What Should I Read Next? Ep 512: I'm looking for 5-star stunners
Feb 3, 2026
Meredith Wiggins, a Lawrence, Kansas library services pro who curates reader recommendations, talks about her run of solid but unspectacular reads and her hunt for emotional five-star stunners. She describes her taste for crafted characters, art-adjacent fiction, and comforting romances. The conversation explores causes for a reading slump and pitches specific titles to break the streak.
01:06:59
What A Five-Star Book Feels Like
- Meredith has run an 18-month stretch of mostly 3–3.5 star reads and wants more five-star 'stunners.'
- She defines five stars as books that stick the landing and provoke an emotional, clutch-to-chest reaction.
The Goldfinch Sparked A Hangover
- Meredith describes reading The Goldfinch as 'lavishing in' the language and voice across settings.
- She felt it moved from a solid four-star to a five-star when the ending tied everything together.
Voice And Surprise Matter Most
- Voice, surprise, and immersion in unfamiliar topics drove Meredith's strongest five-star reactions.
- She values authors who own strong, opinionated perspectives and write with a singular voice.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
Guest Introduction: Meredith Wiggins
05:55 • 4min
Meredith's Reading Identity and Preferences
09:37 • 2min
The Rut: Seeking Five-Star 'Stunners'
11:46 • 2min
Possible Causes: Life Season and Reading
14:13 • 2min
Defining Four- and Five-Star Reads
15:55 • 2min
Ad break
18:04 • 1min
Book Picks: What to Bring
19:10 • 2min
Why These Books? Meredith's Choices
21:18 • 35sec
The Goldfinch: Lush Prose and a Sticking Landing
21:52 • 4min
Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen: Romance Craft
26:19 • 5min
A Poor Collector's Guide: Voice and Surprise
31:24 • 6min
Why the Book Didn't Work: The Knicks
37:20 • 8min
Recent Reads and Listening Habits
45:40 • 5min
Patterns: Smart but Not Sharp
50:18 • 7min
Art Books and Art Crime Recommendations
57:02 • 2min
The Blue Hour and Art-World Thriller Pitch
58:57 • 2min
Fiction Picks: Ben Shattuck and Interlinked Stories
01:01:22 • 5min
The Latecomer: Family Saga Meets Art Collecting
01:06:12 • 4min
Meredith's Selection and Trip Plans
01:09:47 • 51sec
Outro
01:10:38 • 1min
#2583
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt
The novel centers around 13-year-old Theodore Decker, whose life dramatically changes after he survives a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his mother is killed.
During the chaos, Theo takes the famous Dutch painting 'The Goldfinch' by Carel Fabritius.
The story follows Theo's journey through grief, guilt, and his complex relationships, including his friendship with Boris and his involvement in the art underworld.
The novel spans several years, detailing Theo's struggles with identity, loss, and the impact of the painting on his life.
#1675
• Mentioned in 25 episodes
All Fours
Miranda July
Miranda July's "All Fours" is a poignant and unconventional novel that explores themes of aging, mortality, and the complexities of human connection.
The narrative unfolds through the experiences of an unnamed narrator grappling with her changing body and relationships.
July's writing style is characterized by its intimate and often humorous approach to profound subjects.
The book delves into the challenges of intergenerational friendships and the societal obsession with youth.
Ultimately, "All Fours" offers a reflective and empathetic portrayal of the human experience.
#7631
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
The art thief
Noah Charney
#87602
American Bulk
Emily Mester
Emily Mester's "American Bulk" is a compelling exploration of consumption, excess, and the cultural anxieties surrounding material possessions in America.
The book uses personal anecdotes, cultural analysis, and historical context to examine the complexities of consumerism.
Mester's narrative weaves together her own experiences with those of her family, particularly her grandmother's hoarding tendencies.
The book delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of hoarding, highlighting the tension between the desire for abundance and the burden of excess.
Ultimately, "American Bulk" offers a nuanced and thought-provoking examination of American culture's relationship with material possessions and the challenges of navigating a consumer-driven society.
#78101
The Blue Hour
Paula Hawkins
#30830
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Family Fang
Kevin Wilson
The Family Fang tells the story of Annie and Buster Fang, the children of performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang, who involve their kids in their public performances from a young age.
These performances often blur the line between reality and art, leaving Annie and Buster with a complex and unconventional upbringing.
As adults, Annie and Buster struggle to find their own identities outside of their parents' influence.
When their parents disappear, Annie and Buster are forced to confront their past and question the truth behind their family's artistic endeavors.
The novel explores themes of family, identity, and the blurred boundaries between art and life.
It delves into the challenges of growing up in an eccentric environment, capturing the complexities of familial relationships.
Ultimately, it is a story about searching for authenticity and finding one's place in the world, while also grappling with the legacy of one's upbringing.
#
Boyfriend Material
Alexis Hall
#55584
A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art
Erling Kagge
#2438
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Into the Wild
Jon Krakauer
The book tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a well-educated young man from a middle-class family who, after graduating from college, gave away his savings, abandoned his car, and set out on a journey to live in the Alaskan wilderness.
The narrative, written by Jon Krakauer, explores McCandless's adventures, his interactions with various people he met along the way, and the circumstances leading to his untimely death.
Krakauer's investigation involves interviewing McCandless's family, friends, and people he encountered, as well as visiting the places McCandless had been.
The book delves into themes of idealism, rebellion, and the allure of the wilderness, presenting a nuanced and gripping account of McCandless's life and death.
#
Get the Picture
Sarah Thornton
#1785
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
Into Thin Air
A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
Jon Krakauer
In 'Into Thin Air', Jon Krakauer recounts the true story of a 24-hour period on Mt. Everest when members of three separate expeditions were caught in a devastating storm.
The book details the catastrophic events that led to the worst single-season death toll in Everest's history.
Krakauer, who was on the mountain as a client of guide Rob Hall, provides a meticulously researched and emotionally charged account of the disaster, reflecting on the risks, judgments, and heroism involved in high-altitude climbing.
The narrative explores the commercialization of Everest, the psychological and physical challenges faced by climbers, and the author's own struggles with survivor's guilt and mortality.
#12118
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The History of Sound
Ben Shattuck
#8210
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The Plot
The Political Assassination of Boris Johnson
Nadine Dorries
The Plot is a detailed and controversial account of the events leading to Boris Johnson's ousting as Prime Minister.
The book, written by Nadine Dorries, a former Culture Secretary and close ally of Johnson, suggests that his downfall was orchestrated by a secretive cabal known as the Movement, involving key figures like Dr No, Michael Gove, and Dominic Cummings.
The narrative is based on interviews with multiple inside sources, although the credibility and anonymity of some sources raise questions about the veracity of the claims.
The book paints a picture of a complex web of deceit and power struggles within the Conservative Party, but its lack of clear narrative and reliance on unverified sources make it challenging to discern fact from speculation.
#4797
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
Susanna Clarke
The novel is set in a world where magic once thrived in England but has since disappeared.
It follows the lives of two magicians, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, who bring magic back to England.
Jonathan Strange is a young, adventurous, and impulsive magician, while Mr. Norrell is a cantankerous bookworm who wants magic to be better regulated.
Their differing approaches to magic lead to a series of conflicts and adventures, including involvement in the Napoleonic wars and interactions with fairies.
The story explores themes of magic, history, and the complexities of human relationships.
#98726
Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube
Blair Braberman
#82215
The Latehomecomer
A Hmong Family Memoir
Kao Kalia Yang
The Latehomecomer is a moving memoir that chronicles the arduous journey of Kao Kalia Yang's family from Laos to refugee camps in Thailand and eventually to the United States.
The book explores themes of identity, family, and cultural resilience in the face of displacement and hardship.
#10385
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The English Understand Wool
Helen DeWitt
#
The 10 Things That Never Happened
Alexis Hall
#
Father Material
Alexis Hall
#
Husband Material
Alexis Hall
#
Lord of Scoundrels
Loretta Chase
#
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen
K.J. Charles
#
How to Fake It in Society
K.J. Charles
#
The Knicks
Nathan Hill
'The Nix' by Nathan Hill is a sprawling novel that explores themes of family, politics, and identity through the story of Samuel Andresen-Anderson and his estranged mother, Faye.
The narrative spans multiple decades and intertwines personal struggles with significant cultural and historical events.
When Faye reappears in Samuel's life after decades of absence, accused of a political crime, he sets out to uncover the truth about her past.
The novel delves into the complexities of their relationship and the impact of societal forces on individual lives.
Through its intricate plot and well-developed characters, 'The Nix' offers a nuanced examination of modern American society.
Today's guest has been on a long run of three or three-and-a-half-star reads. This isn't bad, but it's not what she's looking for, so she and Anne dive into this conundrum together.
Meredith Wiggins works in library services from her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, which means she is well-versed in recommending books to readers and finding great titles for herself.
Lately, though, Meredith has struggled to find the five-star reads that leave her in the best kind of tears at book's end. She's already tried a few solutions that haven't much helped, so she and Anne will dig deeper into what's going on and what tactics might put Meredith back on track to find these standout titles she's seeking. Anne hopes to leave Meredith with more insight into what exactly is going on here, plus ideas for titles and techniques that might just turn this trend around in the year to come and find plenty of stunners that she'll be glad she read.
Find the list of titles discussed today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/512.
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