Podcast Summary: Currently Reading – Season 7, Episode 42: "Replant Your Reading + How To Talk About Books In The Wild"

Release Date: May 26, 2025

Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb

1. Bookish Moments of the Week

Meredith's Reading Slump
Timestamp: 01:24 – 03:23

Meredith shares her frustration with hitting a reading slump during a well-planned vacation in Hawaii. Despite having ample reading time and a Kindle loaded with options, she found herself unable to engage with any of the books she picked up. She remarks, “Sometimes when you want to feel like reading, you don't necessarily feel like reading” (02:01). Feeling uninspired, Meredith turned to texting with friends and casual distractions like TikTok to navigate through her slump.

Katie's Replanting Metaphor
Timestamp: 03:38 – 05:35

Katie draws an inspiring parallel between replanting her thriving fiddle leaf fig and "replanting her reading life." She describes the careful consideration she puts into nurturing her plants—ensuring they have the right conditions to grow—and applies this thoughtful approach to curating a robust "To Be Read" (TBR) list. "Fertilizing it means having a robust TBR that hits all my sweet spots," Katie explains (05:18), emphasizing the importance of creating an environment conducive to reading enjoyment and growth.

2. Current Reads and Recommendations

Meredith’s Recommendations

1. "Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Doulos Story" by Rich Cohen
   Timestamp: 07:23 – 14:00

   Meredith delves into this gripping true crime narrative, exploring the mysterious disappearance of Jennifer Doulos. She praises the book for its deep exploration of Doulos's life and the complex unraveling of her marriage to Fotus Doulos, who ultimately took his own life before standing trial for Jennifer's presumed murder. "Rich Cohen seems really invested in telling this story, like the whole of this story," Meredith notes (11:15). She highlights the detailed court filings and personal insights that provide a comprehensive understanding of the case, making it a standout in true crime literature.

2. "The Dragon Reborn" by Robert Jordan
   Timestamp: 19:26 – 24:35

   As the third installment in "The Wheel of Time" series, Meredith shares her enthusiasm for "The Dragon Reborn," emphasizing how it solidifies the series' foundation. She appreciates the deep character development and intricate plot progression, stating, “Concepts that had felt super complicated and too hard to understand are now starting to make sense” (22:45). Meredith also recommends the audiobook version for its excellent narration by Kate Redding and Michael Kramer, enhancing the immersive experience of this high fantasy epic.

Katie’s Recommendations

1. "My Lady Jane" by Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
   Timestamp: 14:07 – 19:12

   Katie introduces this alternate history novel that reimagines Lady Jane Grey with a magical twist—humans capable of transforming into animals called Edians. She praises the book for its humor and engaging plot, saying, “It was delightful and so much more fun than it had any right to be” (16:30). The collaborative storytelling by the three authors creates a vibrant and whimsical narrative that Katie found both entertaining and refreshing.

2. "she Memes well" by Quinta Brunson
   Timestamp: 24:35 – 27:45

   A memoir by comedian Quinta Brunson, Katie describes this book as a humorous and heartfelt recount of Quinta’s journey in the world of comedy and her personal life. She appreciates the candid storytelling and her signature wit, which made the book an enjoyable listen while she tackled chores. “Quinta takes the time to unpack her childhood, making it so obvious why she looks up to her educator mom,” Katie shares (26:00).

3. "A Comfort of Crows" by Margaret Renkle
   Timestamp: 33:45 – 37:05

   Katie recommends this collection of 52 essays that beautifully chronicles a year in Margaret Renkle’s backyard. Accompanied by stunning illustrations from her brother, Billy Wrinkle, the essays offer poignant and humorous reflections on nature and family. “There are essays in here that made me laugh out loud, some that made me tear up,” Katie enthuses (34:57). She compares it to works by Amy Tan and Robin Wall Kimmerer, making it a must-read for nature lovers.

Meredith’s Additional Thoughts

Meredith briefly mentions exploring poetry with Wendell Berry, sharing her challenge with his "A Small Porch Sabbath, Poems." While she appreciates his novels, she finds the poetry too florid for her current taste but looks forward to discovering more accessible poetic works in future episodes (52:12 – 54:02).

3. Deep Dive: How To Talk About Books In The Wild

Timestamp: 37:05 – 52:12

Requested by a listener named Jesse Lane, Meredith and Katie engage in a thoughtful discussion on effectively sharing their love for books without overwhelming others or causing eye rolls. Key points include:

• Establishing Boundaries: Both hosts emphasize the importance of not making book talk the sole focus of conversations. Meredith shares, “I need to think through how to not be annoying in my real life when I'm talking about books” (38:40).

• Understanding the Listener’s Interest: They suggest starting with questions about the listener’s reading preferences, such as genres or favorite sections in a bookstore. “What kind of genres do you read?” Katie recommends (43:16).

• Crafting Engaging Pitches: Instead of lengthy summaries, the hosts advocate for concise, emotion-driven descriptions. Meredith advises, “If you can come up with a punchy way of recommending a book with really, really quickly, kind of like an elevator pitch, then I think that's really helpful” (45:53).

• Using Comparisons: Comparing books to popular movies or TV shows can help ground recommendations. For example, if a listener enjoys "Succession," Meredith suggests using that as a reference point (47:49).

• Reading the Room: They highlight the importance of gauging the listener’s receptiveness and being ready to pivot the conversation if needed. Meredith notes, “If you can tell that they're interested... give them more. If not, wrap it up” (49:30).

• Emphasizing Emotions Over Plots: Focusing on how a book made them feel can be more compelling than discussing intricate plot details. Meredith states, “Emotion will trump themes any day of the week” (46:37).

Notable Quotes:

• Meredith: “Sometimes when you want to feel like reading, you don't necessarily feel like reading.” (02:01)
• Katie: “She has allowed the give and take element of it in a way that's different than, like, well, we got to have our one book conversation.” (51:18)
• Meredith: “If you read the book the Rook by Daniel O'Malley and thought, I love this, but I wish it was just a little bit darker, then this book is for you.” (31:53)

4. The Fountain: Bookish Wishes

Meredith’s Wish: Growing in Poetry
Timestamp: 52:12 – 54:02

Meredith expresses her desire to delve deeper into poetry, inspired by her attempt to read Wendell Berry’s poetic works. Although her initial experience was overwhelming, she remains hopeful about finding poetry that resonates with her tastes in future readings.

Katie’s Wish: Perfect Book for Everyone
Timestamp: 54:02 – 59:08

Katie shares her heartfelt wish to always have the perfect book recommendation tailored to the person she’s interacting with. She recounts recent successful experiences where she connected with teenagers at a pool party by guiding them to their ideal reads, noting, “They lit up in a totally different way. They were like nerd heaven” (56:41). This wish reflects her passion for sharing books that can ignite joy and foster meaningful connections.

Notable Quote:

• Katie: “I love it when people DM me and they're like, I've loved these four books. Is there a backlist title that you would recommend for me? It brings me so much joy.” (57:48)

5. Closing Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts encouraging listeners to connect with them on social media, support their Patreon for additional content, and leave reviews on podcast platforms. Meredith emphasizes the joy of sharing book recommendations and the importance of community in the reading journey.

Final Quote:

• Katie: “May your coffee be hot and your book be unputdownable.” (59:09)

Connect with the Hosts:

• Meredith Monday Schwartz on Instagram
• Katie@notesonbookmarks on Instagram
• Producer: Megan Puttivong Evans (@megansreads)
• Website: currentlyreadingpodcast.com
• Email: currentlyreadingpodcastmail.com
• Patreon: Support the podcast and join the bookish community

This episode of Currently Reading offers a blend of personal anecdotes, thoughtful book recommendations, and practical advice on discussing books with others. Whether you're seeking your next great read or looking to enhance your book conversations, Meredith and Katie provide valuable insights and engaging discussions to enrich your reading life.