Reading Glasses Podcast Episode 414 Summary

Episode Title: Book Buying vs Book Reading - Different Hobbies!
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Hosts: Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara

Introduction

In Episode 414 of Reading Glasses, hosts Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara delve into the nuanced distinction between book owning and book reading, exploring how these interconnected yet distinct hobbies can sometimes clash. They also experiment with a reader personality test popular on social media and provide tailored book recommendations to listeners.

Current Reads

Brea Grant shares her excitement about reading Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaughey. She highlights the novel’s unique setting and mysterious narrative:

"[00:37] Brea Grant: I am reading a book I've been looking forward to for a while because I'm a big fan... This island is far away from everything... It's a real woman on a journey."

Mallory O’Meara discusses her nonfiction pick, Sick Houses by Layla Taylor, emphasizing its exploration of haunted houses in pop culture:

"[02:16] Mallory O'Meara: It is Sick Houses by Layla Taylor... It's all about haunted houses and like how they reflect our culture... it's definitely in the running for like favorite non fiction books of the year so far."

Listener Feedback

The hosts engage with listener Emma, who inquires about jailbreaking Kindles to bypass Amazon’s restrictions:

"[03:35] Bria Grant: Ooh. Love you, nerds."

Brea and Mallory discuss the technical challenges Emma faces, such as firmware updates preventing jailbreak attempts, and consider testing the process on Brea's Kindle:

"[04:26] Bria Grant: Oh, maybe I should do this for next week's show."

Another listener, Deborah, shares insights on using Link Plus for inter-library loans in California, prompting a discussion on maximizing library resources:

"[06:05] Mallory O'Meara: This is wild."

Ian’s feedback addresses the struggle of managing a growing TBR (To-Be-Read) list, especially with rare and collectible books, setting the stage for the episode’s main discussion.

Main Discussion: Book Owning vs Book Reading

Inspired by listener Zach’s dilemma of balancing book collecting with actual reading, Brea and Mallory categorize readers based on their buying and reading habits:

• Low Book Buy, High Book Read
• High Book Buy, High Book Read
• High Book Buy, Low Book Read

Mallory self-identifies as a "book wood chipper," someone who both acquires and reads a large volume of books:

"[13:27] Mallory O'Meara: I read a ton and I also acquire a ton of books. I love book shopping... I have a high probability that I am going to read it within a few months or that year."

Brea contrasts her approach, which leans towards minimal purchases and utilizing library resources:

"[13:31] Bria Grant: I buy almost no books. I buy as few books as I can... I rely on the library to prevent myself from spending too much on books."

Key Insights:

• Space and Budget Management: Zach struggles with the physical space his collection occupies and the financial investment it represents. The hosts suggest reassessing the purpose of each book—whether it's for reading or merely for collection.

• Sunken Shelf Fallacy: They introduce the concept where the time and money spent acquiring a book can make one feel obligated to read it, even if there's no genuine interest.

• Practical Advice:

  • Culling Collections: Regularly review and sell books that no longer spark joy or interest.
  • Alternate Formats: Utilize ebooks and audiobooks for books intended for collection, allowing physical copies to remain pristine.
  • Reading Challenges: Set goals to read books from the collection within a specific timeframe to reduce clutter.

"[15:44] Bria Grant: It's okay to have a hobby... I think you need to think about what Mallory and I call the sunken page fallacy."

Reader Personality Test: Read Your Color

The hosts experiment with the Read Your Color personality test, which aims to categorize readers to provide personalized book recommendations. Both Brea and Mallory received varying results upon multiple attempts:

• Brea's Result: Purple - Unbound Innovator

  "[31:11] Brea Grant: A bold, unconventional thinker who thrives on experimental storytelling and genre-defying narratives..."

• Mallory's Result: Orange - Serial World Hopper

  "[34:05] Mallory O'Meara: The Orange Reader thrives on masterful world building... expansive worlds, epic adventures."

Hosts' Takeaways:

• The test offers broad categories that may not accurately reflect the hosts' specific tastes.
• While it might be beneficial for new readers or those uncertain about their preferences, seasoned listeners may find it less effective.
• They express skepticism about the quiz's ability to capture the depth of their reading profiles and its limited genre-specific recommendations.

"[35:16] Bria Grant: I think this can be helpful if you are getting back into reading or just getting into reading for the first time..."
"[33:14] Bria Grant: ...the descriptions are vague enough to where they kind of sound like everybody."

Book Recommendations

Responding to Rowan’s request for queer Romantasy books featuring non-binary or women-loving-women characters, the hosts offer the following suggestions:

• Brea Grant: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
  A magical romance set on a New York City subway where a woman discovers another woman displaced in time.

  "[39:14] Bria Grant: ...I am gonna recommend One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston... it is a sexy little romance book."

• Mallory O’Meara: The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. McLean
  A sapphic Romantasy about rival zookeepers striving to save phoenixes in a magical zoo.

  "[41:24] Mallory O'Meara: It is so lovely. Like very good. Queer, romantic."

Conclusion

Brea and Mallory wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with them via email for book recommendations and feedback. They highlight the importance of distinguishing between the joy of acquiring books and the fulfillment of reading them, offering practical strategies to maintain a healthy balance between the two hobbies.

Notable Quotes:

• "You are the Indiana Jones of finding rare books." — Bria Grant (17:18)

• "Therefore, if you're getting back into reading or just getting into reading for the first time and you really, truly have no clue what you like, it's been 10 years since you were a reader or you just never got into reading and now you want to." — Mallory O’Meara (35:08)

Final Thoughts

This episode of Reading Glasses offers valuable insights into managing book collections without compromising the joy of reading. By addressing listener concerns and providing actionable advice, Brea and Mallory foster a community of mindful readers who appreciate both the art of owning books and the pleasure of immersing themselves in new stories.