Podcast Summary: The Stacks – Ep. 397 "A Book Club in a Weekend" with Mikey Friedman

Host: Traci Thomas
Guest: Mikey Friedman, founder of Page Break Reading Retreats
Date: November 5, 2025

Overview

In this lively episode, Traci Thomas interviews Mikey Friedman, creator of Page Break, a weekend book retreat that centers on reading a novel aloud as a communal experience. They explore Mikey’s inspiration and guiding philosophy behind Page Break, share behind-the-scenes details on programming, discuss the transformative nature of reading out loud, and make a special announcement about an upcoming collaborative retreat, “Stacks Break.” The episode also features recommendations for site-specific literature, Mikey’s bookish tastes, literary bucket list, and much more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mikey's Background & the Birth of Page Break

• From Advertising to Books: Mikey grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts (emphasizing “Western Mass, not Boston”) and worked in advertising before pivoting to create Page Break. Reading became a passion in college, especially queer literature.
• Book Clubs vs. Retreats: Inspired by the logistical difficulties and anxieties of traditional book clubs, Mikey sought to create "a book club in a weekend"—combining community, food, wine, and literature in an immersive setting.
  • Quote: “The idea of joining a book club, if you're a busy New Yorker...the format doesn’t always work. What if we just did the book club in a weekend?” (07:16–07:49)
• Unique Approach: Unlike silent reading retreats, Page Break is designed around reading books aloud, drawing from research and programs like the UK’s The Reader, which uses group reading as adult therapy.

How Page Break Works

• Reading Aloud: All participants (15-16 people) sit in a circle and read the novel aloud, two pages at a time, with reading sessions interspersed with discussion.
  • Accessibility: Participation in reading is always optional to avoid school-like pressure. “If it gets to you, you could just say, pass. I've had people come and be like, I'm not going to read aloud at first and then change their mind.” (19:18–19:43)
• Transformative Power of Reading Aloud: Mikey and Traci discuss how reading aloud uncovers nuances and promotes vulnerability, empathy, and close reading.
  • Quote: “It forces you to slow down, which I think is like, we're often skimming when we don't mean to...you have 15 different audiobook narrators sitting in a circle with you, basically.” – Mikey (21:38–22:15)
  • Traci’s Theater Perspective: As a theater background person, Traci notes how reading complex texts like Shakespeare or Frankenstein aloud aids comprehension.

Food & Wine as Integral Elements

• Culinary Details: Each retreat features a guest chef who creates custom menus inspired by the book, often using specific quotes as prompts for dishes.
  • Quote: “We partner with [the chef] in advance to curate custom dinner menus that are themed to the book that we're reading...so it's always so fun for me to see inspiration from the author in the book, and then also the chef's own inspiration and how those things sort of fuse on the plate.” – Mikey (12:18–14:38)
• Curated Wine Pairings: A sommelier or wine shop owner selects wines that complement the weekend’s reading experience.

Book Selection Philosophy

• Strict No Homework Policy: All reading happens at the retreat; no advance assignment.
  • Only books under 300 pages (usually) to ensure the book can be read together.
• Prioritizing Marginalized Voices: Focus on contemporary literary fiction by debut, queer, diverse, and underrepresented authors, often New York–based to enable author participation.
  • “I'm 17 for 17 on author participation.” – Mikey (16:45)
• Author Engagement: Q&A sessions are typically held with the author, either in person or via Zoom.

Announcing "Stacks Break"

• Special Announcement: Traci and Mikey reveal their upcoming California retreat in Joshua Tree—Page Break’s first outside New York—co-curated and co-hosted.
  • “So for the first ever non New York trip, we're going to Joshua Tree.” – Mikey (23:48)
  • Only 15 spots; details and book selection forthcoming.

Retreat Vibe & Future Visions

• Atmosphere: Described as “summer camp for adults” with a mystical, joyful energy; yoga and outdoor exploration often included.
• Dream Destinations: Mikey fantasizes about comparative literature retreats in global cities (e.g., Rome, Paris, beach settings) with chefs inspired by local settings and stories.
  • “We would go to Rome...read a book set in Rome in 1929...eat at amazing restaurants...then...read a book set in 2024.” (26:22–26:59)

Book Recommendations & Literary Tastes

Ask the Stacks: Site-Specific Book Recommendations ([31:28–35:50])

• There There by Tommy Orange – Oakland, CA, Indigenous community
• The Barn by Wright Thompson – Rural Mississippi, Emmett Till’s murder
• The Gods of New York by Jonathan Mahler – NYC 1986–1990
• Mikey adds:
  • There Are Reasons for This by Nini Bern – near-future Denver, climate fiction

Mikey’s Rapid-Fire Bookish Q&A

• Faves:
  • Open Throat by Henry Hoke (“a very slim book about a queer mountain lion that lives in LA”; 36:06)
  • How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee
• Book he hates: Harry Potter (“That gross turf witch.”; 37:54)
• Recent great read: Audition by Katie Kitamura (“...the anticipation of what’s about to happen is really intense. But the idea is quite simple—how do we perform for each other and the different roles we play.”; 40:23–40:46)
• Favorite bookstore: The Bureau of General Services – Queer Division (West Village, NYC)
• Recent purchase: Unfit by Ariana Harwicz (translated novella)
• Last book that made him laugh: Herculean by Grace Byron—praised for its wit and group reading experience
• Nonfiction favorites: The Life and Death of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs; The Power Broker by Robert Caro (“I did it!” re: reading it; 51:12)
• Joy: Worry by Alexandra Tanner
• Bucket list book: Anna Karenina (inspired by the Limousine Podcast’s buddy read; 52:02)
• Classic recommendation from Traci: Frankenstein (“It's a sad boy novel. Yeah, it's a little gay.”; 53:05)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On reading aloud as transformation:
  “Reading aloud is part of that vulnerability which makes you feel like you can trust the other people in the circle... Just by them hearing your voice and you hearing their voice and knowing that it's like that little bit of performance just makes you feel safer once you do it.” – Mikey (17:20)

• On food & creativity:
  “Core to creativity—having structure enables you to be more creative. [The chefs] get to step outside what they typically cook, but also put their own unique flavors and imprint on the food.” – Mikey (13:05)

• On the impact of group reading:
  “Authors when they come on Page Break...they were like, you were in it. Like you're asking me questions that I haven't even considered because of the level of depth...and the minute details that you don't get when you just do it on your own.” – Mikey (22:36)

• Special announcement:
  “We’re doing a Stacks Break in January... For the first ever non New York trip, we're going to Joshua Tree.” – Traci & Mikey (23:36–24:00)

Timestamps: Important Segments

• 00:31: Mikey describes the Page Break reading structure
• 03:28: Mikey’s background and journey to Page Break
• 06:31–10:36: The idea, inspiration, and early development of Page Break
• 12:18–14:38: Food and wine curation at retreats
• 15:26: On the no-homework, in-retreat reading policy
• 16:44: Selecting new, under-300-page, contemporary fiction; centering debut and marginalized authors
• 19:18: Accessibility and optional participation in reading aloud
• 21:38–22:36: Transformative experience of group reading
• 23:36–24:00: Joshua Tree Stacks Break announcement
• 31:28–35:50: Ask the Stacks: Book recommendations for site-specific reads
• 36:06: Mikey’s personal book favorites/least favorites
• 41:44: Mikey’s approach to choosing and sourcing books
• 46:26: Mikey’s favorite bookstore (Bureau of General Services Queer Division)
• 49:26: Last book that made Mikey laugh
• 51:09: Book Mikey feels proud to have read
• 52:02: Book on Mikey’s bucket list
• 53:02: Traci’s Frankenstein plug
• 54:10: Books Mikey would assign or recommend to the president

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, open, and playful, filled with bookish banter, self-deprecating humor, mutual admiration, and a shared love for building inclusive reader communities. Both speakers maintain an accessible tone, making even deeper literary concepts friendly and inviting.

Conclusion

This episode is a celebration of community, vulnerability, and creativity fostered through the shared joy of books and reading aloud. Mikey Friedman’s Page Break offers an innovative, immersive approach to book discussions—centered on food, wine, and authentic connection—while Traci and Mikey’s easygoing, candid rapport makes for an inspiring listen for anyone seeking to deepen their reading life or join a literary community.

Next up:
We the Animals by Justin Torres will be November’s book club pick, with Mikey returning to discuss it on November 26.

For more:
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