil Gaiman books
- Coraline (film)The Fireman by Joe Hill
- 11/22/63 by Stephen King
- Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
- This is Spinal Tap (film)
- Star Trek: Voyager (TV)
- Orange is the New Black (TV)
- One Life to Live (TV)The Turn of the Screw by Henry JamesWhat We’re Reading This Week:Ann: East by Edith Pattou
- East of the Sun and West of the Moon on Sur la Lune Fairy Tales
- Cupid and Psyche on Sur la Lune Fairy Tales
- Beauty and the Beast on Sur la Lune Fairy TalesHalle: The Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
- The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
- The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh
- Episode 37 - What to Read Next
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- The Notorious R.B.G. tumblr
...more
46min
October 14, 2016 Well-Read Episode #37 - What to Read Next
This week, Ann and Halle discuss how they choose what to read next and close with what they're reading this week.
...more
45min

FAQs about Well-Read:

How many episodes does Well-Read have?

The podcast currently has 164 episodes available.

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