The Currently Reading Podcast

Meredith and Kaytee are chatting about current reads and how to squeeze more satisfaction out of your reading life today! You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a big change in the reader status of a family member, and a new bookish podcast you'll love. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We're chatting about books from writing teams, and sequels and classics that go down easy. For our deep dive this week, we are talking about making 2020 your best reading year yet. Does that mean more books? Maybe. But perhaps it means better books and more time to read them. What are your favorite tips for reading more or better? Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a young adult selection perfect for February in more ways than one and a murder-y book that is cold as well as bone-chilling. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Bookish Moments: 4:24 - Diving In Podcast Current Reads: 6:10 - Murder As A Fine Art by David Morrell 9:33 - Book Drop Book subscription box 9:51 - The Network by LC Shaw 10:01 - Liv Constantine's books 10:26 - The Pelican Brief by John Grisham 10:27 - The Firm by John Grisham 12:54 - You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen 13:04 - Book of the Month 16:04 - An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen 16:07 - The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen 17:23 - El Deafo by Cece Bell 17:32 - Bonus episode for Patrons 17:43 - Relish by Lucy Knisley 19:09 - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 25:46 - Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman 25:53 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman 28:28 - The Toll by Neal Shusterman Deep Dive - How to Read More: 31:46 - Episode 6 of Currently Reading 33:55 - Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Trebole and Elyse Recsh 37:53 - Libby app through your local library 39:21 - Audible - try it for free 39:29 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 40:58 - My favorite earbuds by SoundPeats Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands: 45:04 - The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon 46:03 - (her other one) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon 46:53 - Episode 5 of Currently Reading 47:03 - All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage 48:10 - The Current by Tim Johnston 48:15 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Kaytee and Mindy are handling this week while Meredith recovers from surgery. We are so glad to have Mindy step in during tough times! As we get started, you'll hear our first advertisement on the podcast. We have always said we'd be extremely discerning about advertisers, so Book of the Month was a perfect match for us, since we are both loyal (paying) customers. We hope you'll give them a try and get your first book for just $9.99 when you use the code CURRENTLYREADING! If you're interested, please use our link so they know we sent you. You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a bookish sticker from an online friend, and a "book dictionary" brag that occurred at a local bookstore. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. Every single book this week was a "turn" from the previous title discussed, so we are running the gamut. For our deep dive this week, we are chatting about reading while sick. Mindy and Kaytee were both battling viruses this week of different kinds, so we talk about how illness effects our reading lives and the tips we have to keep reading while you're not feeling 100 percent. Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a brick of a biography and a collection of stories that will open your heart. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Announcement: 1:37 - Book of the Month - OUR FIRST SPONSOR! (the following are Goodreads links because we hope you'll check out BOTM if you're interested in any of them!) 2:56 - The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare 3:28 - The Holdout by Graham Moore Bookish Moments: 10:11 - @flypaperproducts on Instagram 10:45 - Op.Cit Books in Santa Fe, NM 11:40 - Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale Current Reads: 12:57 - Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde 15:31 - The Lady From the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara 15:49 - Episode 176 of What Should I Read Next 18:37 - Reading Glasses Podcast 19:01 - The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall 22:14 - Searching For Sunday: Loving Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans 22:44 - A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans 23:15 - The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall 25:45 - Night Theater by Vikram Paralkar 25:28 - 15 Books by Small Presses article 26:01 - Patreon and the Currently Reading Bookish Friends! 28:55 - The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 30:13 - Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo 35:59 - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds Deep Dive - SIck Reading: 38:54 - Mindy's Bluetooth Sleep Mask 42:36 - How to Survive a Plague by David France 44:26 - Beartown by Fredrick Backman 44:28 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 44:29 - Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands: 47:05 - Bonhoffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas 50:21 - Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle 51:55 - I'll Have What Phil's Having on PBS

Meredith and Kaytee are giddying up with a new episode of spicy opinions. You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: a new, most favorite ever, local bookshop win, and a triumphant return to the library. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. There's a whole slew of goodness in here, as well as a plea for a certain title from a certain author, and reflections on re-reading a decades-old favorite. We've got a brief Slow But Steady update to share with you and then it's onward to our deep dive. For our deep dive this week, we are chatting about cozy mysteries. Why read them? What makes a mystery cozy? What are Meredith's favorite titles in the canon? Do they require baking and puns? Inquiring minds need to know. Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a tale reminiscent of the old west and a fun bookish fictional title that we both adore. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Bookish Moments: 2:01 - Fabled Bookshop in Waco, TX 4:23 - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4:33 - Currently Reading's Top 10 Reads of 2019 Current Reads: 5:19 - Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore 5:45 - The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare 8:15 - The Long Call by Ann Cleeves 8:27 - Raven Black (the Shetland Series) by Ann Cleeves 8:49 - Louise Penny Interview with Ann Cleeves 12:58 - The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan 17:10 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 17:11 - The Home Maker by Dorothy Canfield 18:19 - Beauty by Robin McKinley 18:22 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 18:25 - The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson 21:01 - The Hunger by Alma Katsu 22:09 - Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 24:14 - Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson 25:10 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 25:12 - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 26:20 - Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat 26:24 - The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 28:25 - The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan 29:26 - Salt Fat Acid Heat on Netflix 29:42 - Somebody Feed Phil (and I'll Have What Phil's Having) on Netflix Slow But Steady: 30:14 - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 30:30 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 31:13 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 32:01 - Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry Deep Dive - Cozy Mysteries: 34:15 - Louise Penny (ahem, NOT cozy) 38:58 - Aunt Dimity Series by Nancy Atherton 40:18 - The Secret, Book, and Scone Society by Ellery Adams (Book 2) (Book 3) 41:20 - Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson 41:31 - On What Grounds (The Coffeehouse Mysteries) by Cleo Coyle 41:43 - Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs 42:09 - The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (The Cat Who… Series) by Lillian Jackson Braun 42:24 - Agatha Raisin series and Hamish MacBeth series by M.C. Beaton 42:53 - The Unexpected Mrs. Polifax (Mrs. Polifax series) by Dorothy Gillman 43:05 - A Murder At the Vicarage (Miss Marple series) by Agatha Christie 43:24 - Death on Demand by Carolyn G. Hart 43:56 - Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters 46:00 - @howjessreads on Instagram (check out her #sillysundayshelf collections!) Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands: 46:53 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 47:02 - Miss Jane by Brad Watson 47:09 - MomAdvice Book Club with Amy Allen Clark 47:18 - Amy's Interview with the author, Brad Watson 49:39 - The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

Kaytee and Mindy are chatting this week while Meredith hosts a leadership retreat in Waco, TX. You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host: stealing a book out of the hands of a reader, and helping another rediscover her love of "fun" reading. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We've got YA and WWII and memoir and coming-of-age novels to chat about and we cannot wait to share those opinions with you! For our deep dive this week, we are chatting about the kids' book club that Mindy started for her 11 year old son. We're talking about logistics and book picks and what the kiddos talk about, and it's a great discussion that's sure to inspire a reader in your life. Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: one from a new "author crush" and one that has been referenced so many times on the podcast that it has finally earned its place on the Press list. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Bookish Moments: 4:04 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman Current Reads: 5:19 - Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 13:10 - One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus 15:29 - One of Us is Next by Karen McManus 16:05 - The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China by Frank Langfitt 16:31 - @montanaonlineteacher on Instagram 20:14 - From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein 23:18 - The Gatekeepers: How White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple 23:20 - Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonoco 24:11 - The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel 27:27 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal 28:03 - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery 31:03 - How to Be A Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery Deep Dive into Kids' Book Clubs: 36:42 - Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 36:44 - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen 37:55 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 40:59 - The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff 43:30 - Book Club discussion questions 46:16 - Other books the boys have discussed: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend, Holes by Louis Sachar Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands: 47:08 - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds 47:26 - Dataclysm by Christian Rudder 48:09 - @cheesehead.reader on Instagram 48:10 - @katieproctorwritesandreads on Instagram 48:32 - Scribd membership - try it for 60 days free! 51:39 - Ghost by Jason Reynolds 52:45 - Season 1, Episode 3 52:47 - The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 54:31 - The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Meredith and Kaytee are back with the episode you've been waiting for. Our favorite books of 2019! Rather than spending time on all our regular segments, we are diving right into the good stuff. No Bookish Moments, no Current Reads, no Deep Dive, no Pressed books, just a reflection on our 2019 reading year and then the top 10 lists you've been waiting for! We are each sharing 10 books we LOVED this year (plus a couple bonus picks that we slide in under the radar). We do a lot of gushing, we have a lot of words, and we think this episode contains the real gems for us and readers like us. If you have books you think we'll love based on these lists, put them in the comments! If you agree or disagree with a pick, put that in the comments as well! We love hearing from you! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Let's Talk About Stats, Baby: 3:22 - Kaytee on Goodreads 3:23 - Kaytee's spreadsheet (with excessive stats) comes from the BookRiot spreadsheet with some special modifications. You can grab a copy directly from BookRiot though! Patrons get my copy with all the bonus challenges and stats already included. 3:26 - 2020 Reading Journal Top 10 Lists: (Titles in Italics and parentheses are books we mentioned that are not part of the official top 10 list) 13:40 - Sweep by Jonathan Auxier 14:11 - (Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier) 15:02 - Winterhouse by Ben Guterson 15:41 - (Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson - book 2) 15:46 - (The Winterhouse Mysteries by Ben Guterson - book 3) 16:14 - Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski 16:28 - (Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski) 17:08 - A Better Man by Louise Penny 18:50 - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow 19:56 - The Whisper Man by Alex North 20:00 - (Book of the Month subscription) 20:59 - The Passengers by John Marrs 21:11 - (The One by John Marrs) 22:02 - The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye 22:11 - Episode when listeners press books into OUR hands 23:23 - Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts 25:08 - The Current by Tim Johnston 25:15 - (Shelf Subscription from Bookshelf Thomasville) 27:31 - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo 29:28 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 31:28 - (Sarah's Bookshelves Life interview with Garrett) 32:00 - We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter 33:20 - American Royals by Katherine McGee 35:13 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal 37:06 - (Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry) 37:40 - (The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides) 37:44 - The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth 39:41 - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead 39:57 - (Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead) 40:54 - The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich 42:39 - The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall 44:47 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Kaytee and Meredith are excited for a new year and some new bookish recommendations! As always, we start out with a "bookish moment of the week" from each host. Some fame-treatment and bonus reading time. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We've got five-star books and strong opinions and all the things you love in this segment this week, so it's a fun one! We are skipping our Slow But Steady check-in this week, but be sure to chime in with your picks on Instagram or Facebook for this challenge! For our deep dive, we are throwing some serious side-eye at the Goodreads Best Books of 2019 lists and the ways these collections are put together. We have STRONG opinions about the winners for a number of these categories, but it's not all negative. We'll also share our picks for "best lists that actually reflect good 2019 reading" with you. Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we're trying something a little different with a "guest press" this week, and including a category of book that has never shown up on the press list before. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Current Reads: 6:52 - Bookshelf Thomasville Shelf Subscriptions 7:01 - The Last by Hannah Jameson 9:37 - Stephen King's books 9:38 - Agatha Christie's books 9:56 - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 11:10 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 11:20 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 11:21 - Run by Ann Patchett 11:22 - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 11:23 - This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett 11:27 - The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett 11:32 - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 18:18 - The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Carlson 18:30 - Read Aloud Revival 20:05 - The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 21:19 - Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness 21:22 - Naturally Tan by Tan France 24:57 - @girlaboutlibrary on Instagram 25:04 - The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich 26:46 - Furious Hours by Casey Cep 30:05 - Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat 30:13 - Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines Deep Dive: 34:35 - Goodreads Best of 2019 List: 35:18 - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 36:10 - Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 36:18 - Audible's Best of 2019 List 37:08 - Recursion by Blake Crouch 37:31 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 37:49 - The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 38:40 - The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan 39:43 - Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis 40:07 - Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 40:20 - Book of the Month (DJ&TS is their Book of the Year) 40:38 - The Five by Hallie Rubenhold 40:45 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 41:11 - Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis 41:13 - American Royals by Katherine McGee 41:25 - Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness 43:14 - New York Times Best of 2019 List 43:16 - NPR's Best of 2019 List 43:24 - Libraryreads.org Best of 2019 List 44:03 - Lithub.com best of best of lists 44:33 - Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout 44:34 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 44:36 - Normal People by Sally Rooney 45:00 - Amy Allen Clark at Momadvice.com best of 2019 List Presses: 47:37 - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 50:14 - El Deafo by CeCe Bell

Meredith and Kaytee are joined by Mindy today in a three-host show full of bookish delights. You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host. A book club win for kids, a book train with friends, and strong opinions about a bookish movie. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. There's some serious gushing over books in this week's titles, plus a couple "I didn't like this" strong opinions. Hold onto your earbuds. We are doing a brief Slow But Steady check-in this week to let you know what we're choosing for our next reads for this challenge. For our deep dive this week, we are playing around with book pairings for TV shows that we've enjoyed in the past. We each chose two shows to dive deep into and then find ways to replicate some of those same feelings in our reading. What fun! Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got a "very favorite" read-aloud book, one that will work, even if you're down to the wire on a challenge category, and a book that is perfect for gift-giving. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Announcements: 1:19 - Episode 32 of Season 1 1:45 - 2020 Reading Challenge Printable 2:38 - 2020 Reading Journal for purchase (free for Patrons!) Bookish Moments: 4:57 - Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman 6:38 - Eye of the Elephant by Delia and Mark Owens 6:42 - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 7:43 - A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer 8:13 - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Current Reads: 10:34 - Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beales 13:55 - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 14:42 - Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson 18:17 - Wild Robot by Peter Brown 21:41 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 22:00 - Episode 38 of Season 1 22:16 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 23:04 - Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul 26:42 - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates 28:10 - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 31:24 - City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert 31:57 - Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Slow But Steady: 36:22 - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates 36:40 - Gone with The Wind by Margaret Mitchell 37:10 - The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile 37:29 - The Art of Typing by Ginger Lapig-Bogda 38:18 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling 38:20 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling 38:24 - East of Eden by John Steinbeck 38:30 - Les Miserables by Victor Hugo 38:40 - Persuasion by Jane Austen 38:48 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Deep Dive: Pairings with Grey's Anatomy: 40:22 - Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult 40:49 - The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory 41:19 - The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin Pairings with Parenthood: 42:09 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal 42:24 - The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown Pairings with West Wing: 43:43 - Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonico 44:28 - The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple 45:03 - Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin 45:19 - The Brethren by John Grisham 45:22 - Term Limits by Vince Flynn Pairings with Dr. Quinn or When Calls the Heart: 46:37 - Christy by Catherine Marshall 47:15 - Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness by Robert Specht Pairings with Elementary: 49:06 - Sherlock Holmes canon by Arthur Conan Doyle 49:37 - The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz 49:54 - The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz 50:11 - A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas 50:38 - A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George Pairings with Dexter: 51:17 - Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsey 51:25 - You by Caroline Kepnes 51:45 - My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing 52:11 - The One by John Marrs Presses: 52:58 - Episode 32 of Season 1 53:07 - I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borden de Trevino 54:18 - Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 56:03 - The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini 56:11 - Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini

Kaytee and Meredith are back and chatting about all the books this week. We've got surgery updates and silliness and everything in between. You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host. We're virtually joining in on a trip to a local booklover's heaven, and sitting on the couch binging books together. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. Romance, and mystery, non-fiction, and YA. We're chatting about all that we've been reading lately, even if it doesn't jive with previous opinions on the show! Our Slow But Steady check in is going to move to every once in a while instead of every week. You can still check in on Instagram or Facebook, but this is an "off" week for this segment. For our deep dive this week, we are excited to talk about what makes us skip or DNF (do not finish) a book. Some of these might be obvious to long-time listeners of the show, but some surprised us as well as each other, so let us know what you think and what you discover about your OWN reading tendencies here. We are SO interested to hear it! Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: first, a small "bonus press" to add some hilarity to your December, and then a tribute to a recently deceased author, and something to press into the young adults' hands in your life. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . Bookish Moments: 2:03 - BookPeople in Austin, TX Current Reads: 8:54 - A Knife at the Opera by Susannah Stacey 10:15 - Agatha Christie books 11:01 - Dorothy Simpson books 11:32 - Episode 8 of Season 2 with Anne Bogel 11:34 - The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams 15:34 - The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare 15:58 - Do You Mind if I Cancel? by Gary Janetti 17:45 - David Sedaris books 17:27 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 19:12 - Fair Play by Eve Rodsky 19:20 - Episode 14 of Season 2 with Lori Lynn Tucker 23:12 - American Royals by Katherine McGee 29:08 - Underground Airlines by Ben Winters 29:43 - Dear Martin by Nic Stone 30:49 - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Deep Dive: 35:24 - Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow 35:29 - Doris Kearns Goodwin books 42:52 - Episode 7 of Season 1 with Jessica Turner 42:57 - I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown Presses: 45:20 - Santaland Diaries Audio from NPR 46:24 - Lunch Money by Andrew Clements 48:15 - Frindle by Andrew Clements 48:16 - Troublemaker by Andrew Clements 48:58 - I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Meredith is recording with a special guest this week and has a big announcement, so be sure you tune in right at the top! You'll hear again from our friend Mindy Brouse, best friend of the show and reader extraordinaire. You'll hear a "bookish moment of the week" from each host. These bookish moments have a common thread in that they involve real life pressing books into the hands of friends and the reactions of those friends. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. We've got books spanning genres and time periods and continents. We've got ones that will spark discussion, we've got books that'll leave your heart aflutter. It's a great week of book talk! Our Slow But Steady check in is going to move to every once in a while instead of every week. You can still check in on Instagram on the regular, but we're not going to keep banging the "I've got very little to report" drum. Thanks to the listener survey and all your great feedback! For our deep dive this week, Meredith and Mindy are chatting about raising readers of all ages. There are some really fantastic tips and some great encouragement in this episode, friends. Even if you don't have kids (or don't like kids), I'm guessing you know a reader in your life who would love to hear this chunk, so pass it along! Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: we've got one that has been mentioned many times on the podcast but never "pressed" and one that should be in your box of Christmas books that you haul out every December. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . 1:22 - Episode 32 of Season 1 with Mindy Brouse 4:33 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 6:56 - The "Press" List 7:03 - The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar 9:50 - 2020 Reading Challenge 10:10 - A Warning by Anonymous 13:37 - The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar 16:50 - Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia 19:02 - Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman 20:35 - The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali 24:25 - The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry 25:07 - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 25:13 - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens 28:47 - Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde 36:24 - Charlotte's Web by E.B. White 36:27 - Redwall by Brian Jacques 36:30 - Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 36:31 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 36:33 - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling 38:42 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Kaytee's note here: check out this episode of Read Aloud Revival for the benefits of kids re-reading a graphic novel every freaking day) 40:31 - Wings of Fire by Tui T. Stevenson 41:09 - Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan 41:10 - Eragon series by Christopher Paolini 43:46 - Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 43:52 - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 45:21 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 46:45 - Books We've Pressed List 47:27 - Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend 47:46 - Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry Connect with Mindy: @gratefulforgrace on Instagram

Kaytee and Meredith are ready to chat about all the books again this week. Hang on to your hats! You'll hear our combined "bookish moment of the week": the Patron discussion with Diane Chamberlain about her book, and then a bit of getting vulnerable about the technological snafu that resulted. Next, we discuss our current reads for the week. These are six books that are all VERY different in content and tone and all the ways that books can be different. It's a great ride. Our Slow But Steady check in is short and sweet, just like you like it! For our deep dive this week, we are tackling the final category in the 2019 Reading Challenge: a book that is scary for some reason and we're examining what makes us scared as readers. It might not be what you expect! Finally, this week, we are Pressing Books into Your Hands: a wonderful book that will make a favorite movie shine even more brightly and a beloved curmudgeon book with a young woman protagonist! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* . . . . . 1:10 - 2019 Currently Reading Challenge 1:32 - 2020 Currently Reading Challenge 4:26 - Patreon 4:29 - The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain 7:32 - The Castle in the Mist by Amy Ephron 10:26 - The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson 11:40 - A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson 15:10 - Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines 18:05 - Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand 21:01 - Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 21:22 - The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand 21:57 - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 22:42 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 22:49 - Episode 16 with Sarah Dickinson (and) Sarah's Interview with Garrett Graff 28:01 - Red at the Bone by Jaqueline Woodson 30:47 - The Road Back to You by Suzanne Stabile and Ian Morgan Cron 31:05 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 31:25 - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nahesi Coates 31:49 - A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson 32:13 - The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 32:37 - Beloved by Toni Morrison 33:28 - 2019 Currently Reading Challenge 34:52 - The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule 35:48 - Six Stories by Matt Weselowski 35:57- Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware 35:58 - Lock Every Door by Riley Sager 36:00 - The One by John Marrs 36:01 - The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay 37:32 - Bird Box by Josh Malerman 37:43 - The Whisper Man by Alex North 39:00 - White Fragility by Robin D'Angelo 39:02 - So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown (I squashed these together reading too fast from my notes when I mentioned them!) 39:04 - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 39:33 - Evicted by Matthew Desmond 39:47 - I Think You're Wrong But I'm Listening by Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland 40:52 - The Snowman by Jo Nesbo 41:40 - 2020 Currently Reading Challenge 41:35 - 2020 llustrated Reading Journal (free for Patrons) 44:21 - As You Wish by Cary Elwes 45:50 - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman 46:44 - A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman 46:45 - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion