Ep 425 - Should You Gift Books to Nonreaders?

Summary

Reading Glasses Ep. 425 Summary

Episode Title: Should You Gift Books to Nonreaders?
Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara
Date: August 21, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Brea and Mallory tackle the perennial bookish dilemma: should you give books as gifts to people who don’t typically read? Inspired by a listener’s question, they explore the etiquette, emotional nuances, and potential pitfalls of gifting books to non-readers (especially family around the holidays). The episode also covers feedback from listeners, advice on what to do if you receive a book you don’t want, and recommendations for locked room mysteries.

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What Are Brea and Mallory Reading?

• Barstow by Rebecca McKendree & Dave McKendree, illustrated by Tyler Jenkins

  • Brea: “It’s a horror mystery, sort of spooky in the middle of the desert, which I love. A desert horror. ... It’s basically something sort of demonic is happening in this small town. ... Great character stuff and just really fun, creepy horror stuff.” (01:23)
  • Available as a trade collection September 23.

• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

  • Mallory: “I have had this copy of Cloud Atlas for I think 10 years that I’ve...lugged from New England to New York...This copy of Cloud Atlas is like one of the family at this point.” (02:36)
  • Just starting out, admits the plot is mysterious and elusive: “It’s one of those books that like the description on the back is like an ambitious journey across time. And I’m like, okay, what else?” (03:01)

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Listener Feedback & Bookish Problems

• Libby Account Security Follow-up

  • Leila updated that she changed her PIN to deal with an ex accessing her library account. Library confirmed transferring account would mean losing holds/tags. Libby is planning an app-wide sign out soon. (05:08–05:55)

• Managing Panic Attacks Triggered by Reading

  • Abraham: Therapy is helping! Shared tips include:
    1. TBR lists by mood (“Feel Good TBR,” “Feel Bad TBR,” etc.).
    2. Switching reading media (audio versus print).
    3. Reading slower/taking breaks.
    4. Skimming/DFN’ing when needed.
    5. Seeking “feel good” books by beloved authors.
    • “Reading tips...made Abraham become a mood reader.” – Mallory (06:40)

• House Sitters Reading Client’s Books

  • Sam, a house sitter, feels it’s fine to read books from a client’s shelf: “It seems on par with using their TV or wifi.” Asks, but people are always surprised and never mind. Sometimes has been gifted books by grateful homeowners.
  • The “house sitting & book borrowing” debate continues from episode 304. Mallory would notice if a book went missing; Brea wouldn’t. (07:34–10:14)

• Sam’s Wheelhouse (Book Preferences)

  • “Weird little self-aware robots and cyborg protagonists, ... group of misfits all thrown together on a mission or heist...books that made me cry without killing off any human or animal characters.” (10:20)

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[15:00] Main Topic: Should You Gift Books to Nonreaders?

The Listener Query

• Kate writes in:
  • Loves gifting books to nieces/nephews at the holidays; wants to give books to adult family members who don’t read. Wonders: “Is it rude or self-centered to gift them books I carefully chose because I believe they would like them?” (15:22)

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Hosts’ Personal Approaches

• Brea:

  • Not a book gifter—prefers practical gifts (kitchen items, towels).
  • For readers: might give a gift certificate to a bookstore, occasionally a coffee table book. She’s “panic” shops practical: “I want people to have exactly what they want instead of the thing that I pick out for them.” (17:26, 25:26)

• Mallory:

  • Book-gifting is her “love language.” Immediate urge upon dating someone new: “What book should I give you?” (17:53)
  • Admits irony: doesn’t like recipients giving her books, since she usually already owns them.
  • “If I had a friend who was really into running, I would not get them a piece of running gear...That’s kind of what buying books for me is like.” (20:02)

Should You Give Books to Nonreaders? The Debate

• Both agree: Usually, NO.

  • “For me, it is a waste. You want them to read it so you can talk about it, right?...they might not read it.” – Brea (20:25)
  • “It’s an obligation...It’s like giving them a project they don’t want to do.” – Mallory (23:02–23:05)
  • Guilt is the most likely gift: “So you’ve mostly just given them a gift of guilt...They are gonna feel guilty about it.” – Mallory (23:42)

• Exceptions:

  • If the person specifically says they want to read more, or asks for a book.
  • Coffee table books, memoirs of celebrities the giftee loves, or books closely tied to their personal interests may be okay.

• Alternative Suggestions:

  • Bookstore gift cards are always appropriate.
  • Book-adjacent gifts: journals, bookmarks, socks, etc.
  • Focus on what someone will actually use and appreciate rather than an “aspirational gift.”
  • “Find somewhere else to connect with this person” – Brea (24:46)

Notable Quotes

• “I love the—I think your heart is in the right place though...A gift card. Again, I love a gift card because practical.” – Brea (24:30)
• “It’s tough to accept that some people aren’t readers. ...But you’re thinking...about yourself a little bit.” – Mallory (27:06–28:16)
• “It is tough. I get it...But our rule is: unless they specifically ask for books or they’re a reader...Time for a gift card, baby.” – Mallory (28:38–29:09)
• “Find the perfect thing for a version of somebody...But if they don’t want a book, it doesn’t matter.” – Mallory (27:06)

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[32:26] Bookish Problem: What If You Get a Book You Don’t Want?

• Question:
  • Do you “owe” anything to the gifter if you don’t like the book? Can you pass it on, or should you check with them first?

The Reading Glasses Rule:

• “You owe her nothing.” – Brea (33:47)
• “Feel free, pass it on...It was a gift. That means you get to do with it whatever you want.” – Mallory (34:01–34:03)
• Caveat: Don’t check in with someone to see if they’ve read your gift—“it’s just pressurey. Don’t do it.” (35:10)

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[38:09] Locked Room Mystery Recs

Reader Request: Looking for a “read alike” to Daisy Darker (locked room mystery, family drama a bonus).

• Jessica: “I finished Daisy Darker about 2 months ago, but I’m still thinking about it. ...I’m looking for a good locked door mystery. Family drama is a big plus.” (38:09)

Recommendations:

• Brea:
  • Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (Snowed-in ski resort, family gathering, murder, drama).
  • Bonus: Japanese classics like The Mill House Murders.
• Mallory:
  • The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (Cruise ship locked room whodunit; “all the passengers are still accounted for”). (40:08)

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Listener Engagement

• Upcoming readathon: September 13th (Saturday), with Instagram Live check-ins at 10am, 1pm, and 5pm.
• Call for listeners: Help Reading Glasses hit 2,000 Apple Podcast reviews—special episode planned when they hit the milestone.

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Memorable Moments

• Mallory’s new knuckle tattoos—“RAIN DOGS”, which Bria misread as “DOGS” (expecting the other hand to say “CATS”), leading to a running joke. (20:41–21:56)
• “I’m just 1,000 book recommendations in a trench coat.” – Mallory (18:15)

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Takeaways for Bookish Listeners

• Don’t force books upon nonreaders. Even heartfelt, the gesture can backfire or create guilt.
• Give gift cards or book-adjacent items instead, unless the recipient has expressed explicit interest.
• If you receive an unwanted book, you're free to pass it on—no guilt or obligation required!
• Book recommendations:
  • For locked room + family drama: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Benjamin Stevenson) or The Woman in Cabin 10 (Ruth Ware).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:36 – What Are You Reading?
• 05:01 – Listener feedback (Libby, reading panic attacks, house sitter debate)
• 15:22 – Main book gifting question
• 20:25 – Deep-dive on gifting books & emotional nuance
• 32:26 – What to do with an unwanted book gift
• 38:09 – Locked room mystery recommendations

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a gentle but honest examination of the intersection between book love and practical gift etiquette. Brea and Mallory’s nuanced conversation encourages thoughtfulness above tradition or self-projection. Whether you’re a compulsive book gifter or a practical present-giver, this episode offers empathy (and practical solutions) for every bookish soul during gifting season.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

You're listening to Reading Glasses, a show about book culture and literary life designed to help you read better. I'm author and book devourer Mallory o'. Meara.

[A]

And I'm Bria Grant, filmmaker and e reader. This episode, we're debating about gifting books to non readers. Should you do it? Should you encourage them to read? We've talked about this in the past, but we got a specific question about this.

[B]

Yeah. And this is gonna require some debate, so.

[A]

It is. It is. Plus, we give advice on when you receive a book gift you don't want. You do. And we recommend Locked Room Mysteries.

[B]

But first, Bria, what are you reading?

[A]

So I just finished the fourth in a comic book series from Dark Horse. It's about. It's going to come out as a trade in September. It's called Barstow by friend of The Pod, Rebecca McKendree and Dave McKendree. Have you read this?

[B]

No, I have not. But I do love Rebecca.

[A]

She's amazing. Rebecca is a very prolific filmmaker, screenwriter and comic book writer and prose writer. She does it all. And also podcaster, and I've been on her show a few times. This is a really fun. I. I read them all. Art, by the way, is by Tyler Jenkins. I read all of the books. Like I said, they're going to come out in the fall, so you can wait for that collection or. I read a lot of my comics digitally now, so I just get them as they kind of come out. But this takes place in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Wildly. I was. I was driving.

[B]

I know you were just there recently.

[A]

And I was reading Barstow, which was very exciting. So. So it's a. It's a horror mystery, sort of spooky in the middle of the desert, which I love. A desert horror. You.

[B]

Yeah, you. If there's sand around, you are so pumped.

[A]

So spooky. Because there's something about. There's nowhere to hide, you know, you just every. Everything you can see where everything is very dry. Very, extremely dry. Which I don't know if that makes for good about horror, but there. It's basically something sort of demonic is happening in this small town. So it's like a small town with a secret. And there is an agent out there trying to figure out what's going on and trying to keep this mystery at bay. And I don't want to say too much more, but it's great, great character stuff and just really fun, creepy horror stuff. Some really violent stuff, of course, because it's the McKendrees. But I, I loved it. I thought it was great. I think people should definitely buy the single issues if that's what you're doing. Or you could pre order the trade. Cause it comes out in September. September 23rd. So that would be very soon. What are you reading this week?

[B]

I'm reading something real special just for the Glassers. Bria. I'm finally reading Cloud Atlas.

[A]

I almost dropped my microphone.

[B]

I'm finally reading Cloud Atlas. It has been kind of a thing on the show for a while. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Because it's. I have had this copy of Cloud Atlas for I think 10 years that I've. And I have moved with it maybe 10 times. I have lugged this copy of Cloud Atlas from New England to New York. I have lugged it from New York to many places in la. This, this, I mean, this copy of Cloud Atlas is, is like one of the family at this point. So I feel a little sad moving it from my tbr. But I'm finally reading it. It is a honker. My version is 509 pages. What's it about? Couldn't tell you. Couldn't tell you what is. It's one of those books that like the description on the back is like an ambitious journey across time. And I'm like, okay, what else?

[A]

How far into it are you?

[B]

I don't know, like 50, 60 pages.

[A]

Okay, so you're.

[B]

I'm not that far.

[A]

Like 10. Okay.

[B]

Know is. It's about like. It starts off. It jumps different places in the world. It jumps different time periods. It starts off in the 1850s on this island. There's this man who's trying to journey back to his home and he befriends this physician. And then I know at some point it's going to jump to another part of the world at another time period. And somehow all of these people are connected.

[A]

Isn't it the same man? No, it's not the same man.

[B]

Different people.

[A]

That's just what I remember. It's the same casting in the movie, right?

[B]

I don't.

[A]

I've never seen Tom Hanks plays all the roles. Is it Tom Hanks?

[B]

I don't know. I've never seen it.

[A]

Okay, maybe Halle Berry, I. Hal and Tom Hanks. That's what I remember. But I could be wrong.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

Okay?

[B]

I don't. I truly don't. I went into this novel knowing nothing, but there's clouds involved. That's. I just don't know anything about it. But it is going to every and everything I try. It's like this novel resists you figuring out what the plot is because, like, I'm looking at the description right now. It says the novel careens with dazzling virtuosity. What? I want to know the plot, but I. It's not telling me. It's not letting me know. But I will. I am. I'm reading it. I am finally doing it. I'm reading a honker. This is for you, Glassers. This is for you.

[A]

I think you should do a check in at a later date. At the very least, you should make a video for our social media where after you read it, if you finish it or if you quit it and just let us know what it's about.

[B]

So I'm reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

[A]

And I'm reading Barstow by Rebecca McKendree and David Ian McKendry, illustrated by Tyler Jenkins.

[B]

So we want to take a moment to share some listener feedback. We have a bunch of updates from people who wrote in with their book problems, so.

[A]

Oh, how exciting.

[B]

Okay, a bunch of follow ups. We got a bunch of updates from Glassers. Leila. So Leila was the one whose ex had access to their Libby account.

[A]

Okay, great.

[B]

Layla says hello ladies. Thank you so much for your help. Sorry for the late update, but things have been crazy and getting to the library took some time. I did reset the PIN for my account and I haven't noticed any. Any unusual activity, so it seems to be fine. I asked my local library about transferring my account to another card, but the librarian said it would not be possible without losing everything that was already on my account. Holds and tags alike. I'm not sure if this is a library specific thing. I'm from Arizona, but I will probably just wait until the rest of my holds come in and get a new card then. Thank you both so much for all you do, including looking into questions about Libby. Wishing I was a Sarah Layla.

[A]

Great.

[B]

And I will say I think in classrooms can correct me if I'm wrong. They always do that. Libby is doing like a app wide sign out.

[A]

They are. They put this was on social media. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So then this, I think this, regardless of what happens, this will solve Layla's problem.

[A]

And also Layla changed their pin. So yeah, that should solve that problem. But that's great. We also heard from Abraham who was getting panic attacks from reading. Yes, Abraham wrote in. Dear Mallory and Bria, thank you so much for asking about how I'm doing. This made me feel so good. Therapy is going well. And my therapist said that the triggers happened because readers feel things more than any other sort of content consuming and that books hit at a difficult time for me. Especially when a book rec resonates with you, sometimes it brings up suppressed emotions you know nothing about. Oh, that's fascinating. So now the reading tips. 1. Rework my TBR into different TBRs based on what I want to feel. I dismantled my story graphs TBR into Feel Good TBR Feel Bad TBR feel Feel Scared TBR and Feel Horny TBR Love this. Very specific.

[B]

This has made Abraham become a mood reader.

[A]

You definitely are a mood reader. Number two. Read in a different medium, for example audio in order to disconnect from the book a little. 3. Read slower and take my time.

[B]

4.

[A]

Don't be scared to skim, skip or DNF. 5. Find feel good books by authors I actually read and liked. So I did this and I found the best feel good books. The Saint of Steel by Tinking Fisher. I knew the author as a weird horror writer. Imagine my surprise to find romance and fantasy books by her. Yeah, I loved the first book and I'm currently working my way slowly through them. Yes, she has like a lot of yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great.

[B]

Very prolific. Abraham, we're really happy. We're concerned about you and we're happy to hear that your therapist help you find something that works for you.

[A]

We really do. And I think this is a great way for you to. I love the the dividing that TBR pile into the ones that seem manageable.

[B]

Yeah. The ones seem too intense.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Seem safe. You know, it's great. Love it. And Sam wrote in with the wheelhouse. Sam says I'm a house sitter and I have never hesitated to read a book the host had on a shelf in the common areas. It seems on par with using their TV or wi fi. Just courtesy to keep busy while I'm in someone else's space. Of course I'm mindful of not reading other people's books while eating or doing anything messy. I've even twice been gifted the books I was borrowing when the owners returned from people who are happy someone was enjoying them since hearing the infamous episode which people have been writing about a bunch. I don't know why this this episode is cropping up recently.

[A]

The one where we disagree on what you should do about the hot like.

[B]

Whether if you're allowed to read the books while you're house sitting.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

This is episode 304 by the way, for people who are looking for it. Although I want to say, folks, it's pretty easy to find reading glasses episodes. If you Google reading Glasses podcast in house sitting in quotes, you can find this episode.

[A]

Yeah. To be honest, I, I, I set the bridge terms, so, yeah, Bria tags all these.

[B]

So it's pretty easy if you just Google it. And Sam says, since hearing the infamous episode, I always ask if they mind. And people have so far been surprised by the ask, but not minded me letting me read from their libraries. If they trust me with their home and their pets, they trust me with their books as well. And I've never had any complaints, but that my point was that I would never let any. I can't have anybody in my house watching Sailor and Lula that I don't know.

[A]

Yeah, sure.

[B]

So by virtue of the fact that they're in my house at all, they're going to be like, what? There. I would feel okay with them reading my books. Like, yeah.

[A]

I mean, I've never hired a house sitter that I don't know.

[B]

Yeah. Sailor and Lula are so, especially Lula is so nervous that I have to have someone that I am comfortable with or Lula just won't come out and she won't eat.

[A]

So I guess there are people who like, hire. It's like wag or something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

But, yeah, we did very much disagree on this. And I, I mean, but I've also. This episode, I, I mean, I, I've had, I had someone watch my cats and take a book home without asking me. I never got that book back.

[A]

I mean, that is a little strange to take something from somebody without asking.

[B]

Yeah, that's not a never got it.

[A]

Back feel like you should deduct the cost of the book from what you're paying.

[B]

Yeah, it was.

[A]

But asking I think is I was paying for them. They should just at that point go buy the book if you really liked it.

[B]

And that the thing is, I've actually had people watch my cats and I've left books for them as a gift.

[A]

Oh, that'. Nice. Like, it's a really nice gift, actually. Like, hey, speaking of gifting books.

[B]

Yeah, like, hey, you're, you're watching my, my cats. Here's two books I thought you would like. But yeah, I have very strong. But also we talked about. I, I have my books organized in a very specific way.

[A]

I wouldn't notice someone took a book.

[B]

Oh, see, I would notice immediately. I notice when one of my cats has knocked a book out of place.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So, yeah. Listen to the episode it's been going around a lot. Bria, what is Sam's Wheelhouse?

[A]

Weird little self aware robots and cyborg protagonists. I like those two. A major war or catastrophe from multiple POVs all over the world. A group of misfits all thrown together on a mission or heist, especially if they're secretly not on the same page. And books that made me cry without killing off any human or animal characters. Wow. We have the same wheelhouse. I'm gonna just steal this wheel.

[B]

This is a very Bria wheel.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

So you can email us at reading glassespodcast 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, Quick bookmark folks. The next seasonal readathon is 9:13. Baby. September 13th. It is a Saturday. This is our first Saturday readathon in a while.

[A]

Oh, what do we normally do? Sundays.

[B]

Okay, but I can't do Sundays. So we're doing a Saturday readathon again September 13th. We're gonna kick it off as usual with a 10 o' clock in the morning Instagram live check in and then a check in at 1 and then a wrap up check in at 5pm so follow us on Instagram if you want to be part of those and kind of check in with us. Video. I was going to say virtually, but I guess that is virtually.

[A]

It is virtually. Or if not videoly, just I was.

[B]

Gonna say video late. You can tell the source. We've been recording a lot this morning. I am very tired already. If you want to participate, I mean people are in the slack and the discord are already getting their rats ready and picking out their stacks and I'm, I'm really excited about it. So Again, next readathon, September 13th, which is a Saturday. So before we talk about gifting books to non readers, we're going to take a quick break.

[A]

Reading Glasses is brought to you in part this week by Zoc. Doc. It seems like there are always new health fads on social media. Like y', all, I, I, I get so many weird ones. Like is red light therapy real? Should I be eating collagen every day? Is my protein intake too low? I don't know. So turn to IRL professional health care people who can help you meet your health goals. And with ZocDoc, hey, it's easy. You can find doctors that are right for you and instantly book an appointment. ZocDoc is a free app and website where you can search and compare high quality in network doctors across every specialty and click to instantly book an appointment. You can filter for doctors who take your insurance, are located nearby and are a good fit for any medical need you may have and are rated highly by verified patients. Appointments through Zoc Talk can happen fast, typically within 24 to 72 hours of booking. More often than not, you can get same day appointments. I find it incredibly frustrating to try to book a doctor in Los Angeles. It is so hard. You're like, wow, I need a doctor. And they're like, great. Can you come three weeks from now? No, my problem is today. And so it's very hard. And also I want to know if it's a good doctor. I don't want to go to a doctor who's just available. So the idea of patients rating the doctors, that seems like a great idea. Doc. Doc has really. They've thought of everything. This is actually what I want in a doctor search. If you'll ever search for Dr. Anywhere else on Google, on Yelp, it doesn't work. It's really not helpful. And it's like, I think these people are their friends. But zocdoc? No, these are verified patients. So stop putting off those doctor's appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/glasses to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today. That's z o c-o c.com glasses zocdoc.com glasses glasses.

[C]

Hi, is this Archer?

[B]

Yes, hello, who is this?

[C]

Hi, this is Tom Lum from let's Learn Everything. I'm calling about your maximum Fund memberships extended warranty. Do you have a few seconds to talk about that?

[B]

I think I have to go.

[C]

No, no. Oh, no, no, no. Oh, no. They're going to be so mad at me. Okay, fine. Did you know that as a part of your Max Fund membership's extended warranty, you've been picked as the member of the month, which is wild. And we're so excited to have you.

[A]

It's so exciting.

[C]

Thank you. So, as our member of the month, you will also be getting a $25 gift card to the Maximum Fund Store. A special member of the month bumper sticker, a special priority parking spot at Max Fund HQ in Los Angeles, California, just for you. Also, I have to read. Hold on, I have to read this. It says, we at maximum fun apologize. You ended up with the worst host of the three. And as consolation, you'll be getting those. Why is that included? I don't remember that being there for the other. It's okay, I can settle. It's fine. Maximum members are the best.

[B]

Become a Max Fund member [e-mail] join this week we're debating what may or may not be considered a controversial topic. Should you bother gifting a book to someone who isn't into books? Is this selfish or selfless? Is it a thoughtful gift or a waste of money? We are getting into it. Today's episode was inspired by Kate and Bria. You want to read Kate's query?

[A]

Hey there Brian Mallory. It probably seems too early in the year for this question, but I have a ginormous family so I like to get a head start on holiday shopping. Wow. Love this this Kate. I also always give my nieces and nephews one to two books I think they'd like for Christmas. As far as I know they love it and look forward to getting new books each year. I'd like to spread this tradition to include my parents and siblings, but I know several of them don't really read. Some of them like the idea of reading but don't make consistent time for it, and others don't even pretend to read for fun. Is it rude or self centered to gift them books? I carefully chose because I believe they would like them. I want to share the joy of reading with people, but is it rude if I'm not sure they'll appreciate it? And do you want to read Kate's Wheelhouse case?

[B]

Wheelhouse is speculative fiction, science fiction, soft apocalypse, like that Unlikely Hope Found Family, Contemplative, Queer Norm, Giggling and Kicking my feet, Romance, but make it existential and thinky and puzzly. Very cute. All right. Bria, do you do this? Are you a book gifter?

[A]

I'm not really. In spite of doing a full book podcast too.

[B]

I think the closest I've ever gotten is you get you sometimes will give me a gift certificate to a bookstore.

[A]

Which I like doing that I know because I know you like buying books. I'm a practical book gift giver though. Like I like giving people stuff they'll use. Like I will give people like kitchen items, towels, like shit that I think they will actually use.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

When you know, when you have a. I've had a lot of friends have babies lately so I on the baby, you know, gift registry I always go for like diapers. Like I go for shit where I'm like I know you're going to use this. Like I mean yes, I buy a cute little outfit because obviously what's the point of having a Baby, if you're not going to put them in a cute little outfit.

[B]

Yeah, that's really the whole point.

[A]

But then I also try to send them something that I'm like, oh, yeah, you do need, like nipple cream or like the most very practical thing you're going to need. Right. So because of that, I am like, I just don't. I. I'm not buying people books, especially because I don't know if they've read it a b. And I don't know if they want to read it. So it's only if there's something they've talked about or something, or I know them like super well. Or I buy like a coffee table book or something that's like half book, half decorative piece, but really a book certificate. A book certificate.

[B]

You're doing it too. You're doing it too.

[A]

A gift certificate is exactly what I would buy. Like, okay. Recently, I did buy my friend Mel a book about American Cryptids because we were writing something about American Cryptids.

[B]

That's research.

[A]

Yeah, it's a research book. And also it was like, it's a fun little. Like, you don't read it straight through. It's like kind of a coffee table ish type book. But that's about the extent that I'm doing. What are you doing?

[B]

Both yes and no.

[A]

Yes, I know. Okay.

[B]

So I have, like, I have the urge.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I. I wish I could give books to everyone. To me, it's my love language. If I like you, like a sure sign. If I start dating someone, my immediate thought is, what book should I give you?

[A]

Yeah, that's nice.

[B]

Like week one with hwb, he went home with a stack of books. Like, that's just how.

[A]

From your shelf. Or you went and bought them from my shelves. Nice. Wow. That's how you know you're gonna see them again.

[B]

I'm just 1, 000 book recommendations in a trench coat.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

We were talking earlier. There's a game that we're gonna review for the show called Tiny Bookshop.

[A]

That all we're playing a bookshop game.

[B]

All of you are playing. But part of the. The books that you sell in the book, your tiny bookshop. Oh, my God.

[A]

I did it again. I did it again.

[B]

I did it again. Brit live this in.

[A]

Mallory likes to use the word book instead of other things. It's a game. It's not a book, it's a game.

[B]

The tiny bookshop that you have in your game you is like the books you sell in it are real books. They're basically like Becky Chambers, John Scaly. But part of the mechanism of the game is you have to recommend books to people. Yeah, Bria, I nail it every time. It's like, I just am. I love recommending books, especially around Christmas time. I am actively fighting giving books to every single person on my list because it's just where my brain goes. Like, if I care about someone, the first I think, clearly, I think in book. So my first thought is, like, what kind of book would you like? Which is funny because I don't want people to get me books.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, interesting.

[B]

I don't want books.

[A]

Interesting. Well, you buy a lot of books.

[B]

Yes. That's my problem is, like, it's very rare if it's for someone to get me a book that I don't already have.

[A]

I mean, if someone is like, I really liked this and I think you'd like it, but no pressure. I don't mind getting it, but. But a lot of. Especially if it's a book I haven't read or heard of. I'm like, okay, I'm interested. Especially if it's a comic book or if it's a short book, you know, like, my buddy Anthony will give me books sometimes because he reads the weirdest little books where I'm like, what is this? And, like, that's kind of exciting. But it's pretty rare that, like, I'm excited. Most people don't. Don't give me books. Yeah, they know better.

[B]

I think I got you a book one time as kind of a jokey book. That book that about the dog who goes to space or something.

[A]

Yeah, I have that somewhere.

[B]

But yeah, I just. To me, I think about it is like. Like, if I had a friend who was really into running, I would not get them a piece of running gear.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Because they probably either already have it or, like, know specifically what they want. That's kind of what buying books for me is like, all right, well, okay, let's get into it. Should you. These are our personal thoughts on it. Do we think you should give books to non readers? Is it selfish? Is it a waste? Or is it a nice, thoughtful gift? What do you think?

[A]

Because I'm such a practical gift giver, for me, it is a waste. Like, you want them to read it so you can talk about it, right? That's what you want, but they might not read it. That's like kind of the goal of the book. Giving, Right? So maybe a nice coffee table book, Something they're really into. Mallory just got a new tattoo of oh, my God.

[B]

You. Okay, we have to do a tangent on this, because what Bria thought my tattoo was. Okay, so for. It is. This week is my birthday, and happy early birthday to me. And my present to myself was knuckle tattoos. And I'm a big Tom Waits fan. Tom Waits is my favorite favorite musical artist. Has been for a very long time, and I've been wanting. I spent years trying to figure out what my Tom Waits tattoo was. And HWB took me on a surprise date to see Big Time, which is Tom Waits's concert movie. And during the course of the show, he played Rain Dogs, which is one of. I mean, all of Tom Waits albums are my favorite, but it's an amazing album, amazing song. And I was like, oh, my God. Rain dogs. Raindog, knuckle tattoos, perfect. So I finally got raindogs tattooed on my upper knuckles, and I came over and we recorded an episode, and then.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. But we were. No, we were sitting next to. So we recorded Reading Smart live in the Max Fun Studio, and I was sitting next to Mallory, and I could only see her left hand, I guess, and it said dogs. And I was like, I guess that's new, because I look at Mallory all the time. So I was like, I think that's new. And I was like, oh, I bet the other one says cats. Cats and dogs. And then I was. And then it's rain, which I didn't know that was. But okay. Not cats and dogs.

[B]

Cats and dogs.

[A]

Which I honestly would love if you got that tattoo. But speaking of Tom Waits, like, Mallory, one time when there's a Tom Waits book coming out, coffee table book out. I was like. You were like, oh, you should get this for your husband for Christmas. I was like, you're right, I should. And I did. So that kind of thing I will get. But, like, it's just like, I don't know if you. Something someone won't use.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. First of all, if they're a runner. Okay. If they're a runner, probably shouldn't buy them running gear. But, like, if it's something I wouldn't use, like, don't. Maybe you shouldn't buy me camping gear, because I ain't gonna use it.

[B]

I was gonna say that, too. Like, if it would be. Like, if someone was like, oh, I bought you a cookbook to get into cooking. Like, I would be.

[A]

I mean, unless you express that interest. If you were like, I really do want to get into cooking.

[B]

I would rather drink bleach.

[A]

Right. Or if I was like, I Want to get into camping. And someone's like, I bought you the best sleeping bag. I'd be like, wow, okay, that's really nice. But that's. You need to know. Yeah. It is an obligation. So I think if someone expressed to you, like, I do want to get into reading, but I don't know where to start. Yes, great. Love that. But if it's just like, I don't even pretend to read for fun like you said. Yeah.

[B]

It's like giving them a project.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What they don't want to do.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I like. And again, I say this with context above. Like, I wish I could give books to everyone. I think this is a big no. Like, again, the only time I would say yes is if the non reader specifically asked for books. Or like you said, they start talk. Hey, I've been really wanting to get into reading. Are there any books that you've read? Recommend then giving them some books as a gift. That's a great gift.

[A]

Yeah. Or if it's like, okay, I'll say this caveat, like, let's say they really love this. Some celebrity or something like that. And you're like, okay, this person has a memoir. It's apparently very. This is a big Britney Spears fan.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's an accessible memoir. Like, that's an interesting gift, I would say, but like just a fiction book for someone who doesn't read. I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, I think it's going to be a waste because they're probably not going to read it, but they are gonna feel guilty about it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So you've mostly just given them a gift of guilt. You have given them something that's going to take up dust in their home. And we know this because we have gotten uncountable emails from people, including the one that we're going to read, following this segment from people who were given books that they don't want.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But then they feel bad because again, it's like it would be like somebody getting me like a cooking kit or something. Like it's, it's an obligation to do a thing that you don't do often and don't really want to do.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So then you're just like, oh, cool, here's a little thing that I can look at that's gonna make me feel bad.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

What else? What do you think?

[A]

Okay, so I, I say like, I love the. I think your heart is in the right place though. So thinking about giving them something book related is good. I think. So A gift card. Again, I love A gift card. And I love.

[B]

Gift cards are great.

[A]

You know why I love it? Because practical. I love receiving a gift card because I'm like, oh, I get to buy whatever the I want. Yeah.

[B]

And if you were so determined to give a bookish gift, the person doesn't want books, they can go to the bookstore, buy some novelty socks. A little journal.

[A]

Yeah, a little journal. You're supporting probably a local business. Or like, find somewhere else, like, to connect with this person. I will say this, the other thing about me. I'm a practical gift giver. But I've been told I'm not a great gift giver by multiple people. I am. And which is why I go practical. Because I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. I just, like, panic. And so, like, I just. A gift card is always something where I'm like, this person will know. Get to buy exactly what they want. I think that's the problem is that I want people to have exactly what they want instead of the thing that I pick out for them. This is a big debate in my household because I have, like, I'm. I. When I'm buying Christmas presents, I say, what do you want for Christmas? And John says, I need you to surprise me. And that is a problem because then I'm like, but what if I picked the wrong thing? Oh.

[B]

See, all year, I take meticulous notes. Whenever somebody is like, oh, I'm into that thing. I'm like, oh, write it down.

[A]

Yeah, that's smart. I would never think. I'm not that thoughtful. I'm not that thoughtful. Not a good gift giver. That's fine. I am 43. I don't have to change myself. I'm good at other. Okay.

[B]

Not your love language.

[A]

It's not my love. It's really not. Not giving or receiving gifts. Ne either. I don't think about it.

[B]

Not a gift person.

[A]

No. It's not really a thing. Now I will do someone a favor.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And. And that's.

[B]

You're definitely like that. You, like. You are good at quality time.

[A]

Quality time is service. Like words of affirmation.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Which, you know. Yeah. So what about. What else do you got? So, because I'm not the person to ask, I don't think.

[B]

I don't think this is selfish per se, because you are trying to do something for the other person, but it's not centered on that person. And I. Again, I say this because this is how Mallory Brain works. I'm like, well, like you or love you. And I know you like or love this thing, so I bought you this book that will teach you more about this thing or that you would like that. It's like my brain trying to translate my like for them into a book. Because I'm like, oh, you're Pour them.

[A]

Into a book mold. Yes, but really, they're not a book mold.

[B]

No, because it's just the way my brain works. I'm like, oh, well, you're. You're into Ro. Even if it's not like a specific thing, like a memoir or a how to book, it's like, oh, you like spooky stuff. There's this really great spooky book. You like romance? You like. Like, my brain will find a very specific thing they like. It will be the perfect book recommendation for them. But if they don't want a book, it doesn't matter.

[A]

It's a little bit like when we started this podcast. I feel like we told our spooky friends and they were like, cool. I'll never listen to that. Because even though we talk about spooky books, sometimes it's not a spooky show. And they don't like books.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you can't make people like books.

[B]

No, you can. Again, you. Someone could. You could find the perfect thing for a version of somebody. Like, perfect example. I never wear dresses. You could find me a dress that fits me perfectly and I still wouldn't want to wear it because I don't wear dresses.

[A]

Yeah. I have one of your old dresses that I wear.

[B]

Oh, you.

[A]

Velvet. One year.

[B]

Yeah. It's a great dress.

[A]

Good dress.

[B]

But I don't have to get this anymore. I wear suits.

[A]

Zipper broke. I just got it fixed.

[B]

Oh, thank God. It used to catch in the back.

[A]

Yeah, that's right. I got it fixed.

[B]

Oh, good. Okay. The dress looks great on you, but it's like you're thinking of your idea of what this person would want, but you're not thinking it. Like you said, not what this actual person would actually want and actually use. Use. It's like an aspirational gift, and that's not what gifting is about. What would they get use out of? Which is the place I think you should be coming from with gifts. Unless they're specifically asking for it, it's tough to accept that some people aren't readers. That is something that for. I used to like. I used to literally just go to the bookstore with my Christmas listed by everybody books and no one would ever read them. And it's just hard to accept that because it's your. It's again, it's the way my brain thinks. It's my love language. It's how I talk. It's what I love. But you're thinking. You are kind of thinking about yourself a little bit. You're not thinking about the other person, but it's okay. Other people don't want to read.

[A]

Yeah, but I love dogs. And I would never just buy everyone a dog. You know what I mean?

[B]

I mean, you would. You ever get the word dog tattooed across your knuckles?

[A]

Any tattoo, it would be dogs. What if I came? What if next time you saw me I saw dogs?

[B]

We both have matching dog tattoos that would. I almost got. I thought I've. I thought about like with knuckle stuff. I've thought about read more for a really long time.

[A]

That's funny.

[B]

But Tom Waits, baby, I wanted this. But yeah, it's tough to accept that some people are never going to be readers. And that's okay. Okay. But it's. It is tough. I get it as someone. That's just how my brain works. But find there's something else you can find. Gift card is never a bad idea. And. But our rule is unless they specifically ask for books or they're a reader and they have like a. They keep a book wish list. Then unless all of those factors are present. Time for a gift card, baby.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So you can send your thoughts to reading glasses podcast gmail.com. before we flip the question and debate what to do with a book gift you don't want. We're going to take a quick break.

[A]

Reading Glasses is brought to you in part this week by Green Chef. Wow. I love summer. I love that the light. It's light to late. It is the best time for me to go outside. I love a late walk. What I really love is having a wonderful meal, making it at home and then going on a nice walk afterwards because it's still light outside. You can still do that. That is what is great about summer. Hey, and what better time to get Green Chef. They can help you create that meal, make that meal at home for your little walk. Or maybe you want to go to a movie. Hey, it's only 7:30. It's only 8 o'. Clock. It's so light outside. Green Chef makes it easy to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying summer. And with their new heat and eat meals and enjoy a delicious, wholesome meal in just three minutes. Green Chef recipes feature fresh, organic, seasonal produce and 100% responsibly sourced proteins to Help you feel your best. Green Chef can make it easy to find meals that fit your lifestyle. Pick from Mediterranean, gluten free, plant based and protein heavy. Even gut and brain, health and calorie. Smart choices too. Look, like I said, I like to cook at home. I like to be able to go, oh man, I don't have to go out tonight. Except maybe if I want to do my little walk. I really like Green Chef. I like to know what I'm going to cook. Instead of going in and being like, okay, what do I have here? I have like some cauliflower. I got some frozen veggie patties. Like, what am I gonna do? Green Chef is like, here it is. And it's things that you haven't thought to make beautiful produce, wonderful, easy recipes. If you don't know how to cook, this is also a great way to teach yourself how to make things. It's a really fun, easy way to cook and also works for two people, four people, or just solo. I like it when I'm home by myself and I'm just like, oh, I can make myself a nice little meal on my little walk, sit in front of my TV or get out my book. Y'. All. Have you heard of a better evening? And they're fast. You can make these meals super fast. So make this summer your healthiest yet with Green chef. Head to greenchef.com 50glasses and use code 50glasses to get 50 off your first month. Then 20 off for two months with free shipping. That's code [e-mail] 50glasses.

[B]

Say you like video games and who doesn't? I mean, some people probably don't, okay?

[C]

But a lot of people do. So say you're one of those people and you feel like you don't really have anyone to talk to about the.

[B]

Games that you like.

[C]

Well, you should get some better friends. Yes, you should. You get some better friends. But you could also listen to Triple a weekly podcast about video games hosted.

[B]

By me, Kirk Hamilton, me, Maddy Myers.

[C]

And me, Jason Schreier. We talk about new releases, old classics, industry news and whatever, really.

[B]

We'll show you new things to love about games and maybe even help you find new friends to talk to you about them. Tripleclick.

[C]

It's kind of like we're your friends. Find [e-mail] or wherever you get your podcasts.

[B]

Time to solve a bookish problem from one of our listeners. Anonymous wrote in. Dear Brianne Mallory, hi. I have an etiquette question for you as part of My book club's holiday Secret Santa. Which again tells you how long it takes us to get to these questions. I was gifted a book by someone I deeply admire for her taste in reading. She had gifted me another book previously that I absolutely loved. But unfortunately I really disliked the Secret Santa book gift. If I had enjoyed it, I'd have told her how much I loved it and offered to let her borrow it. But since I didn't, do I owe her any follow up about the gift? I also want to pass the book on to someone else. Should I check with her first? How should I navigate the situation? Priya, what should this person do?

[A]

The anxiety coming off of this email.

[B]

I feel it.

[A]

Honestly. She's forgotten she's given it to you. I mean, maybe if she, maybe not. If she loved it. Okay, maybe not.

[B]

I was gonna say I would not.

[A]

I have a, I would have forgotten. Oh already. But you never have to read a book. Okay. Even, especially a Secret Santa. Because a Secret Santa is a forced gift giving situation. Yes. So that is a. This person wasn't like, oh, I have to buy this for this person because I love them and I need them to read this book because we are whatever it you are, it is. That was a forced gift giving situation. So there's even like less pressure on this book, on this gift than a regular gift giving situation. So you are free. You can pass it on, put it in a little free Libra library, throw it away, give it to a friend, burn it. I mean, whatever you need to do her.

[B]

No explanation.

[A]

You owe her nothing. And if she ever asks, you can be like, you know, I tried it and I didn't get into it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

You can just tell the truth. But you don't have to tell her. You don't. You're not required to feed, give someone feedback on a book they gave you? No, definitely not. What about. What do you think?

[B]

Yeah, Nothing. You know her, nothing. Totally feel.

[A]

You feel the anxiety coming off of this.

[B]

Oh, because I feel it. I get it. I, I, I am anxiety. I am anxiety. And book recommendations in a trench coat. Feel free. Pass it on to someone else. I mean, yeah, it was a gift. That means you get to do with it whatever you want. Doesn't matter. And I can understand feeling weird if the person you pass it on to is like friends with said person. But it's still okay if I gave you a book in the situation, which I would not do. But if I say I gave you a book and you didn't like it, but you pass it on to one of our friends that did like it. I would love that. That's great. Totally happy. But if your friend ever asked, just say the golden reading classes phrase. It just wasn't for me.

[A]

It wasn't for me.

[B]

And also important flipping around. It's never okay to check in with somebody.

[A]

You don't have to check in.

[B]

No, don't do that. What's wrong with you people? Like, if you give somebody something, anything but. Or if you give somebody a book and you. It's not okay to a month later to be like, did you like that book? What you think? Yeah, you give a book, it is passed beyond. You've crossed the Rubicon.

[A]

Because you wouldn't ask that about any other thing. You wouldn't be like, are you still wearing that dress I gave you? Like, that would be weird.

[B]

Some people would. They would, yeah.

[A]

Get out of my business.

[B]

Yeah, it's just out of here. Like, it's just pressurey. Don't do it. I like, somebody brings it up to you and you're like, hey, I read that book. You let me have amazing. But don't. Don't check in with people.

[A]

I often will wear the clothes that someone gave me when I see them, if I know them, because I do a lot of clothes swaps. If I'm loving something, I will wear the next time I see them. My friend Zoe gives me a lot of hand me down clothes and I'm.

[B]

Always trying to wear so well dressed.

[A]

Every time I see her, I get a lot of her clothes. And every time I see her, I try to wear something that she gave me because she'll be like, is that mine? Like, yes.

[B]

Yeah, she is like, it's a real thrill for me. It's like her and KJ are two of the best dressed people we know.

[A]

And I have someone KJ is close to that are really nice.

[B]

The only situation where I do this, I will say is if you're dating someone. Like, I was over HWBs the other day and I'm like, we've been dating this entire year and you have not read the books that you said you wanted to.

[A]

You did. You're breaking your.

[B]

No, no, no. I didn't say this to him. I had it in my head. I was like, you haven't read these books. I'm going to take them back. Back. Next time I'm going over there, I'm just like, I'm just gonna grab them. Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do anyway. But I'm not gonna make a Big deal. Out of it. I'm not gonna be like, you haven't read these books. I'm just gonna.

[A]

Just take them.

[B]

Yes. I'm just gonna take them back.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And if he notices and like, I want to read that book, I'm like, all right, you can check it out again from the Mallory o'. Mary. But your lending period is up. Just like Libby, I'm taking these back.

[A]

But I'm not exactly.

[B]

But I'm not gonna interrogate him about it. Leave people alone.

[A]

So you gave him these books?

[B]

He asked.

[A]

He asked. Okay. To borrow?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Not give. Not a gift.

[B]

No.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

He has to borrow.

[A]

Well, that's also different too, because if you borrow a book, there's an expectation you're going to read it and return it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

If you gift someone a book, that is different.

[B]

Yes. But in either situation, even if someone borrows a book, it's not okay to like a week later be like, what do you think?

[A]

Well, no, no. But at some point you can be like, have that book back.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And did you read it? Yeah, I think that's okay. If they borrowed it.

[B]

Yeah. Give them. I think give people more time, though.

[A]

No, definitely more than a week. Week.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Takes me like six months to read the books on my. That I borrowed.

[B]

That's happened to me before. Someone let me borrow a book and then like, very quickly we're like, what do you think?

[A]

I'm like, I like, do you not know my tbr? I have a schedule going.

[B]

I think what we're saying with this whole episode is leave people alone.

[A]

Stay out of their business.

[B]

Everyone's stressed out. But yeah, if some. If someone gives you something as a gift, like you said, that's it. You have no ties to it. Leave that. Don't. Don't bother them about it. If they want to talk to you about it, that's great, great. But don't be like, don't be up there. Butt with it. Wanting a. Wanting a report. All right, so if you want us to solve your reader problem, you can set it to reading glasses podcast gmail.com. now let's answer a recommendation request from Jessica, who says hi. I finished daisy darker about 2 months ago, but I'm still thinking about it. I would love a read alike. I've read the Agatha Christie book that inspired it and some other Alice Feeney books that I enjoyed. I'm looking for a good locked door mystery. Family drama is a big plus. Thank you. Before I ask Bria what she thinks for this, I want to say sometimes People write in for recommendations. Like, I had never. I didn't know what Daisy Darker is.

[A]

I didn't either.

[B]

So when you were. If you were asking for read alikes for a book, please let us know what that book is. I mean, Nat, like, like Jessica was like, I'm looking for a good locked door mystery. Great. But sometimes people are like, hey, can you recommend a book like this? And I'm like, I don't even know what that book is.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So just give us a little description. We appreciate it. Just like Jessica. Jessica, thank you for. For letting us know what this is. All right, Bria, what do you think Jessica should read?

[A]

I love Locked Room mystery, so this is one. I. Okay, I have this one. But Mallory, I have other ones too.

[B]

I really leaned on you for this one because I guess I don't read a lot of these. So I struggle with this.

[A]

There's a lot of good Japanese ones, translated ones, but I'm actually not recommending one. I'm recommending Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson, which is all family drama. Look at the title. All in a remote location. Like Daisy Darker. Because I did look up what that is, and. But this one is set in a Snowden ski resort. It's exactly what the title is. There's someone who gets killed while this family's meeting up. It feels very similar to what? To the Daisy. What I've read about the Daisy Darker series, the Mill House Murders, is a great Japanese one. There's a lot of really good Japanese ones. Even ones from like the 30s, like from 100 years ago, basically, are also really good. There's a ton of good Japanese ones. So I would. I would go into that. They're not as quite a real like. Because some of them are. The Daisy Darker one, I think, is set in a remote location. Right. That's what I looked up. And some of these are like more in the city and stuff. But anyway, every one of my family's killed someone. Definitely worth checking out. But check out Mill House Murders and, and look up other Japanese ones as well, because that could be really fun for you. What do you got?

[B]

This is one of those weird things where I was like, oh, locked Room murder mystery. Beautiful. And then I realized I don't. I don't think I've read one of these in years.

[A]

Ever.

[B]

Oh, in quite a while. Like, it just. It seems like something that I would read. I think it's. Maybe we talk about them a lot, but it's just. And it's not like I Don't like them. They just don't really come up, come across my desk very often for whatever reason. So I'm gonna go with. A tried and true thriller author that we both like is Ruth Ware, woman in cabin 10, which is a great book. And it.

[A]

And it is locked room because it's on a. It's on a cruise ship.

[B]

Yeah. And it's got adapted.

[A]

Oh, it is adapted.

[B]

I think it's either coming out or just came out. It's on. On Netflix, which is exciting. Ruth, where is an excellent mystery author? I've been reading her for a long time. Like Bria said, it's set on a luxury cruise ship. It has. This main character is a travel journalist who's been assigned to write about this cruise. But one night she sees a woman being thrown overboard, but then all the passengers are still accounted for. Like, that's the kind of thing immediately you're like, I gotta read this. Like, yeah. And Ruth Ware really is. I mean, she's just one of the most popular and thriller writers and for good reason. So I am recommending the woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

[A]

And I'm saying everyone in My Family's Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.

[B]

So you can send your recommendation request to reading glasses podcast gmail.com as always, we want to thank the wonderful mods who run our Discord server and our Facebook group. Remember, you can buy reading glasses, totes and shirts and stickers over at our Void Merch store. Link in the show notes and if you like the show. Folks, we're gonna do something special. We are fewer than 200 reviews away on Apple Podcasts from 2000, so we're gonna do a special episode when we hit 2000. We are still honing in on what that is and maybe we'll start reading reviews on the show. But folks, we're trying to get to 2000. Really want to hit that mark. Open up your Apple podcast, or Spot. Why do I keep calling it Spodcast?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

I like it though. Keep it. Keep this in Brit. I don't know why Spotify podcast gets melded in my mind into Spotcast, but whether or not you use Spotify or Apple podcasts, whatever podcaster you use, open up the mobile app on your phone, give us a five star rating, even write a nice little review if you want. We're getting really close to some big numbers and it would really mean a lot to us. It also helps the show. That's why we want to do this. It's not just a arbitrary number we want to hit. People look at podcasts with a lot of reviews and are more likely to try out that podcast. So we're trying to try to spread the show. Trying to find more glasses. Please give us a review. It really helps us out. You can email us at reading glasses podcast gmail.com find us on Instagram at Reading Glasses Podcast. Thanks for listening and thanks for reading. Maximum Fun, a worker owned network of artist owned shows supported directly by you.