What Should I Read Next?

Why is it SO HARD to describe a book you REALLY LOVE? Anne tries to figure it out with today's guest Cori Jara, a case worker in Eureka CA. Cori is a lifelong reader who loved the written word so much she became a creative writing major. But after college books lost their luster for Cori for a while—reading felt too much like work. So several years ago, she started keeping a detailed spreadsheet about what she was choosing to read. That spreadsheet led to an epiphany: she diagnosed why her reading life had gotten dull, and what she could do about it.

In this episode Anne and Cori talk the prosaic, like what it’s like to move to a town with a smaller library, and the unforgettable—like a book that makes you want to skip dinner, bedtime, and the rest of your life until you finish it.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Cori should read next!

Connect with Cori on Instagram

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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WARNING: today's episode might make you long for a warm sandy beach, a cozy cabin, or a French villa... wherever your heart longs to vacation, that's where you'll want to be. That's right, Anne is talking SUMMER READING today with the help of WSIRN insider Melissa Klassen! Melissa makes magic happen behind the scenes for WSIRN and the Modern Mrs Darcy blog, so you'll get a little peek behind the curtain. 

In this episode, Anne and Melissa discuss Summer’s big releases, the backlist titles they'll be bringing with them to the pool, their favorite Summer reading memories, and at the end there's a Summer Reading Lightning Round that you won't want to miss. We're also giving you a peek behind the scenes of the SIXTH annual Modern Mrs Darcy summer reading guide! Keep your eyes peeled for the guide's release on May 17th.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know about your Summer reading plans!

Connect with Anne:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram   

Feels like May 17th is just too far away? Tide yourself over with some throwback reading guides from the past 3 years of Modern Mrs. Darcy: 

2016 | 2015 | 2014 

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Today's conversation won't go the direction you're expecting - and we think you're going to love it for just that reason. The guest is Kathleen Grissom, author of the hugely bestselling books The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything. Kathy (she said we could call her Kathy) is a reading discussion pro: she has talked to more than ONE THOUSAND book clubs since The Kitchen House was published!

Today, she and Anne chat about hardcovers versus paperbacks, "reading books like popcorn", historical fiction with a touch of redemption, take a deep dive into Kathy's fascinating intuitive writing process, and of course Anne puts on her matchmaking hat and recommends what Kathy should read next. 

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Kathleen should read next!

Connect with Kathleen Grissom: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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If YOU have ever dreamed of opening your own bookstore, you’re about to learn exactly how another reader is making that dream come true. Meet Alison Frenzel, a reader from Waco Texas who is in the process of bringing her bookish business idea into the real world! 

Alison and Anne discuss their nostalgic reading habits, what books and chocolate cake have in common, and the extroverted reader's perspective. And when it's time to talk bookshop, Alison has some solid business advice for Anne's favorite fictional bookshop owner, Kathleen Kelly.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Alison should read next!

Follow Alison's future-bookshop, Fabled: Website | Instagram 

Check out Readerly: Shop | Instagram 

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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WSIRN just hosted our first LIVE event at the fabulous bookstore The Novel Neighbor in St Louis. (Many thanks to shop owner Holland Saltsman for having us!). Anne surprised three readers from the audiences with their very own book-matchmaking session! If you weren't able to make it, today's episode will hopefully make you feel just a little bit like you were sitting in the bookshop with Anne, having a group book-therapy session. 

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know where you'd like our next liveshow to be!

Connect with The Novel Neighbor: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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Today's guest is Dave Harrity, a writer, college professor, and real-life friend of Anne's in Louisville. But there's something else you should know about David, and you have to promise not to click away when we tell you....

It’s National Poetry Month, and Dave is a published poet. We know a lot of readers think they’re just not intopoetry... and after this episode if you’re still not convinced, that’s fine! But Anne and Dave's discussion is totally accessible for non-poetry-lovers.

Today, Anne and Dave discuss how to read without "consuming", why poetry is just as valuable to readers as it is to writers, and Dave's origin story not just as a reader but as a budding poet in high school. So place a little faith in Anne, a little faith in Dave, give this episode a listen... and chime in the comments section with your own poetry experience (good or bad)!

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of books, poets, and poems discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Dave should read next!

You can connect with Dave on his website (be sure to check out his books) and on Instagram.

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram 

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Today's guest hails from Austin, TX, and enjoys the simple things in life: wine, books, chips & salsa. As host of The Happy Hour podcast, it might be fair to say Jamie Ivey is a happiness "professional."

Most of our guests come with anecdotes about childhoods reading under the covers or sneaking books to the dinner table, but today Jamie gives her perspective as a NON-lifetime reader! Anne and Jamie also chat about the 5 different ways you can feel about a book, relationship-centric stories, and good news if you're looking to squeeze more reading time into the day — they share our favorite techniques for reading in the bathtub. ;) 

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Jamie should read next!

Connect with Jamie:

Blog | Podcast | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Connect with Anne:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram 

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Have you ever been at a bus stop, on a train, or in a waiting room, and casually craned your neck trying to peek the title of a stranger's book? Going a step further - have you ever straight-up ASKED a stranger about the book they're reading? For most of us, that sounds intimidating. For today's guest, Uli Beutter Cohen, it sounded like a fascinating years-long project. Uli is the creator behind Subway Book Review on Instagram, a project dedicated to sharing book reviews from strangers on the train, accompanied by gorgeous black and white photos.

In today's episode, Anne gets a deeper look who Uli is as a reader, creator, and New Yorker, and recommends 3 books she thinks Uli should pick up next. 

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of books and articles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Uli should read next!

Connect with Uli: Website | Subway Book Review | Eye Level Magazine

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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Happy Tuesday, readers! Meet Madeleine Riley, a 24-year-old special education teacher in New England who runs a colorful bookstagram account, Top Shelf Text, where she celebrates the most beautiful titles she's been reading lately.

Today, Anne delves into who Madeleine is as an INFJ "regular reader" who just needs some alone time with a book to unwind. Topics include the struggle to find bookish friends IRL, judging books by their covers, discovering the next mystery comfort-read, and their embarrassing bookworm confessions.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Madeleine should read next!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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Today’s guest is an early member of the WSIRN family. If you were a listener back at the veeeery beginning of our show, you have Knox to thank for getting the first 11 episodes into your ears as our behind-the-scenes producer! You may ALSO know him as the cohost of The POPcast with Knox and Jamie, a weekly dose of pop culture mayhem.

In this episode Knox and Anne discuss star-studded audiobooks, how much nostalgia a book can take before it's overkill, and more... while Anne tries to stay cool about her fear of getting RED lighted on a future episode of the POPcast. If you don’t have a clue what we're talking about, you'll just have to hit that PLAY button. ;) 

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Knox should read next!

Connect with Knox: Website | Twitter | Instagram 

Check out The POPcast: iTunes | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

 Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

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