Book Talk Etc. Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Tackling the Book Talk Etc. Reading Challenge Prompts
Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Tina (@tbretc) & Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)

Episode Overview

In this lively, conversational episode, Tina and Hannah dive into their annual Book Talk Etc. Reading Challenge for 2026. They candidly discuss how themed reading challenges shape their reading habits as self-professed mood readers, dissect this year’s thoughtfully crafted challenge prompts, and share a broad range of book recommendations fitting some of these categories. The conversation weaves bookish advice, humor, and deep dives into recent reads, providing listeners with inspiration for their own TBRs and motivation to approach reading challenges—no matter their reading style.

Key Discussion Points

Reading Challenge Philosophy and Prompt Design

• Intent of the Challenge:

  • Encourages readers to step out of their comfort zones with unique, sometimes quirky prompts.
  • Unlike past years, not all prompts are based on episode themes; this year’s are more “niche and specific.”
  • Both hosts reflect on how playful and inventive prompts poise them to read more thoughtfully and intentionally.

• Mood Readers & Challenges:

  • Tina and Hannah discuss how mood reading sometimes clashes with structured challenges and how they’ve found ways to make challenges a positive, motivating force rather than a chore.

• Community & Participation:

  • Over 219 participants in StoryGraph.
  • Hosts encourage sharing picks on social media and the fun of seeing how everyone interprets prompts differently.

Loving Lately [03:15–08:55]

Tina’s Pick:

OGX Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil

• Hair oil for moisture and repair, smells like coconut and vanilla.
• Pro tip: good for slicked-back styles and works as a pre-shampoo mask.
  • “If you have thick, fine hair, use only on the ends, but I love how silky and healthy my hair feels.” [04:19–04:29]

Hannah’s Pick:

The Antiquarian Sticker Book

• 1000 Victorian-themed stickers, great for decorating reading journals.
• Stickers are organized by theme (flora/fauna, hands, animals, etc.) and include letter stickers for fun title pages.
  • “People, animals, nature. Some are just abstract. This has been a really fun addition to my reading journal.” [07:32–08:32]

Bonus Side Chat:

• The difference between being a bibliophile and bibliomania, with some Googling fun.
  • “Bibliophilia is the deep love of books… distinguished from the compulsive hoarding of bibliomania.” —Tina [09:35–10:19]

Recent Reads & Recommendations

Endling by Maria Reva [10:49 – 17:02]

Tina’s Read

• Premise:
  • Set in Ukraine, 2022. Features Yeva, a scientist obsessed with saving rare snails, who moonlights as a romance tour guide for Westerners. Joined by Nastya and Sol, rebellious sisters entangled in the marriage tourism industry as a protest against their feminist mother.
  • As Russia invades, the women and a group of bachelors become trapped in a mobile lab.
• Structure:
  • The novel shifts into metafiction as the author writes herself into the narrative.
  • “Part two… really takes a hard shift. The author inserts herself into the story.”
• Tone:
  • Literary, experimental, with dark humor and social commentary.
• Recommendation Level:
  • “A light recommendation” for readers seeking inventive literary fiction and metafiction who aren’t put off by heavy topics or narrative experimentation.
• Audiobook Note:
  • Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, “one of my favorite audiobook narrators… try the audio or do a tandem read.” [16:51–17:01]

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy [18:05 – 25:36]

Hannah’s & Tina’s Joint Read

• Premise:
  • Centers on Waldo, a sharp, lonely 17-year-old obsessed with her creative writing teacher, Mr. Corgi—a man twice her age, weighed down by midlife burdens.
• Voice & Style:
  • “Raw… visceral… from the first page, you are kind of punched in the face by the tone—sexual, crass, hilarious, extremely strong voice.” —Hannah [20:34–20:49]
• Themes:
  • Obsession, complicated mother-daughter relationships, coming-of-age, and the emotional aftermath of inappropriate relationships.
  • “She [McCurdy] is seeing something and putting to words feelings that I think a lot of young women feel.” —Tina [21:01–21:07]
  • Candid discussion on how McCurdy’s memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died” elucidates themes in this novel.
• Recommendation Level:
  • Both hosts rate it five stars and stress it’s not for everyone but praise the strong writing and authenticity.
  • “We’re not endorsing this type of relationship and the book doesn’t either.” —Hannah [24:20–24:29]

Book Talk Etc. 2026 Reading Challenge: Deep Dive [25:40–36:19]

• Unique Prompts Spotlighted:
  • Year of the Horse: “Read a book about horses, with a horse on the cover, or horse in the title.” —Tina [26:46–27:30]
  • Pantone ‘Cloud Dancer’: “A book with clouds on the cover or the word cloud in the title… It’s surprising how many you have!” —Hannah [28:23–29:08]
  • Victorian Setting: “Victorian aesthetic… I’d love to read more with that setting.” —Hannah [29:19–29:58]
  • Published in Your Birth Decade: “Based on Readathon prompts… riffing for the broader challenge.” —Tina [30:37–30:49]
  • Nonfiction with a Niche Topic: “The world is full of so many nerds and weirdos and I love that.” —Hannah [31:01–31:50]
• Strategies and Mindset:
  • Both hosts extol the fun of “finding the perfect book already on your TBR for an oddball prompt.”
  • Not completionist? That’s okay! “Try a couple, have fun, no pressure.” [36:19–36:21]

More Reading Challenge Talk [36:19–41:04]

• Other Challenge Participation:
  • Buzzword Reading Challenge & Book Riot’s Read Harder: Hannah references these for extra motivation if she’s in a slump.
  • Tina participates in the Aspen Words Literary Prize and patron-run readathons.
• Benefits Mentioned:
  • Reading challenges encourage higher-rated, more intentional reading and combat the habit of defaulting to “meh” new releases.

Book Recommendations (Challenge Prompts & Beyond)

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach [36:56–42:23]

• Prompt: Niche Nonfiction
• Summary:
  • Humorous, insightful look at how human bodies are used after death (medical research, crash test dummies, space travel and more).
  • “Morbid humor… didn’t find it disrespectful. Kind of a gallows humor.” —Tina [38:06–38:07]
• Recommendation Level:
  • Highly recommended for medicine, science, or morbid curiosity fans; note for squeamish readers.

Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer [42:23–49:04]

• Prompt: Niche Nonfiction
• Summary:
  • True crime examining 14 female serial killers with a feminist lens.
  • “Definitely has a feminist lens… challenges what we think we know about violence and gender.” —Hannah [42:23–42:46]
• Critiques:
  • Repetitive structure, but notable for the social commentary.
  • “This is a light recommendation… gave me a lot to think about.” —Hannah [48:14–49:04]

October Sky (aka Rocket Boys) by Homer Hickam [49:11–54:27]

• Prompt: Sky on the Cover / Book Owned the Longest
• Summary:
  • Memoir about a West Virginia boy’s rocket obsession and coming of age during the space race.
  • “It felt like listening to your papa tell you a story about his childhood…” —Tina [50:23–50:34]
• Recommendation Level:
  • Well-written, draws parallels with present-day cultural anxieties—recommended for Americana/space history fans.

Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne & Anthony LeDonne [55:38–60:06]

• Prompt: Romantic Comedy
• Summary:
  • NYC lawyer gets a concussion, her ex-husband is called as her emergency contact, forcing a hilarious, forced proximity holiday trip.
  • “[It] feels like a ‘90s rom com. It’s really funny… everything that could go wrong goes wrong.” —Hannah [56:13–57:44]
• Recommendation Level:
  • A solid, funny rom-com, perfect for fans of breezy, low-stakes romance.

Shelf Additions [60:36–64:18]

The Hostess by Courtney Sacks [60:36–62:32]

• Psychological thriller: city couple rents a luxe Hamptons home; dark secrets uncovered.

This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman [62:32–64:09]

• Multi-generational grief and reconciliation drama about two sisters reconciling after a decade-long rift.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Bibliophilia is the deep love of books, encompassing reading them, collecting them, and appreciating them… distinguished from the compulsive hoarding of bibliomania.” —Tina [09:35–10:19]
• “Clouds are everywhere.” —Tina, on the abundance of cloud-themed book covers [17:36–17:50]
• “If you want to read something that’s literary, that’ll make you work a little bit, but also does entertain, I’d recommend this.” —Tina on Endling [16:22–16:32]
• “From the first page, you are kind of punched in the face by the tone—sexual, crass, hilarious, extremely strong voice.” —Hannah on Half His Age [20:44–20:49]
• “This book overall is about Waldo and her obsession with this teacher. And it is raw… It is really visceral.” —Hannah [18:32–18:44]
• “Try a couple challenges. The worst that’ll happen is you don’t get to it. Not the biggest deal.” —Tina [36:19–36:21]

Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19 – Introduction to podcast/theme
• 03:15 – Loving Lately segment (hair oil & sticker books)
• 10:49 – Main recent read: Endling
• 18:05 – Half His Age (joint read)
• 25:40 – Deep dive into Reading Challenge prompts
• 36:56 – Challenge books: Niche nonfiction (Stiff, Lady Killers)
• 49:11 – October Sky: TBR shelf winner
• 55:38 – Emergency Contact (rom com)
• 60:36 – Shelf Additions
• 64:18 – Outro / closing remarks

Final Thoughts

Tina and Hannah reaffirm the joys of reading for fun but advocate for challenges as a way to reinvigorate reading routines, discover backlist gems, and foster community. Their “no pressure, all fun” approach invites listeners to adapt the challenge to their needs—just try a prompt or two, share your picks, and remember, “everything’s better with books.”