Currently Reading Podcast

Season 8, Episode 14: "Reading Merit Badges + Books We Recently Set Aside"

Air Date: November 3, 2025
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz & Kaytee Cobb

Episode Overview

In this rich, engaging episode, Meredith and Kaytee explore not only their latest current reads, but take a deep, honest dive into the world of DNFs (Did Not Finish)—openly discussing books they've set aside recently and the complex readerly feelings that come with it. The hosts also trade wishes for fun reader innovations (think: "reading merit badges" and author cameos!) and share memorable bookish moments. True to form, the episode is packed with insightful reviews, memorable quotes, and emotional reader experiences.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bookish Moments of the Week

(04:38)

• Meredith: Accidentally discovers the joy of "reader roulette" when Audible’s algorithm plays five-minute previews of random new audiobooks after she finishes a title, leading her into a spontaneous, delightful reread of The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.

  • “I liked the fact that I was doing a book flight, but it was on audio. I wasn’t participating in the choosing at all.” (06:02, Meredith)

• Kaytee: Shares the joy of her podcast editor, Megan, meeting author Tyler Merritt at a book festival and sending a personalized video message.

  • “To have that 15 seconds of video where he was talking right to me. Oh, my gosh, my heart. Pitter patter. Joy.” (09:10, Kaytee)

2. Current Reads

Meredith’s Current Reads

• Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins (Domestic Suspense) [09:52]
  • An atmospheric thriller set in an old Oxford college where a selectively mute girl vanishes. Meredith praises the book for its tension, character development, and the way it blends supernatural elements with rich family dynamics.
  • “Lucy Atkins is throwing a hundred miles an hour in this book but she manages to make it look effortless...” (11:44, Meredith)
• What the Deep Water Knows by Miranda Cowley Heller (Poetry) [18:00]
  • Her disappointing attempt to find a "soul poet." Meredith found the collection “bleak...deeply, burningly angry...about being provocative rather than offering meaningful insight.”
  • “This collection is bleak... It is so depressing. ...It came across to me as performance rather than purpose.” (20:54, Meredith)
• The Girl Who Reads on the Metro by Christine Féret-Fleury (Translated Fiction) [26:44]
  • A whimsical, translated French novel about a Parisian woman who becomes a literary matchmaker. Meredith highlights its charm and how it celebrates both books and book communities.
  • “This is pure bookish magic for people who understand that sometimes the right book at the right time...changes your entire worldview.” (28:53, Meredith)

Kaytee’s Current Reads

• Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghey (Literary Cli-Fi) [14:18]
  • A hawkish, lush exploration in the Scottish Highlands about a biologist reintroducing wolves among local hostility. Kaytee loved its themes of ecology, sisterhood, balance of power, and beautiful writing.
  • “It was emotionally charged and literary and beautifully written. I felt completely transported.” (17:16, Kaytee)
• Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (Horror/LGBTQ+) [23:14]
  • Horror with LGBTQ+ themes, conversion therapy triggers, and vivid, sometimes revolting, imagery. Kaytee found it “not perfect,” but important and recommendable for the right reader.
  • “It’s horrifying. ...Just the right amount of horrifying to really get under my skin.” (25:38, Kaytee)
• Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (Middle Grade Fantasy) [31:32]
  • A middle grade book set in a magical world where mythic creatures still exist. Read aloud with her kids, this book left Kaytee deeply moved:
  • “The characters and the world that Katherine Rundell built in this book have changed me...it hit emotionally resonant perfectly.” (32:06 & 36:44, Kaytee)
  • Notable moment: Her son Levi’s review—“Well, we all know what this book will get. Rated now: 1 billion stars.” (34:39, Kaytee)

3. Deep Dive: Books We Recently DNF’d

[DNF=Did Not Finish]
(38:36–58:28)

The DNFs Process & Philosophy

• Meredith details her approach (reads 10–15% minimum before DNF’ing, distinguishes between DNF and NRN—Not Right Now).
  • “I make a big distinction between DNF...and NRN—not right now.” (40:06, Meredith)
• Kaytee echoes the need for enough investment to fairly decide, and usually only DNF’s after it’s marked as “currently reading.”

Meredith’s Recent DNFs

1. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (NRN—Not Right Now)
   • “I am not bringing enough of my best self to this book to meet it where I should.” (41:14)
2. Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (True DNF)
   • Co-read with Roxanna; both felt nothing for the characters and could not connect.
   • “We both were like, the professor is awful. Why do we care about traipsing through hell to find this jackhole?” (45:32, Meredith)
   • Critiques author’s “priggish” style—“This book was the bookish personification of priggishness.” (47:35)
3. Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Waffling, but settled on DNF)
   • Despite loving Harrow’s other works, this one never truly grabbed her—too “stoic and historical.”
   • “We are not fated mates. But that is okay.” (54:55, Meredith)

Kaytee’s Recent DNFs

1. All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harmon
   • Couldn’t root for any characters; no “joyfully redeeming” qualities.
   • “I wanted to kick everyone in this book in their Tenderest Places.” (44:02, Kaytee)
2. We Are the Light by Matthew Quick
   • Made it to 70% but actively disliked it; the RBF test (“resting book face”) told her she needed to stop.
   • “There was nothing to keep me invested. ...Life was too short to have me keep going.” (51:38)
3. Fire by John Boyne
   • DNF’d after a warning from her co-reader about explicit abuse content.
   • Expressed complicated ongoing feelings regarding Boyne’s public comments echoing TERF views, leading her to unhaul all his books.
   • “Sometimes you don’t want to know about the author…” (57:01, Kaytee)

4. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On DNF Philosophy:
  • “Pushing on a book that is not for you right then...does a disservice to both you and the author.” (41:39, Meredith)
• On Book Community:
  • “The Bookish Friends are just the best people. ...Chills. Just like cheering us on, rooting us on and in our corners.” (03:04, Kaytee)
• On Reader Joy:
  • “Readers are big fangirls. We love to fangirl over authors, over fictional characters who are hot, over each other…” (00:57, Meredith)

5. Fountain Wishes: Bookworm Innovations

(58:28–64:29)

• Meredith’s Wish: Author Cameo

  • An “Author Cameo” version of the existing celebrity-video-message platform, enabling readers to get personalized video messages from beloved writers for birthdays or special events.
  • “Imagine if you, for my birthday, could pay Louise Penny… or I could pay Jason Reynolds to wish you a happy birthday...” (59:18, Meredith)

• Kaytee’s Wish: Reading Merit Badges

  • Inspired by scout merit badges, Kaytee dreams of a system—physical or digital—where readers can earn “merit badges” for achievements like reading a series in a year, DNFing a book, attending book festivals, or having a reading retreat.
  • “I love the idea of using one of the way too many tote bags and slowly filling it in with pins for stuff like: ‘Planned and executed a reading retreat. Read a multi-book series in one year. DNF’d three books…’” (61:09, Kaytee)

Timestamps by Segment

• Bookish Moments: 04:37
• Current Reads: 09:52–37:54
• Deep Dive: Recent DNFs: 38:36–58:28
• Fountain Wishes (Reader Innovations): 58:28–64:29

Tone & Takeaways

The episode balances warmth, gentle ribbing, and searing honesty. Both hosts underscore the value of knowing when to set aside a book—and how that honesty serves readers, authors, and book communities alike. Expect a convivial, heartfelt, and surprisingly cathartic hour for any bookworm wrestling with their own reading habits.

Useful Links

• Currently Reading Patreon/Bookish Friends: patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast
• Show Notes & Timestamps: currentlyreadingpodcast.com
• Contact: currentlyreading.podcast@gmail.com

Happy reading!