Podcast Summary: The Currently Reading Podcast

Season 8, Episode 36: Spring Fever + The Oldest Books On Our TBR
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz & Kaytee Cobb
Date: April 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively, bookish episode, Meredith and Kaytee celebrate the arrival of spring and dive deep into the perennial topic of the oldest books languishing on their TBR (To Be Read) lists. They swap thoughts on cleaning—of both patios and TBRs—share a wide range of recent reads (from gory rom-coms to thoughtful memoirs), and examine why some books stick on our lists for years. The episode concludes with a listener Q&A about evolving reading "in-betweeners" and a thoughtful discussion of seasonal shifts in the reading life.

Bookish Moments of the Week

(00:57–06:04)

Meredith:

• Spring Fever in Texas: Prepping her backyard for outdoor reading after squirrels destroyed her old cushions. The joy of reading in the sun and her favorite "pool noodle reading" method.

  “We've vacuumed our outdoor rug. We've done all of the things. I've got new pool noodles because, you know, my favorite way to read is to listen and swim back and forth slowly.” (02:31)

Kaytee:

• Outgoing Books: Her “outgoing bookshelf” by the front door finally in use, gifting books to friends and for a raffle basket.

  “I love it when my read and loved books come together and, like, serve the world for good. It made me so happy.” (05:47)

Current Reads

(06:05–41:35)

Meredith’s Picks

1. A Question of Guilt by Jorn Lier Horst (06:44–11:31)

• Nordic noir police procedural series set in coastal Norway, featuring detective William Wisting.
• Highlights: Authentically procedural, methodical, and emotionally dark.
• Quote:

  “If you're expecting thriller pacing like dangling off of cliffs or a ticking time bomb counting down, this is not for you. This is methodical police work.” (08:15)

• Perfect for fans of: Ann Cleeves, Louise Penny, Vera Stanhope.

2. This American Woman: A One in a Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg (16:56–23:43)

• Memoir by Indian-American comedian Zarna Garg, mixing humor and resilience from Mumbai to the U.S.
• Format note: The audiobook includes bonus essays by her family members.
• Quote:

  “You're not watching someone figure out who they are. You're watching someone fight to be allowed to be who she is.” (19:28)

• Highly recommended on audio for comedic timing and family perspectives.

3. Vigil by George Saunders (29:24–37:43)

• Literary fiction novella: On the last night of a Texas oil CEO’s life, a spirit guide (Jill) tries to help him confront his past.
• Noted for: Divisive reader reactions; Saunders’s Buddhist philosophy; a focus on compassion versus justice.
• Quote:

  “The question the book is actually asking, I think, is much deeper and older ... what do we deserve at the end of a human life? Does every person, no matter what they’ve done, deserve compassion?” (34:16)

• Meredith found it short, thought-provoking, and didn’t agree with the negative hype.

Kaytee’s Picks

1. How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates by Shailee Thompson (11:50–16:47)

• Horror rom-com: Speed dating turns deadly in a campy, gory, and bantery sendup of '90s slasher films.
• For those who: Like horror-comedy genre mashups and don't mind graphic content.
• Quote:

  “It’s not for a cozy rom com reader. However, it is rom com also. It is bantery. It is quick witted. It is a little bit silly. It's a little bit spicy…” (14:02)

2. The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr (24:09–28:43)

• Nonfiction (spirituality): Rohr reflects on compassion and humanity in divisive times, drawing parallels with biblical and modern prophets.
• Buddy-read experience deepened the meaning, described as challenging and worthwhile.
• Quote:

  “We’re not supposed to just sit in anger, which I do a lot nowadays... but move through that anger to the Tears of Things.” (26:35)

3. The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens (37:43–41:35)

• Historical fiction/thriller: A librarian in Minnesota (a survivor of the Bosnian war) is pulled into a present-day murder investigation.
• Kaytee loved the strong, nuanced female protagonist and the Minnesota setting.
• Quote:

  “Bring on a badass woman who is quietly spending her life in a library and wearing cardigans and glasses. She is just happy, right? Bring on the fact that she is absolutely ripped but looks like your standard middle aged lady...” (39:22)

Deep Dive: The Oldest Books on Our TBRs

(41:35–57:38)

Meredith and Kaytee reverse-sort their digital and physical TBRs to reflect on why certain books have lingered for so long. They each discuss three “oldest” titles, reflecting on whether to keep or release them and what this says about their current reading selves.

Highlights & Notable Quotes

On TBR organization:

“For me, because I read primarily on my E reader, I read on a Kindle, I decided to use my Kindle library as my TBR... I had 679 books in my Kindle library...” (44:17)

Book Assessments:

• Nicholas Sparks’ The Lucky One (Meredith): Letting go—“Not my jam.”
• 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup (Kaytee): Will only read if it resurfaces in her reading life; removing for now.
• Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (Meredith): Letting go; prefers TV adaptations over the original novels.
• How We Learn by Benedict Carey (Kaytee): Setting a deadline—if not read in the upcoming season, it’s off the list.
• Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree by Nancy Atherton (Meredith): Rediscovered desire to read; immediately borrowed from the library.
• The Hunger by Alma Katsu (Kaytee): Finally ready, moving into her immediate reading queue.

Memorable moment:

“It feels like kind of like reaching into a... like a time capsule.” (57:49)

Listener Q&A: Reading Resets and Seasons

(58:50–65:55)

Bookish Friend of the Week: Nina, who noticed her go-to “in between” genre had shifted from fast-paced crime to nonfiction and short character-driven books, sparking a discussion on how our reading resets can change.

Hosts’ Picks:

• Kaytee: Enjoys fact-based or novella resets, as well as monster smut on Kindle.
• Meredith: Her “in between” books lately include cozy mysteries or historical romance.

On Reading Seasons: Meredith reflects on transitioning into a new life stage (no young kids at home), giving herself permission for lazy morning reading and letting feelings about change take up less space than change itself:

“Let’s lean into the season that we’re in right now and not let our feelings about that season take up a lot of space.” (64:15)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You’re not watching someone figure out who they are. You’re watching someone fight to be allowed to be who she is.” — Meredith on Zarna Garg’s memoir (19:28)
• “If you’re expecting thriller pacing... this is not for you. This is methodical police work.” — Meredith on A Question of Guilt (08:15)
• “Bring on a badass woman who is quietly spending her life in a library and wearing cardigans and glasses... Bring on the fact that she is absolutely ripped but looks like your standard middle aged lady...” — Kaytee on The Quiet Librarian (39:22)
• “Let’s not let the feeling about the thing take up as much space as the thing.” — Meredith’s therapist wisdom (63:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bookish Moments of the Week: 00:57–06:04
• Current Reads:
  • Meredith’s First Pick: 06:44
  • Kaytee’s First Pick: 11:50
  • Meredith’s Memoir: 16:56
  • Kaytee’s Nonfiction: 24:09
  • Meredith’s Literary Fiction: 29:24
  • Kaytee’s Historical Fiction: 37:43
• Deep Dive - Oldest Books on TBR: 41:35
• Listener Q&A: 58:50
• Wrap-up and Reflections on Reading Seasons: 60:33

Recap

This episode is a microcosm of what makes the Currently Reading Podcast a joy: honest, spoiler-free recommendations with personal resonance, laughter, and concrete reading life strategies. You'll learn not only about what to read next, but how to approach your evolving TBR and reading habits with grace, curiosity, and a dose of spring cleaning energy.

Perfect for:

• Listeners looking for both book recommendations and reading life inspiration
• Anyone interested in the psychology of the never-ending TBR
• Fans of bookish banter and honest, friendly conversation