Reading Glasses Podcast Summary: Episode 410 - "Facts for Parties - Science Books for the Reading Glasses Challenge!"

Release Date: May 8, 2025
Hosts: Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara
Title: Ep 410 - Facts for Parties - Science Books for the Reading Glasses Challenge!

Introduction: Current Reads

Mallory O'Meara and Brea Grant kick off the episode by sharing the books they are currently immersing themselves in.

• Brea's Pick: The Center by Aisha Manazir Siddiqui [00:33]

  • Synopsis: Follows a Pakistani translator in London whose boyfriend mysteriously learns a new language in just ten days. Their relationship unravels as she delves into the secrets behind his rapid linguistic acquisition.
  • Quote: "It's like literary fiction, slash, mystery, slash. It's all told from a first-person perspective, which is very cool, very weird, very fun."

• Mallory's Choice: The Fair Botanist by Sarah Sheridan [01:51]

  • Synopsis: A historical fiction set in Edinburgh, featuring two protagonists—a content sex worker developing a mesmerizing perfume and a newly arrived artist obsessed with a rare blooming plant in the botanical garden.
  • Quote: "It's all about plants and perfumes and botany with beautiful descriptions of Scotland in the early summer."

Listener Feedback: Managing a Massive TBR

Juliet shares her strategy for handling an extensive To-Be-Read (TBR) list of over a thousand books. As a mood reader with diverse interests, Juliet treats her TBR as a "menu" rather than a definitive list.

• Key Tip: Utilize StoryGraph to manage and organize reading lists.
  • Features Highlighted:
    • To Read Pile: Randomly selects 4-5 books from the TBR to reduce overwhelm.
    • Up Next: Allows selection of up to five priority books.
    • Filter Options: Sort by mood, genre, pace, length, etc.

Quote from Mallory [03:57]: "We got a hot book tip in the morning. So Juliet says StoryGraph has been a game changer for me."

Honorable Mention: Centralizing the entire TBR using StoryGraph's features can significantly streamline the reading process.

Listener Spotlight: Overcoming Reading Slumps with Hyper-Fixations

Kira discusses her struggle with reading slumps caused by hyper-fixations due to ADHD. Her solution involves integrating book-related spin-off content to reignite her reading habit.

• Strategy:
  • Incorporate books related to her favorite shows, games, and mythology.
  • Maintain a small backlog of these books to serve as treats during slumps.

Quote from Kira [07:18]: "Hope this helps other people who never considered that their other interests might also be books."

Upcoming Event: Spring Readathon

The hosts announce their first Spring Readathon scheduled for Sunday, May 18th.

• Details:
  • Duration: 10 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time (flexible to accommodate all time zones)
  • Activities: Live stream check-ins on Instagram, reading sessions, and community engagement.

Quote [24:28]: "We're going to start with a live stream on our Instagram at 10 o'clock in the morning."

Sponsored Segment: Aura Frames

Mallory and Brea introduce their sponsor, Aura Frames, highlighting it as an ideal Mother's Day gift.

• Key Features:
  • Unlimited Storage: Share countless photos directly from your phone.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: Fits seamlessly into any home decor.
  • Special Offer: $35 off plus free shipping on the Carver mat frame using promo code Glasses at AuraFrames.com.

Quote from Bria [09:41]: "She'll also love that an Aura frame means she gets to see more of you."

Bookish Question: Should You Get a Library Book Signed?

Listener Blaze inquires about the appropriateness of getting library books signed by authors, expressing concerns about potential repercussions.

• Hosts' Response:
  • Positive Outlook: Many authors are open to signing books specifically for libraries.
  • Best Practices:
    • Targeted Signing: Have the book signed to the library itself (e.g., "Los Angeles Public Library") rather than personalizing it.
    • Avoid Misrepresentation: Ensure authenticity to prevent confusion or accusations of vandalism.

Quote from Mallory [23:24]: "You can send your thoughts on science books to readingglassespodcast@gmail.com."

Recommendation Request: Social Justice YA Books

Eve seeks recommendations for young adult (YA) books that tackle social justice themes. The hosts enthusiastically respond with their top picks.

• Recommended Books:

  1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

     • Synopsis: Chronicles the life of a young girl who witnesses her best friend being shot by police, sparking community turmoil and protests.
     • Quote from Bria [30:13]: "Hate U Give is about a girl who witnesses a shooting. It's really a great book with social justice at the center."

  2. Attack of the Black Rectangles by AS King

     • Synopsis: A middle-grade novel where a young boy discovers that library books are being censored, leading him and his friends to challenge intolerance in their community.
     • Quote from Mallory [30:28]: "Every single AS King book, you can bank on there being an interesting speculative element and a little bit of queer representation."

Off-Topic Discussion: Musicals Preferences

In a lighthearted tangent, the hosts debate their differing tastes in musicals.

• Mallory's Stance:

  • Prefers animated musicals like Beauty and the Beast.
  • Admits a general dislike for live-action musicals due to the singing aspect.

• Brea's Stance:

  • Avid fan of musicals, enjoys both classic and contemporary titles like Wicked, Hadestown, and Little Shop of Horrors.

Notable Quote from Mallory [27:20]: "I have several wrong opinions. I know that this is one of my wrong opinions. I know that I’m wrong about musicals."

Final Thoughts and Outro

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to rate and review the podcast, join their Discord community, and check out the Reading Glasses merchandise to support the show and their feline friends.

Quote from Mallory [36:09]: "If you like the show and ... don't feel that you like the show more than I like musicals, which is not very much, please rate and review us on the podcast listening app of your choice."

Stay Connected:

• Email: readingglassespodcast@gmail.com
• Discord: Join via MaximumFun.org
• Merchandise: Available at the Void Merch Store [Link in Show Notes]

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Thank you for listening to Reading Glasses! Keep reading and see you next week.