AMERICAN SALVAGE by Bonnie Jo Campbell & SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid. This week, Andrew reads AMERICAN SALVAGE, a short story collection he may have already read, while Bailey tackles SUCH A FUN AGE, a buzzy novel about race, class, and Insta-Fame. We also discuss attempted shame, sit-up contests, and Troad the Trojan. Plus, Bailey and Dillon get stuck in space jail!

The To Read List Podcast

Salvage a Fun Age

SEÑOR VIVO AND THE COCA LORD by Louis de Bernières & CROSSING TO SAFETY by Wallace Stegner. Toby learns a valuable lesson about why some books should remain unread when he tackles Louis de Bernières’ magical realist-ish novel, SEÑOR VIVO AND THE COCA LORD. Bailey, however, has more fun digging into all the happenings (and non-happenings) in Wallace Stegner’s delicate and beautiful CROSSING TO SAFETY. Plus, we check in to see where Toby is in the world and Andrew makes a very dumb game!

Crossing to Coca

WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS by Sally Rooney After years of pretending he read the book, Andrew finally digs into the toxic love story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff No First Name in WUTHERING HEIGHTS. Then, Bailey debates whether the characters in CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS are cruel or just normal people. Plus, we discover the best Kate Bush songs to listen to in Dublin and why we're all Emily Bronte stans!

Wuthering Conversations

THE BOOK OF ULTIMATE TRUTHS by Robert Rankin BLOOD MERIDIAN by Cormac McCarthy This week on the pod, Toby gets over his terror of the cover of Robert Rankin’s THE BOOK OF ULTIMATE TRUTHS to see if the comparisons to Terry Pratchett are justified, and Bailey finds out just how many scalpings are too many scalpings for her during her read of the highly lauded BLOOD MERIDIAN by Cormac McCarthy. We get some road notes from Toby’s first month in the RV, an update on baby Maggie’s unsettling fixation, and play a game Cormac McCarthy would hate!

The Book of Ultimate Blood

PERSUASION by Jane Austen I WANT TO BE WHERE THE NORMAL PEOPLE ARE by Rachel Bloom In this, the first Toby-less episode, we get the chance to share our true thoughts about our cohost. Then, Andrew visits Jane Austen's shadiest family yet with his review of PERSUASION. Finally, Bailey celebrates Rachel Bloom's snark, sparkle, and Spanx in I WANT TO BE WHERE THE NORMAL PEOPLE ARE. Plus: a musical-inspired game that leaves Bailey questioning everything!

I Want to Be the Persuasion

MONEY: A SUICIDE NOTE by Martin Amis WE ARE NEVER MEETING IN REAL LIFE by Samantha Irby   In this week’s episode, Toby tackles an 80s classic – MONEY by Martin Amis – and Bailey reviews the popular WE ARE NEVER MEETING IN REAL LIFE by Samantha Irby. We discuss everything from literary controversy to big bowls of cereal to Daddy issues to writing yourself into your own book. Plus, there’s SHAME galore, and the hosts try to appeal to some famous literary bachelors and bachelorettes. Be nice to cats!

We Are Never Money in Real Life

CONFEDERATES IN THE ATTIC by Tony Horwitz NORTHANGER ABBEY by Jane Austen Andrew and Dillon break down Tony Horwitz's non-fiction exploration of the Civil War obsessed, CONFEDERATES IN THE ATTIC. Then, Bailey reads her first Austen for the podcast! NORTHANGER ABBEY, a melange of social satire, gothic horror, and teenage crushes. Plus, we have an EXTRA SPECIAL GUEST who has strong opinions about Beanie Babies and RV ownership.

Confederates in the Abbey

BLACK HOLE by Charles Burns On the pod this week all four hosts discuss the disgusting, disquieting, damn-good graphic novel BLACK HOLE by Charles Burns. We’ll get into whether or not there are any blonde people in Burns’ woodcut world, engage in the eternal debate between paperback and hardback editions, and briefly mention the long-dead serialized comic Prince Valiant! Plus, a game by Bailey and Dillon???

BLACK HOLE

OUT OF SIGHT by Elmore Leonard A WIND IN THE DOOR by Madeline L'Engle   This week, Toby gets stuck in a trunk with Elmore Leonard for his review of the classic dad book OUT OF SIGHT. Then, Bailey questions whether it's worth it to read a sequel you've had on your shelf for more than 25 years with her review of A WIND IN THE DOOR. Plus, we talk about DC villains, RV road trips, and Beanie Babies named "Libearty."

Out of Door

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern NINTH HOUSE and SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo   In this week’s episode, Bailey reviews a Leigh Bardugo double feature with her adult fantasy novel, NINTH HOUSE, and her YA tale, SHADOW AND BONE. Plus, Andrew takes a trip to THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern. Along the way, there’s talk of secret societies, discussion of Maggie the child’s favorite authors, and a healthy dose of MYSTERY. Hope you enjoy our time under the big top!

63. Circus and Bone

RING SHOUT by P. Djèlí Clark MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN by Jonathan Lethem Which To Read List host is the most scared of racist werewolves? In what time period should you set a story about a detective with Tourette’s Syndrome? What famous author used to live in Bailey's new apartment? How would Fishing Dad track down a serial killer? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this very special episode.

Mother-Ring

THE JUNGLE by Upton Sinclair BLACK SWAN GREEN by David Mitchell In this episode, we journey deep into the muckraking novel beloved of AP History teachers, THE JUNGLE, and then spend some time in the very personal BLACK SWAN GREEN, which is also a place, did you know that? Along the way we examine the life choices of a man who has entered an unreasonable amount of reading challenges, make the 90’s rock band Audioslave roll in their sonic graves, and give you Page-O’s sweet closure on the mysterious purple house in Toby’s old neighborhood.

61. Jungle Swan

THE METAMORPHOSIS AND OTHER STORIES by Franz Kafka THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware In this week's episode, Toby ponders whether Kafka is too Kafkaesque and Bailey dives into lady thrillers with THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10. Plus, we take an ill-fated literary cruise, find books hidden under beds, and ask ourselves "Little Free Library or Bat House?" 

The Metamorphosis in Cabin 10

UNSHELTERED by Barbara Kingsolver MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM by Grady Hendrix   In our 59th Episode, Bailey reads Grady Hendrix’s MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM and Andrew tackles Barbara Kingsolver’s UNSHELTERED. We have a frank discussion about the importance of inclusive language, come up with a lot of nicknames, and explore the virtues of surprising someone with your “shame.” What else? Hard to say – who knows what horrors lurk in the Pine Barrens…

My Best Friend's Shelter

THE BURIED GIANT by Kazuo Ishiguro THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert Join us in Post-Arthurian England as we review Ishiguro's atmospheric fantasy THE BURIED GIANT. Then head to nineteenth century Philadelphia to study moss and spiritual longing with Gilbert's THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS. Plus, we debate the morals of second-hand puzzle buying, if Arthur counts as a knight of the round table, and how dragons take their pasta.

The Signature of All Giants

Most 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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The To Read List Podcast

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