Reading Glasses Podcast: Episode 403 - Can You Beat Mallory in Book Trivia?

Release Date: March 20, 2025

In Episode 403 of the Reading Glasses podcast, hosts Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara dive into an engaging and competitive book trivia session, all while promoting their ongoing Maximum Fun Drive. This special episode not only entertains listeners with challenging literary questions but also offers insight into the hosts' current reads, listener feedback, and the myriad benefits of supporting the podcast through Maximum Fun. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing the episode's key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions.

I. Introduction and Maximum Fun Drive

The episode kicks off with Mallory playfully questioning the nature of the Maximum Fun Drive:

[00:00] Mallory O'Meara: "Hey, Glassers. It is the 2025 Maximum Fun Drive. And what the fuck does that mean?"

Brea quickly clarifies the purpose:

[00:23] Brea Grant: "Max Fun Drive is a brief, beautiful, ephemeral window of time where you can support us, Bri and Mallory and get a bunch of cool stuff."

Both hosts emphasize the importance of this drive, likening it to a cooperative Patreon model where listener support directly sustains the podcast.

II. Episode Overview: Book Trivia Challenge

Brea introduces the episode's main event—a book trivia competition between herself and Mallory, challenging listeners to test their knowledge against Mallory's literary prowess.

[01:05] Mallory O'Meara: "You're listening to Reading Glasses, a show about book culture and literary life designed to help you read better."

This friendly competition sets the tone for an interactive and fun-filled episode aimed at engaging the podcast’s community.

III. Reading Updates: Bria and Mallory's Current Reads

Before diving into trivia, both hosts share updates on their current reading selections.

Brea's Current Read:

• "Four Aunties and a Wedding" by Jesse Q. Santanto

  Brea describes it as the second installment in a charming series, filled with humor and light-hearted mystery.

  [02:33] Brea Grant: "The aunties are not... They keep saying like in it. It's very funny."

Mallory's Current Read:

• "Tartufo" by Kira Jane Buxton

  A departure from her previous work, Mallory appreciates the book's slice-of-life narrative set in a struggling Italian town transformed by an unexpected discovery.

  [03:20] Mallory O'Meara: "It's very much like a language slash setting book because there's just so many incredible descriptions..."

IV. Listener Feedback

The hosts take a moment to acknowledge and share feedback from their listeners, highlighting how the podcast has influenced their reading habits.

[05:15] Mallory O'Meara: "I think an audiobook is a great start when it comes to reading history..."

One listener, Sarah, shares how Mallory’s recommendations reignited her interest in nonfiction, specifically feminist history books.

[06:22] Brea Grant: "Bonnie wrote in and said... I love micro history... History of women in fitness, history of the food industry..."

V. Maximum Fun Drive Details

Brea and Mallory delve deeper into the Maximum Fun Drive, outlining the benefits and perks for supporters. They emphasize the cooperative nature of Maximum Fun, differentiating it from traditional Patreon models.

[07:46] Brea Grant: "It's sort of like a Patreon. That's the way Maximum Fun works."

Key perks include:

• Extra Episodes: Access to additional content beyond the regular podcast.
• Exclusive Channels: Membership to private Slack and Discord channels for community interaction.
• Personalized Book Recommendations: For supporters who join during the drive.
• Bonus Content: Eight years’ worth of additional episodes and special events.

Mallory highlights the dedication required to produce the podcast weekly for eight years, underscoring the necessity of listener support.

[08:24] Mallory O'Meara: "Reading Glasses is a full time job for us. We write every episode. We record them, produce them, edit them, promote them."

VI. Book Trivia Rounds

The core of the episode revolves around an interactive book trivia game, divided into multiple rounds and categories. Here's a breakdown of each round:

A. Round 1: Romance Books

Brea challenges Mallory with descriptions of recent romance novels, testing her ability to identify titles based on summaries.

[12:40] Bria Grant: "Daphne always loved the way her fiance Peter told their story... up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend, Petra."

Despite Mallory's best efforts, many of the 2024 romance titles prove to be a tough ask, highlighting the depth of recent romantic literature.

[17:38] Bria Grant: "How do you think people are doing at home? Are you doing well?"

B. Round 2: Women in Nonfiction

The trivia shifts focus to influential female authors currently featured on the New York Times Bestsellers list for nonfiction. Questions touch on notable authors and their works, such as:

[20:02] Bria Grant: "Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley Frankenstein."

Mallory struggles with some of the more specific titles, underscoring the niche nature of the questions.

C. Round 3: Short Stories

This round explores renowned short story collections, challenging Mallory to name the anthology based on listed stories.

[28:02] Bria Grant: "The White Cat's Divorce. Prince Underground. Kelly Links, Give the Glassers a chance."

Mallory accurately identifies "The Complete Stories" by Kelly Link, showcasing her strong grasp of short fiction.

D. Round 4: Book Subgenres

In this segment, Bria presents various book subgenres, asking Mallory to define them.

• Canadiana: Books set in Canada.

  [30:36] Mallory O'Meara: "Is that a book that takes place in Canada?"

• Furry Sleuth: Cozy mysteries with animal protagonists.

  [30:50] Mallory: "It's like a cozy mystery with an animal protagonist."

• Nordic Noir: Noir literature set in Scandinavian countries.

  [31:25] Brea Grant: "That's right."

Mallory nails most definitions, demonstrating her comprehensive knowledge of literary subgenres.

E. Bonus Questions

The trivia concludes with bonus questions about the podcast’s membership statistics and historical goals during previous drives, adding an extra layer of engagement for dedicated listeners.

[32:37] Bria Grant: "How many reading glasses members do we currently have as of this recording, which is before we started the fun?"

VII. Conclusion: Encouragement to Support and Upcoming Events

As the trivia wraps up, Brea and Mallory reiterate the significance of the Maximum Fun Drive, urging listeners to contribute to sustain and enhance the podcast.

[34:36] Mallory O'Meara: "So right now, go to maximumfun.org join to join. Sign up support Reading Glasses. It means the world to us."

They also announce upcoming events to celebrate the drive, including:

• Live Personalized Book Recommendations: Scheduled for March 21st at 2:00 PM Pacific Time.
• In-Person Reading Party: An invitation to meet at Vista Hermosa in Los Angeles on March 23rd, fostering community engagement and interaction.

[26:00] Brea Grant: "We are going to meet at Vista Hermosa in Los Angeles at noon. Bring your books, bring your blankets, bring your snacks..."

Mallory emphasizes the collective effort required to maintain the podcast's quality and frequency.

[34:44] Mallory O'Meara: "For just $5 a month, you help us stay independent, help us keep putting the show out every week."

Notable Quotes

• Mallory on Maximum Fun Drive:

  [00:08] Mallory O'Meara: "What the fuck does that mean?"

• Brea on Supporting the Podcast:

  [00:23] Brea Grant: "You can get extra reading Glasses episodes. You can go behind the scenes and get all the members only perks..."

• Mallory on the Podcast's Commitment:

  [08:24] Mallory O'Meara: "Reading Glasses comes out every single week for eight years, which means Reading Glasses is a full time job for us."

• Brea on Personalized Book Recommendations:

  [09:19] Brea Grant: "Book recs. Tomorrow at 2:00pm Pacific Time."

• Mallory on Book Trivia Challenges:

  [33:07] Mallory O'Meara: "We have to make it hard."

• Brea on Community Engagement:

  [26:00] Brea Grant: "We are going to meet at Vista Hermosa in Los Angeles at noon..."

Final Thoughts

Episode 403 of Reading Glasses masterfully blends entertainment with community-building, leveraging the book trivia challenge to foster listener engagement while simultaneously promoting the crucial Maximum Fun Drive. Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara effectively convey their passion for literature, their dedication to the podcast, and their appreciation for their audience’s support. Whether you're a longtime Glasser or a new listener, this episode offers a delightful mix of fun competition, valuable insights, and heartfelt gratitude, making it a standout installment in the series.

Join the Reading Glasses Community:

Support the podcast by joining the Maximum Fun Drive for as little as $5 a month. Enjoy exclusive perks, personalized book recommendations, and access to a vibrant community of fellow book lovers. Your support ensures that Brea and Mallory can continue to provide weekly literary content that enriches your reading life.

Thank you for reading, and happy listening!