B (1:55)

And we recommend romance where the protagonists swap bodies. Yes.

A (2:00)

But first, Bria, what are you reading?

B (2:01)

I'm reading the book for our next episode of Reading Smut.

A (2:06)

Oh, boy.

B (2:06)

It is Lights out by Nevessa Allen, which is the first in a series I didn't realize called Into Darkness. This is a dark romance.

A (2:14)

It sure is.

B (2:15)

We're gonna emphasize the word dark here.

A (2:17)

Wicked duck.

B (2:18)

Wicked dark. It is about a trauma nurse who has a mask kink and she is. She follows this guy on Instagram and she. Or on TikTok. And she's like, really likes this masked guy who walks shirtless.

A (2:33)

Yeah. He makes like sexy videos of him with a mask on.

B (2:36)

Right, Exactly. And then at one point, she is watching one of his videos and she's like, that's so hot. That looks like my bedspread. And then it is her bedspread and he's in her house. She's at work. Right. The way when this happens. And then you also get to see it from his perspective. So you get to see, like, how he figures out that she is into him because he. And this is given away really early that she used. She. She. He knows her through certain circumstances. Now, this book is not for everyone. We have someone coming on our show who is really excited to talk about it, who I think is going to defend the book. I'm not really sure what's going on.

A (3:10)

Yeah, we're gonna find out.

B (3:11)

But I think it will be a very interesting conversation because I will say, like, content warning for everything. I just got through an entire chapter that there's so much knife play.

A (3:20)

Yep, this is the book where. Yep, Yep, this is the book. Yep, it is.

B (3:25)

So. Yeah. But if you are looking for a dark romance that is going to push a lot of boundaries. Lights out by Nevesa Allen. What are you reading, Mallory?

A (3:34)

I'm reading a book I'm really excited about. It is a place both wonderful and strange. The Untold History of Twin Peaks.

B (3:41)

Oh, wow.

A (3:43)

Wow.

B (3:43)

That's for you.

A (3:44)

Yes, it is by Scott Meslo and it is narrated. I'm doing the. The audiobook. It's narrated by Mark Tretky. Oh, boy. You would think as me, Mallory Omera, would not need another book about the history of Twin Peaks.

B (3:56)

No, I think you would.

A (3:57)

I do. I do. Really. I. I've read quite a few books about, like, oral histories and histories of the making of. But the thing that's exciting about this book, one, it's very well written, but also it's. This just came out, so it includes stuff about Twin Peaks, the Return. If you. If you're. For some strange reason, this is the first time you are listening to the show. I'm extremely obsessed with David Lynch. I'm extremely obsessed with Twin Peaks. My bedroom looks like the Red Room in the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks. It is my favorite show. And this, this, this book is already. I'm only like 10% in and it has already taught me a lot of really interesting behind the scenes stuff about how it was made. And so if you're a Twin Peaks person, I don't recommend this book. If you've never heard of Twin Peaks, what are you doing? But if you are a Twin Peaks person, do not miss this book. It just came out. I just got it from the library and I love it. So that is a place both wonderful and strange. The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks by Scott Meslo.

B (4:54)

And I'm reading Lights out by Nevaeh Allen.

A (5:00)

We want to take a moment to share some listener feedback. Lynn wrote in to say, Dear Brian Mallory, I have a little tip that might help glassers. I don't have ADHD myself, so take this with a grain of salt. I too have fallen into the trap of reading a book and then picking up my phone to Google definitions or interesting things. When I was a kid, I used to keep a mini dictionary on my nightstand beside my book and reading light for whenever there was a big word I didn't understand. I thought, why don't I do this again? That way you satisfy your curiosity but you're reading it from another book into

B (5:27)

that, not picking up the phone. That's great.

A (5:29)

The only problem for me has been sometimes I want to see a picture of the item described. Like the Glasser example of the difference between a loot and a mandolin. So what I did was take my little notebook I always have beside my bed and write a list of interesting things or words I want to look up later. Hopes this helps. Any other glassers out there? I like that.

B (5:45)

Yeah, that's good. Just keep it next to your bed.

A (5:47)

Yeah, yeah. And then later when you're you're looking on your phone, instead of doom scrolling, you can be like, what's a mandolin slicer? I like that.

B (5:56)

Yeah, it's great. Rebecca wrote in and said, hi Brian Mallory. First I want to thank you both for helping me amp up my reading. I am a Max Fund member and longtime listener of Judge John Hodgman and heard an ad for your pod in one of those episodes and I'm so glad I did. Oh, thanks Judge John Hodgman. During and post pandemic, I found it so hard to read anything more than a few pages. Then I discovered audiobooks and the Libby app which helped for a while, but then life took over and I fell back into a slump. I also missed physical books and would go to the library and have a sad stack of books sitting in my nightstand staring at me with guilty, tempting pages that I wanted to read and would get auto renewed several times, but I always ended up having to take them back without cracking the spine. I have been dismayed and buried by work and knew that reading is a way to alleviate that and escape. As we approach the end of 2025, I this is how far we are behind in our we I needed additional encouragement. The timing of your hearing your pod was fortuitous as I discovered your show around the time I made a simple attainable New Year's resolution to read one book a month. We love that.

A (6:52)

We love that. I also would like to say I was looking the other day. Our listener feedback document is 293 pages long.

B (6:58)

It's a lot of pages. Your tips, reader questions, book recs, and overall attitude toward towards finding your own reading have in no small part helped me get totally back into it. I have already read nine books since the beginning of 2026, a mix of audio and paper and and I really have to thank you both. I even bought your super awesome journal and have realized it is a stellar gift for friends.

A (7:19)

Thank you.

B (7:19)

Stellar gift for friends. It is a stellar gift for friends. We love that. Hey, this is so great and congratulations on reading nine books this year. That's amazing. That's awesome. That's. That's awesome. Do you want to read Rebecca's wheelhouse

A (7:31)

indigenous story slash authors with strong female protagonists or spirits like the badass deer woman that bite injustice. Love that Gen X selection celeb biographies, eccentric but lovable characters, non fiction that has real life examples and are a mix of stories and real science sarcastic humor mysteries where I can't figure out the ending early on anything Scandinavia cozy Brit slash Ireland settings and any stories that have a little supernatural witchiness in them. But isn't the main focus the witchy flavor?

B (7:57)

Yeah, yeah. Just like just a touch of witch.

A (8:00)

So you can email us reading classes podcast gmail.com if you want a list of all the books we talk about on the show delivered to your inbox every month, you can sign up for our newsletter. There's a link in the show notes before we talk about how to tell if you have bad taste in books. We're going to take a quick break. Hey Glassers.

B (8:20)

Whoa.

A (8:22)

We're in the fun drive zone.

B (8:26)

Wow.

A (8:27)

We're so happy you're here.

B (8:27)

It's so nice here.

A (8:28)

It's so nice here.

B (8:29)

We love being in the temperature.

A (8:30)

The temperature is great. Oh wow.

B (8:32)

It's so comfortable.

A (8:33)

It's very moisturizing here we've got humidifiers going.

B (8:35)

I just feel community all around me.

A (8:37)

Yes. And also humidity.

B (8:39)

Yes.

A (8:39)

From the humidifiers.

B (8:40)

Yes, of course.

A (8:41)

We love our community so much. We love that you're a part of it. We really love it. If you took that one step further, if you wanted to go steady with us and become a part of Maximum Fun to support us making the show. But Bria, what does that mean? What is Maximum Fun?

B (8:53)

So Maximum Fun runs just like a Patreon. It runs just like a. Like a public radio station.

A (8:57)

But it's even better than that, right?

B (8:59)

Except it is a podcast network and you sign up, you support us every month and the money goes to helping us make reading glasses. If you send to our other show, it also goes to Reading Smart. I just want to let you know. And also to our network, which is a co op. That means every scent supports real people making podcasts you love. That is real human beings. The people who they write us emails, they help us out, they help us get the podcast out there. Real.

A (9:21)

Not. This is not a. An evil corporation.

B (9:24)

Right.

A (9:24)

This is not no one. This is not going to eventually somehow fund like deforestation in the Amazon. This is just going to real humans making the stuff that you love. So, folks, the show comes out every single week, which means that it's a full time job for us. We write it, we produce it, we record it, we edit it, we promote the show ourselves. Literally every single job on Reading Glasses is us. And our wonderful sound wizard, Brit.

B (9:48)

Yes.

A (9:49)

Who we pay.

B (9:50)

Yeah. And we. And because you give us money, because this is our version of Patreon, we're able to do this full time and we're able to pay our bills. And Mallory and I, as you may have listened to an episode a couple episodes ago, we both have jobs that are tough. We aren't working all the time. We're. We're little artists and we write our books and we make our movies, but this is the thing that keeps us really going and we really appreciate everyone who helps us every month.

A (10:12)

Yeah. You're the reason we do it. Have. Maybe we've helped you get back into reading. Maybe we help you get into reading in the first place. We are asking you to help us back for just five bucks. This year we are focusing on getting new members and it's a great year for it because as we said earlier, dun dun dun. Add free episodes for members only. Pretty sick. I will say I am a member of some other podcasts that I listen to ad free episodes are so Sick.

B (10:37)

It's like. It's life changing. Truly, it's awesome. And that's not all. For new members, only new members. We are doing personalized book recommendations. In fact, if you're listening to this right now, on the day that this comes out, we are doing a recommendation livestream today at 5pm on our Instagram. We've been doing them all week. So people who joined at the beginning of the week, which is something we always do. We. We've been doing them all week. But hey, guess what? You can join right now and get your very own personalized recommendation. You join. You send us proof that you joined to our email. To our email and what your wheelhouse is. And live on Instagram Tonight at 5pm we will give you a recommendation.

A (11:11)

Yes. Send it to us during the drive. Make it as weird as possible as specific. We've got you. We have done some really weird requests. We always have. And the thing is, you're getting a book wreck from B, Bria and I. But because we're us, you're gonna get like three or four and then we'll. You don't even have to worry about watching the live stream because we're gonna email them to you afterwards.

B (11:29)

Yeah, exactly. And for just $5 a month, not only help us make the show, but you also get the following ready for it. We get. We have a Discord channel where all the glasses are hanging, which is very exciting. You get bonus content this year. We go through our old book journals.

A (11:42)

Yes, we do.

B (11:43)

These are really. We do these secret episodes and we do episodes throughout the year that are just for members. But yeah, this time we decided to do just type in hot Bookish takes. And wow, we've done a lot of hot Bookish takes over the last nine years and there's tons of members only episodes.

A (11:57)

I can't wait to. I can't wait for people to hear you looking at the way I rated books.

B (12:01)

Oh, my God. So for just five bucks a month, you get hours and hours of reading glasses and you go to maximum fun.org join. That's maximumfun.org join but you should do it right now because the Fun Drive Zone is only open. This zone. The zone is closing after two weeks.

A (12:14)

The zone is closing, baby.

B (12:16)

Yeah. And honestly, it's only about a week left by the time this episode comes out. Because we come out on Thursdays.

A (12:21)

Yeah.

B (12:21)

So now today's the day, baby. Like, if you're going to do it, you only have. It's today that you're going to get that recommendation, this is the best time to join.

A (12:30)

And we understand that everything is bad. The economy is bad, but what else can you get for $5?

B (12:35)

Not much.

A (12:36)

They opened a Starbucks down the street from my house and I was like, maybe I'll be a little. A little ice drink girl. Now you can. A medium drink is $7, but for $5 a month you get nine years worth of reading glasses. You get all of this stuff and you support Max fun. Like, I don't. I really don't know what else you can get for $5.

B (12:56)

Yeah, it's so true. $5 a month. And again, we love what you can upgrade if you're already a member. We love that. We love that you can upgrade and we would love for you to upgrade as a member. But we really want those people listening who have never joined, think about joining. This is the time. This is the greatest time.

A (13:10)

This is the time. Never better. The zone is warm.

B (13:14)

So humid.

A (13:15)

It's so.

B (13:15)

In a good way.

A (13:16)

Our. Our skin looks amazing.

B (13:17)

It really. I'm looking at Mallory Dewey. Do we.

A (13:20)

We are. Our hair looks great. Oh, it's fantastic. And also our hungry pets will love you forever, just like we will. That's maximumfun.org join. This week we're talking about taste in books. Do you have bad taste? Good taste? How can you even tell? And most importantly, does it even matter? We are getting into it. So today's episode was insp. Baela. Bayla was the listener who wrote in about possibly being too critical of books and we did a whole episode about it. Apparently Bayla's just has great. The best questions.

B (13:53)

Yeah. Yeah. Really good for inspiring us to do entire episodes.

A (13:56)

Yes. And when after we did that episode, Bela wrote in with this great piece of follow up and said, hi again. Thank you for answering my question about being too critical so thoughtfully. I realized as I was listening that I think part of my motivation for asking the question is that I get insecure about recommending books. I can enjoy a book at many levels and rate them how I feel right then. Thanks for the encouragement with that. But then when it comes to recommendations, I think I get nervous that someone will catch me out. Like someone will think you recommended this book to me, but it was actually quite slow in parts. So that means I'm seen as a bad reader, which is so silly. So I need to remind myself that critical reading and enjoyment can be different things and that I am a smart reader and people should not judge you for the books that you like. And this I was like, wow, this is such an interesting thought, and it's something I really struggle with. How do you know if you have good taste in books? It's actually something I'm kind of self conscious about.

B (14:47)

Oh, interesting.

A (14:48)

Do you think you have good taste in books?

B (14:50)

Yeah. Do I really do?

A (14:54)

Hell yeah.

B (14:55)

But it is my taste.

A (14:56)

Hell yeah, brother.

B (14:58)

Yes. I. I do a book podcast, for God's sakes. But it is my taste. And when someone is like, I hated this book you recommended, which literally happened to me last week, I do have to look deep and be like, is it bad taste? But I actually think, no. And I don't think they're wrong. They can hate the book, but I think your taste is your taste. And I think, well, we can get into this. I don't think there is good taste or bad taste, but. What that comment. So someone. I recommended a book to someone, and they were like, I want a really fudgeing scary horror book. So I recommended a book that I love. This person. I told them about this book. I said, they wanted a really fudgeing scary horror book. I recommended a book to them. They said, I have a bone to pick with you. I hated that book. And I was like, whoa. But you know what really helped is I used it as a jumping off point to go, tell me what you didn't like about it.

A (15:40)

Yeah.

B (15:41)

And he actually didn't have a. He was sort of like, I don't remember what he said, but I do. I was like, well, tell me what kind of book, what kind of horror book you do like? And he said, oh, I loved Mexican Gothic. And I was like, interesting.

A (15:54)

So he's more of an atmospheric.

B (15:55)

So I said the same thing. Thank you so much. I said, oh, you like a vibe? You want a vibe? Oh, no, no, I'm sorry. He didn't say Mexican. I think he said Mexican Gothic and the Return. And I was like, oh, it's a vibe. You like a vibe.

A (16:05)

Yeah.

B (16:06)

And so then I was like, I got some Vibe books for you. And so then I sent him some Vibe books. And hopefully he doesn't hate them. Girls, he's gonna think I'm very bad at my job. But. But I, I, it made. You know what? I used it as, like a way to spark a conversation.

A (16:18)

Yeah.

B (16:19)

Because the book's not mine. And even if it was mine, people are allowed to dislike stuff that I've made. That's also fine. But for me, it was more like, oh, interesting. I learned something about your taste. I'm sorry you wasted your time with this Book that I feel slightly bad about because I don't love wasting people's time. But I did learn about, like, what

A (16:37)

responds to that time was spent for him to learn more about himself as a reader.

B (16:41)

The book was kind of gross. It had some gross parts and I wonder if the grossness was too much for him. So I don't know. So, anyway, so, okay. Do you think you have good taste in books?

A (16:50)

I think I have very specific taste in books.

B (16:53)

That's true.

A (16:54)

I have very specific taste in everything. Something I do worry about, especially as someone who talks about books for a living. Every year, this is what happens is every year there's always a book or multiple books that I'm absolutely fucking bananas wild about that it seems like nobody's talking about and the people who did read it are not talking about it, which means they don't like it. And then every year there's like a really popular book that I bounce off of and I'm like, am I dumb? Do I, am I, am I bad at this? Do I, do I not have good taste in books? So I. But the thing is, so much of your taste in art is particular to your particular life experience. And sometimes I wonder if that my life has been so weird that it's giving me like an off the beaten path taste in books. Something that I really love that my friends do a lot is they're like, oh, this is a Malory thing. And they're almost always extremely correct because

B (17:49)

it's so specific, because it's.

A (17:50)

Yeah, I have such a specific taste in things. Like right now, me and friend of the show, my friend Harmony, our friend Harmony, Harmony's been showing me Jean Claude Van Damme movies because she's like, Mallory, this is. These are Mallory movies. And she's completely right. And so I don't know if I have good taste, but I have very specific taste. And I'm actually really happy with that. And it has taken me a long time to get to that point. And I'm still, I still, I think I still struggle when I'm like, there's a popular. There's a. There was a couple popular books. There was one really popular book last year that you and I bounced off of. And I was like, are we bad at this? So, but you know what I mean? It's like, so there's so much of you that go. And maybe that's why I get worried that I have bad taste in books because so much of you goes into your taste and like, and your own life experience.

B (18:33)

Well, I mean, allow me to say this, but specifically you. You specifically Mallory, are very. You have very specific taste. And the things you love, you love. And you are not defined by those things, but they are part of the definition of you. Yes, if that. You know, And I think some people, it's more or less that thing, but I think I could see how, you know, me saying, I hate David lynch and he's lame. Mallory, literally, her eyes just lit up. I'm fire.

A (19:00)

I have a gun in my hand,

B (19:03)

like you. That to you is somewhat personal to you.

A (19:07)

Yes. And what's. But what's interesting is, like, a lot of the stuff that I love is very. I recognize is kind of like Tom Waits is my favorite musician. David lynch is my favorite filmmaker. Shirley Jackson is my favorite. Like, there's so. And a lot of the books that I love are like weird horror. So I think. And maybe this is just me being preemptively defensive, but I think a lot of the times I'm like, yeah, the stuff I like is weird. Like, I get it if you. If you don't like it, it's not weird. David lynch is weird. That's the whole. His whole thing.

B (19:34)

That is his whole thing. I take back what I just said. That is his whole bit.

A (19:37)

That's his whole bit. All right, so on the flip side, do you think that people can have bad taste in books?

B (19:42)

No, I don't think you can have bad taste in books because I think the idea of good taste is snobby.

A (19:48)

Hell, yeah, brother.

B (19:50)

I think, okay. I think there are people who can be on the forefront of taste and push things forward that will eventually enter the Zeitgeist as like, like major touch points for culture. So I think there are things that people go. They are. I think there are people who are able to identify and go, you know, this band is going to be big. Or, you know, we read an early copy of this book and we can tell this is going to be one of the books of the year. Like, there are people who have that ability, and I don't know if those people are just more in touch. Touch. Culturally. I don't know if they have more mainstream taste. I don't know if that makes a good taste and necessarily just like, it's more.

A (20:22)

Maybe more palatable, more. More wide appeal.

B (20:25)

Yeah, I think there are people who can identify that. I think there are people who can push that. I think there are people who are influencers, who are tastemakers, and they have cultivated that part of themselves where they. I mean, and to an extent, this is something we've done, but also, like, you know, I've been going to a lot of film festivals and like, people in the film festival world, they are pushing certain movies to make sure that these movies are the ones that people are talking about. So I think that there are people who can identify that kind of stuff. I don't think that necessarily means you have good taste, but I think it means that you have tastes that people are going to respond to. But I think also that shit can be affected by the market. So, like, I'm not. I don't think that taste has much to do with it. I think you should like what you like.

A (21:07)

What's interesting is that I. I consider you as a person with really good taste.

B (21:12)

Oh, thank you so much. Wow. I took that as a compliment immediately, even though I said I don't believe in it. Okay, so do you think it is possible to have bad taste in books?

A (21:21)

Yes and no. I think it is possible to have clashing tastes with somebody else.

B (21:25)

Okay.

A (21:26)

Like your own particular taste in books would be bad to somebody else. Like, if you were a person who is very character and language driven and you don't like horror. I probably have very bad taste to you, sure. But I don't think you can have bad taste objectively, even if you read nothing but old computer manuals from the 90s. Like, maybe amongst people who like those, you have really good taste. Like, maybe you read nothing but, like, very poorly written, hastily published indie books that have had no care going into them and they're filled with grammatical errors. Because, like, that, even then I'm like, well, why? Like, I'm curious about it. It's very interesting to me. I believe the prophet Cheryl Crow said, if it makes you happy, then it can't be bad. But I will say I was thinking about this. I think it is possible to have bad taste if you like AI books.

B (22:19)

Oh, okay.

A (22:19)

And that's where I. I consider you as somebody with really good taste.

B (22:23)

Oh, thank you so much.

A (22:23)

Because in the things that you like, like, obviously you have good taste in chocolate.

B (22:28)

Oh, yeah. I'm highly. You know, maybe there's such thing as a developed palette.

A (22:32)

I think that's what it is. Because in my mind, the stuff that you like, you really are someone who really cares about craft.

B (22:38)

I do love craft.

A (22:39)

So it doesn't matter if it's clothes or chocolate or a movie. Like, I know that something that you like is probably going to be very well made. To me, that is, I'm like, wow. Yeah. Brie's got really good taste.

B (22:51)

Yeah. Like, I care about the artistry of it.

A (22:53)

Yes.

B (22:53)

But there are things that, like, I don't like that I think. Like, I mean, this is something. A weird thing about music with me. It's like. I don't like generally. I don't like people who are auteurs. I like buck against it. There's something about it. Like, people like. It's about. It's more like. It's hard to do in the book world because you're kind of an auteur in the book world, like, regardless. But I don't generally love musicians that are like one solo guy that everyone talks about. That guy.

A (23:18)

Yeah.

B (23:18)

Like I. Something about that.

A (23:19)

So you don't like Tom Waits?

B (23:21)

Well, I don't like Tom Waits for other reasons.

A (23:23)

Because he sounds like he's gargling bunch

B (23:25)

of ghosts to me. And I'm. I find it too spooky. Too spooky to me. It's too scary. I don't like it. But I. There's just something. I'm just like, not attracted to that. Like, it is. I find like a group effort or someone who has a. I see. There's something I. That I just like more about. Yeah. The craft of it all. And I'm sure those people have craft. I don't know what it is. It's just something about me autour filmmakers too, where people like, who's your favorite director? And I'm like, I don't know. Like, I don't know. I can tell you movies I like and I can tell you directors I do like. But like favorite director. I just. I don't know.

A (23:57)

Yeah.

B (23:57)

Like, I'm not. It's not something I respond to as much.

A (24:01)

You're more about the art and then about like a cult of personality.

B (24:04)

Yeah, I don't like a cult of personality. I find it very, like, off putting.

A (24:07)

Yeah.

B (24:07)

And I find when it surpasses the art, then I'm way less interested in it. Like, it will make basically make me not interested in the art or the movie or the. What?

A (24:15)

I actually have an opinion about a really popular authority like that, which I will tell you afterwards. All right. So, Bria, do we think this even matters? Do you think your own, like an assessment of your own taste in reading matters?

B (24:27)

I think. Look, I think that obviously Bela feels a certain way and feels concerned, but no, I don't think. I think you should like what you like. And if someone doesn't like it.

A (24:37)

Them.

B (24:39)

Not them, but like them. You know what I mean, liking that information.

A (24:43)

What about you, uh, bringing it back to our, Our, Our friend Bela, who should just, I guess, write in once a month? Because I think it only matters if being nervous about your taste in books affects your life.

B (24:55)

Oh, okay.

A (24:56)

Bela, I think you and I need to be proud of our tastes.

B (24:59)

Mm.

A (24:59)

And I think that it is worth cultivating your taste. And I think it's really important because I come from the opposite end of things that a lot of people do is that I grew up as, like, a weird Goth kid. So anything that's too popular, I'm like, I don't like it.

B (25:13)

Yeah.

A (25:14)

So I've missed out on of things.

B (25:16)

Yeah.

A (25:17)

Because of that.

B (25:18)

You've never listened to, like, Taylor Swift?

A (25:19)

What? Well, funny you should say that, because my boyfriend is a swifty.

B (25:24)

Oh, wow.

A (25:25)

I'm aware. I didn't. He gave me a swifty bracelet. I don't know.

B (25:28)

Is that what you're wearing right now?

A (25:29)

Yes, I wear it every day. It says, go fight, win. And I. I wish I could remember the, the album that this is from. I. He could. He listens to the podcast. And I. Baby, I know you're cringing right now. I'm so sorry.

B (25:39)

I don't know anything about Taylor Swift, really either.

A (25:41)

I did not. But I'm trying because I'm in love. I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with someone who's a swifty. But I avoided her for a really long time because, like, anything. But there's, like, a little. That little, like, goth metalhead kid in me that's like anything that's too popular. Yeah, it, like, it's way cooler to, like, an obscure author and obscure movie. So I, I, I need to work. I think it's really important to develop your taste outside of other people's opinions.

B (26:08)

Right.

A (26:09)

Outside of whatever is popular. And I think it is very worth tapping into your taste. Like. And I've gotten really good about leaning in, like, yeah, I am proud to be Uncle Mallory who a friend is like, you haven't seen a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. We gotta fix that.

B (26:20)

Yeah.

A (26:20)

You know, I like that because it makes you find more stuff that you like.

B (26:24)

Yeah, for sure.

A (26:25)

And if it's weird, then, oh, well, we're all gonna die someday. Like, I think I love the Samantha Irby method. Like, remember that essay that she has where she's just like, well, I like it. And she's like, oh, trash tv, nacho cheese sauce. Who gives a shit? I like it. And if someone is like, if you Recommend a book to someone and they're like, well, it was slow. I hated it. Be like I liked it.

B (26:45)

Exactly.

A (26:46)

It's such a beautiful, easy way to go through an interaction like that. And I also. I have this weird thing. Maybe it's because I'm a high school dropout where I automatically assume everyone knows better than me.

B (26:58)

Oh, interesting.

A (26:58)

At certain things.

B (27:00)

No, I think that's also being a woman.

A (27:02)

Yeah.

B (27:02)

That's unfortunately.

A (27:03)

Yeah.

B (27:03)

I mean, but I. Because I have. I have a similar reaction to things where I'm like, sometimes, did this person know better than me about this thing?

A (27:08)

Yeah. If I really like a movie and then I see that all like the. The nerdy cineph man on. On letterbox didn't like it. I'm like, am I stupid?

B (27:15)

No, because opinions are not wrong. Maybe they are not. Like, maybe you didn't go to film school.

A (27:20)

Yeah.

B (27:21)

So maybe you don't understand, like, you know, the lighting technique or the references or whatever. But that doesn't mean you can't like or dislike something that doesn't. That is. No, it has. It does not affect whether or not. Just because you don't have, like a history, a historical background on something doesn't mean you can't like or dislike it. You're allowed to. An opinion.

A (27:37)

Yeah. And I think we've talked about this on an earlier episode. The point of art is not to be perfect. Like, I. Maybe from like a technical, critical standpoint. There's definitely books that I have read where there's a haunted. A couple haunted house books I've read over the past few years that were perfect. Like, everything was like perfectly structured everything. Like, nailed everything. And have I thought about them once? Yeah, but there. There are books that have problems in them, but they really made me feel something. Like, it is like, I love a big swing. I love something weird. And if that makes me have bad taste, then call me Peter Jackson. Like, like I. Peter Jackson made a movie called Bad Taste. I don't think Peter Jackson has bad taste. If it makes you feel something and it. And you are enjoying the process of it, then it's good. That's the best counter to people. It's like, you can't have bad taste in something that makes you happy.

B (28:32)

Yeah.

A (28:33)

Unless, like, you're a serial killer and.

B (28:35)

Right. Yes. Yeah.

A (28:37)

No harm withstanding. But I think. I think what I'm trying to say is I think it's less important to. About whether or not your taste is bad or good and more important to develop your own taste and Stuff, Right?

B (28:49)

Yep.

A (28:49)

And then just tell people off. All right. Well, Bayla, I hope we answered your question, even though you didn't really ask. Well, I guess you kind of asked a question, but folks write in. I'm dying to know what people think of this. Before we debate the ethics of used books and selling them, we're going to take a quick break.

B (29:14)

Whoa,

A (29:17)

whoa, whoa. Bria. What if we. Inside the Max Fun Zone, we are. We are just two human slide whistles.

B (29:23)

Wow. I was gonna say we're two. Just books with eyes.

A (29:26)

Oh, I like it even better.

B (29:27)

Yeah. Yeah.

A (29:28)

In our. Our bookmarks are slide whistles.

B (29:30)

Yeah, that's good, actually.

A (29:31)

Oh, my God. We made a side whistle bookmark. I'm so mad. But you know what I'm not mad about?

B (29:40)

Tell me.

A (29:42)

Bria, when people sign up to support us, they get so much fucking shit.

B (29:46)

They really do. They do. We just talked about it.

A (29:48)

But on top of that, we're doing extra stuff.

B (29:51)

Yeah. We're overachievers.

A (29:52)

We're like, oh, you're getting bonus stuff. Well, we're going to give you bonus stuff on your bonus stuff. So this is a pretty big deal.

B (29:58)

Yeah. So remember, y', all, the anticipated books episode. That's the one y' all love. You talk about it. Mallory spends hours doing it every month, every couple months. These are contingent on the drive this year because it is a lot of work, and this year we're focusing on new members. So, okay, we're gonna go through what it is, but we have to get a certain number of new members to get that anticipated books episode. So if you're loving that episode, it's time for you maybe pony up a little bit. Okay. So, all right. We love to do. This is all. Will all be on our Instagram, so you can see how we're doing. Hopefully, by the time that you listen to this, we will have done some of this already. But so for. Here's. Here's our goals. You want to talk about our goals?

A (30:35)

Okay, so first goal for 100 new members, we're going to go through our TBRS live.

B (30:39)

Yes. Wow.

A (30:40)

This is so good. The bad, the embarrassing.

B (30:42)

So embarrassing. And mine is so long, I don't even want to talk about it. It's going to be so.

A (30:46)

So not embarrassed about what's on it. She's embarrassed that it is 1000 books.

B (30:50)

That's actually totally true. If we get 200 new members, we're going to do recommendation for parties where we.

A (30:55)

We've done those before, and they're so Fun.

B (30:57)

Super fun. We get everyone in rooms, separate rooms. And we're like, okay, this is room for non fiction, not a real one. Yeah, this is room for non fiction. This is a room for romance. This is a room for sci fi. And we all recommend books to each other. It's really fun.

A (31:07)

Yeah. You can bring a very specific recommendation that you're looking for to this virtual party and the Glassers and us will help you out. And then 300 new members. Yeah. This is what you want. We're bringing back the most anticipated books at the episodes. Again, folks, this takes me. These episodes take me 8, 9, sometimes 10 hours to do just a whole day. Me and Netgalley. So we're trying to get it out.

B (31:30)

We're trying to make it. Make it worth Mallory's time. And we think we can get there. We think you can get 300 new members. This is a big goal for us, but we really like doing these episodes. We know y' all like these episodes. I like these episodes because then I know I'm gonna read the next few months. It really helps me to organize, which

A (31:44)

is nice and well, and because we don't wanna. We. We're very appreciative of all the members that are already members and they're gonn boosting and upgrading. We do have an overall goal.

B (31:55)

And this includes all the boosting and upgrade. Yes.

A (31:57)

So Bria, do the sad slide whistle sound side whistle.

B (32:01)

Listen, y' all know. Okay, this was y'.

A (32:03)

All. This is.

B (32:04)

Mallory is not happy about this, but we can get there. 600 overall. Actually, I kind of want to do a. Like a. Or like I need to think of like a. Like a very famous. I'm gonna think of. I wish I could just single miserable right now because we're going to make Mallory.

A (32:23)

You can start doing one of the songs from Cats.

B (32:27)

Yeah. Yeah. Huh.

A (32:28)

Or Magical Mallory. Mistoffeles.

B (32:30)

Yeah. Or from Wicked. We're going to like anyway. We're going to make Mallory watch a musical at 600. If we get 600 new, upgrading or boosting members. So it's. Everyone can contribute to Mallory watching a musical. This has been the biggest debate this

A (32:45)

year that you get to vote on.

B (32:47)

The biggest debate this year is whether is Mallory said I didn't like musicals and y' all said you're a bad person.

A (32:55)

I wish we were joking, but that's what happened.

B (32:57)

And then people are like, but what about this one? And she's like, I don't like it. And they're like, what about this one? And now guess What y', all, if you were like, what about this one? That was your time. Because you give boost, join, upgrade anything, and we get to that. 600 members. Then Mallory will watch a musical and y' all get to vote on it. You get to sit. We're going to watch it. We're going to sit here and watch it. And you could tell her what she's going to watch. So this is your time. If you believe in the musical world and reading glasses, it's your time to shine. She looks so mad right now, but

A (33:28)

I'm doing it for you. For the glasses. For the love of the glasses. All right, so, Bria, let's recap. For five bucks, you join. You go to maximumfund.org join to sign up to support reading glasses. For five measly dollars a month, you help us stay independent. You bring back the anticipated books, episodes. You help us keep the show going every week. You get access to our discord. You get hours of bonus episodes. You get nine years worth of bonus episodes. You get access to our recommendation parties and our members only events, and you get ad free episodes for five bucks. Are you kidding me?

B (33:58)

It's pretty amazing.

A (33:59)

Inflation rates in the in the max fund zone are wild.

B (34:02)

That is really. You get so much for this.

A (34:05)

Exchange rate between the max fund zone and the rest of the world is really bonkers.

B (34:08)

And don't forget, if you join right now, if you join right now, you send us that receipt. You tell us your wheelhouse. We're going to send you a recommendation if you are a new member. So you can only get those recommendations. Our recommendations backlog is hundreds of pages long. You're never going to get through it the traditional way. This is your way to bypass that. And we will do that. We're going live today at 5pm you can see us do recommendations for you, possibly for other people who've already sent their shit in. We are excited. We want to do this. We're going to do it during the drive. This is the way. And that's only five bucks. That's kind of amazing. Not only that, we're doing an event too. What event are we doing tomorrow?

A (34:42)

Oh, my God.

B (34:43)

Yeah.

A (34:44)

Folks, folks have been waiting for us to do this for a long time. We are doing a live book club on instagram tomorrow. Tomorrow, 5:00pm 5:00pm Pacific Time for Chuck. We're reading a Chuck Tingle book. We are getting pounded in the butt by my handsome, sentient library card, who seems otherworldly but in reality is just a part of the priceless resources Our

B (35:08)

library System provides by Dr. Chuck Tingle.

A (35:11)

Yep.

B (35:11)

Dr. Tingle has provided us with this book. You can join us by reading it and showing up tomorrow. But also we're just doing it because we want to have fun during the

A (35:18)

fun drive we love doing. We we are. Our other show reading Smut got started because we love doing these erotica things for the for the fun drive so much. But we want to now that we're doing smart full time over there, we didn't want to leave leave everyone over here out.

B (35:30)

That's so true. Very true.

A (35:32)

So if you want to hear us talk, finally do a Chuck Tingle book. If you want to hear us talk about banging a library card, pop on over to instagram Tomorrow at 5pm Mm. But more just folks sign up to support us.

B (35:44)

Yeah, we do it.

A (35:45)

We pour a lot of work into the show and we know it means a lot to people. And the reason why we're able to do that is because from listeners like you. So we're trying to get some new members this year. We have a lot of really amazing loyal members that have been members for a long time. They boost and upgrade pretty regularly. It's time for a crop of freshmen.

B (36:01)

Yeah, it's so true.

A (36:01)

So all you got to do is go to maximumfun.org join that's maximumfun.org/join. Now let's solve a bookish problem from one of our listeners, Tina Roden to say hi, Brian Mallory. You are probably familiar with the blind date with the book fad. I wanted to get on board for 2026, so I purchased 12 blind date books from an Etsy seller. Her listing stated that the books were gently used, which is fine with me. I got them at a really good price and I started unwrapping them anyhow. I was initially dismayed to see a little free library stamp inside two of the books. I still have several to open. There could be more for all I know. It's just possible. It's possible that the seller bought them at the local thrift store or she could have just been pilfering them out of her local free library boxes and reselling them. Therein lies my dilemma. There have been times when I've brought a book home, kept it because I really loved it, took a different book back to the little free library. If I decided someday to send that book off to the thrift store, it could easily end up being sold to somebody. Did the donor pay for the book? Our little free library book sacrosanct. Is the taker responsible and obligated to return the book. What do you think about this, Bria? I feel like no single thing has brought more drama and debate to the bookish community than little free libraries.

B (37:12)

Those little free libraries, they hit the

A (37:13)

book world like a meteor.

B (37:15)

Well, because it's like people in the book world like rules, and then we like doing something that's really like, oh, the rules are kind of like a little nebulous and like. But it's still about community. Yeah, for sure. I just want to say side hustle alert. Taking the books from little free library and selling them. Kidding. Don't do that. Don't take those books. That's for your community. Also, can you imagine setting up just like a giant little free library just in order for you to just use those books and sell them?

A (37:39)

Instead of a little free library, it's just a big tube that goes down into your basement and lands in a box and you bring it to the book and you go to the bookstore.

B (37:46)

Yeah. Okay. I just want to say to Tina, this is not on you. You bought this book from a source fair and square. And while I'd love to see this episode of Law and Order where you track down a bookseller source and you're like. And you're like going through, dusting it for print, trying to figure out it's. This is not worth your time to worry about. There are a number of ways a person could have gotten them. It could have been given to them. Like, it could have been in the little free library, and then they took it and then they donated it to a three. You know, like, there's just so many ways this could have happened. You are not obligated to return this book to the little free library. You don't need to worry about this. This is your book now and you are free. Someone could have gotten it. Like, you got it. So, like, you're free to do with it what you want. This is not. This is not on you. What do you, what do you think this person should do?

A (38:26)

I just. This combines truly, like so many hot button reader issues. It's. This is. It's tough because there's nothing you can really do about it. Like, you can email the Etsy seller and say, hey, don't do that. But if that's what they're doing, they're probably not going to stop. No, they don't care because it's not illegal.

B (38:43)

I don't know. For some reason, I have faith in Etsy sellers and the bookish community, and I feel like this is not Even we have. Right.

A (38:49)

We had to turn off our Etsy store because there were so many AI Things.

B (38:51)

Right. Maybe. I know. Don't have faith in Etsy sellers. Sorry.

A (38:53)

Have faith in nothing anymore. Yeah, I have. I have faith in. I don't know.

B (39:00)

Wow.

A (39:01)

Wow.

B (39:01)

She's really having an existential moment right now. I'm watching her. She's literally like, love, friendship, the meaning of life.

A (39:09)

Like, it's like.

B (39:09)

It's like that meme where there's. There's numbers going across her face, trying

A (39:14)

to think of something. I have faith in. I don't even know what's a single object.

B (39:20)

How cats.

A (39:22)

Yeah, well, yeah, I'm kind of. I'm thinking of like an object.

B (39:25)

Okay, you don't have to.

A (39:28)

Okay.

B (39:29)

You don't have to think.

A (39:30)

So this is how. How degraded this world has become. You can't trust anything. And also, here's a little wrench. What if this person is in a bad place financially and this is how they're supporting themselves? Oh, wow.

B (39:43)

How do you feel about it now then? It's like, it's a good side hustle.

A (39:47)

It's taking books, because I have heard of this, that unhoused people will take books out of little free library and sell them to a used bookstore and use that money to buy whatever. And. But the thing is, this person, like, I guess they're guessing also, if you

B (39:59)

thought about it, if you're like, oh, this person needs money and I have a book that could help give them, you probably would just give that book to that person.

A (40:05)

Yeah.

B (40:05)

You're not like, well, it has to go to the community that is your community. Yeah, yeah. It's complicated.

A (40:10)

It's complicated. I also, like, I guess this person is, like, doing some. Is doing labor by, like, taking it, gussing it up, wrapping it up, writing the little description on it. So here would I be annoyed if this happened to me? I bought a used book and it came. And it was like, this came from a little free library. Probably at first, the better condition it was in, the less I would mind, though.

B (40:30)

I.

A (40:30)

And the thing is, I don't think people are obligated to bring a book back to the little free library. You know, it's not like these are being. Once they're taken out of the little free library, like, they need to be brought back. We've talked about that before. So the truth is, if a person didn't take the book and sell it, there's a chance it would have just stayed in that little free library collecting dust next to all the other James Patterson's in there. It's true. If you're. If Tina's happy with the book, I think it's fine. I don't know. Everything is so bad in the world right now. Like, this is just maybe not something to be that concerned.

B (40:59)

And you don't need. This is not responsibility to figure this out either.

A (41:02)

Yeah, it's just like there's so many ways that book could have ended up with that stamp. What if. What if someone put the stamp on it and then never ended up putting it in a little library?

B (41:10)

Oh, interesting. Yeah, that's interesting.

A (41:13)

Somewhere else. If anyone on here does this, like, sells books online or thrift books. Like, where are they? What's the providence of these books? Like, I just feel like there's so many ways. Like I just. It also depends on how much you're paying for them. Like if they're. If it's really cheap, it. Yeah, but Tina is not Tina's fault.

B (41:31)

No, definitely not Tina's fault. Definitely not.

A (41:33)

All right. If you want us to solve your reader problem, if a little free library has entered your neighborhood and is causing chaos, please send it to reading glasses podcast gmail.com. Time to answer a recommendation request from one of our listeners. Michael Michelle wrote in. Hi, Brianne Mallory. I wasn't sure if I should email reading glasses or reading smut for this book a recommendation, so I'm hedging my bets here in reading glasses. That is correct. We do not do recommendations on reading smut. We talk about why people would want to have sex with a merman, but we don't recommend merman books. Those are different things. Michael Michelle says I'm hoping for a book recommendation for a romance that incorporates body swapping. I love when a body swap trope is implemented in a story, but I've rarely if ever seen it in a romance or spicy story. Usually it's played up for laughs and comedies, but in the context of a romance with characters, communication and consent, it could be quite spicy in each experiencing romance sex as a different person, Especially when the love interest is now in the main character's body. Am I doomed to always be on the hunt for this book or will I just have to sit down and poorly write it myself? Thanks so much for all your help in an amazing pod. Well, folks, fear not.

B (42:37)

We.

A (42:38)

I found two of them.

B (42:39)

Great. I have one more suggestion for a book that hasn't come out yet, but is coming out.

A (42:43)

Oh, so these are straight up romance books. One is, I guess they're both Kind of sci fi, but one is way more sci fi than the other. And the first one is called Switched by Evangeline Anderson, and it's about aliens. It's a body swap with an alien protagonist. The tagline is a warrior with a talent that could get him killed. A girl transported to a new existence with no warning. Basically, it seems like a human woman and an alien switch bodies and it makes them. It's like, you know that book that came out? That book. Jesus. That movie that came out, directed by friend of the Show, Aline Brash McKenna. Your Place or mine? Where two people switch apartments?

B (43:22)

Yeah.

A (43:23)

And they fall in love with each other. That's like. This is like that. But your apartment is your body.

B (43:26)

Oh, wow.

A (43:27)

And they switch bodies and start to fall for each other. And I don't know how alieny it gets, but I do know it is spicy. And because it looks like a regular human man on the COVID Okay, okay.

B (43:40)

But who knows what's going on underneath?

A (43:43)

I do know there's a strange alien planet involved.

B (43:45)

Oh, that's fun.

A (43:47)

And one of them, I guess, is vegan.

B (43:48)

Okay, great. Vegan representation.

A (43:51)

I love it. All right, so that is, again, this will all be in the show notes, but that one's Evangeline Anderson. Switched Amber. You want to read the more historical one?

B (44:00)

Yes. There is a book called My Lady, My Lord by Katherine Ash that is the first in a series of historical romances. It is. Okay. This blue stocking lady has three passions, excellent books, intelligent conversation, and disdaining the libertine Earl of Chance. It sounds like we got some earls happening.

A (44:17)

Oh, shit.

B (44:18)

And they've been in each other's throats. But it seems like at some point they trade lives and what will they do without each other?

A (44:24)

Which sounds. They trade bodies to lovers where you trade bodies.

B (44:28)

That's pretty great. That's great.

A (44:30)

That sounds sick.

B (44:31)

That does sound pretty sick. That sounds amazing. That's a good one. I also will say, like, shout out to Devil Inside Clay McCloud Chapman's book that's coming out in the fall. This is not totally what this listener is asking for, but it is about. There is a demon possession that jumps from body to body. So this person, this demon kind of gets to experience what it's like to be in a lot of bodies, like, as a possession. And then it's also sexy at the same time.

A (44:56)

You can catch me and Clay and maybe Bria, if she wants to, at the rip bodice this summer, talking about this book.

B (45:01)

Yeah, it's a great book. I love that book, but it's not totally the same thing. But I think it might scratch an itch for you.

A (45:06)

So we Got Switched by Evangeline Anderson, My Lady, My Lord by Catherine Ash,

B (45:10)

and Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman.

A (45:12)

Beautiful. So if you want us to answer your recommendation, send it to reading glasses podcast gmail.com or if you want to sign up and be a new member of Maximum Fun and to support Reading Glasses, we will give you your personalized recommendation. Immediately.

B (45:27)

Yes, immediately. Wow.

A (45:29)

Sign up. Go to maximumfun.org join There's a link in the show Notes. Email us your proof of membership and ask us what kind of book you want, and we will email it to you. We're gonna read them out loud live on Instagram over the course of the next week, but we will also email them to you. Yeah. Speaking of.

B (45:47)

Yeah. Max Fun Drive.

A (45:48)

Highway to the Max Fun Zone.

B (45:51)

The Max Fun Zone.

A (45:52)

The Max Fun Zone is awesome. It's so awesome in here. It's so great. Everyone's so nice.

B (45:56)

Yeah, we're in the middle of it. We've been doing this for, like, multiple days. Maybe y' all are just finding out about it, but Max Fun Drive has been happening since the beginning of the week.

A (46:04)

Yeah. We only have a week left, really. So all you got to do is go right now to maximumfun.org to join and support Reading Glasses for as little as five bucks a month, which is almost nothing in today's economy. You can get a single blueberry for that, or you can get everything that we have to offer. The disc, Discord group ad, free episodes, bonus episodes, personalized book recommendation.

B (46:26)

So many things. I'm.

A (46:27)

I. I can't even remember.

B (46:29)

There's so many things.

A (46:30)

We literally do so much, so much.

B (46:32)

And you help us reach these goals that we really want to reach. We want to do those anticipated books, episodes. We want to Mallory to watch a musical. We really want it. We want it. We want to see it. I'm going to record her face. Y' all are going to love it. And the drive only lasts these two weeks. It's already started. We're already halfway through. So right now, go to maximumfun.org join to join and support Reading Glasses.

A (46:51)

If you like the show, please rate and review us on the podcast listening app of your choice. It's really great for us and helps us reach more readers. You can email us at reading glasses podcastmail.com find us on Instagram at Reading Glasses Podcast. Thanks for listening and thanks for reading.

B (47:02)

Thanks for reading.

A (47:11)

Maximum fun. A worker owned network of artist owned shows supported directly by you.