Currently Reading Season 8, Episode 8: Wordy Card Games + All Things Pre-Order
September 22, 2025
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz & Kaytee Cobb

Episode Overview

In this episode, Meredith and Kaytee dive into their latest reads, discuss their favorite word-based card games, unravel the nuances of book pre-ordering (and why it matters), and reflect on nostalgia reads and learning more about themselves as book lovers. They offer a multitude of book recommendations, talk bookish adaptations, and share listener questions, all with their trademark humor and warmth.

Bookish Moments of the Week

[00:56–08:59]

Meredith: The Thursday Murder Club Adaptation (Netflix)

• Meredith raves about the new Netflix film adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, praising the spot-on casting, especially Pierce Brosnan as Ron ("He's got a little paunch, a little grandpa paunch. He played for comedy without overplaying it." [03:39]).
• Noted stand-outs: Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley, and David Tennant as the villain.
• The adaptation is a movie (not a series as she expected), is beautifully filmed, and captures both the comedic and poignant notes of the original book.
• Minor quibbles are acknowledged but overall, "Every once in a while, I feel like people get it right." [05:33]

Kaytee: Word-Loving Games

• Kaytee describes wrangling her children into playing Don't Say, a game that rewards careful word use and penalizes crutch words with a bell ("They were laughing out loud while also practicing a vitally important skill of avoiding crutch words. Yay. Double win." [07:32]).
• Recommends Quiddler, “a card game version of Scrabble”—fun, easy to store, and perfect for word nerds.

Recent Reads

[09:09–40:52]

Meredith's Reads

1. The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

• Format: Mixed media mystery/thriller
• Premise: British pub, a crucial trivia night, a body found, and a new quiz team causing drama.
• Thoughts: Meredith is a huge Hallett fan but finds the middle 50% "incredibly tedious" with repetitive plot and flat characters. Still, there is one “ingenious” twist at the end.
  • "It felt rushed and thin, like someone had taken a really solid idea...and then stretched it to be a full, a full novel." [12:36]
• Recommendation: Read Hallett’s other works first (The Appeal, Examiner, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels).

2. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

• Genre: Spiritual/self-help classic
• Impact: Foundational to Meredith’s worldview; annual reread. Each time, a different “agreement” resonates most ("Be impeccable with your word" hit differently this time [22:15]).
• Quote: "Most of the stuff that makes you miserable are the lies you learned as a kid and you just never questioned." [22:24]
• Recommendation: Good for reading slowly as a morning read.

3. Inheritance by Nora Roberts

• Genre: Cozy, escapist fiction, first in the Lost Bride trilogy
• Premise: Woman inherits a haunted Victorian mansion in Maine under mysterious conditions.
• Delights: Haunted house with friendly ghosts ("These ghosts fold your laundry, they lay out your clothes—they light fires in the rooms before anyone gets there so that the room is all warm and welcoming." [32:40]), immersive setting, slow-burn romance.
• Note: Ends on a cliffhanger; highly recommends getting the first two books together.

Kaytee's Reads

1. The Crescent Moon Tea Room by Stacey Savinsky

• Genre: Cozy fantasy, sister story
• Premise: Three sisters run a magical tea room and are tasked by a witchy council to help elderly witches find life's purpose.
• Vibe: Gentle, low-stakes, soothing; ideal for readers seeking comfort after tough times.
  • "It will be gentle with your heart and with your mental energy. It's not going to capture you in an unputdownable way. But sometimes that's not what we need." [19:26]

2. Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

• Genre: Memoir
• Content Warning: Intense medical and emotional journey, but not a memoir of dying.
• Premise: Young woman, newly graduated and in Paris, is diagnosed with leukemia; chronicles illness, survival, and recovery.
  • "Her prose is powerful and pointed and she doesn't shy away from any of the hard in her story." [27:37]
• Recommendation: Only read when emotionally ready for a heavy, beautifully written memoir.

3. Tilt by Emma Petit

• Genre: Literary/disaster fiction
• Premise: Pregnant woman survives a catastrophic earthquake in Portland, OR, and journeys across the city.
• Review: Propulsive, urgent, and realistic—no fever dream elements, just visceral survival.
  • "It was propulsive, excellent. I ended up giving it four and a half stars because while I couldn't agree with all of Annie's decisions, I loved the experience of reading it." [40:21]
• Fun Note: Strong sense of place, especially for those familiar with Portland.

Deep Dive: The Nuance (Or Lack Thereof) of Pre-Ordering Books

[40:53–51:16]

Key Question (from listener Holly Farrell):

How do you decide when to pre-order, when to add to your TBR, or when to request at the library?

Meredith's Approach:

• Pre-orders for “auto-buy” authors, regardless of galley access.
• Chooses format based on anticipated enjoyment (print via indie bookstores, audio via Libro.fm).
• Sometimes pre-orders mainly to support favorite authors, recognizing the significant impact of pre-orders on publishing success.
  • “If I want to support that author, I’m going to do it with my pre order.” [45:20]

Kaytee's Approach:

• Requests at the library as a budget-friendly "pre-order" alternative—"Just go to your library and ask them to buy the book that is still a copy being sold as a pre order for that author." [45:55]—and often ensures you’re first on the holds list.
• Pre-orders for special editions or favorite series, especially when aesthetics matter (e.g., U.K. editions, matching sets).
• Uses sales (like Barnes & Noble pre-order discounts) opportunistically.
• Audio pre-orders for children's series to maintain collection consistency.

Both Agree:

• Pre-ordering is valuable for both authors’ careers and reader enjoyment.
• It’s important to be organized about where and when you pre-order to avoid accidental multiples!
• Library purchases and pre-orders both count toward sales that matter for authors.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Meredith on pre-ordering via indie bookstores:
  “Many independent bookstores are going to do same day shipping in the same way Amazon does. So… I am able to get my copy… as quickly now… as I would be getting it from Amazon.” [43:43]
• Kaytee on nostalgia reads:
  "We can all pursue the magic of the all-nighter. Even if old ladies like us don't logistically have that work out for us anymore; maybe the all-dayer is what we need." [55:03]
• Kaytee’s fun writing world terminology: Pantser, Plotter, and Panty Liner ("...a middle ground...they outline and then they fly by the seat of their pants. And when you stick those together, it becomes a panty liner." [16:15])
• Meredith on The Four Agreements:
  "It's a wake-up call...the concept is that we are all just living in a dream of our own creation. That's mind-blowing." [22:42]

The Fountain

[51:16–59:02]

Meredith's Wish: Know Yourself as a Reader—and a Human

• Shares her experience with a custom “Whole Self Reading” by Meg Teats, combining Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, and astrology to deepen self and reader knowledge.
• Realizes why learning and projects are core to her reading life.

Kaytee's Wish: Embrace Nostalgia Reads

• Encourages pursuing the same thrill from a heart book (e.g. Dan Brown’s new novel) as when first read; highlights the community's positive response and “leaning into” beloved reading experiences.
• "If you read Nora Roberts all the time, go get you a Nora Roberts book. You don't have to worry that somebody else cares what you're reading. Go get it and just love it. It's okay, right?" [56:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bookish Moments of the Week: 00:56–08:59
• Recent Reads: 09:09–40:52
• Deep Dive – All About Pre-Orders: 40:53–51:16
• The Fountain: 51:16–59:02

Closing Thoughts

• Listeners are invited to share their own pre-ordering habits and current pre-orders; both hosts reiterate the joy and value of pre-orders, not just for authors but also for personal reading delights.
• Show notes, book lists, and community links are always available; Bookish Friends membership and listener feedback are warmly encouraged.

Happy reading!