The To Read List Podcast
168 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 86 ratingsMost people have books on their shelves they’ve been meaning to read. Bailey has 125. With this podcast, she and her friends set out to finish their ever-growing To Read Lists.
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Episodes
The Unwomanly Banner of Heaven
April 10, 2024 05:37 - 45 minutes - 61.8 MBTHE 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 th...
The Liars' Survivor
March 27, 2024 04:30 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MBTHE 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 ...
City of Mitfords
March 13, 2024 04:30 - 57 minutes - 78.4 MBTHE 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 ...
Sorrowland vs. the World
February 28, 2024 05:31 - 39 minutes - 53.8 MBSORROWLAND 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 Wood w/ Gillian Beth Durkee
February 14, 2024 05:30 - 57 minutes - 79.2 MBBABEL 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...
Stay Soup
January 31, 2024 05:30 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBSTAY 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 thin...
Hiatus Deflatus!
January 24, 2024 05:30 - 52 seconds - 1.19 MBCall your headphone mechanic and your earbuds back from the shop, Page-O's, because HIATUS IS CANCELLED. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode - have a listen for the full details!
Hiatus Announcement - Stay Tuned!
January 10, 2024 05:30 - 43 seconds - 1000 KBHi loyal Page-os! This is a quick announcement to explain the lack of new episode this week: we're taking a brief hiatus to regroup. We'll be back before you can say "shame." Stay tuned!
Sour and Punishment
December 13, 2023 05:37 - 46 minutes - 64.1 MBCRIME AND PUNISHMENT by Fyodor Dostoevsky / SOUR HEART by Jenny Zhang Sacre bleu! This week, Andrew digs into his first Dostoevsky—CRIME AND PUNISHMENT— while in Parisian quarantine. Plus, Bailey reviews SOUR HEART, a surprisingly lewd collection of short stories à clef. And of course, we learn how to feel shame in multiple languages. Raskolnikov!
The Left-Handed Booksellers of Westing with Ella Gale
November 29, 2023 05:30 - 56 minutes - 78.1 MBTHE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON by Garth Nix / THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin Would you like to play a game? In this very special episode of The To Read List, comedian and podcast creator Ella Gale joins us to discuss the classic middle grade mystery THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin. We riff on overly complicated inheritance schemes, methods of passive research, and the dark habits of ravens. Plus, Toby reviews a book suggested by a listener-- THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LOND...
Cry, The Beloved Hypothesis
November 15, 2023 05:30 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MBCRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY by Alan Paton / THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood In this very NOT spooky episode, we have a classic pairing of novels. They go together as well as peanut butter and jelly! First, Andrew reviews Alan Paton's 1948 classic, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY and finds it a bit... surprising. Then Bailey delves into the world of STEM with Ali Hazelwood's buzzy romance, THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS. There are plenty of laughs, cries, and more shipping than a port town in the 1800s!
Trust Chincoteague
November 01, 2023 04:30 - 48 minutes - 66.6 MBMISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE by Marguerite Henry / TRUST by Hernan Diaz Don’t make a sound, Page-O’s! Bailey’s on the warpath after she reads MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE by Marguerite Henry, and she totally takes it out on the boys. Meanwhile, Toby tries his best to encapsulate the many levels of the .5 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel TRUST by Hernan Diaz. All this plus striking out on spooky books, Toby’s opinion on the best Stephen King ending of all time, and Andrew’s reasons behind why he’s reading ...
Tufflektra
October 18, 2023 04:32 - 52 minutes - 71.5 MBTUFF by Paul Beatty / ELEKTRA by Jennifer Saint This week, Andrew attempts to summarize Paul Beatty's poetic style and finds it... TUFF. (You're welcome.) Then, with ELEKTRA, Bailey comes to the tragic conclusion that she doesn't know as much as she thinks she does about Greek Mythology. Finally, we celebrate the masterful career of the one and only Rufus Sewell. (You're welcome.)
Bonfire of the Force
October 04, 2023 04:30 - 51 minutes - 70.8 MBDRIVING FORCE by Dick Francis / THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES by Tom Wolfe And we're off! This week, Toby reviews DRIVING FORCE by Dick Francis, a certified dad book set in the glamorous world of horse transport. Then Bailey finally discovers what THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES is about (fire is surpisingly not involved) and finally gets what everyone likes about Tom Wolfe. Plus, we break Andrew down with the power of film trivia. Neigh!
I Have Some Questions for Siddhartha
September 20, 2023 04:30 - 52 minutes - 71.7 MBI HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai SIDDHARTHA by Herman Hesse Take a journey with us on this week's episode as our hosts dive into Herman Hesse's class, SIDDHARTHA, and I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, your friend and my - Rebecca Makkai's - new novel. We'll laugh, we'll cry, we'll grow, and one of us will get absolutely schooled in this week's game. There's also more shame than ever before - it's a rip-roaring good time!
The Falconer Man
September 06, 2023 04:30 - 50 minutes - 70 MBFALCONER by JOHN CHEEVER THE WHISPER MAN by ALEX NORTH Caw-CAW, Page-O’s! Join us this week as Toby gets incarcerated by John Cheever’s prison novel FALCONER (sadly not about a man who trains falcons) and Bailey gets A24’d by Alex North’s THE WHISPER MAN. We also discuss just how fast of a reader Bailey is, unmask Alex North (probably) against his wishes, and uncover a disturbing revelation as to the true age of Gillian’s cousin. Doesn’t that sound exciting as all get-out?
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Rodham
August 23, 2023 04:31 - 52 minutes - 71.8 MBA PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN by James Joyce / RODHAM by Curtis Sittenfeld The books we read for this episode spark provocative questions, like: "What would happen if Hillary never married Bill?" (RODHAM) and "Does James Joyce really think we can't tell he's writing about himself?" (A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN). Plus, Andrew taunts us with his vacation plans, we discuss if "boogers" is a curse word, and we discover that we know way more than we thought about First L...
Boy, Snow, Apes
August 09, 2023 04:30 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBPLANET OF THE APES by Pierre Boulle / BOY, SNOW, BIRD by Helen Oyeyemi If you've ever wanted to live inside a Grimm fairy tale and/or a Charlton Heston movie, this episode is for you! Toby takes us into outer space with his review of MONKEY PLANET--oops! strike that--PLANET OF THE APES by Pierre Boulle. Then Bailey gets far too hung up on how BOY, SNOW, BIRD by Helen Oyeyemi connects to the Snow White fairy tale. Plus, we learn about the majesty of Eastern Europe, rescue Dillon from spac...
This Is How You Lose the Time Prophet
July 26, 2023 04:30 - 48 minutes - 66.4 MBTHIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone / THE PROPHET by Khalil Gibran This week our intrepid hosts navigate time and space and contemplate their life choices by reading THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone and Khalil Gibran's classic, THE PROPHET. There's also discussion of our dream book club, predictions for future bestsellers, and Dillon finally reviews a fantasy book for the show (and he maybe even liked it)!
Wise Sons
July 12, 2023 04:30 - 50 minutes - 69.2 MBWISE BLOOD by FLANNERY O’CONNOR / SUMMER SONS by LEE MANDELO Page-O’s, grab your sweet teas and hop in a car with a hot boy because it’s a Southern Episode. Listen in as Toby tries as hard as he can to outsmart Flannery O’Connor’s ‘comedic’ novel WISE BLOOD and Bailey drag-races her way through Lee Mandelo’s queer horror SUMMER SONS. Plus, we declare a certain airline to be our mortal enemy, learn what REALLY scares Bailey (poor study habits), and test our knowledge of fictional foods!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn New Hampshire
June 28, 2023 04:30 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MBTHE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid / THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE by John Irving This week, Andrew revisits friend of the podcast (we wish) Taylor Jenkins Reid when he reviews THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, a twisty journey through imagined old Hollywood scandal. Then, Bailey journeys to the bizarre world of John Irving's HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE, thereby crossing paths with not one but two performing bears. We also share our latest shame, plan the books we'll take on va...
Fat Witch of Laredo
June 14, 2023 04:30 - 51 minutes - 70.4 MBSTREETS OF LAREDO by Larry McMurtry / FAT WITCH SUMMER by Lizzy Ives This is a very special episode because we have fabulous author Lizzy Ives on to talk about her fantastic fat-positive fantasy novel, FAT WITCH SUMMER! In addition to answering all our questions about the book, Lizzy shares her star sign, her cat's unique nickname, and the size of her to read list. Plus, she agrees to play a silly game with us! And we can't forget that Toby also read a book this week: STREETS OF LAREDO...
A People's History of Bones
May 31, 2023 05:33 - 52 minutes - 71.7 MBA PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES by Howard Zinn / DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD by Olga Tokarczuk Hope you’re ready for some Zinn-sanity, Page-Os, because on this week’s episode, Andrew wades into Howard Zinn’s oft-selected tome for AP History class, A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. Then Bailey turns up the earth and turns up the stars, while she talks about Olga Tokarczuk’s Nobel Prize winning DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD. Plus, we get to find o...
Pride and Kindred
May 17, 2023 04:30 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBKINDRED by Octavia E. Butler / PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen On this week's episode, two old friends return to the podcast! We cover our third book each from two giants of literature in Octavia E. Butler's KINDRED and Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Will Toby like this as much as his previous Butler experiences? How will Bailey and Andrew like the tentpole of the book world? There's also our typical shame, discussion of adaptations, and - of course - the terrors...
The Anthropocene of December
May 03, 2023 04:30 - 55 minutes - 76.3 MBTENTH OF DECEMBER by George Saunders / THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED by John Green This week, we present you some reviews on short stories and some short stories on reviews! Andrew (finally!) dives into the odd world of George Saunders with TENTH OF DECEMBER, and Bailey digs into THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED, John Green's essay collection evaluating the human world. Plus, we test the strength of our friendships in a ranking game. Five stars!
Wizard's First Lightning Thief
April 19, 2023 04:30 - 50 minutes - 70 MBWIZARD'S FIRST RULE by Terry Goodkind / THE LIGHTNING THIEF (PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, #1) by Rick Riordan It's a fantasy-filled episode this week, but please don't tell Terry Goodkind! Toby digs into WIZARD'S FIRST RULE, the first book in Goodkind's epic (and supposedly not fantastical) series about dragons and magic. Don't worry, Toby doesn't need a Sword of Truth to share his candid thoughts on the book! Then, Bailey meets tween hero Percy Jackson in THE LIGHTNING THIEF, thereb...
True Waves
April 05, 2023 04:30 - 48 minutes - 66.6 MBTHE WAVES by Virginia Woolf / TRUE BIZ by Sara Nović This week our hosts surf a stream of consciousness with Virginia Woolf's classic, THE WAVES. Will the author's return to the podcast hang 10? Bailey also reviews a newcomer (and new favorite?) in Sara Nović's new novel, TRUE BIZ. Will Bailey fall for this novel and, just maybe, learn something? There's also plenty of shame, plenty of silliness, and plenty of, frankly, nonsense. A lot of nonsense.
The Husband's Woods
March 22, 2023 04:30 - 50 minutes - 69.8 MBA WALK IN THE WOODS by Bill Bryson / THE HUSBAND’S SECRET by Liane Moriarty Popcorn… Page-O’s! We hope you remember that classroom gimmick, because we talk about it A LOT while Toby tries to link Bill Bryson’s A WALK IN THE WOODS with INFINITE JEST, and Bailey (and Dillon and Toby) learn what they shouldn’t ever know: THE HUSBAND'S SECRET. By Liane Moriarty. Plus we got to hear about Italian Peppa Pig, play a post-death-centric game, and learn what Toby and his wife do in bed!
Our Missing Kilimanjaro
March 08, 2023 05:30 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MBTHE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO AND OTHER STORIES by Ernest Hemingway / OUR MISSING HEARTS by Celeste Ng Hope you’re up on your Iceberg Theory, because in this episode Andrew scales the heights of Ernest Hemingway’s THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO AND OTHER STORIES, informing us which of these stories are a Kilimanjar-Go and which are a Kilimanjar-No. Then Bailey makes her case for Celeste Ng’s newest novel OUR MISSING HEARTS: will she convince you to read it? Probably! We also learn about Bailey’s ne...
The Only Good Jest
February 22, 2023 05:30 - 53 minutes - 73.7 MBINFINITE JEST by David Foster Wallace / THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS by Stephen Graham Jones If you've ever doubted that Toby is an intellectual, doubt no more -- he's read INFINITE JEST! The book is footnotes and absurdity all the way down, and luckily Toby's here to explain it all to us. After a raucous discussion of the tome and its problematic author, Bailey dives into horror novel THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS. Will the basketball subplot ruin the book's elk-based scares? Finally, Dillon lead...
The Great Lapvona
February 08, 2023 05:30 - 53 minutes - 73.5 MBTHE GREAT BELIEVERS by Rebecca Makkai / LAPVONA by Ottessa Moshfegh On this week's show we welcome back an old friend, with Ottessa Moshfegh's medieval styling, LAPVONA, as well as welcome a brand new player with Rebecca Makkai's sweeping novel, THE GREAT BELIEVERS. Will Bailey find another five star read? Will Andrew take a field trip for the show? Will Toby ever finish Infinite Jest? Should we replace Dillon? The answers to all of these questions - plus a healthy helping of scrapple - ...
Here is Queen Bee
January 25, 2023 05:30 - 46 minutes - 64.5 MBHERE IS NEW YORK by E.B. White / QUEEN BEES & WANNABES by Rosalind Wiseman This takes the cake for oddest book pairing ever on our show! First, Toby reviews 1948 travelogue HERE IS NEW YORK and finds similarities between author E.B. White and Grampa Simpson. Then, Bailey offers far too many quotes from MEAN GIRLS as she covers the movie's source material, 2002 parenting manual QUEEN BEES & WANNABES: HELPING YOUR DAUGHTER SURVIVE CLIQUES, GOSSIP, BOYFRIENDS, AND OTHER REALITIES OF ADOLESC...
Beautiful Oligarchy
January 11, 2023 05:30 - 49 minutes - 68 MBOLIGARCHY by Scarlett Thomas / BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Jess Walter On this episode, Andrew examines OLIGARCHY by Scarlett Thomas, a story of wealth, privilege, and fierce ponies, while Bailey tangles with book-club favorite BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Jess Walter to see if she can fall in love at first sight with it. Join the hosts as they ring in the new year with a hefty stack of Christmas Shame (from some people, at least), hear about Andrew’s possibly controversial list-amending, and get an INFINIT...
The Fourth Annual Bookend Awards!
December 28, 2022 05:41 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBIt's the most wonderful time of the year -- the Bookend Awards, where we honor the best (and worst) books we covered in 2022! Join us as we go over the fastest reads, the hottest protagonists, and the characters we'd most like to lock in a wine cellar under Venice. Plus, we play not one but TWO games, one with the highest stakes of all... who will be the next host tasked with reading their most feared book (and have no one to blame but themselves)? Tune in to find out!
The Fourth Annual Bookend Awards!
December 28, 2022 05:41 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBIt's the most wonderful time of the year -- the Bookend Awards, where we honor the best (and worst) books we covered in 2022! Join us as we go over the fastest reads, the hottest protagonists, and the characters we'd most like to lock in a wine cellar under Venice. Plus, we play not one but TWO games, one with the highest stakes of all... who will be the next host tasked with reading their most feared book (and have no one to blame but themselves)? Tune in to find out!
The Amulet Runner
December 14, 2022 05:30 - 49 minutes - 68 MBTHE AMULET OF SAMARKAND by Jonathan Stroud / THE KITE RUNNER BY KHALED HOSSEINI. On this week's episode, we pull two books our hosts missed from 2003 in Jonathan Stroud's middle grade fantasy, THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND, and Khaled Hosseini's bestseller, THE KITE RUNNER. Will these prove to be blasts from the past? Also we dig deep on how to get un-scared after reading a spooky book, think about what famous literary characters would wish for, and prove once and for all that Bailey is the best...
The Wonder of No Nation
November 30, 2022 05:30 - 55 minutes - 76.1 MBBEASTS OF NO NATION by Uzodinma Iweala / THE WONDER by Emma Donoghue This week, Andrew reviews BEASTS OF NO NATION, the powerful, evocative, and creative exploration of a fictional child soldier. Then, Bailey brings an Irish Gothic mystery to the table that everyone's dying to read--THE WONDER by Emma Donoghue. Plus, we meet a Freaky Bat, discuss Netflix's prestige films, and debate the proper amount of time to wait between books.
Fairy Schooled
November 16, 2022 05:30 - 52 minutes - 72.7 MBFAIRY TALE by Stephen King / SCHOOLED by Anisha Lakhani Things start off with a bang in our 101st episode when Bailey embraces chaos right out of the gate! After a shocking intro, we get to hear about Dillon and Bailey’s Adult Time IN DETAIL. Then Toby tells us whether or not he thinks Stephen King’s newest book FAIRY TALE ranks among his best, and Bailey evaluates SCHOOLED by Anisha Lakhani with the narrowed eye of a former teacher. Plus, a game that involves gruesome, somewhat poetic dea...
Anne of Episode 100!
November 02, 2022 04:30 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MBANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery On this, our 100th episode, we discuss ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, the childhood favorite chosen by you, our dear listeners! In addition to chatting about the joy of a good bedtime story, the fun of competing for a scholastic medal, and the importance of doing your own shopping, we reminisce about our favorite memories of the podcast so far, and we learn our reading retention isn't what it should be. 100 books books books! Note: The spoilers section goes...
A Taste for a Thousand Faces
October 19, 2022 04:30 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MBTHE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES by Joseph Campbell / A TASTE FOR DEATH by P.D. James Here's a Call to Adventure for you -- listen to this podcast episode about Joseph Campbell's theory of the monomyth (a.k.a. THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES). We will be your wise Mentor and teach you all the hot gossip about our pal Joey C. Then, after several Challenges and Temptations to reference "Mr. Brightside," we will enter the Abyss to discuss P.D. James' detective procedural A TASTE FOR DEATH (and R...
I'll Show Myself the Wedding
October 05, 2022 04:58 - 53 minutes - 73.7 MBTHE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING by Carson McCullers / I'LL SHOW MYSELF OUT by Jessi Klein This week, Toby comes of age with the young protagonist of THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING by Carson McCullers. Then, Bailey reads I'LL SHOW MYSELF OUT and wonders what the heck she has to do to make Jessi Klein her BFF. Finally, the hosts produce 100 percent guaranteed Broadway hits!
My Favorite Thing is Hamnet
September 21, 2022 04:30 - 52 minutes - 72.5 MBMY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS by Emil Farris / HAMNET by Maggie O'Farrell This week, Andrew finally reads MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS, a graphic novel that Bailey and Toby have been bugging him about for years. Will it become Andrew's favorite thing? Then, Bailey reviews HAMNET, a thoughtful exploration of Shakespeare's personal life, and asks herself, how many references to HAMLET are enough? Finally, we go on a magical culinary tour of Chicago!
Imaginary Phlebas
September 07, 2022 04:30 - 43 minutes - 59.5 MBCONSIDER PHLEBAS by Iain M. Banks / IMAGINARY FRIEND by Stephen Chbosky What, and who, is even REAL? Bailey finds out when she reads the new horror novel IMAGINARY FRIEND by THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER author Stephen Chbosky. Meanwhile, Toby travels across the galaxy following a shape-shifting secret agent in Ian M. Banks’ seminal sci-fi CONSIDER PHLEBAS. Plus, we hear how The To Read List is making things happen in Hollywood, what movies baby Maggie tolerates, and envision a delightfu...
Fahrenheit Goldfinch
August 24, 2022 05:24 - 55 minutes - 76.2 MBTHE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt / FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury The heat is turned up on this week's episode when Bailey tackles Ray Bradbury's masterpiece of science fiction, FAHRENHEIT 451! Will it blow hot or cold for her? Also Andrew dives into Donna Tartt's massive modern classic novel, THE GOLDFINCH. Will it steal his heart? There's also as surprising amount of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles discussion, feeling seen in literature, and - of course - plenty of shame... for Bailey.
One Hundred Years in the Library
August 10, 2022 04:30 - 55 minutes - 75.7 MBTHE BODY IN THE LIBRARY by Agatha Christie / ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's time to solve the biggest mystery of all -- why did Bailey give up on ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE with 100 pages to go?! This week, Toby spends time with one of his favorite mystery authors, and our new best friend, Agatha Christie, with THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY. Then, Bailey finally tackles the book she abandoned 12 years ago, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE. Was it worth the wait? ...
Children, Where Are You
July 27, 2022 04:30 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBCHILDREN OF ASH AND ELM by Neil Price / BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney. This week, Sally Rooney earns a To Read List hat-trick with the buzzy, sexy BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU. Will the third novel hold up to the Roonster's previous work? Also, Andrew digs into his first non-fiction doorstopper with CHILDREN OF ASH AND ELM, a comprehensive history of the Vikings. You'll be shocked what you can learn from an ancient latrine!
The Southern Groan
July 13, 2022 04:47 - 45 minutes - 62.1 MBTITUS GROAN by Mervyn Peake / THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB’S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES by Grady Hendrix. Genre books unite! This time on the pod Toby wades back into a book that already defeated him once, the formidably slow TITUS GROAN by Mervyn Peake, and Bailey indulges in a treat from one of her favorite contemporary authors, THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB’S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES by Grady Hendrix. Plus we rate Andrew’s wedding out of five stars, learn about Bailey’s Birthday Request, and mention...
Everyone Knows Your Mother Is Pittsburgh
June 29, 2022 04:36 - 49 minutes - 68.5 MBTHE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH by Michael Chabon / EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR MOTHER IS A WITCH by Rivka Galchen. What do an angsty college grad discovering himself in 1988 Pittsburgh and an onery old woman accused of witchcraft in 1618 Germany have in common? They're the protagonists of this week's reviewed books, of course! Andrew dives into his first Chabon with the problematic bildungsroman THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH. Then, Bailey learns the twisted fate of Johannes Kepler's mother in the dar...
The Time Traveler of My Dreams
June 15, 2022 04:30 - 49 minutes - 68.1 MBTHE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger & THE MAN OF MY DREAMS by Curtis Sittenfeld. This week, Toby questions whether THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE is a tale of true love or true grooming. Then, Bailey digs into THE MAN OF MY DREAMS, a lesser known novel by a favorite author, to determine whether it's worth the read. Plus, we try to come up with shame, find ways to relate to a toad, and discover our time traveler love matches! If you'd like to play Dillon's personality quiz, you can a...
Imperfectionists, Please
June 01, 2022 04:30 - 46 minutes - 63.8 MBYES, PLEASE by Amy Poehler & THE IMPERFECTIONISTS by Tom Rachman This week on the pod Andrew engages with an uber-popular memoir of a few years back, Amy Poehler’s YES, PLEASE, and Bailey checks out the hit first novel by author Tom Rachman, THE IMPERFECTIONITS! The hosts debate skipping early books in a series, whether or not Toby’s new employment opportunity is worth it, and which of them is most likely to wear a white ponytail. Plus, Dillon solves the Three Body Problem!