Currently Reading
Season 8, Episode 23: Slow Reads + How And Why We Rate Our Books
Release Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz & Kaytee Cobb

Episode Overview

In the first regular episode of the year, Meredith and Kaytee talk through their current reading favorites, plans for ambitious buddy reads and slow reads in 2026, and dive deep into one of the most debated bookish questions: "How and why do you rate your books?" As always, they offer honest, spoiler-free opinions about their latest reads, share reading rituals and challenge listeners to experiment with their reading habits. The episode concludes with their signature "Fountain" wishes for the reading year ahead.

Key Discussion Points

1. Bookish Moments of the Week

(Timestamps: 02:23 – 08:47)

• Kaytee's Moment: Planning two slow reads for 2026—a joint read with Katie Proctor of The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor, inspired by the "From the Front Porch" podcast, and a buddy read of It by Stephen King with her eldest son, Micah.
  • "I love a longer project like that. ...I love fitting in really big brick books into my reading, but it’s hard to manage with the podcast and trying to stay up on my current reads." —Kaytee (04:16)
• Meredith's Moment: Committing to a "Wolf Crawl" year-long readalong of Hilary Mantel's Cromwell series with Footnotes and Tangents, and tracking her Kindle TBR for the first time using Kaytee’s spreadsheet.
  • "I feel like 2026 is going to be a year where we're going to hear a lot about slow reads and I love it." —Meredith (06:59)

2. Current Reads

(Timestamps: 08:50 – 36:48)

Kaytee’s Books:

• Matched by Ally Condie
  A YA dystopia where society decides every aspect of your life, echoing classics like The Giver. Kaytee highlights the tame romance and thought-provoking world-building.
  • "The society structure is interesting and thought provoking and it had me keeping my ears and eyes kind of like, prickly while I was reading it." —Kaytee (11:49)
• Cultish by Amanda Montell
  Nonfiction exploring how language creates cult-like devotion in everything from MLMs to fitness groups. Montell’s focus is less on scandal, more on sociolinguistic analysis.
  • "[Montell] pulls back the curtain on how people fall for, are convinced by, and then decide to stick around...groups that push their comfortability envelope." —Kaytee (19:52)
• When the Tides Held the Moon by Vanessa Vita Kelly
  A historical fantasy featuring New York’s Luna Park circus, a found family, and a captive merman—illustrated by the author. Kaytee loves the circus/merman blend and emotional depth.
  • "This book was stunning. ... Between the circus and the mermaids, the mermen and the derring do, and the strong sense of place, it hit every high note for me on all the metrics." —Kaytee (30:20)

Meredith’s Books:

• Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop
  A fantasy-police procedural set in a precinct handling magical crimes. Meredith praises the world-building, rule-based magic, and fair society among the supernatural Arcana.
  • "I want more of is the mashup of fantasy and police procedural...that’s a sweet spot for me." —Meredith (17:55)
• Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain
  Classic personal development title on using visualization in practical ways, recommended for skeptics wanting less 'woo'. Meredith found the techniques actionable and grounding.
  • "It’s not about wishful thinking...it’s about understanding that when you combine clear mental imagery with focused intention, you’re essentially programming your subconscious." —Meredith (22:25)
• The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
  Literary thriller in which a woman ghostwrites her estranged father’s true account of a decades-old family murder. Meredith found it an emotional, five-star standout.
  • "This isn’t your typical, like, family dynamic where everyone’s a cardboard cutout. This is messy and complicated. This is a deeply human relationship that feels really real." —Meredith (34:22)

3. Deep Dive: How and Why We Rate Our Books

(Timestamps: 36:48 – 51:54)

The Listener Question ("Cari"):

• She struggles to assign star ratings, feeling her scores are harsher and wants to know Meredith and Kaytee's approach.

Core Discussion Points:

• Star ratings are personal: There’s no universal rubric. Your own system should reflect what’s helpful to you (38:53–39:08).
  • "How we rate it really only matters to us. And how you rate your books only matters to you." —Meredith (39:07)
• What is a successful book?: Figure out what three, four, and five stars mean to you. Many readers' three-star books are perfectly fine reads.
  • "You have to decide for you where is your like I like that book." —Meredith (45:51)
• Generosity vs. harshness in ratings: Kaytee encourages generosity ("There is not a limited number of stars to go around in the universe.") and cautions against saving five stars for only "perfection."
  • "Maybe you're a really good picker. That's great too." —Kaytee (47:35)
• Breakdown of star meanings (Meredith's system):
  • 1★: "I'm returning it to the bookstore. I'm actively telling people...that I think that this book never should have been."
  • 2★: "I did not like that book."
  • 3★: "It's fine."
  • 4★: "I liked that book."
  • 5★: "I'm shouting it from every rooftop."
  • Meredith uses quarter stars for nuance.
• Testing Systems: Try the CAWPILE system (Characters, Atmosphere, Writing, Plot, Intrigue, Logic, Enjoyment) for more objective scoring.

Advice to Listeners:

• Only use star ratings if they’re helpful to your own reading enjoyment.
• Generosity in ratings identifies more good books and may improve reading satisfaction.
• The CAWPILE system can add objectivity if you’re undecided.
• Sort your reads by star ratings when compiling year-end favorites.

4. The Fountain: Bookish Wishes

(Timestamps: 51:54 – End)

• Kaytee's Wish: Each reader selects one small, actionable challenge for their reading in 2026—whether it’s trying a new genre, reading longer books, or joining bookish community.
  • "The worst thing that can happen is you decide it's not working for you and you continue reading. And the best thing is that your reading life gets changed in a tangible and life giving way." —Kaytee (54:02)
• Meredith's Wish: Sign up for the brand new Currently Reading newsletter—short, actionable, biweekly, designed to help readers better know themselves and improve their reading satisfaction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I feel like 2026 is going to be a year where we're going to hear a lot about slow reads and I love it.” —Meredith (06:59)
• “If you are interested in that kind of thing...if you liked more recent books like Atomic Habits...Gawain is coming at it from an angle I think you would really appreciate.” —Meredith (25:30)
• "You don’t get reader brownie points by being a harsh rater... you can read 100 books a year and give all but three, five stars. And it doesn’t mean you’re not a good reader...Maybe you’re a really good picker. That’s great too." —Kaytee (47:05)
• “There is not a limited number of stars to go around in the universe.” —Kaytee (47:35)

Important Timestamps

• 02:23 — Bookish Moments of the Week
• 08:50 — Current Reads (Kaytee & Meredith)
• 36:48 — Deep Dive: How and Why We Rate Our Books
• 51:54 — The Fountain: Bookish Wishes

Tone and Style

The conversational, encouraging, and honest style—mixed with their well-known penchant for specificity and "granular" analysis—remains evident. Both hosts emphasize that all reading journeys are valid and that frameworks should serve the reader, not the reverse. Their enthusiasm for reading experiments, complex reads, and supporting the listening community shines throughout.

For Further Engagement

Listeners are encouraged to:

• Experiment with slow reads or new challenges this year
• Explore different rating systems (whole, half, quarter stars, or even CAWPILE)
• Sign up for the new Currently Reading newsletter via currentlyreadingpodcast.com
• Join the online Currently Reading community via Instagram or as a Bookish Friend

Next week, Roxanna and Mary take over for their annual Top 10 episode—a perennial favorite likely to explode your TBR!