What Should I Read Next?

In today's milestone 200th episode, Anne and her producer Brenna catch up with the guests of 8 fan-favorite episodes to see what recommendations were hits, which flopped, and what changed in their reading lives after the show. Some guests approached their bookshelves with fresh eyes, some overcame their genre fears, and some realized that stepping out of their comfort zone just wasn’t what they were interested in — and finally felt at peace with the decision.

Thanks for 200 fantastic episodes, we couldn't have done it without you, our wonderful listeners.

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books and episodes mentioned in today's episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/200

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The WSIRN intro sounds straightforward enough - Anne chats with a reader about books they love, books they hate, and books they could pick up next. Simple. But long-time listeners know this show was originally supposed to be a tight 20 minutes… and today, each episode is easily twice that long. It turns out, a person’s reading taste reveals a lot about who they are as individuals, and digging into those discussions is worth much more to the WSIRN team than hitting a timestamp.

Today’s guest is no stranger to seemingly-mundane belongings that hold deep meaning - Tara Anderson hosts the NPR show 5 Things, where she gets to know people by discussing five items that matter to them. A guest's treasured items might be books, but they might also be a houseplant, a special coat, heirloom knitting needles, even something as practical as a rice cooker. There are no home appliances in this episode, but Anne is investigating what Tara’s 3 favorite titles say about what she wants out of life, and what new books will take her there. 

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/199

Follow Tara on Instagram and Twitter, and make sure to go check out her newest project at musicboxpod.org 

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Ever since Anne visited today’s guest, Annie F. Downs, on her podcast That Sounds Fun a little while ago to talk about Summer Reading, she's been wanting to talk all things books and reading with Annie on What Should I Read Next. It's finally happening - and the conversation is going unexpected places.

Anne and Annie are chatting about the author who made Annie a better storyteller, her surprising love for reading what she calls “Dead Men’s writing”, totally fangirling about all the literary good Dolly Parton has done in the world, and Anne recommend a few books she didn’t expect to recommend when the conversation started...

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/198

Learn more about Annie:

Website: www.anniefdowns.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/anniefdowns

Twitter: twitter.com/anniefdowns

Instagram: www.instagram.com/anniefdowns

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Today’s guest, Amelia Mattingly, went through a gut-wrenching experience that ripped her book collection away from her – shelves and all – along with countless other precious signifiers of home. As a result of this experience, the books she craves are different now, and every book purchase feels weighty.

Anne is connecting Amelia with three books that will hopefully take some of that heaviness off her shoulders and let her choose a different world to escape into, just for a few hours. 

CONTENT WARNING: Amelia tells her story of surviving an enormous natural disaster in heartbreaking detail, and it might be too much for anxious or sensitive listeners. If you need to skip the detailed descriptions, our book discussion starts about 20 minutes in, and mentions of the traumatic events are less detailed after that point. 

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/197

You can find information about the Paradise, CA mobile clinic, MedSpire, at http://www.medspire.org, and contribute a tax-deductible donation at http://www.medspire.org/donate

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Today you’ll get to know Anudeep Reddy, a reader who grew up in a competitive school environment where engaging books were in short supply, so he had to get creative with his reading from a young age. He’s an imaginative reader who appreciates the escapist quality of a good novel, but has struggled lately to find books that call out for him to live between their pages. 

Fantastic escapist reading can be found in any genre, so today Anne recommends three books to Anudeep that you’d find on completely different bookstore shelves. They're also exploring books that combine adventure and philosophy stories, streamlining reading decisions, and what it’s like to date a librarian.

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/196

Catch up on all of the episodes in Volume II of One Great Book, Anne's short-form podcast where she recommends just one great book in 10 minutes or less.

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Today’s guest Mary Laura Philpott is an essayist, bookseller, and a big fan of memoirs of people living “everyday lives”. She certainly has experience with an interesting “everyday life” as a Book Enthusiast at Large—yes, that is her job title—for Parnassus Books in Nashville.

Anne and Mary Laura chat about the reading and writing life, working through her readerly guilt of hating beloved childhood classics, and the delight of a book flight (or as Mary Laura would say, "reading symphonies").

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/195

Connect with Mary Laura: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Catch up on all of the episodes in Volume II of OGB my short-form podcast where we explore just one great book in 10 minutes or less.

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For Nicole Mattke, a clear and driving plot isn’t the most important thing. She loves beautiful, introspective writing that makes her think about everyday emotions. She also spent a year roaming a hotel, doing a job that sounds like it belongs in the pages of a novel. Today Nicole shares some of the stories she heard during her time there, and the literary community-building project she started and has continued to this day.

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/194

Follow Nicole and her sister's reading lives on Instagram @bibliosisters.

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Keren Form is a self-professed mega nerd who loves everything from LOTR, and board games, and epic science fiction. Today, Keren and Anne chat about what it really means to be a nerd, and how her wholehearted enthusiasm has sent her on many life-enriching adventures. If you hear “science fiction” or “fantasy” and think “nope, not for me,” you might still find something to love in this episode — Anne's recommendations could just as easily be recommendations of a history lover, or a crime drama fanatic, or a romance-loving YA fan. 

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/193

You can follow Keren’s travels and gaming enthusiasm on Instagram.

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Rita and Xoe Amer are a mother-daughter duo who have bonded over books since Xoe was young. She’s all grown up now, but the shared love of reading remains. Today Anne, Rita & Xoe discuss their reading and writing roots, hidden literary gems from the past, and the great conversations that come from bad books.  

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/192

You can check out Rita and Xoe's mother-daughter podcast, Foibles, at foibles.podbean.com or by searching "Foibles" on your favorite podcast app.

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Have you ever finished a GREAT book, then realized it left behind a hole no other book will ever be able to fill?

Today’s guest is Andy Serrato, a reader who fell into the arms of a mega-popular series with a welcoming fandom and enough pages to smother yourself in… and ever since, she’s struggled to break her obsession and pick up new books in different genres.

Anne's doing her best to get to the core of what delights Andy about this series, and open a portal to other reading worlds that will be just as satisfying in new and exciting ways. 

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/191

You can find Andy on Instagram @Andyserratom.

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