What Should I Read Next? Ep 520: Why are so many promising-sounding titles not working for me?
Kelly Krause, a first-grade teacher and avid reader from Northwest Arkansas, wants more four- and five-star picks. She talks about trusting seasonal reading rhythms, trying verse novels and hopeful, emotionally participatory stories. They discuss writing reviews as a way to reflect and sharpen future choices, plus tailored recommendations in historical and character-driven fiction.
55:18
Audio Conversation Made Jane Goodall Feel Close
- Kelly loved The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall because the conversational audio format and Goodall's voice made the material inspiring.
- She enjoyed the interview style with Doug Abrams and found Goodall's life story motivating.
Cozy WWII Rivalry Hooked Her
- Kelly enjoyed The Kitchen Front as historical fiction that handled WWII's hardships with a cozy, British Bake Off style rivalry and evolving friendships.
- She values historical settings that make hard topics approachable rather than overwhelming.
Hard Books Need Hopeful Payoff
- Kelly likes hard books when they ultimately avoid bleak endings and offer hope or empathy, explaining why Beartown still appealed despite its difficulty.
- She spaces heavy reads and values emotional payoff over relentless darkness.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
Meet Kelly: teacher, reader, family life
04:54 • 2min
Kelly's reading habits and seasonal rhythms
06:46 • 36sec
Why Kelly came to the show
07:22 • 1min
Kelly considers writing reviews to reflect
08:39 • 33sec
Ad break
09:13 • 1min
Three books Kelly loves
10:31 • 2min
The Book of Hope: why it resonated
12:38 • 2min
The Kitchen Front's cozy take on WWII
14:12 • 1min
The Poet X: discovering verse novels
15:31 • 2min
A book that missed: The Ministry of Time
17:54 • 2min
Recent reads: what worked and why
20:22 • 6min
Identifying Kelly's preferred tone
26:22 • 2min
Ad break
28:26 • 3min
Scanning Kelly's 'personal curriculum'
31:02 • 3min
Spot-checking Wild Dark Shore and others
33:56 • 35sec
The Lion Women of Tehran recommendation
34:31 • 3min
Born a Crime as an audio fit
37:33 • 1min
The Correspondent described
38:33 • 3min
Additional tailored recommendations
41:25 • 8min
How to write useful book reviews
49:45 • 3min
Practical review rubric for Kelly
52:56 • 3min
Recap and next reads for Kelly
56:17 • 57sec
Outro
57:14 • 1min
#59460
The Gown
Jennifer Robson
In 1947 London, embroiderers Ann Hughes, a working-class Englishwoman, and Miriam Dassin, a French Holocaust survivor, work at Norman Hartnell's fashion house and are selected to stitch the intricate details on Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown amid post-war hardships.
In 2016 Toronto, Heather Mackenzie inherits embroidered flowers from her grandmother that match the royal gown, prompting her journey to London to uncover her Nan's hidden past and connection to Miriam.
The story weaves themes of friendship, resilience, and the unrecognized labor behind royal glamour.
#104940
The Filling Station
Vanessa Miller
#59942
Grief cottage
Gail Godwin
Gail Godwin's 'Grief Cottage' centers on a young boy who moves in with his reclusive artist aunt after his mother's death, uncovering family secrets and local mysteries.
Set on a Florida shoreline, the novel weaves elements of Southern Gothic with contemplative meditations on loss, belonging, and the passage of time.
A nearby abandoned cottage and the nesting cycles of sea turtles provide evocative natural imagery that parallels the characters' emotional journeys.
Godwin's prose emphasizes atmosphere and character psychology over plot-driven spectacle, making for a quietly immersive reading experience.
Readers drawn to lyrical, reflective fiction with regional color will find this novel appealing.
#62712
The Kitchen Front
Jennifer Ryan
Jennifer Ryan's novel follows a group of women who compete on a wartime cooking program in the British countryside during World War II. The story blends the pressures of wartime rationing with the camaraderie and rivalries that develop among contestants, offering a warmer, more inviting take on wartime fiction.
Through richly drawn domestic details and interpersonal dynamics, the book explores themes of resilience, creativity, and community in hard times.
The tone balances the seriousness of the historical setting with moments of humor and hope.
Readers who enjoy emotionally resonant, character-driven historical fiction will likely appreciate this novel.
#48360
Evansong
Gail Godwin
Gail Godwin's 'Evensong' is among her body of novels that examine complex female interiority and relationships within richly rendered settings.
Known for nuanced character studies, Godwin's writing often blends domestic detail with spiritual and emotional inquiry.
'Evensong' contributes to her reputation for thoughtful literary fiction that lingers on memory and personal reckoning.
Readers familiar with Godwin appreciate her contemplative prose and focus on character-driven plots.
The book contextually supports recommendations of Godwin's other works for readers interested in Southern or coastal literary fiction.
#88029
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Society
Martha Hall Kelly
Martha Hall Kelly's novel centers on stories tied to Martha's Vineyard during wartime, including army drills and rumored U-boat activity, drawing inspiration from familial anecdotes and historical research.
The book continues Kelly's interest in illuminating overlooked aspects of 20th-century life through the eyes of layered female protagonists.
With strong period detail and emotional arcs, the novel explores community, secrecy, and the ripple effects of world events on local lives.
Kelly's storytelling blends meticulous research with accessible, character-focused narratives that make complex history relatable.
The work appeals to readers who enjoy multi-perspective historical fiction grounded in real archival curiosities.
#2261
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
Ministry of Time
Callie Ann Bradley
#86577
Love and Saffron
Kim Fay
Kim Fay's 'Love and Saffron' is a novel centered on the ties of friendship, food, and family, often delivered through epistolary or intimately narrated scenes.
The book explores relationships and culinary traditions, using food as a connective and revelatory device among characters.
Its warm, sensory prose has made it a popular choice for community readings and paired events.
The novel's themes lend themselves to collaborations with local restaurants and literary gatherings.
Readers appreciate its intimate tone and its capacity to inspire communal conversations about memory and connection.
#33438
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Keeper of Lost Children
Sadeqa Johnson
Sadeqa Johnson's The Keeper of Lost Children continues her interest in historical narratives that center Black women's experiences, family dynamics, and societal pressures.
Johnson combines meticulous research with emotionally driven storytelling to reveal secrets and injustices that span generations.
The novel likely continues themes of memory, motherhood, and resilience, connecting intimate family drama to broader cultural histories.
Her prose and plotting often produce compelling audio editions praised for their narration and pacing.
Readers of contemporary historical fiction that interrogates lineage and social change are the book's natural audience.
#5680
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
The Correspondent
Virginia Evans
string
#1505
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
Station Eleven
Emily St John Mandel
#17810
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Heartwood
Sarah Blake
#4120
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
The Book of Hope
A Survival Guide for Trying Times
Douglas Abrams
Jane Goodall
In this book, Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams delve into the nature of hope through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue.
Drawing on decades of Goodall's work, the book addresses vital questions about maintaining hope in challenging times.
It outlines Goodall's 'Four Reasons for Hope': The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit.
The book also shares Goodall's personal journey, from her experiences during World War II to her years in Gombe and her role as a global advocate for environmental justice, including her profound revelations about her next and perhaps final adventure.
#1612
• Mentioned in 27 episodes
Born a Crime
Trevor Noah
Born a Crime is an autobiographical comedy book that recounts Trevor Noah's experiences growing up in South Africa during the apartheid era.
The book explores themes of race, culture, and identity as Noah navigates his mixed heritage in a society where interracial relationships were illegal.
It also delves into his family life, including his mother's resilience and his stepfather's abuse, providing a powerful narrative about resilience and identity.
#28341
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Lion Women of Tehran
Marjan Kamali
#10824
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The Poet X
Elizabeth Acevedo
In 'The Poet X', Elizabeth Acevedo crafts a compelling narrative about Xiomara Batista, a fifteen-year-old Dominican girl living in Harlem.
Xiomara uses poetry as a means to express herself and navigate the complexities of her life, including her relationships with her family and her first love.
The novel explores themes of identity, culture, and personal empowerment, winning numerous awards for its impactful storytelling.
#7754
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman
The book follows the life of Ove, a 59-year-old Swedish man who has recently lost his wife and been forced into retirement.
Ove's attempts to end his life are repeatedly interrupted by his new neighbors, particularly Parvaneh, a pregnant Persian woman, and her family.
Through flashbacks, the reader learns about Ove's difficult childhood, his relationship with his wife Sonja, and the significant events that shaped his life.
Despite his grumpy exterior, Ove's interactions with his neighbors and a stray cat lead him to find new purpose and meaning in life.
The story explores themes of grief, friendship, and the impact one person can have on others.
#106225
Kate & Frida
Kim Fay
Kim Fay's 'Kate & Frida' is presented in an epistolary format, using letters to explore the evolving relationship between its principal characters.
The format highlights intimacy, miscommunication, and emotional development across time.
Readers encounter themes of identity, memory, and the small rituals that sustain relationships, framed through personal correspondence.
The novel appeals to those who appreciate character-driven storytelling and the old-fashioned pleasures of letter-writing.
Its structure makes it especially suitable for book clubs and author events centered on analog communication.
Today's guest would love to add more four and five-star picks to her reading list and she's curious about techniques that might help get her there.
Kelly Krause is a first grade teacher who lives in Northwest Arkansas with her family. When Kelly discovers a winning author, it feels like a slam dunk to read the rest of their work. But when it comes to branching out in new directions, Kelly is not as confident.
She's wondering whether devoting more time to reflecting on her reads by analyzing what's worked well or practicing the art of writing book reviews will help her pick more winning titles. Anne can't wait to explore this with Kelly today, along with sharing titles and authors Kelly may enjoy.
Find the list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/520.
Our 15th Summer Reading Guide is coming your way next month! Creating this guide each year is truly a labor of love. Our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and What Should I Read Next? Patreon community members are automatically invited, and we'll also be offering our popular a la carte ticket. To make sure you get the 15th anniversary edition in your inbox and to find out how to join us for our live unboxing event, visit modernmrsdarcy.com/srg.
Chapters
02:25 Meet Kelly
04:47 Kelly’s reading dilemma
07:09 The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams
08:44 The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
10:04 The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
12:27 The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
28:06 The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
35:35 Kate & Frida by Kim Fay
38:58 Grief Cottage by Gail Godwin
50:29 What will Kelly read next?
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