Currently Reading Podcast Season 7, Episode 13: New Kindles + Reviewing Our Spooky Season Reading Release Date: October 28, 2024
Hosts: Meredith Mundy Schwartz and Mary Heim
1. Introduction
In Season 7, Episode 13 of the Currently Reading podcast, hosts Meredith Mundy Schwartz and Mary Heim delve into their latest literary adventures, discuss new reading tools, and navigate the challenges of their spooky season reading. This episode, titled "New Kindles + Reviewing Our Spooky Season Reading," offers a blend of book recommendations, personal insights, and engaging discussions tailored for avid readers looking for their next great read.
2. Bookish Moments of the Week
A. Mary Heim: Embracing Spotify Audiobooks
Mary shares her recent discovery and utilization of Spotify Premium's audiobook feature. Initially skeptical, she found unexpected value in the flexibility and complimentary listening hours provided by her existing Spotify subscription.
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Adaptability: Mary highlights how Spotify's audiobook hours allow her to seamlessly switch between formats without exhausting her audiobook credits from services like Libby or Hoopla.
“If I have a book for book club that isn't going as quickly as I want it to, suddenly I can shift it from just a paper book or Kindle to also pairing it with audio and get it through much more quickly.”
— Mary Heim [03:11] -
Accessibility: The platform offers a broader selection, including new releases, making it a valuable addition to her reading toolkit.
“Spotify Premium has a lot of brand new releases just available and most people, I think are already or a lot of people are already paying for that.”
— Mary Heim [05:36]
Mary encourages listeners to explore this feature, especially those who might have previously dismissed Spotify as a viable audiobook source.
B. Meredith Mundy Schwartz: Pre-Ordering the Kindle Color Soft
Meredith discusses her recent pre-order of the new Kindle Color Soft, highlighting its features and contemplating its integration into her reading routine.
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Motivation: Frustration with glare on her iPad and the aging Kindle Oasis prompted Meredith to explore the new Kindle model.
“I have been doing a lot more reading on my iPad... The glare factor, which is definitely there with an iPad and not with a Kindle.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [08:36] -
Features: The Kindle Color Soft offers color covers and color-coded annotation capabilities, aligning with her preferences for visually organized reading.
“I'm going to buy it... it's very much like the Kindle Oasis, but with color features.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [10:03] -
Concerns: Meredith expresses uncertainty about its acceptance within the reader community and its long-term viability compared to the discontinued Kindle Oasis.
“It will be interesting to see how the Kindle Color Soft does well.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [11:48]
3. Current Reads
A. Mary Heim’s Recommendations
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Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
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Genre: Horror with Indigenous Lore
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Synopsis: Mackenzie faces supernatural horrors intertwining with her grief over her sister Sabrina's death, set against Cree cultural backdrops.
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Highlights: Atmospheric slow burn, exploration of grief, strong family and female relationships, and accessible horror elements.
“This is a story of family, grief and legend that just happens to be seasoned with some horror.”
— Mary Heim [15:58]
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Bit Much by Lindsay Rush
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Genre: Poetry Collection
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Synopsis: Using humor, Lindsay Rush explores the female experience, addressing themes like childbirth, patriarchy, and aging gracefully.
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Highlights: Humorous yet profound insights, relatable themes, and beautifully categorized poems that resonate like heartfelt conversations.
“Reading this book is like sitting down to chat with your girlfriend and saying, yes, yes, yes, you get it.”
— Mary Heim [23:46]
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The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Stephen Banbury
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Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
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Synopsis: Orphan Eve encounters the Pumpkin King in a magical kingdom, facing sinister schemes that threaten her newfound family.
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Highlights: Engaging for both young readers and adults, well-paced plot, rich world-building, and heartwarming father-daughter dynamics.
“It's very sweet, but you know, it's very much geared towards its intended audience and don't get me wrong, that is a good thing.”
— Mary Heim [35:18]
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B. Meredith Mundy Schwartz’s Recommendations
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Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara
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Genre: Domestic Suspense / Crime Fiction
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Synopsis: Julia investigates a TikTok video depicting a masked figure in her attic, unraveling connections to a friend's mysterious death.
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Highlights: Intriguing mystery without excessive violence, well-developed characters, and a satisfying puzzle that maintains logical twists.
“This is a perfect book for you if you are looking for a page turner that doesn't have a lot of violence or gore.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [19:12]
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The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kashimi and Fumitake Koga
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Genre: Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Philosophy
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Synopsis: Through dialogues, the book explores concepts of personal autonomy, happiness, and overcoming past burdens independently of others' expectations.
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Highlights: Philosophical depth, practical insights for personal growth, and controversial yet thought-provoking ideas on trauma and happiness.
“This book spoke to me and as I read it... it both challenged me and it became woven into the fabric of my thinking.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [26:52]
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After Oz by Gordon McAlpine
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Genre: Mystery / Historical Fiction / Fantasy
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Synopsis: Set in 1896 Kansas, Dorothy Gale returns from a tornado with tales of Oz, leading to a murder investigation that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.
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Highlights: Fresh take on classic characters, seamless blend of genres, and compelling exploration of societal biases of the time.
“It's a lovely way to spend some of your mystery reading time. This is After Oz by Gordon McAlpine.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [35:22]
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4. Navigating Spooky Season Reading Challenges
Both hosts candidly discuss the difficulties they've faced during their spooky season reading, attributing the slump to external factors like political uncertainty, anxiety, and unfavorable weather.
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Mary’s Experience:
Mary reflects on the high expectations she sets for spooky season reading, which led to burnout during extensive preparation for her spooky guide. She emphasizes the importance of managing expectations and being kind to oneself when enthusiasm wanes.
“I might have used up a lot of my excitement for spooky season reading in the preparation because I did more prep this year than ever before.”
— Mary Heim [44:30] -
Meredith’s Experience:
Meredith shares that the intense political climate and unusually hot weather have dampened her spooky season vibe. She notes how these factors contribute to a constant state of anxiety, making it harder to immerse herself in spooky-themed books.
“The hot and sunny has been really, really quashing my vibe.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [46:06] -
Shared Insights:
Both hosts recognize the collective struggle among their listeners and themselves, acknowledging that external stressors can significantly impact one’s reading experience. They discuss strategies to cope, such as adjusting expectations and allowing themselves to pause their reading routines without guilt.
Mary: “Maybe we just need to let ourselves be like, okay, this is really hard. I'm just not going to read a book right now because it's not working for me.”
("Mary Heim" [47:27])Meredith: “That's so good. All right, well, what we can do is we can make some fountain wishes.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [50:29]
5. Fountain Wishes
To wrap up the episode on a lighter note, Meredith and Mary share their personal wishes related to their reading lives.
A. Mary Heim’s Wish: Automating Her Reading Tracker
Mary expresses a desire for artificial intelligence to manage her Currently Reading tracker spreadsheet, aiming to streamline her reading data organization.
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Concerns:
Mary points out the tedious nature of manually updating her tracker and the sporadic bursts of effort required to keep it current.
“I would love it if there could be some magical AI that scrubs my Goodreads, takes my books, and just voila, fills in my tracker for me.”
— Mary Heim [51:36] -
Solution:
She appreciates Meredith’s method of monthly updates, inspired by Meredith’s disciplined approach to maintaining her tracker.
“I like the ritual of a new month... it feels like something to look forward to instead of, oh no, I forgot to do this for the last three months.”
— Mary Heim [54:06]
B. Meredith Mundy Schwartz’s Wish: Respecting Series Order
Meredith voices a somewhat controversial wish for authors to ensure that series books are best read in order, discouraging standalone reading of sequels without prior context.
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Rationale:
Meredith believes that reading series in sequence enhances the overall quality and coherence of the narrative, arguing that skipping ahead undermines the storytelling integrity.
“Let's take responsibility as readers to read the series in order and refresh ourselves if we need to.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [55:33] -
Anticipated Reaction:
She acknowledges potential pushback but stands firm in her belief that respecting series order benefits both readers and authors.
“I know that I'm going to get a lot of pushback on that and probably you will see some socials around this.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [56:02]
6. Closing Thoughts
Meredith and Mary conclude the episode by reiterating the importance of finding personalized reading rhythms and being adaptable to one’s current mental and emotional state. They encourage listeners to embrace their unique reading journeys, whether that means taking a break or adjusting expectations to better suit their wellbeing.
“Whether it's Spooky season or any other part of our reading life, we just know what's happening.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [46:36]
Notable Quotes
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Mary Heim:
“Spotify Premium has a lot of brand new releases just available and most people, I think are already or a lot of people are already paying for that.”
— Mary Heim [05:36] -
Meredith Mundy Schwartz:
“I can tell you what my flow is? That has been really helpful.”
— Meredith Mundy Schwartz [53:02]
Recommendations
Listeners seeking to explore the books discussed in this episode can find them through various platforms, including Spotify for audiobooks and traditional retailers for print editions. The hosts' insights provide a valuable guide for selecting books that align with personal interests and current reading challenges.
Note: For a complete list of books mentioned, timestamps, and additional resources, please visit the Currently Reading Podcast website or follow them on Instagram at @meredithmondayschwartz and @maryreadsmakes.