From the Front Porch — Episode 548 || September 2025 Reading Recap
Host: Annie Jones (Owner, The Bookshelf Thomasville)
Original Air Date: September 25, 2025

Episode Overview

Annie Jones, owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia, recaps her September 2025 reads. This month’s theme centers on quality over quantity: while Annie read fewer books than usual, she found them thoughtful, well-crafted, and often seasonally appropriate for fall. She discusses her renewed love for audiobooks and highlights titles fit for spooky season, millennial woes, and the value of reading "outside your genre." Annie weaves personal stories and Bookshelf team insights, providing not just book summaries but reflections on the reading life itself.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Reflections on September Reading & Audiobooks

• Fewer Books, Deeper Enjoyment: Annie acknowledges she read less due to stressful life events and a busy month after returning from maternity leave, describing her brain as feeling "broken" and laser-focusing on unfinished books.

  • "Pride cometh before the fall...September just slapped me right in the face." — Annie (04:36)

• Audiobook Renaissance: After struggling with audiobooks postpartum (due to not being an auditory learner), Annie credits Keela (The Bookshelf’s shipping coordinator) for recommending an audiobook that reignited her enthusiasm.

  • "One good thing that happened in my reading life in September is I fell back in love with audiobooks...I have to be strategic about what audiobooks I try." — Annie (07:25)

Book-by-Book Recap

1. Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins

Audiobook narrated by Roger L. Jackson
[Segment begins ~08:30]

• Premise: A deeply thorough pop-culture history and critical analysis of the Scream film franchise, told via extensive interviews and narrated by the franchise’s iconic villain voice.
• Audiobook Highlight: Narration by Roger L. Jackson, who voices "Ghostface" in Scream, creates an immersive, meta experience.
• Accessibility: Book is suitable for both devoted fans and casual viewers.
• Personal Take: Annie was surprised to learn new facts as a semi-fan, including that Wes Craven is not a pen name.
  • "I had no idea. I'd always thought Wes Craven was a fake name...It's not. That's his real name." — Annie (13:35)
• Comparisons: Not an oral history (like Live from New York) but akin to a long-form Entertainment Weekly article or books about beloved TV shows.
• Criticism: Slightly long for the subject; later chapters on newer films dragged.
• Best For: Spooky season, fans of media deep-dives, or those needing a pop culture palate cleanser.

2. So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

eARC, Releases February 17, 2026
[Segment begins ~19:40]

• Premise: Follows a group of friends who met in college, revisiting them over decades via five special parties (Halloween, New Year’s, housewarming, etc.).
• Why Read Now?: Annie read it early thanks to an Instagram post by Mary Laura Philpott, but acknowledges the frustration of talking about a book not yet widely available.
  • "You're all about to get real mad at me. But...it's my job, okay?" — Annie (22:35)
• Reading on Kindle: Discusses the convenience for booksellers despite her preference for print and her worries about Amazon's market power.
  • "That is another way that Amazon monopolizes the book business, because...I’m beholden to being able to download a book to my Kindle. Okay, that's my rant." — Annie (24:10)
• Character & Structure: Draws parallels to One Day, The Celebrants, The Big Chill, and Emma Straub novels. Judges that not all characters are likable, but that's realistic.
  • "Don't we all have a friend who we love even though they drive us nuts? Like, isn't that the point?" — Annie (29:01)
• Themes: Motherhood, friendship, middle age, grief, and the evolution of identity.
• Highlights: Fun party settings, time-capsule feel, and the passage of time in relationships.
• Recommendation: Strongly recommended for readers who love nuanced stories of friendship; can be preordered despite its 2026 release.

3. Life and Death and Giants by Ron Rindo

Audiobook & print available
[Segment begins ~31:55]

• Premise: A literary Midwestern novel centered around an 18-pound baby born to an Amish mother, intertwining the stories of his grandmother (who raises him), a vet, a football coach, and a bartender.
• Community Endorsement: Selected as The Bookshelf’s “Shelf Subscription” pick for September (Erin’s pick) and championed by Meg (from the 'Meg’s Reading Room' podcast).
• Audiobook Format: Multiple narrators add depth, though Annie sometimes wished for a print version to read faster.
• Notable Realism & Setting: Midwest setting (Wisconsin), football season, and small-town life evoke a "seasonally appropriate" read for autumn.
  • "It totally is in my wheelhouse. And then it feels very autumnal...the football of it all felt very seasonal." — Annie (39:08)
• Amish Literature Nostalgia: Annie reminisces about '90s evangelical Amish novels (like Beverly Lewis) and discusses the book's respectful portrayal of Amish faith and community.
  • "It, like, scratched that part of my brain that had read about the Amish when I was a kid." — Annie (45:40)
• Comparisons: For fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures (multi-POV), J. Ryan Stradel, or those who like character-driven stories that blend realism with a touch of the extraordinary.
• Rating: Five stars from Annie; suitable in both print and audio.

4. Best Offer Wins by Marissa Cascino

Debut Novel, Releases November 25, 2025
[Segment begins ~47:55]

• Genre: Satirical suspense/thriller.
• Premise: A millennial couple’s house hunt in the cutthroat D.C. real estate market spirals into obsession and questionable choices.
• Social Commentary: Skewers the frustrations of the millennial (and beyond) housing crisis.
  • "If you are a millennial who is overwhelmed by, irritated by, frustrated by, consumed by the housing market wherever you live, this is going to be very fun for you because you will feel seen." — Annie (48:50)
• Main Character: Margot, who maybe “comes apart at the seams a little bit,” begins befriending the homeowners of her dream house and tells some lies that spiral into darkly funny territory.
• Personal Connect: Annie relates the premise to her own house-hunting experiences in Thomasville, highlighting the small-town practice of “drive bys” and back-channel house deals.
• Comparisons: Described as “darkly funny,” compared (slightly skeptically) to Gone Girl and reminiscent of Margot’s Got Money Troubles.
• Recommendation: Fun, incisive, and timely; a strong autumn suspense read, though she wishes it was published a bit earlier in the fall.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reading Slumps:
  • "I just didn't finish because my brain feels broken...but the good news is they're good books, and I'm excited to talk about them." (05:39)
• On Audiobook Speed:
  • "No shade...if you listen to audiobooks at like 1.5, 1.8 or 2. It's just, I can't. I truly can't. I think my brain would break." (34:15)
• On Taking Chances With Genres:
  • "Maybe I should do a podcast episode sometime on what it's like when you choose to read outside of what you think you'll like, maybe sometimes taking a chance on a book that is out of genre for you." (38:20)
• On Niche Reading Nostalgia:
  • "What do you mean? First of all, have you seen Witness? Second of all, did you not read in the 1990s so much Christian Amish literature that you bought from your local Christian bookstore? Is that just me?" (43:20)
• On Satirical Thrillers:
  • "'Margot is...maybe already coming apart at the seams a little bit...and what unfolds then, becomes a very darkly funny satirical thriller in my mind.'" (48:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Reflections on September & Audiobooks: 03:20 – 08:30
• Your Favorite Scary Movie: 08:30 – 19:40
• So Old, So Young: 19:40 – 31:55
• Life and Death and Giants: 31:55 – 47:55
• Best Offer Wins: 47:55 – 56:50

Additional Notes & Recommendations

• Reading Recap Bundle: Bookshelf Thomasville offers a September bundle featuring 'Your Favorite Scary Movie' and 'Life and Death and Giants' for $46.
• Seasonal Recommendation: Annie underscores the importance of reading with the seasons—her picks suit fall especially well.
• Support Indie Bookstores: All featured titles (and preorders) are available through The Bookshelf Thomasville’s site.
• Local Highlight: Annie briefly spotlights the Thomasville History Center’s upcoming Crate to Plate dinner as a beloved local autumn event.
  • "So many events that the History Center puts on are beautifully, beautifully done...And the Crate to Plate dinner feels like a really beautiful way to kick off the autumn season." (58:10)

Podcast Tone & Language

The episode is warm, conversational, and gently humorous, weaving personal anecdotes with thoughtful book analysis. Annie maintains her calming, Southern storytelling style throughout, connecting her reading life to her community and listeners—especially those who love books as much as she does.

For purchase links, details on the Reading Recap Bundle, or to support The Bookshelf, visit bookshelfthomasville.com and search for episode 548.