Currently Reading Podcast – Season 8, Episode 15

Title: "A Poem A Day + YOUR Top Reads 2019–2024"
Date: November 10, 2025
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz (A), Kaytee Cobb (B)

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Meredith and Kaytee celebrate the deep joys of reading, from bookish holidays to reader routines, poetry, and the importance of books in daily life. They share their top "current reads," explore the experience of tracking and ranking favorite books, and reveal insights from their listeners’ top picks over the last six years. Throughout, the hosts’ warm camaraderie and enthusiastic bookish banter create a welcoming space for readers of all stripes, whether you're looking for recommendations, readerly community, or just a little nudge to expand your literary horizons.

Key Segments & Timestamps

• [00:54] Bookish Moments of the Week
• [06:06] Current Reads
• [33:13] Deep Dive: Listener Top Reads 2019–2024 (with Giveaway Winner)
• [48:13] The Fountain Wish

Bookish Moments of the Week

Kaytee: Daily Dose of Poetry

[02:02]

• Listener Dana recommended the National Poetry Foundation's "poem a day" email, which is free.
• Kaytee loves the eco-friendly, daily exposure to a variety of poets and themes.
• The service also links to poet biographies and archives for further exploration.
• "I think it’s such a great way to get a tiny dose of poetry each day. I’m only a few days in now, but...it’s making me very happy." – Kaytee

Meredith: Louise Penny Release Day

[03:40]

• Meredith celebrates her annual "bookish holiday": release day for Louise Penny’s latest installment in the Three Pines series.
• This year's release: The Black Wolf (#20 in the series), which follows the previous book, The Grey Wolf, as a "sibling book"—two stories telling one narrative arc.
• "I have a system. I have a process...I have to get the hardback, clear my decks, and really get some time with it." – Meredith
• She also reassures listeners (from Penny’s own interviews) that the series is far from over: "She has no thoughts whatsoever about quitting. So all shall be well."
• Signature Louise Penny phrase: “Nolo to marry: Be not afraid.” ([05:46])

Current Reads

Kaytee

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

[06:06]

• Cozy fantasy/road-trip novel about Tao, a fortune-teller offering only “small fortunes” and traveling with a quirky found family (including a magical cat!).
• Compares to Legends & Lattes and A Psalm for the Wild-Built for its warm “found family” dynamic and gentle whimsy.
• "It’s a comfort book, pure and simple...perfect for any time of year or when you hit a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency moment." – Kaytee

The Bookshop by Evan Friss

[14:11]

• Narrative nonfiction tracing the American bookstore from Benjamin Franklin to the modern era, including department store bookshops, Black-owned/queer/Nazi bookstores, and independent bookstore profiles.
• Offers bookstore photos, interviews with booksellers, and a list of must-visit indies—a travelogue and love letter to bookselling history.
• "Bookstores are special places, of course, we already know that, but I loved this journey...to really understand the ways that they shape us as readers and writers." – Kaytee

I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong

[25:53]

• Family drama with a speculative premise: Jack Jr. wakes from a two-year coma and returns to a family who barely registers his eight-year absence, navigating old wounds and new beginnings.
• Touches on forgiveness, second chances, and the ordinary dysfunctions of family life.
• "Second chances are not always clean. They come with renewal and hope, but also the mess that was left behind." – Kaytee

Meredith

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman

[08:53]

• Magical realism/historical fiction: A grieving woman time-travels to 1927, befriending her speakeasy-running ancestor and discovering family secrets.
• Rich Jazz Age atmosphere with gentle time-travel; compared to Sarah Addison Allen and praised for its “wrapped-in-a-blanket” comfort.
• "It’s one of those books that wraps itself around you like a blanket when you need it the most." – Meredith
• "Predictable doesn’t mean less than perfect when it's done right and when you’re in the mood for it." – Meredith ([12:37])

Books: A Manifesto – Or How to Build a Library by Ian Patterson

[17:57]

• Memoir-manifesto from a poet, translator, and compulsive book collector, examining the meaning of private libraries and the centrality of reading to thinking and being human.
• Explores bibliomania, the physicality of books, family, and the tension between reading as passion and escape.
• "No literary snobbery here...all reading matters." – Meredith
• "It’s giving you permission to be as completely, unapologetically obsessed with books as you probably already are." – Meredith

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

[29:26]

• Thriller set at the dawn of the internet: Six friends develop one of the first online dating sites—something goes horribly wrong, leading to a 25-year group estrangement with a present-day, locked-room-style reunion.
• Engaging dual timeline, tight pacing, and a satisfying (if not fully unpredictable) twist.
• "The 1999 tech startup angle feels particularly smart...capturing that specific moment when the internet was this shiny new thing." – Meredith
• "If you like Lucy Foley, especially The Guest List, this is going to be a really, really good fit for you." – Meredith

Mini Deep Dive: YOUR Top Reads 2019–2024

[33:13–48:11]

• The hosts revisit an experiment: asking listeners to list their number-one book each year for the past six years, then rank those for a "toughest of the tough" personal top six.
• Over 550 listeners participated, leading to fascinating insights and big emotions.
  • "When they listened to us do it, they thought we were being overdramatic…. and then they did it. And they’re like, ‘I sat down and it was horrible. And I hated every second.’" – Kaytee ([34:20])

Listener Themes and Takeaways

• Many reflected on the effect of their book tracking habits (“I only started tracking my books two years ago, I could kick myself for not starting sooner.”).
• The process forced tough trade-offs and unexpected self-discoveries about favorite genres, emotional impact, and evolving tastes.
• Many noticed strong patterns: e.g., a lack of thrillers/mysteries or romance in their “top six,” despite reading those genres heavily.
  • "A lot of us who read a lot of mysteries and thrillers said, you know what’s interesting… there’s not a lot of mysteries and thrillers [in my top six]." – Meredith ([39:14])
• The exercise became a way to identify "book twins" in the listener community and in the Bookish Friends group.
  • “It’s a good way to find a bookish friend…[maybe we could] do a buddy read. Maybe we could just kind of pay attention to each other a little bit more.” – Meredith ([45:53])

Top 10 Most Mentioned Books on Listener Lists ([41:52]): Notable titles (as compiled by Kaytee):

• Remarkably Bright Creatures – most frequent appearance
• Lessons in Chemistry – most frequent #1 spot
• The Anthropocene Reviewed (John Green) – only nonfiction in top 10
• Lonesome Dove (Larry McMurtry) – only real “backlist” title
• Historical fiction titles dominated, plus hits like The Midnight Library, Hamnet, Homegoing, Demon Copperhead, Project Hail Mary, Still Life.

Giveaway Winner Announced

• #461: Christy Peetz – top six included Harry's Trees, Lessons in Chemistry, The Thursday Murder Club, Olive Kitteridge, The Anxious Generation, and #1: Demon Copperhead.
• "Great job, Christie. We will message you directly." – Kaytee ([47:07])

The Fountain Wish

[48:13]

Kaytee: Tech Solution to Read More, Scroll Less

• Recommends the Bloom NFC card for turning her phone into a “dumb phone” at night, blocking distracting apps without subscription fees.
• "It has done wonders for my reading life…after 9pm, I cannot waste time on my phone anymore." – Kaytee ([49:58])

Meredith: Immersive Reading — Playlists & ASMR Rooms

• Suggests pairing your reading with tailored ASMR rooms or book-themed instrumental playlists, especially during atmospheric autumn and winter nights.
• Recommends playing these on the living room TV to set a tone not just for self, but for the whole family.
  • “It kind of sets a tone in the room that subtly affects everybody who comes into the room.” – Meredith ([52:25])
• "Add all the vibes to your reading that you possibly can. I like to make it as immersive an experience as I possibly can." – Meredith

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Predictable doesn’t mean less than perfect when it’s done right and when you’re in the mood for it." – Meredith ([12:37])
• "There are all these modes…you can customize which apps are blocked per mode. But you can also set up a schedule. So every night now my phone basically turns into a dumb phone. It’s amazing." – Kaytee ([49:58])
• "You’re giving you permission to be as completely, unapologetically obsessed with books as you probably already are." – Meredith, praising Books: A Manifesto ([19:28])
• "We checked one of those off!" – Kaytee, celebrating Meredith bringing a favorite Indie Press List pick to the show ([14:09])
• "One of my favorite things about the comments that People made about this process is that…they thought we were being overdramatic...then they did it…and they’re like, I sat down and it was horrible. I hated every second." – Kaytee ([34:20])
• "I love it. That’s a really, really great one. I think that’s something we could all use." – Meredith ([50:35])

Episode Tone & Style

• Warm, witty, and gently self-deprecating; direct and conversational, like friends in a living room.
• Affectionate about the quirks and obsessions of book lovers.
• Respectful disagreement and a variety of reading tastes are celebrated.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers on the joys (and agonies) of being a devoted reader: the discovery of new literary comforts, the tension of whittling down favorites, and the delight of connecting with like-minded book friends. Rich recommendations, practical tips, and infectious enthusiasm for all things bookish make this a must-listen for anyone seeking renewed inspiration in their reading life.

Connect with the Hosts

• Meredith on Instagram: @meredithmondaySchwartz
• Kaytee on Instagram: @notesonbookmarks
• Show: @currentlyreadingpodcast
• Full show notes & timestamps: currentlyreadingpodcast.com
• Join “Bookish Friends” for bonus content and a vibrant reading community.

Next Steps for Listeners:
Check out the top listener picks for more book recs, try a poem-a-day habit, make your reading immersive with music/ASMR, and consider your own personal “top six” books—if you dare!