Reading Glasses – BONUS Teaser: Reading Our Secret Book Journals!

Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara
Date: April 21, 2026

Episode Overview

In this playful and vulnerable bonus episode, Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara dig out their old, private book journals and share the evolution of their reading habits and tracking methods. With self-deprecating humor and candid revelations, the hosts invite listeners into their personal reading histories, offering an authentic glimpse into how their reading lives have been shaped over the years. This episode teases content available exclusively to Maximum Fun members and is filled with relatable bookish moments and behind-the-scenes admissions about book tracking, ratings, and the anxiety of sharing one’s private journals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of Their Book Journals

When and Why They Started Tracking
- Brea: Started around the inception of the podcast in 2017, with intermittent use of Goodreads prior to that.
  - “I had GoodReads before that, and then I quit doing Goodreads for many years, and then we started doing this podcast, and I was like, ooh, I gotta remember what I'm reading.” (02:22)
- Mallory: Began her focused tracking in 2015, after using Goodreads only sporadically before that.
  - “I don't think I made a concentrated effort to track everything I read until 2015. I have the journal. Here it is. The Reading Woman engagement calendar.” (02:46)

2. Vulnerability & Humor in Sharing Private Book Logs

Mallory’s Reluctance
- Humorous pact that if Mallory dies, Brea must “burn all her book journals” and “throw her computer into the ocean.” (01:28–01:37)
- “I feel so, so, so vulnerable. I've literally never showed anybody these. This is why Bria is gonna burn them when I die.” (04:00)

3. The Mechanics of Book Journaling

Systems Used
- Tracking not only books read, but also the days they were completed, ratings, number of pages, formats (graphic novels, audiobooks), and other categories (gender of author, etc.).
  - Mallory kept a meticulous system: “Every single year, I've tried a slightly different rating system.” (04:19)
  - Brea was more selective and admits to throwing out some journals.
Rating Systems
- A range from “A” to “C minus”, with some entries marked as “DNF” (Did Not Finish).
  - Mallory’s noted generosity: “You’re giving a lot of A’s and B’s. Lots of A’s and B’s.” (07:29)
  - Occasional DNF entries: “There's a DNF, though. I found a DNF.” (07:32)
- Not all books rated: “You don't give a rating to all of them, which is interesting.” (07:13)

4. Evolution of Their Journaling Habits

Changes Over Time
- Switching from detailed logs with ratings, pages, and details (earlier years) to simpler title-only lists (later years).
  - “I was writing down the days that I read these things. But there's no... it's just the title of the book. There's no rating system.” (05:21)
- End-of-month stats tracking (number of books, gender of authors, etc.): “At the bottom, are tracking one audiobook, 13 books, three by man, 10 by women, plus a Nat Geo.” (09:05)
Stickers and Sentimentality
- Stickers marking moments or places alongside book entries (e.g., “sacred tattoos in New York”, “the last bookstore in LA”). (05:13–05:21)

5. Memorable Reads & Moments

First-tracked Books
- Mallory: “The first thing I ever have recorded in here is Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore. Thursday, January 1, 2015.” (03:30–03:36)
- Brea: “My first one is from December 4, 2008. I read Love is a mixtape, Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield.” (03:38–03:49)
Ratings Examples
- Sex Criminals (graphic novel): “You gave it an A because it's awesome.” (04:35)
- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut: “You gave a B to. Yeah, you know, a B is fine. It was written in 1963. You wrote 287 pages.” (04:41)
- Paper Moon (98th book of 2016): “Can I say what you gave it? Yeah, baby.” (06:54–06:59)
Vulnerable Moments
- “This is maybe the most vulnerable I've ever been on the Internet.” (07:01)
- “I feel like I'm showing my underpants to the Internet.” (09:38)

6. Bonus Fun and Listener Engagement

Call for Listener Emails and Newsletter
- Encouraging listeners to send in their book journal stories or sign up for the newsletter for more book lists. (01:50)
Tease of Extended Content
- Additional journaling content available to Maximum Fun members, with the cliffhanger of a notable book rating left unrevealed: “Do you want to know how Mallory rated Priest Daddy? Well, this is the time for you to join Maximum Fun right now...” (09:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Mallory actually has told me that if something ever happens to her, I'm to go to her house and throw her computer into the ocean and burn all her book journals.”
— Brea Grant (01:28)
“I feel so, so, so vulnerable. I've literally never showed anybody these. This is why Bria is gonna burn them when I die.”
— Mallory O’Meara (04:00)
“Every single year, I've tried a slightly different rating system.”
— Mallory O’Meara (04:19)
“There's a DNF, though. I found a DNF. Oh.”
— Brea Grant (07:32)
“You’re giving a lot of A’s and B’s. Lots of A’s and B’s.”
— Brea Grant (07:29)
“I feel like I'm showing my underpants to the Internet.”
— Mallory O’Meara (09:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:27 – Introduction to the secret book journals
01:28 – The burn/bury/throw-in-the-ocean pact
02:14 – When Brea & Mallory started tracking reading
03:30 – Mallory’s first-tracked book: Saga of the Swamp Thing
04:00–04:07 – The vulnerability of sharing book journals
05:13–05:21 – Stickers and location-based memories in journals
06:52–07:13 – Discovery of DNF and a spectrum of book ratings
09:05–09:23 – End-of-month stats: audiobooks, author genders, and Nat Geo
09:38–09:44 – Most vulnerable share; the fate of Priest Daddy's rating is teased

Tone and Takeaways

With their trademark blend of warmth, humor, and self-deprecation, Brea and Mallory take listeners on an intimate tour of their reading lives—complete with evolving systems, nostalgic memories, and the very real anxiety of letting someone read your secret notes. This episode is a celebration of all forms of book journaling, the quirky metrics readers use, and the delight of reflecting on who you were through what you read. For the full, unfiltered experience and more literary vulnerability, listeners are invited to join Maximum Fun and support the show.

Reading Glasses – BONUS Teaser: Reading Our Secret Book Journals!

Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara
Date: April 21, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of Their Book Journals

When and Why They Started Tracking
- Brea: Started around the inception of the podcast in 2017, with intermittent use of Goodreads prior to that.
  - “I had GoodReads before that, and then I quit doing Goodreads for many years, and then we started doing this podcast, and I was like, ooh, I gotta remember what I'm reading.” (02:22)
- Mallory: Began her focused tracking in 2015, after using Goodreads only sporadically before that.
  - “I don't think I made a concentrated effort to track everything I read until 2015. I have the journal. Here it is. The Reading Woman engagement calendar.” (02:46)

2. Vulnerability & Humor in Sharing Private Book Logs

Mallory’s Reluctance
- Humorous pact that if Mallory dies, Brea must “burn all her book journals” and “throw her computer into the ocean.” (01:28–01:37)
- “I feel so, so, so vulnerable. I've literally never showed anybody these. This is why Bria is gonna burn them when I die.” (04:00)

3. The Mechanics of Book Journaling

Systems Used
- Tracking not only books read, but also the days they were completed, ratings, number of pages, formats (graphic novels, audiobooks), and other categories (gender of author, etc.).
  - Mallory kept a meticulous system: “Every single year, I've tried a slightly different rating system.” (04:19)
  - Brea was more selective and admits to throwing out some journals.
Rating Systems
- A range from “A” to “C minus”, with some entries marked as “DNF” (Did Not Finish).
  - Mallory’s noted generosity: “You’re giving a lot of A’s and B’s. Lots of A’s and B’s.” (07:29)
  - Occasional DNF entries: “There's a DNF, though. I found a DNF.” (07:32)
- Not all books rated: “You don't give a rating to all of them, which is interesting.” (07:13)

4. Evolution of Their Journaling Habits

Changes Over Time
- Switching from detailed logs with ratings, pages, and details (earlier years) to simpler title-only lists (later years).
  - “I was writing down the days that I read these things. But there's no... it's just the title of the book. There's no rating system.” (05:21)
- End-of-month stats tracking (number of books, gender of authors, etc.): “At the bottom, are tracking one audiobook, 13 books, three by man, 10 by women, plus a Nat Geo.” (09:05)
Stickers and Sentimentality
- Stickers marking moments or places alongside book entries (e.g., “sacred tattoos in New York”, “the last bookstore in LA”). (05:13–05:21)

5. Memorable Reads & Moments

First-tracked Books
- Mallory: “The first thing I ever have recorded in here is Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore. Thursday, January 1, 2015.” (03:30–03:36)
- Brea: “My first one is from December 4, 2008. I read Love is a mixtape, Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield.” (03:38–03:49)
Ratings Examples
- Sex Criminals (graphic novel): “You gave it an A because it's awesome.” (04:35)
- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut: “You gave a B to. Yeah, you know, a B is fine. It was written in 1963. You wrote 287 pages.” (04:41)
- Paper Moon (98th book of 2016): “Can I say what you gave it? Yeah, baby.” (06:54–06:59)
Vulnerable Moments
- “This is maybe the most vulnerable I've ever been on the Internet.” (07:01)
- “I feel like I'm showing my underpants to the Internet.” (09:38)

6. Bonus Fun and Listener Engagement

Call for Listener Emails and Newsletter
- Encouraging listeners to send in their book journal stories or sign up for the newsletter for more book lists. (01:50)
Tease of Extended Content
- Additional journaling content available to Maximum Fun members, with the cliffhanger of a notable book rating left unrevealed: “Do you want to know how Mallory rated Priest Daddy? Well, this is the time for you to join Maximum Fun right now...” (09:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Mallory actually has told me that if something ever happens to her, I'm to go to her house and throw her computer into the ocean and burn all her book journals.”
— Brea Grant (01:28)
“I feel so, so, so vulnerable. I've literally never showed anybody these. This is why Bria is gonna burn them when I die.”
— Mallory O’Meara (04:00)
“Every single year, I've tried a slightly different rating system.”
— Mallory O’Meara (04:19)
“There's a DNF, though. I found a DNF. Oh.”
— Brea Grant (07:32)
“You’re giving a lot of A’s and B’s. Lots of A’s and B’s.”
— Brea Grant (07:29)
“I feel like I'm showing my underpants to the Internet.”
— Mallory O’Meara (09:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:27 – Introduction to the secret book journals
01:28 – The burn/bury/throw-in-the-ocean pact
02:14 – When Brea & Mallory started tracking reading
03:30 – Mallory’s first-tracked book: Saga of the Swamp Thing
04:00–04:07 – The vulnerability of sharing book journals
05:13–05:21 – Stickers and location-based memories in journals
06:52–07:13 – Discovery of DNF and a spectrum of book ratings
09:05–09:23 – End-of-month stats: audiobooks, author genders, and Nat Geo
09:38–09:44 – Most vulnerable share; the fate of Priest Daddy's rating is teased

wavePod

BONUS Teaser - Reading Our Secret Book Journals!

Summary

Reading Glasses – BONUS Teaser: Reading Our Secret Book Journals!

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of Their Book Journals

2. Vulnerability & Humor in Sharing Private Book Logs

3. The Mechanics of Book Journaling

4. Evolution of Their Journaling Habits

5. Memorable Reads & Moments

6. Bonus Fun and Listener Engagement

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone and Takeaways

Transcript

Summary

Reading Glasses – BONUS Teaser: Reading Our Secret Book Journals!

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of Their Book Journals

2. Vulnerability & Humor in Sharing Private Book Logs

3. The Mechanics of Book Journaling

4. Evolution of Their Journaling Habits

5. Memorable Reads & Moments

6. Bonus Fun and Listener Engagement

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone and Takeaways