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A
If you love to travel, Capital One has a rewards credit card that's perfect for you. With the Capital One Venture X card, you earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy. Plus you get premium benefits at a collection of luxury hotels when you book on Capital One Travel. And with Venture X, you get access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. Open up a world of travel possibilities with a Capital One Venture X card. What's in your wallet?
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Terms apply. Lounge access is subject to change. See capitalone.com for details. Dog Owners we love to spoil our pups, and more than anything, we want them to live long, healthy, comfortable lives. But here's the thing a lot of us don't realize when our dogs are trying to tell us something's wrong. Constant paw licking, rubbing on the couch, or obsessively eating grass can all be signs of allergies. Because 90% of a dog's immune system lives in the gut, supporting digestion is key. That's where Better Wild Allergy Relief Soft Chews come in. These veterinarian approved chews use an ancestral blend of wolf probiotics called Ancestral Advantage to strengthen your dog's natural defenses. Better Wild even offers chews for joint support, dental health and a digestive meal topper. All science backed solutions to help your dog feel their best Right now, Better Wild is offering our listeners up to 40% off of your order@betterwild.com podcast that's betterwild.com podcast for up to 40% off your order. Betterwild.com podcast hey, I'm Dr. Maya Shankar.
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C
I host a podcast called A Slight Change of Plans that combines behavioral science and storytelling to help us navigate the big changes in our lives.
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D
I get so choked up because I feel like your show and the conversations.
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Are what the world needs. Encouraging, empowering counter programming that acts like a lighthouse when the world feels dark. Listen to A Slight Change of Plans wherever you get your podcasts.
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D
Hi, this is Zibby Owens and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to Read Books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest best selling, buzziest or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author, and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to stay in the know, get insider insights and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on Instagram ibeowens. Sarah Gelman is the Editorial director for books at Amazon. We're talking today about Amazon's Best Books of the Year, named after the memoir her father was reading when she was born, Sarah was destined for a career in books. She started as a book publicist in New York before relocating to Seattle to work at Amazon. Known for her guest appearances on national talk shows and her signature book club, Sarah selects, which by the way, has picked so many of the books that we have here on the podcast. And Sarah loves fiction, memoirs and a good multi generational family saga. When she's not working or reading, she is spending time with her two young sons walking her anxious and lovable dog or designing the perfect reading nook. Welcome, Sarah. Thanks so much for coming back on Totally Booked. I can't wait to discuss your Amazon Best Books of the year 2025, your most anticipated and just books in general. So exciting.
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C
Thank you for having me. I love to talk about books with you.
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D
I have to say, your recent picks, every one after another after another, I'm like, yep, me too. Yep. Love that, love that. I feel like we are on the same page in a lot of our picks.
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C
I love it when you look at someone else's best of list and it's like, oh yeah. Because sometimes I look at them, I'm like, I don't know, this just isn't my taste. But it's someone's taste. But we really want our list to be something that people look at and they recognize some books. Like, I don't want it to be totally esoteric. And then also you see the books, you're like, okay, I've heard of the Correspondent, so I'm gonna try this other book too. Because this feels like a list I would like. So we're purposeful about that. We don't need these to be books that people have never heard of before.
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D
Okay, there we go. Although some. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I was gonna say both.
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C
They should be both.
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D
They should be both. A nice mix. A nice mix.
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C
A nice mix.
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D
A nice mix. I mean, the Correspondent nobody had heard of at the beginning, right?
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C
I know.
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D
And it became the sleeper hit.
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C
We missed it too. And it's such a funny story how we came to disc. I mean, obviously there was word of mouth, but you probably have this in your job. It's really hard to go back and read something once you've kind of missed it in your reading time period. And so we had missed it. And our colleague Vanessa, who Had retired this year and moved back to Ireland, where she's from, to be closer to her family. Had texted us. I mean, we'd like. We can't stop talking about books. And she texted us and she said, you all need to read the Correspondent. It's so good. And so we read it, and it's number two. Not to, you know, ruin anything, but it's number two.
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D
Amazing. Now, I had her on my podcast, and she was on my most anticipated list. And I remember she came here and, like, stood up in front of everyone. She's like, you guys, like, this is my first book. I'm so nervous. And now I feel so much better that you're here. And now it's like, she's, like, bloated. Everybody out of the water. It's amazing. I love this story. It is.
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C
It's also sort of a genius move to have letters to an author like Ann Patchett, who has such a great platform in your book, because then you sort of feel like, oh, she's going to get it, she's going to read it, and if she likes it, hopefully she'll talk about it. So it is. It's sort of a brilliant move.
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D
Yeah, a hundred percent. Well, let's go through your list. Let's start with.
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C
I know we could just keep talking about this stuff, but yes, let's do the list.
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D
It's true. And I haven't read. I have not read a lot, all of these, but.
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C
Okay, well, tell me which ones you have.
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D
Okay, well, let's go through. So everybody knows. So number 10, you have the Loneliness of Sonja and Sunny by Kiran Desai. Talk about it.
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C
Yes. So this is an epic novel. It's one of those novels that is crossing continents. And I mean, really, I will say, not centuries, but generations. And the main characters are Sonia and Sunny. They are two Indian young adults who both live in America and then both end up back in India. And their parents are sort of at the base trying to set them up, and they, without knowing each other, they say no. And then their lives intersect in an interesting way. And it's, I think, you know, it's a lot of. About the sort of isolation and loneliness that you feel as a young adult as you move into, like, the phase of life where you're just becoming your own person and, you know, separate from your family. And then there's the added separateness of being in a different country. So, I mean, it's just such a great book about families, too. I love reading about dysfunctional and funny families. So I think anyone that has interesting characters in their family will love this book.
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D
I'm sure most people would say there is an interesting character or two in their family. And also, maybe we should back up. So these are the books chosen by the Amazon editors. But Sarah selects. Is your book club chosen by you? Is that the correct distinction?
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C
That's correct. So this. These are our top. We're doing the top 10 books. We have a list of 100 top books for 2025. So these are the books published in 2025 that the Amazon editors have read and loved and we think customers will love. And this is not based on sales. We actually read the books before they're on sale. So a lot of these books we voted on and no one had purchased them yet. This is really books that we love and we think that everyone should read.
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D
Amazing. Okay, number nine, you have Replaceable youe by Mary Roach.
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C
Okay, so Mary Roach is well known as this sort of. Not sort of. She's a very funny science writer. And in this book she is taking on this phenomenon of like, replaceable body parts, for lack of a better term. And looking back in the way that people used to use, like, masticators, like an actual sort of like a wrench or something to chew up food before they put it in their mouth because their teeth were not strong enough. And then moving on to dentures and then moving on to, you know, it sort of walks through all of these ways that over time we have replaced our body parts and ask questions like, is it better to cut off a limb and have a prosthetic or just not have that limb be functioning? So. But she does it in such a way that is so funny. I think if you are someone who's sort of nonfiction curious, but you mostly read fiction, this is. Mary Roach is a great way to kind of dive in, put your toe in the water and see if you like nonfiction, because she makes everything funny.
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D
Love that Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
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C
Okay, so Taylor Jenkins Reid. Obviously people know her by now. I think she's probably most well known for the husbands of Evelyn Hugo at this point. But. But the thing that I think is super cool about her is if you look back at her books, and I wanna say starting with Evelyn Hugo, they take a powerful woman in each century. And so there's, you know, 70s, 80s, 90s. And so the powerful woman or women in this are astronauts. And it's about centered on two women in NASA who are dealing with, yes, the challenges of being an astronaut, but also the challenges of being A female astronaut and. And then there is a untraditional love story as part of it. And the book starts with a chapter that will have your heart racing, and then it goes back in time. So it's almost like a thriller, too. You can definitely see it. I mean, not to sound cheesy, it's very atmospheric in that you could imagine it being a movie. And she just. She writes characters so well. She writes love so well. It's just one of those intensely readable books.
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D
Amazing. Okay. Awake by Jen Hatmaker. I am obsessed with this book.
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C
Me too. Okay. I really actually wanted to talk to you about this book. And I know we are both divorced women, and I. I love that divorce memoirs are having a moment right now, and that women are kind of taking back this narrative and their voice. And her story is. I mean, the book opens as, you know, with her waking up to her husband of 26 years, voice texting another woman, saying, I just can't quit you. And, I mean, that's the line from Brokeback Mountain. Like, at that point, she should have been like, bye, bye. Sorry, that was probably unkind.
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D
No, no, no, no. All good.
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C
It is all about how she. I mean, she was broken. You know, he shattered their life together, this beautiful life that they had built, and a public life at that. And she picked herself back up and became a better version of herself. And I listened to this on audio. She reads the audio version. It is so powerful to listen to her read it because you hear the emotion in her voice. You know, she gets choked up. I'm in the car, and I was like, you know, the sort of, like, choking up voice. But, yeah, it's ultimately really uplifting and just empowering for women, and I love that. And she's just. She's so funny, too.
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D
She is. She's funny and she just puts it all out there. And for me, I feel like it was one of the most authentic descriptions of the immediacy of pain when something terrible happens. Like, all the thoughts that you're just like, oh, my gosh. And the shock and all of it. Like, we were so in it with her that I just, like, couldn't put it down. And you're, like, rooting for her and, you know.
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C
Yeah. And also I love that her family and friends are so wonderful. Like, this bad thing happens to her. But she has this incredible support network which just makes you feel like you can get through anything with an incredible support network. I remember her saying at one point in the writing, at one point in the book that when she was younger. She felt, I think, it was safe and cherished. And I thought, like, that's what I want my children to say when they grow up, that they feel that they. Their childhood, they felt safe and cherished. Like, that's, I think, the best thing you can give a child.
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D
I was also struck by her close relationship with her adult siblings and how they came to her aid and, like, oh, my gosh, there's just so many. So many. Anyway, okay, the next one. The intruder by Freida McFadden.
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C
Okay, so confession. I had never read Freida McFadden before I read the Intruder, and I sort of thought, popcorn, thriller. This is gonna be fun. It was. It was very fun. It was very fast paced, but it had a lot of darker and more serious themes. And the way that she brought this story together, it's told from the point of view of two different characters. And it's very surprising. And it is surprising up until the end of the book. Like we often say, like, she stuck the landing, and she stuck the landing 100%. So this is a very fun, but also, I think, surprising thriller. And the premise of a woman alone in a cabin in the woods is.
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D
Just scary, I think, totally. That's why I'm never going to a cabin.
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C
Yeah, by yourself. Just don't go by yourself.
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D
I just interviewed this week Paul Feig, who is the producer director of the Housemaid, which is coming out soon.
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C
Oh, my gosh, that looks so good. I have to say, I went. After I read the Intruder, I went back and read the Housemaid, and it just. And then the trailer looks amazing. Sorry about my dogs. They bark.
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D
Sometimes I can't even hear them.
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C
Okay, good.
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D
There you go. No, and the movie was really fun. And not. There were some differences with the book and the movie. But anyway, exciting that that is coming down the pike, too. Okay, number five. Also loved Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaughey. I was, like, reading this in the airport, like, holding it, you know, One of those books.
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C
Yeah, It's a book that is so many things. I mean, it's a love story, it's a mystery, it's climate fiction, and manages to be all those these things in a really subtle way. And this is actually the top of our list for best books of the year so far in June, and it was recently picked as a Reese Book Club pick. So I think it definitely has legs. And the plot is a woman, a mysterious woman, washes ashore this remote island off the coast of Antarctica, and it's inhabited by one Family. And they are the custodians of the world's last precious seeds. So it sets. It sort of has this science fiction element to it, but it's a not so distant future, which is a little frightening. And it just, as you mentioned, like, you cannot put this book down. I mean, it sort of sounds like, oh, climate fiction. But, yeah, she is really an amazing writer.
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D
Also about family and loss and relationships.
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C
Parenthood.
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D
Parenthood. I mean, there's so much.
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C
I'm such a sucker for a book about sort of the lengths that a parent, particularly a mother, just because I am a mother, will go to for their children. And I loved how that is presented in this book.
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D
That's such a good way to say that. I also love that. Okay. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Is that how you pronounce it? I know. I've read. I read his vuong.
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C
I think it's Ocean Vuong.
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D
Ocean Vuong.
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C
I could be mispronouncing that. So this is a novel. It has a very quiet premise, but it is a very powerful book. So it is about a older woman and a young man who end up becoming housemates and the various ways that they literally and figuratively save each other's lives. And it really brings the unseen people in society to the forefront. The young man works at a restaurant that's sort of like a Boston Market. And his co workers are just these amazing people that are sort of on the other and helping each other ultimately. They're very sad pieces of it, but it's ultimately very uplifting.
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D
Amazing. The Boys in the Light by Nina Wilner.
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C
Okay. Have you read this book?
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D
I honestly have not even heard of this book, I'm embarrassed to say.
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C
Oh, no. I love it when people haven't heard of books, because then you can discover it. And we told you so. Okay. I'm gonna say I am a total fiction reader. I love memoir, but I love fiction. I'm not a huge nonfiction reader. I do read it because it's part of my job. But I am the last person to rave about a history book focused on World War II. And I loved this book. So this is a book that will transcend what you think you like. It is about three young men who are really boys. I mean, they're barely out of teens, and two are Americans, one is German, and their lives are brought together in an unexpected way during World War II. And, yes, there are atrocities in this book, but I will say that it is ultimately very uplifting. It's very hopeful. It is about Brotherhood and perseverance and bravery. And I was crying at the end, but they were happy tears. It's really, really powerful.
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D
Okay, good to know. Thank you. We talked about number two, which is the correspondent. And now we'll jump up to number one. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.
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C
Okay, this is. So I read this while I was on vacation this past summer, and I actually got scolded by my friends that I was with for being antisocial because I could not put this book down. So it is an epic American novel. It's set between the time frames of World War II and Vietnam, and it takes place in a fict fictional Ohio town, centers on two families. And the families are brought together by one incident. And the incident is sort of like tossing a pebble into a pond, and the effects kind of ripple out for generations to come. And it's just the author actually said about this book something that really resonated with the team, and he said it after we had picked the book. But it's just. It really makes you think. It's that lives are not defined by the good deeds that we do, but really by how we deal with our mistakes. And it's such a truth about life. And that is one of the themes of the book. And it just. Yes, it's technically historical fiction, another genre that I tend not to love. But it really makes you think, too, about this period of time in America that the children of the people that served in World War I were fighting in World War II, and then their children were serving in Vietnam and sort of this really intense period of time that's bookended by these wars and what it did to those generations. Gosh.
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D
Okay. I love how you describe everything. It makes.
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C
It's so good. If you haven't read this, it's just. And the story of motherhood in this book, too, is amazing.
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D
Okay, Today's episode has been sponsored by Quints. When it comes to holiday gifting, I want to give things people really love. Beautiful, timeless pieces they will wear for years. So that's why I'm going with Quince. From Mongolian cashmere sweaters to Italian wool coats, everything is premium quality at a price that actually makes sense. Quince has something for everyone. Soft cashmere sweaters for $50 that look and feel like designer pieces. Silk tops and skirts for dressing up, perfectly cut jeans for everyday wear and outerwear that actually keeps you warm. I've been wearing my new quince coat with this fur collar on social media, so you should be able to see me wearing it on instagram ibyowens I love it and of course it would make a great gift. The Italian wool coats are also amazing standout pieces. Beautifully tailored, soft to the touch and crafted to last for the seasons. Every piece is made with premium materials from ethical, trusted factories and priced far below what other luxury brands charge. The craftsmanship really shows in every detail. The stitching, the fit, the drape. It's elevated, timeless and made to wear on repeat. There are just so many options. I can totally see myself giving my friends one of their beautiful options, like a sweater or one of their coats for someone really special. And as if that isn't enough, they also have stuff for home, bath, kitchen and travel. Come on, find gifts so good you'll want to keep them yourself with quince go to quince.com zibby for free shipping on your order and 300165 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com zivi to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com zivi Today's episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. Okay, who else is looking for easy, thoughtful, fabulous gifts to give people that you love? I mean, who is not looking for that? Well, I have the answer for you. Aura Frames is the answer to every holiday gifting moment and you'll never have to struggle again to find the perfect gift. This is so personalized because you can load this digital frame with all photos of people you love, the recipient people they love. All you have to do to get unlimited free photos and videos is download the Aura app, connect to WI Fi and you can preload photos before it ships. And you can keep adding photos from anywhere and anytime and add a message before it arrives so you can share your videos all year long. And yet you're giving it right for the holidays. A gift box is included. Every frame comes beautifully packaged in a premium gift box with no price tag. So don't wait. Win the holidays now with Aura Frames for a limited time. Save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get $35 off or a frames bestselling Carver mat frames named number one by Wirecutter by using promo code Zibi at checkout. That's a U R a frames.com promo code ZIBBY Z I B B Y. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout Terms and Conditions apply. Now, goodbye. While I go fill another frame for a very lucky recipient in my family.
- [21:54]
A
If you love to travel, Capital One has a rewards credit card that's perfect for you. With the Capital One Venture X card, you earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy. Plus, you get premium benefits at a collection of luxury hotels when you book on Capital One Travel. And with Venture X, you get access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. Open up a world of travel possibilities with a Capital One Venture X card. What's in your wallet?
- [22:19]
B
Terms apply. Lounge access is subject to change. See capital1.com for details.
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D
You also have. I have seven here. Were there more seven books that are your most anticipated?
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C
Oh, my gosh.
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D
Well, did it get cut off? No, I only got seven sent to me. So I've got seven of your top most anticipated books.
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C
Well, I didn't know how many you were willing to take, so I did send you seven. But I have a lot that I'm very excited about. So I will start with Crux by Gabrielle Tallant. I actually this is a book that I have not read yet, and one of my colleagues just finished it and she was raving about it. So this is coming out in January, and she said that the female character in this book is one of the most alive characters she has ever read. And she just said it's such a great depiction of friendship. So I'm very excited to read this book. A book that I have read and loved is Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash. This is another January book and it's a debut novel about a dysfunctional family who ends up their dysfunction. Works for them. And again, I think I gravitate towards books that are ultimately sort of redeeming in some way. This is just a totally unique story told in a totally unique voice, and it just 100% works. I'm very excited for people to read this book because I think it's gonna be big.
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D
I was extremely excited to see Strangers by Belle Burden next.
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C
I thought you might like this book.
- [23:47]
D
Oh, my gosh. I picked this for my book club already. I interviewed Belle actually today about it.
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C
Oh, my gosh.
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D
I'm obsessed.
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C
What is she like?
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D
Oh, she's amazing. She's so lovely. She's, like, very soft spoken and, you know, she's, you know, but brilliant and thoughtful. I wasn't surprised when she said one of her main inspirations was Lily King. Right. Because they share some, like, kind of writing style and.
- [24:11]
A
Yeah.
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C
Sort of despair. Yes. That's funny. We both had. I would describe her as very thoughtful, too, without having met her, just from her writing. She's a very thoughtful, introspective person. And for those that have not looked at this book yet, this is a divorce memoir, which I also tend to like now.
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D
We're like becoming caricatures of ourselves. Sarah. This is, like, embarrassing. We don't only like divorce books, but, you know, they find a place.
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C
They do. I mean, it's. It's interesting.
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D
We're gonna get like a thousand divorce books each after this conversation, probably. I do.
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C
I do like divorce books.
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D
I do too.
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C
This one. This one is. Is special. I listened again, I had an advanced audio copy of this book. So I listened to her read it, which again, was just a really powerful experience. And you hear the emotion in her voice. But this is a, you know, the story, a true story about her husband of 20 years. One day a week into the pandemic, basically just saying, I'm leaving. I don't want anything to do with our life. I don't want anything to do with our children. And he just leaves. And yes, she is a very. She's a privileged person. She sort of is almost apologetic about that. But she is who she is. And this, you know, this could happen to anyone, no matter their privilege. And I think that's part of the scary piece of it. And she goes through so many emotions, and I think with her background as a lawyer, she's able to examine things in both an emotional way and an unemotional way. That was just so measured and fair, but it just. It made me think. It put me in a mood. I'm gonna say that that's not a bad thing, but it definitely put me in a headspace.
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D
Yep, agreed. So good. Okay. Super Nintendo. I haven't even heard of this. Not on my radar at all. The game changing company that unlocked the power of play.
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C
Yes. So this is a February book that I have not read yet, but I am looking forward to reading. And, you know, I like books about companies that have changed our lives. And I think, you know, I think back to being a child and having. We had the Nintendo Power Pad. And I remember my brother and I like running on the Power Pad. And you know, you jump. And that was so revolutionary at the time. Like, that was cutting edge. And my kids are still. They're playing Mario Brothers. They're playing. They're obsessed with Zelda. And the way that Nintendo has been able to build upon these franchises, to evolve them over time, I think is just remarkable. So I'm really looking forward to learning more about the company. And I do also think that I do want to wow my kids with all my facts about Nintendo too.
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D
So I get it. Yes. One of our favorite things, by the way, is going to the Nintendo store in Rock Center. So if you need an activity next time you're in New York, go to the Nintendo store, go to McNally Jackson across the street, have a hot chocolate, your day is done.
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C
Okay. I'm actually. I am definitely doing that because my older son is incredibly hard to buy presents for and he only wants the new Zelda game. And I just am like, let me buy you something else that is Zelda esque. So I'm going to look there. That's a great idea.
- [27:06]
D
Thank you. No problem. This is not about us, by the way. This is another one of my book club picks. I mean, this is, like, embarrassing.
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C
We have very similar taste.
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D
That's good.
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C
So this is interconnected short stories, which I happen to love. I love that you can take them separately, but together there's so much more. And surprise, surprise, it's about a dysfunctional family, my favorite genre. And it kicks off with the death of someone in the family. And then you see different members of the family and how their lives are tied together. And the stories, I mean, if you read them alone, they're just so sort of quietly beautiful and moving, but together, it's just such an interesting portrayal of a family and the give and take and the different personalities and what people see versus what people are. I think that's one of the really interesting themes of it is, like, how someone presents themselves versus how they're seen.
- [27:58]
D
Yep, that's a great way to describe it. The Golden Boy by Patricia Finn.
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C
This is a book that I have not read yet. This is a March book. And the editor, Reagan Arthur, who I think is so talented and was Ellen Hildebrand's editor for a long time, reached out to me and said, you must read this book. And she even said something like, the description might not hook you, but I need you to trust me on this. And so when someone says that and they know my taste, I definitely am looking forward to reading it. So this is just sort of a flag that this is a book that I'm looking forward to.
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D
Okay. And then your last recommendation here is Yesteryear by Carol Clare Burke. I haven't read yet, and I'm dying to read, and I'm so excited about it.
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C
Okay, I'm going to order you to just shut down your day right now and go read it. It is that good.
- [28:43]
D
I know. I can't wait. I can't wait.
- [28:45]
C
I just. I almost can't talk about it because it was so unique. It was so amazing. I think it's going to be a huge book. It should be a huge book.
- [28:53]
D
It's going to be a huge book.
- [28:54]
C
Yeah. It is about a woman who is a farm influencer, and then she wakes up one day in the early 1800s living on the farm that she has in modern day. And it goes from there. And it has so many themes, obviously. Themes about social media and the way that people portray themselves versus the way they are. Themes of motherhood, of femininity and masculinity. There's a theme about sort of traditional America and what's happening in our country now with different splits. I mean, there's just so much going on, and the ending is just perfection. Like, you know, sometimes you read this book that's kind of has a. Like a plot device or, you know, it's doing something, and you think, oh, please let this be good in the end. Like, let it leave a good taste in my mouth. And it just was perfect. So I really. I'm so excited about this book. I actually just emailed the publicist this morning and said, love, love, love. And one of my colleagues, Annabel, read this and she said, I love that she said this. She said, I've been chasing the feeling ever since I finished this. You know that feeling when you read such a good book and it's hard to start something else because you just. Everything else kind of like, no, this is good, but it's just not that book. So, yes, huge praise for this book. I love it and I am excited for it to go on sale and hear what other people have to say. So when you read it later today.
- [30:18]
D
Not today, let me know what you think. Very soon, I'm going to. I have a book that I think you are going to love. In particular, Knowing Us. I'm just gonna show it to you. You're gonna love this. It. No. 1 you know by Emma Tortello.
- [30:32]
C
Okay. I'm writing it down. Very analog. No one youe know, the way that.
- [30:38]
D
She writes about family and marriage and motherhood. You're gonna just love it.
- [30:44]
C
It's just.
- [30:45]
D
You're gonna love it. I just know.
- [30:46]
C
I mean, that is. That is my favorite thing to read about. And I think, like, I often will think to myself, why do I love being inside of other people's lives like this? And I think it's because it allows you to kind of open your Eyes to contextualize your own life. But also, like, I don't want my family to be dysfunctional. I want my children to be incredibly well adjusted and happy. But I love reading about other kids that are dysfunctional and other mothers that are horrible. And also, I just. I think this idea of. It's like the movie Sliding Doors, which is like, my favorite movie. The book. Have you read the Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver, which is an older book?
- [31:24]
D
I have it. Did I read it? I know it's here somewhere.
- [31:28]
C
Well, that's another one I'm gonna recommend to you. It's a backlist title. I think it came out in the early 2000s.
- [31:33]
D
I think I read it. I have to. Now I have to open it and look. Tell me more about it. I know I have it here.
- [31:38]
C
So it takes place in England. And the first chapter is a woman on her birthday. And at the end of chapter one, she makes a decision. And from that point or there is a decision presented to her. And from that point on in the book, there is two chapter twos, two chapter threes. And visually, they look different. So you can keep track of them, but each one follows a track of she did or she didn't. And then at the end, you see what happens.
- [32:05]
D
I'm gonna give you one more recommendation.
- [32:06]
C
Oh, my gosh.
- [32:07]
D
And actually, we published this, but I'm not saying this because we published it, but it is similar in that it's called Start at the End, and it has a similar Sliding doors feel to it by Emma Gray. You're gonna. I'm gonna. If we haven't sent it to you, I'm going to after this.
- [32:21]
C
Okay. I just. I love this idea in life, period, that you can make one decision, one choice. I know. And it affects everything. Everything. And it can be so small, you know, it can be like, you know, changing your shoes, and then something happens because you're five minutes late. And I just like. To me, that is one of the most interesting concepts in life and in literature. And so any book that deals with that, I'm gonna love.
- [32:48]
D
Yeah, you're gonna love it. All these books. I'm like, sarah, how are we?
- [32:52]
C
I know. Okay. How are we gonna. Let's do a reading retreat. We'll be in a cabin in the woods, but both of us. So I think if an intruder comes, we can fight them off. And, yeah, we're just. That's what I think to myself. I need some sort of reading sabbatical. Because, as you know, you have kids, you have a Job, you know, you have a partner. Like, life is busy, and there are lots of obligations, and. And I think it's a great problem to want to read more and to have too much to read. But also, it's like, oh, I look around, and it's like, I know.
- [33:22]
D
I'm like, I can just stop right now because there's so many. I'm just, like, dying to read that. Like, come in. And I'm just like, oh, my God, I have to stop everything and read this. And then, like, there's another one of those. And then I'm like, but.
- [33:33]
C
But you can't. Yes, exactly. But at least it's a good problem to have.
- [33:37]
D
I don't know. I don't know. Like, my kids and their friends, like, they're not reading like this. It's not the same. I don't know. Let's see. Maybe when they get older, the tides will turn.
- [33:44]
C
Is there. Can I ask you a question? Is there one book that you're giving as a gift to people this holiday?
- [33:50]
D
I am recommending Heart the Lover a lot by Lily King. I feel like that's a gift. It's a beautiful cover, too, so I feel like it makes a pretty gift.
- [33:58]
C
It is a beautiful cover, and I think it's good for men and women. Although it has a very feminine title and jacket, I do think that the book itself is appealing to men.
- [34:08]
D
Also, I wanted to be wonderful for moms. Like, anyone who's in it, I'm giving her. Yeah.
- [34:14]
C
Okay. I need to read that. Yeah. I feel like I'm in it.
- [34:17]
D
Yeah.
- [34:18]
C
Yeah.
- [34:20]
D
All right. Well, Sarah, oh, my gosh. Obviously could talk books with you all day. We have been doing this for years, and I hope it continues.
- [34:26]
C
Me, too.
- [34:27]
D
I long for the day when maybe our kids are older and we can actually go on a reading retreat and just sit there and read and talk about books. That would be really.
- [34:32]
C
That'd be so great. Yeah. I keep saying to my kids, like, let's have a. Do you remember sustained silent reading time, SSR in school? Did you have that?
- [34:40]
D
No, but my kids have snib. Stick your nose in a book.
- [34:43]
C
Oh, I love that. Maybe I should call it that, because I'm like, ssr, and my kids are like, oh, mom, come on.
- [34:49]
D
I feel like SSR sounds too much like ssri, you know?
- [34:52]
C
But anyway. Yeah. Also good, though. Also helpful.
- [34:58]
D
All right, well, thank you so much, and here's to happy reading and happy holidays. Happy holidays.
- [35:03]
C
Okay. Bye. Bye.
- [35:05]
D
Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have time to read books. If you loved the show, tell a friend, leave a review, Follow me on Instagram ibyowens and spread the word. Thanks so much. Oh, and buy the books.
- [35:28]
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