The To Read List Podcast
169 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 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
Wolf is for Witching
September 09, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 67.6 MBWOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel & WHITE IS FOR WITCHING by Helen Oyeyemi. Bailey and Dillon are back and ready to dig deep into English history! First, Andrew contemplates how many Thomases is too many in Hilary Mantel's WOLF HALL. Then, Bailey visits a racist haunted house in WHITE IS FOR WITCHING, a gothic coming of age story. If that's not enough, the hosts come up with drag names for Tudor monarchs and share their first real shame of quarantine.
A Brief History of Seven Trees
August 26, 2020 04:01 - 49 minutes - 68.6 MBTHE BARON IN THE TREES by Italo Calvino & A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS by Marlon James. This week we dive into THE BARON IN THE TREES by Italo Calvino and A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS by Marlon James. We ask important questions like - Will Andrew like a book that Toby has abandoned? Will Toby like this novel as much as the other Calvino he's read? And, What stops does the surrealism train make? Also, Toby tries to survive a bachelor party in the deep woods....
The Proposal Girls
August 12, 2020 11:29 - 48 minutes - 66.7 MBTHE PROPOSAL by Jasmine Guillory & THE GIRLS by Emma Cline. This week we're joined by Gillian Durkee (our theme composer and Andrew's fiancée) as we discuss the Jasmine Guillory's romance novel THE PROPOSAL and the bookstagram smash hit THE GIRLS by Emma Cline. We also ponder genres we should read more of, flesh out the details of a possible Weddingverse, and hatch plans for some proposals of our own!
The Immortal Underground
July 29, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 68.6 MBTHE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Colson Whitehead & THE IMMORTALISTS by Chloe Benjamin. The week we have special guest host Camille Knox on to discuss the award-winning novel THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Colson Whitehead and THE IMMORTALISTS by Chloe Benjamin. Which of these contemporary novels is more to our liking? We also discuss revisiting ratings on Goodreads, our levels of olive enthusiasm, and Homeward Bound... a lot.
Trust My Mind
July 15, 2020 04:30 - 45 minutes - 62.5 MBTRUST EXERCISE by Susan Choi & MIND OF MY MIND by Octavia E. Butler. This week Talia Bolnick of The Hatchery Press joins us as we review TRUST EXERCISE by SUSAN CHOI, a form-bending novel about teens in an exclusive drama school and MIND OF MY MIND by OCTAVIA E. BUTLER, the story of a young telepath in 1970s Los Angeles struggling against the man who created her. We also debate the value of engaging with difficult stories, whether or not you can judge a book by earlier installments in a seri...
Wild is the What
July 01, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 68.1 MBWILD SEED by Octavia E. Butler & WHAT IS THE WHAT by Dave Eggers. In the first podcast of Bailey and Dillon’s parental leave, Toby and Andrew discuss Octavia E. Butler’s WILD SEED, a complex modern fantasy, and Dave Eggers’ WHAT IS THE WHAT, a fictional autobiography of a very real man - Valentino Achak Deng. Also, they try to decide which book would make the best video game and examine how we should introduce children to Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Plus - has Toby found a better villain than Cluny the ...
Minisode: Pride Picks!
June 24, 2020 08:02 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBThis week, in honor of Pride Month, the crew recommends some favorite LGBTQIA+ authors, characters, and books. From classics like GIOVANNI'S ROOM to new works like ONCE & FUTURE, the possibilities are endless! Also we bid goodbye (for now) to Bailey and Dillon and wish them well on their parental leave. We will miss you!
Learning Teeth
June 17, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 68.1 MBSHARP TEETH by Toby Barlow & LEARNING TO SING by Clay Aiken and Allison Glock. This week we discuss our two most obscure books yet - American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken’s LEARNING TO SING, and the free verse werewolf action story SHARP TEETH by Toby Barlow. We debate whether or not Sharp Teeth is like Underworld, try to decide if Clay’s tie is a clip-on, and discover that some of us know an uncomfortable amount about American Idol. Plus, Andrew shares an exciting announcement!
Minisode: Summer Reading
June 10, 2020 04:30 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBIn this week's minisode, we talk about our experiences with summer reading, from elementary school to now. You'll never guess who participated in a library reading challenge! (Yes, you will.)
Circeducated
June 03, 2020 07:07 - 47 minutes - 65.7 MBCIRCE by Madeline Miller & EDUCATED by Tara Westover. This week, all three of us read CIRCE and EDUCATED so that we're ready to discuss why the books and book club favorites. Plus, we reminisce about songs from the early 2000s and pitch ideas for modern gods.
Minisode: Bookish Baby Shower
May 27, 2020 04:30 - 16 minutes - 23 MBInspired by Bailey and Dillon's virtual baby shower, we send gifts to some of our favorite literary parents to celebrate the births of their soon-to-be-troublesome children.
I Know This Lot Is 49
May 20, 2020 04:30 - 43 minutes - 60.4 MBTHE CRYING OF LOT 49 by Thomas Pynchon & I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE by Wally Lamb. This week, Toby does his best to dissect the fever dream that is THE CRYING OF LOT 49, while Bailey digs deep into family saga I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. Then, we play "Thomas Pynchon Character or Wrestler Stage Name," and it's harder than you might think.
Minisode: Are You a Plot Device?
May 13, 2020 04:30 - 17 minutes - 23.3 MBThe pandemic has caused us to reconsider our place in the world. For example, Bailey, Toby, and Andrew have been wondering if they could really be characters in a book. To confirm, we took SparkNotes' "Are You A Plot Device?" quiz. Turns out only one of us is the protagonist of our story. Tune in to find out who!
Everything I Never Told Rebecca
May 06, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBEVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng & REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier. This week, Andrew tackles Amazon's Best Book of 2014, EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng. Will the haunting family drama be too intense or just right? Then, the gang returns to Manderley with the paragon of romantic suspense, REBECCA! We discuss shady male love interests, anxious protagonists, and wacky plotting theories. Hard to believe we'll come out unchanged....
Minisode: Author Quarantine House Party!
April 29, 2020 04:30 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBIn response to this poll from Literary Hub, the gang debates which authors they'd want in their quarantine crew. There's a dud in every house, but at least there's drama!
Daisy Jones & The Cat
April 22, 2020 04:30 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MBCAT'S EYE by Margaret Atwood & DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid. In this episode, Toby breaks down the unexpectedly realistic plot of Margaret Atwood's CAT'S EYE. Then, we dive into the 1970s' rock scene with our second book club pick, DAISY JONES & THE SIX! Expect plenty of Fleetwood Mac comparisons and a few spoilers (Thanks, Mom!).
Minisode: Villains!
April 15, 2020 04:30 - 14 minutes - 20.4 MBIn this minisode, the gang goes through their top three villains, in order of least to most vile. You'll never guess who's Toby's number one pick....
Old Man Redwall
April 08, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 67.7 MBTHE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway & REDWALL by Brian Jacques. Andrew takes us on the saddest fishing trip of all time in THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA. Then, we debrief our inaugural To Read List Book Club selection… REDWALL! Will Bailey love this middle-grade mice adventure? Will our listeners? Is it possible to love Cluny the Scourge as much as Toby does? Tune in to find out!
The To Puzz List
April 01, 2020 04:30 - 15 minutes - 21.1 MBTo celebrate our 600th episode, Bailey, Toby, and Andrew share their latest puzzling experiences and play "Puzzle Piece or Thing in My Apartment." (April Fools!)
Evvie Drake Starts Middlemarch
March 25, 2020 04:30 - 49 minutes - 67.3 MBMIDDLEMARCH by George Eliot & EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER by Linda Holmes. In this week's episode, Toby travels to the 19th century with MIDDLEMARCH, while Bailey heads to modern-day Maine for the (much lighter) romance EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER. Plus, we check in from our quarantine pods and reveal the first-ever To Read List Book Club pick!
Minisode: Un-Put-Downable Books
March 18, 2020 04:30 - 17 minutes - 23.8 MBWhile we're all cooped up at home, you may be looking for your next favorite read. If so, please enjoy our list of top un-put-downable books! That is, the books that kept us up late reading "just one more chapter...."
The Cold Sympathizer
March 11, 2020 04:30 - 47 minutes - 65.9 MBTHE SYMPATHIZER by Viet Thanh Nguyen & COLD MOUNTAIN by Charles Frazier. This week, we discuss two beloved titles— bestselling historical romance COLD MOUNTAIN and 2016’s Pulitzer Prize Winner, THE SYMPATHIZER. Will we love the books as much as everyone else seems to? Plus, we get a geography lesson, chat about how producing a podcast has influenced our reading, and check in with Dillon’s cupboard under the stairs!
Minisode: Dillon Publishing, Inc.
March 04, 2020 05:30 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBDillon leads the cohosts in an Apples to Apples-style game where they retitle classic books through anonymous pitches. The results are priceless. (Note: the episode contains spoilers about ANNA KARENINA and LITTLE WOMEN.)
A Year in Pachinko
February 26, 2020 05:30 - 43 minutes - 60.2 MBPACHINKO by Min Jin Lee & A YEAR IN THE MERDE by Stephen Clarke & A YEAR IN PROVENCE by Peter Mayle & ENCORE PROVENCE by Peter Mayle. Why would you not recommend a four star read? How much extra credit is too much? Why is Frodo Baggins hanging out with the Rum Tum Tugger? We’ll answer these questions and so much more in this very special episode.
Minisode: Love Stories
February 19, 2020 05:30 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBIn honor of Valentine’s Day, we write stories about literary characters who should totally smooch. Bailey takes it very seriously—the boys less so. Even teenage Gillian gets in on the fun!
Robinson Crusoe vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
February 12, 2020 07:30 - 45 minutes - 61.9 MBROBINSON CRUSOE by Daniel Defoe & SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli. While Bailey tries to get through a reading slump, Toby goes above and beyond and reads two books, neither of which were assigned to him! With Toby’s help, Andrew discusses troublesome character decisions in ROBINSON CRUSOE, and Bailey dissects the adorable YA romance that became the film LOVE, SIMON.
Minisode: Top Animals in Literature
February 05, 2020 05:30 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBIn this minisode, we share our top three animals from literature, with no basic choices allowed! How many REDWALL characters will Toby pick? You’ll have to tune in to find out.
One Flew Over the Brave New World
January 29, 2020 06:45 - 49 minutes - 68.2 MBONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST by Ken Kesey & BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley. We discuss two very different books that both happen to be about rebels taking on corrupt power structures! Toby reads ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST and contemplates whether Nurse Ratched is scarier in the book or the movie. Then, Bailey questions how much Huxley got right about our future in BRAVE NEW WORLD. Plus, Andrew asks us to come up with the worst ice cream flavors imaginable.
Minisode: Reading Resolutions
January 22, 2020 08:30 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MBIn this minisode, we share our reading resolutions for the new year. Some of our goals are conventional… and some of them are decidedly not. Enjoy!
Bonus: Reading Resolutions
January 22, 2020 08:30 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MBIn this minisode, we share our reading resolutions for the new year. Some of our goals are conventional… and some of them are decidedly not. Enjoy!
The Count of This One Summer
January 15, 2020 08:34 - 46 minutes - 63.3 MBTHIS ONE SUMMER by Jillian & Mariko Tamaki & THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas. While Bailey tackles the longest book on her shelf, Andrew has time to read his graphic novel twice. Find out what makes the Tamakis’ coming of age story THIS ONE SUMMER so evocative, then travel to nineteenth century France for THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO! The journey will be full of catty antiheroes and REVENGE. Plus, we talk Christmas shame, high school reunions, and Wishbone.
Minisode: Outlander Rocks, a.k.a., Top Fictional Worlds
January 08, 2020 05:30 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBIn this bonus episode, we share the top three fictional settings we’d travel via a rock-shaped portal. You know, like in OUTLANDER. Don’t think about it too hard.
The First Annual Bookend Awards!
January 01, 2020 05:30 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBWe celebrate our first anniversary by reflecting on the books we’ve read this year. Who read the most pages? Who added more books than they read? Who remembers the most from the books they read six months ago? Plus, we share our favorite books and characters in our favorite new award show, the Bookends!
Ready Player Lincoln
December 25, 2019 05:30 - 42 minutes - 57.7 MBLINCOLN IN THE BARDO by George Saunders & READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline. Happy Holidays from the To Read List! To celebrate, we review two beloved books, READY PLAYER ONE and LINCOLN IN THE BARDO! Will Toby appreciate the George Saunders novel more the second time he attempts it? Will Bailey understand Ernest Cline’s video game references? Tune in to find out.
Bonus: The LITTLE WOMEN Spectacular!
December 18, 2019 05:30 - 36 minutes - 50.6 MBLITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott. *NOTE: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS.* In this very special episode, Bailey invites four of her favorite ladies to analyze Louisa May Alcott’s coming of age classic, LITTLE WOMEN! We dig deep into the characters, such as how Jo breaks gender expectations, Amy masters the patriarchy, and Beth… is a bummer. Plus, we share facts about Alcott and a personality quiz.
Just Outlander Kids
December 11, 2019 08:30 - 48 minutes - 67 MBOUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon & JUST KIDS by Patti Smith. With only a few hours of sleep, Andrew reviews his longest book yet—OUTLANDER! His verdict may surprise you. Then Bailey discusses JUST KIDS and learns she might be too square for Patti Smith. Finally, Toby makes his debut as game master.
Minisode: Apocalypse Necessities
December 04, 2019 05:30 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBTo celebrate the launch of Elaine’s Cooking for the Soul, a post-apocalyptic cooking podcast, we talk with creator Alli Schleisman about the tools from literature we’d take with us into the apocalypse. Some of us will survive, some of us will thrive… and some will get a stomachache from too much pasta. Check out Elaine’s Cooking for the Soul here.
East of Normal
November 27, 2019 05:30 - 45 minutes - 62.4 MBEAST OF EDEN by John Steinbeck & NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney. The crew digs into two beloved books, one a classic, one a new release. Toby discusses biblical allusions and fun sociopaths in EAST OF EDEN, while Bailey reconnects with high school ex-boyfriends via Sally Rooney’s NORMAL PEOPLE. Plus, Andrew teaches us the surprising things you can learn from a human dissection.
Minisode: Goodreads' Never-Ending Book Quiz!
November 20, 2019 05:30 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBTo celebrate the annual Goodreads Choice Awards, we compete in Goodreads’ Never-Ending Book Quiz! The trivia questions are based on the books we’ve read, so you’d think that we’d be good at this. You’d think. Try the quiz for yourself here: https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/home
The Fault in My Year of Rest and Relaxation
November 13, 2019 05:30 - 47 minutes - 65.2 MBTHE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green & MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION by Ottessa Moshfegh. This week, we dig deep into two recent bestsellers: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION! We discuss teen romance, the allure of sleep, and famous events in Dutch history. (Spoiler alert, Toby hasn’t heard of Mata Hari and thinks it’s weird if you have.) Plus, Dillon fills us in on his progress with HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.
Minisode: #LiterarySquad
November 06, 2019 05:30 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBInspired by both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Taylor Swift, we choose the literary characters we wish were part of our best friend “squads.” Unsurprisingly, Bailey picks multiple cats. Plus, Andrew reveals the person he’d most want to host his holiday party, and Toby shares his plan to survive the apocalypse.
The Great and Secret Dracula
October 30, 2019 04:30 - 43 minutes - 59.3 MBDRACULA by Bram Stoker & THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW by Clive Barker. Spoooooky Halloween! We discuss two scary novels—THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW by Clive Barker and DRACULA by Bram Stoker—using our best (worst) Transylvanian accents. As an extra treat, we break down the concept of an “unlikeable character” and what makes Count Dracula “extra.”
Minisode: Spoooooky Stories
October 23, 2019 04:30 - 18 minutes - 25.6 MBTo get you in the Halloween spirit, we talk about three spooky stories: “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury, “House of Puppets” by Junji Ito, and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. Then, for our grand finale, we improvise the scariest story about flan you’ve ever heard. Hold on to your bats!
Death with Casual Interruptions
October 16, 2019 05:19 - 47 minutes - 65.4 MBTHE CASUAL VACANCY by J.K. Rowling & DEATH WITH INTERRUPTIONS by Jose Saramago. We dig deep into lesser-known works by two of our favorite authors. Andrew covers DEATH WITH INTERRUPTIONS by Jose Saramago, while Bailey tackles THE CASUAL VACANCY, a novel by J.K. Rowling that has nothing to do with witchcraft or wizardry. We discuss miraculous puzzles, talking scythes, and how reading can be like eating beets. Plus, we reveal the results of our Halloween Instagram poll.
Minisode: Required Reading
October 09, 2019 07:16 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MBWe share the books we had to read for school that we ended up loving. It’s the best kind of fun—mandatory! Plus, we discuss the Untitled Goose Game, signature scents, and the easiest way to tell if an English teacher is cool.
Alias V
October 02, 2019 06:38 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MBALIAS GRACE by Margaret Atwood & V FOR VENDETTA by Alan Moore. In this new episode, we cover our first graphic novel—V FOR VENDETTA by Alan Moore! After Toby tells us all about the iconic comic, Bailey digs into ALIAS GRACE by Margaret Atwood. It’s a haunting historical fiction story about murder, sexism, and… quilting? Then Andrew shares some shocking things that Moore and Atwood have in common. He also introduces a game that’s never been attempted on a podcast… perhaps for good reason.
Minisode: The Strand Quiz
September 25, 2019 07:30 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBIf you want to work at the mecca for all bibliophiles—Strand Books in New York City—you must pass a book quiz. In this minisode, HR rep Dillon administers the quiz to Bailey, Toby, and Andrew. Although only two cohosts perform well enough to get the job, all three turn into competitive monsters… which is a win for you, the listener. Take the Strand quiz for yourself here.
Cloudypants
September 18, 2019 06:36 - 45 minutes - 62.1 MBBOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey & CLOUD ATLAS by David Mitchell. Bailey questions whether CLOUD ATLAS is gimmicky, genius, or gimmicky genius. Meanwhile, Andrew feels conflicted about Tina Fey’s hilarious memoir, BOSSYPANTS. We talk about waterslides, Chex Mix bookmarks, and deep-fried books. Oh, and Dillon finally makes it through the first 150 pages in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.
Minisode: Red, White & Royal Review!
September 11, 2019 07:30 - 20 minutes - 28 MBRED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston. In this bonus episode, Bailey reviews the book of the summer: RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston! We talk about hot British scones, character horoscopes, and the universal experience of tween girls growing up in the 90s.
The Red Eye of the World
September 04, 2019 06:16 - 42 minutes - 58 MBTHE RED TENT by Anita Diamant & THE EYE OF THE WORLD by Robert Jordan. Toby reviews a book he found on the side of the road—THE EYE OF THE WORLD by Robert Jordan—while Bailey reads THE RED TENT, a book she’s had on her shelf for over two decades. We talk about feminist reimaginings and reluctant magicians. Plus, one of the hosts gets pummeled in a game about Israeli soccer stars.