Ep 484: A summer to slow down and sink into what you love

Summary

Episode Summary: Ep 484 – A Summer to Slow Down and Sink Into What You Love

Introduction

In Episode 484 of What Should I Read Next?, host Anne Bogel welcomes Chelsea Seiler, an early childhood special education teacher from Tacoma, Washington. This episode delves into Chelsea's passion for immersive, character-driven literature and her aspirations for a mindful, slowing-down summer of reading.

Guest Introduction: Chelsea Seiler [01:51]

Anne introduces Chelsea Seiler, highlighting her role as a special education teacher who works closely with families of infants and toddlers with disabilities. Chelsea shares insights into her personal life, including her love for outdoor activities like hiking and bike camping with her partner, Brian. She emphasizes the central role reading plays in her life, describing it as a constant source of joy, escape, and personal growth.

“...reading to be a source of joy, escape and growth...” – Chelsea Seiler [05:14]

Chelsea's Reading Background [02:34]

Chelsea recounts her lifelong love affair with books, from childhood favorites like Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High to more profound literary works in adulthood. She values literature that allows her to deeply connect with characters and immerse herself in their worlds, often preferring literary and contemporary fiction that offers rich character development.

“...really immerse myself in another world, a set of characters, you know, literary and contemporary fiction...” – Chelsea Seiler [05:14]

Favorite Books

1. Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson [10:26]

   Chelsea praises Beyond the Point for its authentic portrayal of female friendship set against the demanding backdrop of West Point. She appreciates the realistic depiction of the evolving relationships among three women, highlighting the balance of familiarity and novelty in the military setting.

   “...a very realistic model of female friendship... sometimes you make missteps and sometimes you hurt each other...” – Chelsea Seiler [10:26]

2. The Family Ship by Sonja Jorg [13:09]

   The Family Ship is lauded as a hidden gem that offers a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics in the early 1980s Chesapeake Bay. Chelsea is moved by the story of Verity, one of nine siblings, and her journey towards individualizing herself while maintaining deep familial bonds.

   “...a beautiful, quiet, heartfelt story of a family... really profound experience of what family is...” – Chelsea Seiler [13:09]

3. Molokai by Alan Brennert [15:56]

   Molokai captivates Chelsea with its vivid depiction of Rachel's life after being diagnosed with leprosy and separated from her family. The book’s setting on the island of Molokai serves as a crucial character in the narrative, enriching the story's emotional depth and historical context.

   “...the setting is just as much a character as any of the actual characters... immersive and very intentional...” – Chelsea Seiler [15:56]

Book Not Liked: Chemistry by Wicki Wang [18:07]

Chelsea shares her experience with Chemistry by Wicki Wang, explaining that while it wasn't unpleasant, it lacked the deep character development she seeks. The book's more fragmented, stream-of-consciousness style didn't align with her preference for immersive narratives where she can fully inhabit a character's emotional landscape.

“...it just stayed pretty surface level... missing the character depth that I really enjoy...” – Chelsea Seiler [18:07]

Recent Reads

1. Heartwood by Amity Gage [20:45]

   Chelsea appreciates Heartwood for its blend of mystery and rich character development set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Trail. The book's substance and engaging plot kept her thoroughly engrossed.

2. Home of the American Circus by Alison Larkin [21:16]

   Another favorite, Home of the American Circus resonated with Chelsea due to its exceptional character relationships and ability to draw her deeply into the story.

   “...wonderful character development... sink into it and really get lost in that story...” – Chelsea Seiler [21:16]

Summer Reading Goals: Slow Down and Immerse [22:15]

Chelsea outlines her intention to adopt a "slow down summer," prioritizing mindful and intentional reading over quantity. She aims to immerse herself in books that offer deep connections with characters and rich storytelling, resisting the overwhelm of constant new releases.

“...being mindful of not going too fast... sink into a wonderfully told story...” – Chelsea Seiler [22:45]

Book Recommendations by Anne

To support Chelsea's summer reading aspirations, Anne suggests several titles that align with her preferences for immersive, character-driven narratives and vivid settings:

1. Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson [31:59]

   A contemporary novel exploring family drama and social justice through the story of Ebony Freeman, whose life is intertwined with a historic pottery jar. The book offers deep character insight and rich historical context.

2. Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark [36:44]

   Set in Maine, this novel provides a heartfelt journey with well-developed characters, perfect for Chelsea’s desire to revisit meaningful settings.

3. King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chinn Tanner [37:10]

   An off-the-beaten-path story set in Louisiana’s Carville National Leprosarium, focusing on a Chinese American family’s struggles and personal growth.

4. Skin and Bones by Renee Watson [41:15]

   This book delves into themes of self-love and female friendship, portraying the protagonist Lena's journey through personal betrayal and the strength found in her relationships. Its lyrical prose and rich depiction of Portland’s black history make it a fitting recommendation.

   “...a beautiful portrait that is being colored in a little more every time I turn the page...” – Anne Bogel [41:30]

Anne also mentions other authors like Tara Conklin, J. Courtney Sullivan, Margaret Walker, and Nadia Hashimi as potential fits for Chelsea's reading list.

Conclusion [44:51]

Chelsea expresses enthusiasm for the recommended books, particularly Good Dirt, and appreciates the thoughtful selection tailored to her reading aspirations. The episode wraps up with Anne encouraging listeners to share their own book recommendations for guests like Chelsea via the podcast's website.

“...this has been an absolute pleasure and I'm really excited for all three of these books.” – Chelsea Seiler [45:52]

Notable Quotes

• “Reading to be a source of joy, escape and growth...” – Chelsea Seiler [05:14]
• “...a very realistic model of female friendship...” – Chelsea Seiler [10:26]
• “...sink into a wonderfully told story...” – Chelsea Seiler [22:45]
• “...a beautiful portrait that is being colored in a little more every time I turn the page...” – Anne Bogel [41:30]

Conclusion

This episode of What Should I Read Next? offers a deep dive into Chelsea Seiler's literary preferences and summer reading goals. With a focus on immersive, character-driven stories set in vivid environments, the recommendations provided by Anne Bogel promise to align perfectly with Chelsea's desire for a restorative and enriching reading experience.

Transcript

[Chelsea Seiler]

I am thrilled to hear she's coming out with another book. I have been keeping tabs on her over the last couple years in a very non creepy way, but I'm very excited to hear she has another book coming out.

[Anne Bogle]

I'm glad. I'm glad hey readers, I'm Anne Bogle and this is what should I read next? Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader. What should I read next? We don't get bossy on this show. What we will do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read. Every week we'll talk all things books and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one guest. When you hear Lululemon, you probably think of aligned yoga pants, weightlessly soft like you're wearing next to nothing. That's why you see them in class, at the groc grocery store and in the park. But did you know about skirts with built in liner shorts so you can still jump for the Frisbee and tanks and bodysuits with Align's iconic stretch you won't want to take it off. And with endless style options, you don't have to shop in store or [e-mail].

[Jill Chacha]

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[Anne Bogle]

Readers Summer reading looks different for every reader. Today's guest is looking for ways to slow down and sink into what she loves most for this summer season. Chelsea Seiler is an early childhood special education teacher in Tacoma, Washington. She's always found reading to be a source of joy, escape and growth, and she'd like these positive experiences to be reflected in her reading selections this summer. For Chelsea, staying true to what she loves most on the page means finding immersive, character driven stories she will not want to put down. I can't wait to share ideas and hear more about Chelsea's plans for a summer of slowly savoring what she reads next. Let's get to it. Chelsea, welcome to the show.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Oh Anne, thank you so much for the invitation to be here. I am really excited to get to talk to you today.

[Anne Bogle]

Oh, the pleasure is mine. I'm so excited to dive in today. And also I'm really excited about the summer reading you're envisioning for yourself. We will get to that. But first, Chelsea, would you tell us about yourself a little bit? We just want to give our readers a glimpse of who we're talking to every week on what should I read next? I think it's so lovely to hear the variety of people and places and experiences that are all joined together in this love of books and reading.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Absolutely. Well, I live in beautiful Tacoma, Washington, which.

[Anne Bogle]

Not a sales pitch? No, no, not at all.

[Chelsea Seiler]

But I love it. It's a great little city on the Puget Sound outside of Seattle. Been here for about 10 years. For my professional life. I am a Spirit special education teacher and I always say I have a little bit of a non traditional teaching job. I work specifically with infants and toddlers who have disabilities. So rather than being in a classroom all day, I am in my car driving to families homes and working individually with families. And I do a lot of parent coaching and support to help parents be better able to support their child's development as they grow. And it's something I love doing and find a lot of joy in. I also have a wonderful partner named Brian and we spend a lot of time outside. We love to hike. We've gotten into bike camping the last few years. We love to wine taste and hunt down the bus, a cup of coffee. And of course I spend a lot of time reading.

[Anne Bogle]

Of course you do. Okay, first, my husband, Will Bogle is listening and I have to ask, he probably already knows, but what is bike camping?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Bike camping is rather than backpacking where you're carrying all your gear on your back, you're carrying it on your bike. So we load up our bikes with tent, sleeping bags, all our food gear. And there's a ton of trails in this area so you can get out on some fun gravel and dirt trails that are a little bit more off the beaten path. And we usually do a couple nights at a time. And yeah, just get out into nature and carry everything you need with you.

[Anne Bogle]

Backpacking with more range.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Exactly.

[Anne Bogle]

I didn't know. Okay, thank you.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Yeah, absolutely. It's been a lot of fun, Chelsea.

[Anne Bogle]

Now tell us about your reading life.

[Chelsea Seiler]

So like a lot of your listeners, I've been a reader for as long as I can remember. Feels like from the beginning always just really had a love of books. We had a lot of books at home. I remember Tons of trips to the library with my family, and certainly in elementary and early middle school, blew through a lot of those 80s and 90s series like Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High. And I think my parents trusted that I would eventually find my way to some good literature. But they were also just incredibly encouraging of me, reading whenever I could and whatever I wanted. And I certainly did find my way to some better literature eventually as an adult. You know, there have been chapters of life that are a little bit busier in college and graduate school when I wasn't able to read as much. But I'm in a season now where I am able to read quite a bit. It's something I spend, you know, a good portion of leisure time doing. And it's just been one of life's constants, I really think. Read pretty widely. Usually. I think the most satisfying experiences are, you know, when I can really sink into a book for an hour or two and really immerse myself in another world, a set of characters, you know, literary and contemporary fiction that keeps me turning the pages and has characters that are written in such a way where I feel like I really come to know them and to care about them. Those tend to be the most. The most impactful reading experiences, I think. But I also read a lot of mystery and memoir and just kind of whatever catches my attention at the moment.

[Anne Bogle]

I love that little picture you painted, and I'm excited to get into it today. Those sound like the perfect kind of reads for a summer season, the way I think you're envisioning it. And we will talk about that more today. Chelsea, we didn't talk about this, but I think what we want to do is talk about your books and then talk about your slowdown summer. Does that sound good?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Yeah, that sounds great.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay. Chelsea, I'm excited to find good books for you that feel right for this season. And I think we want to really get started by talking about the books you brought with you today. Are you ready to do that?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Absolutely. Let's dive in. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game?

[Anne Bogle]

Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

[Jill Chacha]

Have you ever thought about what would happen if your airline window popped out? Or if you can build a jetpack using only machine guns? Turns out you can, but you really shouldn't. Hi, I'm Jill Chacha, host of a podcast that's for weird people who like learning about weird stuff. It's called well, that's Interesting. And it's a comedy science y show that tells the story behind the facts. Because as it turns out, those stories are funny. Every Thursday, I tell the tale behind a new odd discovery. Like how researchers found two mysterious structures surrounding Earth's core. Or how it's actually possible to stop hiccups using a rectal massage. Yes, there's a story behind that. No pun intended. And I tell the story because storytelling is the perfect way to learn. And remember, the facts are bizarre, the stories are epic, and the laughter is plentiful. So join the flock and listen to. Well, that's interesting.

[Anne Bogle]

Wherever you do podcasts, you know how this works. You're going to tell me three books you love, one book you don't, and what you've been reading lately. And we will talk about what you may enjoy reading next. Chelsea, how did you choose these titles for today?

[Chelsea Seiler]

These are three books that gave me the type of reading experience that I'm looking for this summer. Those immersive, well written, character driven novels. They are just three books that I read and landed in my heart. Just ones that made a big impact.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay, Chelsea, Immersive, well written, character driven. Tell me about the road to self diagnosis there. I love how you just declared that with confidence. This is what these books have in common. This is what I know I enjoy. Was that a journey?

[Chelsea Seiler]

It must have been a little bit of a journey to get there. I think I've, I think I know myself pretty well as a reader and I've kind of fine tuned over the years what I really like. I think I enjoy looking for themes and commonalities among books. And so those were just a few common themes that rose to the surface for those three books.

[Anne Bogle]

I love that and I can't wait to hear more. What's the first book you love?

[Chelsea Seiler]

The first book I love is beyond the Point by Claire Gibson. And at the heart of this story is just a really beautiful friendship story among three women. So we meet Danny, Hannah and Avery in the year 2000 when they are first year students at West Point and we follow them through their college years and into their twenties afterwards and we see tough stuff happen. They are all faced with difficult things as individuals, but the friendship among them is such a beautiful part of each of their stories individually as well as the three of them together. It felt like a very realistic model of female friendship in that sometimes you make missteps and sometimes you hurt each other, but there's opportunity for repair. And they are the type of friends where you can call them at 3am and they'll pick up the phone. And so we stay with them for a period of years and we just see how they grow together and sometimes come apart, but always come back together. It just felt like a very satisfying and again, realistic view of female friendship. I think it's a type of friendship that I am very fortunate to also experience. And so that part felt very familiar, but set against the backdrop of West Point and the military, which is something I'm not at all familiar with. So it was an interesting reading experience to have this blend of familiarity, but also novelty as well.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay, I love that for you. When I was at Writerfest last November, Claire, who was in Nashville, drove me around a little bit. And I was really excited to hear that she just finished her next book last fall. So I'm excited for more from her.

[Chelsea Seiler]

I am thrilled to hear she's coming out with another book. I have been keeping tabs on her over the last couple years in a very non creepy way. But I'm very excited to hear she has another book coming out.

[Anne Bogle]

I'm glad. I'm glad. She had just typed the words the End, I think in recent weeks as of November. So it's still, you know, it's still on the road.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Okay.

[Anne Bogle]

But keep your fingers crossed. We'll get it sooner rather than later.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Excellent. I will have to look for that.

[Anne Bogle]

Chelsea, what's the second book you love?

[Chelsea Seiler]

The second book I love is the Family Ship by Sonja Jorg. And I wish I could remember where I came across this book because it was such a hidden story gem for me.

[Anne Bogle]

Oh, my gosh. Okay, I remember where I came across it. A reader whose taste I trust sent it to me in the mail. But. Hi, reader who's probably listening. I am so sorry. It's on my shelf unread. I've been saving it for some reason. So, Chelsea, I want to hear everything.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Well, I will try to do it justice.

[Anne Bogle]

I mean, you're off to a solid start.

[Chelsea Seiler]

It is just a beautiful, quiet, heartfelt story of a family. And it is set in the early 1980s in the Chesapeake Bay. We have this beautiful setting that the author brings to light in a really, really lovely way. And it's the story of a family. We're focused especially on Verity, who is one of the older siblings of nine. And really it's her coming into her own as a young adult and making sense of the relationships that she has within her family and also how she is learning to individualize herself and step away from her family a little bit, as many young adults do. We just get this beautiful understanding of how she. The role that she plays in her family, especially with her siblings. And I think that's a really unique thing that we don't always see in books about families, is just a beautiful, shining spotlight on the bonds between siblings. She has eight siblings, I believe, and her role in their life is a really meaningful one. And the family is faced with, again, some. Some difficult things. And it's. It's a sad story in a lot of ways, but there's a lot of hope, a lot of understanding of who all of these family members are and who they are to each other. And it just. It landed in my heart and it stayed there. It really is a quiet way, well told, but really profound experience of what family is and who we are in the contexts of our family.

[Anne Bogle]

Ooh. Okay, thank you. Chelsea, what is the third book you love?

[Chelsea Seiler]

The third book I love is Molokai by Alan Brennert. And Molokai is a story that could not take place in any other setting other than Molokai. And the author brought it to life in an incredible way, which is something that I love in books, when the setting is just as much a character as any of the actual characters. And we see it because it's written so beautifully and so intentionally. And the main focus of this story is on Rachel and. And we meet her in the late 1800s, and she's about 7 and lives with her family in Hawaii and is discovered to have leprosy. And from that point on, she is separated from her family and taken to the island of Molokai, in which there's a leper colony. This is based on the true story of Molokai, and we see her life unfold from there over the decades. It's a beautiful, expansive book about one woman throughout her childhood, early adulthood and well into her later adulthood. And it's about the family that she creates, given that she is separated from her family of origin, and it's the relationships that shape her and how her life proceeds. And it's immersive and very intentional about how Rachel's life is written against this incredible and very real backdrop of Molokai at that time.

[Anne Bogle]

Chelsea, you're painting a really helpful picture. Now, let's round it out. In contrast, tell us about a book that was not right for you, and I'd love to Hear. Did it not align with your taste? Was. Was the timing wrong? Was the topic not something you needed or wanted right now? What are you thinking?

[Chelsea Seiler]

The book that wasn't for me was Chemistry by Wicki Wang. And I picked this one because I think I hoped going in that it might give me that similar experience that we've already spoken of in terms of really coming to know a character deeply, being in their head, seeing their life and relationships unfold. And for me, it just stayed pretty surface level. And I think it was missing the character depth that I really enjoy. We see our narrator struggle with her relationship and graduate school and her family relationship, but in a way that just. Just didn't feel as sprawling or immersive as some of the other books that I've really loved. I think the writing style also was a little bit different. I remember it being a bit more stream of conscious, kind of perhaps more fragmented writing. And I think all of that together just led to a reading experience that wasn't awful. It just wasn't the character depth that I was really looking for.

[Anne Bogle]

For what I'm noticing about this book, tell me how this fits or doesn't. I'm wondering if you're looking for emotional insights into what the characters are thinking and feeling, ideally that you're going to hear from them directly. While the tone is just very different in W compared to the books you.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Love, I think that's accurate. Yeah, I think it was definitely a tone difference. And really being with a character, being in that character's shoes is more the reading experience that I'm looking for.

[Anne Bogle]

Chemistry. It hasn't been so long since I've read this. My experience with Waiky Wang was I picked up. I think Joan is okay because it had been on my reading list forever and then very quickly read Chemistry and her book that we had in last year's Fall Book Preview Rental House as soon as it came out. So now I'm all caught up on Waiki Wang, but I would describe her writing as being very observational. This is what is happening. And she leaves it to the reader to draw the conclusions. And I think you want to muse alongside the character. What's happening for you? What's going on? How are you feeling? Tell me more.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Oh, that totally resonates. Yeah, I think you captured that perfectly.

[Anne Bogle]

That's helpful. Chelsea, what have you been reading lately?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Heartwood by Amity Gage. And I think that's a really good example of the type of mystery that I enjoy reading in that also, great writing, great character development. Definitely kept Me turning the pages, but had a lot of substance to it and set against this great backdrop of the Appalachian Trail. So that one was a winner for me. I also just recently finished Home of the American Circus by Alison Larkin.

[Anne Bogle]

Sorry, I'm laughing because this book has been on my mind. I just featured it in a Patreon bonus we did on books I read, enjoyed, but are not for reasons I tell you about in the summer reading Guide. So that's scrawled in my notes here. Okay, tell me how it worked for you, please.

[Chelsea Seiler]

It was a total win for me. I really, really enjoyed it. Again, just that I feel like I'm repeating myself, but just wonderful character development. Relationships between characters were really well developed and the writing just was such that I could sink into it and really get lost in that story. So I really enjoyed that one too.

[Anne Bogle]

Chelsea, I actually think it's really helpful that you are repeating yourself. I mean, when you know what you want, especially if what you love is a wonderful character development. It's not like there are only four books, books out there that are going to fit for you. Like there are whole worlds, but it helps us know which worlds to focus on.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Sure, that makes a lot of sense.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay, I'm glad that worked for you. Now, Chelsea, as we continue to think which worlds we want to explore and just also as we as readers collectively are thinking about what we want from our reading lives right now, I would love to hear about what you are looking for in your reading life right now. And so specifically, you used the phrase slow down summer in your submission. That just made me go, oh, yes. And also, tell me more. So would you please tell us more about that?

[Chelsea Seiler]

You know, I think the energy of summer sometime can be fast and busy and there's a lot going on. And I think really what I'm feeling pulled for, pulled towards this summer is just being mindful of not. Not going too fast and just really trying to be intentional about how I'm spending time where I'm devoting energy. And I think as it relates to my reading life, you know, I have a good sense of the kind of books that I enjoy and that give me that slow down, immersive feeling. And I think I just want to really be focused on taking those opportunities to settle in with the books that will give me that type of reading experience rather than, you know, reading books quickly or getting too caught up in the new and exciting all the time. I think reading fewer books is totally fine with me in order to have just the really most ideal reading experience. I think there's this bookish fire hose in some ways of new releases that are always coming out and it's easier than ever to stay in the know with that and also easy to get overwhelmed with that. So I really want to be mindful of finding those books that I know will work for me, whether they're front list or back list, and just stepping away from the non stop energy of that and embracing slowing down and simplicity and. And hopefully finding some great reading experiences.

[Anne Bogle]

I love that for you. And also I'm holding that alongside what you said in your submission, that there have been seasons when you've stretched and challenged yourself as a reader. You know what that's like. I'm presuming that there are times and will be times when that feels like what you want and need, but now is not that time.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I, you know, I love to read, to learn and grow and that challenge, as you mentioned, and those are really meaningful experiences too. And there's times when I just want to sit down and whiz through a light, fun book. And that's a valid reading experience. But I think really what I'm looking for now is just slowing down and going back to what I know really gets me excited as a reader. And I will carve out reading time wherever I can get it. But I especially love just being able to take an hour or two and sink into the couch or the deck chair and just really get lost in a wonderfully told story with characters that come to life on the page. And that is really where I want to devote my energy this summer.

[Anne Bogle]

That sounds lovely. You didn't use this word, but what you're saying is putting me in mind of a good friend of mine who has declared this her summer of restoration. Like her word is restore. And she's talking about restoring order and restoring calm and restoring peace and restoring joy. And I hope you can see why what you are saying about what you're seeking right now, put that friend in mind as well.

[Chelsea Seiler]

That is a wonderful word. I am going to hold that in mind. Yeah, Restorative. That, that absolutely resonates.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay, well, let's see what we can find for you now. A challenge here for me in my chair is there are so many directions we could go with this. So I'm gonna, I'm gonna give you some titles and you can tell me what you think. Maybe a little bit new, a little bit older. How's that sound?

[Chelsea Seiler]

That sounds wonderful. I think there's probably a good chunk of contemporary literature that I have just missed over the decades during the periods when I was reading less and in school. And so I know there's some wonderful older books out there that would probably land really, really well. So I'm always up for finding some of those older hidden gems.

[Anne Bogle]

All right, Chelsea, let's recap. You loved beyond the Point by Claire Gibson, the Family Ship by Sonja York and Molokai by Alan Brennert, Chemistry by Wikey Wang was not for you. We're thinking that you want to be really let inside your character's emotional worlds instead of drawing your own conclusions based on what you see of their behavior and dialogue. Lately, you've been reading Heartwood by Amity Gage and Home of the American Circus by Alison Larkin. They were both wins for you. And you know what you're looking for. You love immersive, well written, character driven. You kind of laughed when you say character driven. Again, novels with wonderful character development. And something that I'm really looking for as I'm thinking about what may work for you is books with a certain, certain kind of pacing, tone and breadth to them. How's that sounding? Also, is there anything I'm missing that we should really make sure we include?

[Chelsea Seiler]

All of that sounds wonderful. I think the only other thing I would add is bonus points for books where the setting really comes alive as an important part of the story. Also.

[Anne Bogle]

Well, that changes everything. No, I'm kidding. Okay, that's great. That's great.

[Jill Chacha]

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[Christopher]

Let Mysteries at Midnight be your destination for detective whodunits and captivating mystery stories. You'll hear classic stories like Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie's Poirot and short tales from H.G. wales, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe and others. I'm Christopher and I read these classic stories in the soothing style of a bedtime story so you can listen to them in bed when you drift off to sleep. I also host the number one sleep podcast in the world called Sleep Cave, where millions drift off to meditations, hypnosis, and bedtime stories. We soon realized that listeners wanted to hear our mystery stories all in one place, so we created Mysteries at Midnight, where you can listen to all new tales every week. Search for Mysteries at Midnight on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app, and follow and subscribe so you don't miss out on new episodes. So why don't you pick a story now and can you guess the twist?

[Anne Bogle]

Chelsea, we are not the same readers, but listening to you describe what you really enjoy, I'm thinking of my own experience of sometimes sitting down with a new novel, getting to page, I don't know, somewhere between like 3 and 20, depending on the book, and like feeling like a light comes on in my my readerly mind that's like, oh, oh, like I am in good hands. I'm just going to sink into the story in a way that I haven't yet.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Yeah, I think that sounds wonderful. And I try to be intentional about how I start books so that I can give myself that little chunk of time to really settle into it.

[Anne Bogle]

I want to start with something fairly recently because as I was just describing the sinking into a story feeling, I thought of a book that just came out early 2025 in January called Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson. Is this one that you've read?

[Chelsea Seiler]

I haven't read it. I've heard of it, but no, it's not been on my immediate radar.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay. Wilkerson really made a huge splash with her debut, Black Cake, and deservedly so. And now it's a series on, I want to say Hulu, but I haven't seen that. So maybe you've seen that adaptation news as well. But this is a story that has family drama, historical fiction, contemporary issues. It covers a lot of ground and also feels wonderfully coherent and like, like a journey that I think maybe you want to be on. So for readers who read Black Cake, this is again an exploration of grief, trauma and social justice issues through the lens of one family and a precious heirloom in Black Cake. That heirloom was a family recipe for the Caribbean sweet treat. In Good Dirt, it's this, this giant pottery stoneware Jar made by black artisans ages ago. And it absolutely had me Googling like, what does this thing look like? So I can picture it. Our protagonist here that we're going to get to know really well and spend a lot of time with is named Ebony Freeman. Everybody who knows her calls her Ebby. She's 29, and she is the daughter of an affluent black New England family. I think they're in Connecticut. At the very beginning of the book, she suffers a painful and very public romantic betrayal and is just devastated. She's also been devastated in the past by watching just a heinous crime unfold in her family home before her eyes. I think she was 10 at the time. And the new trauma really brings to mind the old one and makes it. It felt in a big way. So she flees to France to heal. But even while there, she just feels this pull to untangle past events, both the recent thing that went wrong with her fiance and the still unanswered questions from the crime she witnessed. Like two decades before, but also in alternating timelines. We go back and see the history of this family's heirloom stoneware jar and follow each generation that first made it and then possessed it in their trip from the American south, working as enslaved artisans to free New England and the road, I mean, the literal road that brought them there. What I like about this for you is you get to spend so much time with this character who is enduring hard, hard things and also, like, lets you into what she's feeling, what she's thinking, what she's experiencing, what it means to her, how it fits into the family history. She's not the only character you get to know, but she's the character you get to know best. And Wilkerson pops out to other characters in the story to give you some insight on how events are impacting Ebony and to, like, fill in the picture a little bit so you as a reader know more than she does. At some points in the story. I don't want to over frame expectations, but, I mean, the setting's kind of everything here. I don't think her family could have lived anywhere else but this small coastal Connecticut enclave where they live as the only black family in this white well to do community. And then, of course, we're featuring her enslaved artisan ancestors making this jar originally in the American south and perhaps her getaway destination to heal and get some distance from. Recent and not so recent tragedy could have been someplace besides this village in France, but it's a really fun place to go on the page. How is all this sounding to you?

[Chelsea Seiler]

This sounds wonderful. I love the idea of being with her and knowing her as a character so deeply and also getting a lot of backstory on the family over time. It sounds like a total winner.

[Anne Bogle]

I am glad to hear it. I feel like I've been talking about this book and recommending this book a lot. I was really surprised to consult our super secret spreadsheet that's available to patrons and see we have not talked about this yet on what should I read next?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Well, perfect. It sounds like it could absolutely be a great fit for the summer.

[Anne Bogle]

I'm glad to hear it. You didn't mention anything about the setting of Home of the American Circus. But that book starts in Maine before we moved to upstate New York. I want to take you back to Maine if you'll go there with me With a book from the past five years called Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark. Do you know this one?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Yes, I have read it and absolutely, absolutely adored that book. I want to say that was maybe a few summers ago that that came out and definitely a top read for the year. I really enjoyed that experience of being in Maine and being with those characters.

[Anne Bogle]

So I am in the right headspace.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Absolutely.

[Anne Bogle]

I'm glad to hear it. How do you feel about something off the beaten path?

[Chelsea Seiler]

I am good with off the Beaten Path. That's intriguing.

[Anne Bogle]

It's Molokai that's putting this in. And I know I'm pronouncing that like a Kentuckian, but that's the book really putting this in mind as well as the idea of finding you a moving story that has really rich details, that's character driven. Those characters are complex. You've got a sense of atmosphere. I'm thinking of King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chinn Tanner. That came out a few summers back. Do you know this one?

[Chelsea Seiler]

No, I don't recognize that title or the author at all.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay. You'll immediately recognize the connection to Molokai. The author begins in the it might be the dedication. She says that this book is written for her dad and for Carville, for without them I would not be here. What you'll find out if you pick up this book is from the late 19th century to 1999. There was a place in Louisiana called the Carville National La Prozarium, and it was the only place where people would go for inpatient treatment in the continental US for what they called Hansen's Disease. Many of us know that disease by the more common name leprosy so this story is set in the 50s and it follows a Chinese American family. Well, we begin in the family, but we really focus on the teenage son, Victor. He arrives to the US in the 50s. He was born in China. He comes with his older brother and they've come with their father to New York City, leaving their mother behind. And that's fraught. You'll hear about that. To begin a new life in the us. But everything changes for Victor when his stepmother notices that he has lesions and she knows he needs treatment. And she is the one who helps him find his way to Carville in Louisiana, where he makes new friends, falls in love, discovers hidden talents. But also it is fraught, fraught, fraught. This is the kind of story that I wouldn't even have known to ask for or look for, but was really glad to have found. You mentioned that you discovered history in one of your books that you didn't know anything about. It was all new to you, but you really enjoyed the journey of learning about it. And I don't think this is like a stretch and grow kind of book. I think this is a story you can see sink into. But I do think those unfamiliar elements that will feel like, oh my gosh, I had no idea. Could be really welcome to you. How does that sound?

[Chelsea Seiler]

That sounds wonderful. I am really intrigued about the idea of, you know, continuing to learn about that topic from Molokai but in a different setting of Louisiana. No, that sounds. That sounds great.

[Anne Bogle]

I'm glad to hear it. I am thinking about where to go next. And I am very aware that I have Joyce Maynard on the brain after talking to Jill Jacklin back in episode 475 in April. Is she an author that you've ever read?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Yes, she. Gosh. Is it Count the Ways. Is that the.

[Anne Bogle]

That's her.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Okay. I read and loved that book. Really, really enjoyed that. I easily could have included that as one of my three. Gosh. So I read Count the Ways and then her most recent one, which was.

[Anne Bogle]

The follow up, how the Light Gets In.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Yes, how the Light Gets in. That's right. I was kind of blown away that she did a follow up to it, which I also really enjoyed. But Count the Ways in particular I really, really enjoyed.

[Anne Bogle]

I'm glad to hear it and I'm glad that I'm in the right place. I am wondering now about taking you. This one is more recent. This is from last summer. But I'm wondering about taking you to Portland. Right down. Is it i5? You can tell I'm Not a West coaster.

[Chelsea Seiler]

It is i5. Yep.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay. Jenna Portland with Renee Watson. Skin and Bones. Is this one, you know?

[Chelsea Seiler]

No, not at all.

[Anne Bogle]

Okay, well, Renee Watson has been a longtime YA author and she's written middle grade as well. This was her adult debut that came out last summer. She's also a poet. And something I love about novels by poets is I feel like a poet has a way of making the words fall in just the right order. I mean, to give you a rhythm you can really sink into as you are you're taking in the story. I also think they're really great at character driven because that's the only thing they know how to do is to evoke these images and impressions of people's experiences with the well chosen words. Okay, so this is a book where you get to know one character really well and something else that really, like bumped it up. My mental list for you is it portrays female friendship so beautifully. At the center of the story, there's a 40 year old woman named Lena. She has a good job. She has wonderful relationships with her parents and her daughter. She has a handsome fiance she is set to marry in just a few weeks. But the morning they are supposed to get married, he decides, you know what? I can't go into this wedding faithfully with you not knowing the whole truth about something. And so he tells her on her wedding day something that makes her cancel the wedding. And so she goes like in a flash from feeling like she has a firm foundation and a good life that she has carefully constructed. And then she feels like that's gone, but it's not all gone because she still has these close female friendships and these close family relationships, and she really leans on those. And you see them show up for her as she makes sense of what has happened to her. So throughout, Watson is unpacking these beliefs surrounding beauty, love. Lena's a fat woman, so there's a lot of fatness, faith. Her fiance is a, I think, Christian pastor. And we see how those values and beliefs are handed down from one generation to the next. And it's lyrical and kaleidoscopic because we get very short chapters of reflections on various topics which might make it sound disjointed, but I thought it was just a beautiful portrait that I felt was being colored in a little more every time I turn the page. But this is about what it means to love yourself, love your body, and love others. I love being let in the inside Alina's mind as she's figuring out all these things. And also Alina's a black woman. Portland's rich black history, which I knew nothing about, is very prominent in these pages through the women's work and just little quotidian details like where they're meeting up for drinks. How does this sound to you?

[Chelsea Seiler]

That sounds wonderful. Yeah. This was not one that's been on my radar at all, but it's, it's hitting all the right beats, I gotta tell you.

[Anne Bogle]

I was also wondering about maybe some Tara Conklin, some J. Courtney Sullivan, some old Margaret Walker, some Nadia Hashimi. I think there's lots and lots of different directions you can go in for your character driven, immersive, sweeping, slowdown summer. But I hope those three books are a good place to start.

[Chelsea Seiler]

All three of those sound like a wonderful starting point. And I will have to also look up some of the other authors you just mentioned because some of those are new names for me. So it sounds like there's a lot, a lot to dive into.

[Anne Bogle]

And readers, you may not know this, but every week we share the full list of titles we talk about on the podcast on what Should I read next podcast.com and we welcome your ideas for Chelsea and all our guests on what you think they may enjoy reading next. So if you're yelling, oh, I can't believe she didn't say, you know, whatever book at your car speaker right now, go to whatshould I read next podcast.com and leave a note for Chelsea saying what you would recommend. All right, Chelsea, today we talked about Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson, King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin Tanner, and Skin and Bones by Renee Watson. Of those books, what do you think you may pick up next?

[Chelsea Seiler]

Well, I am really excited to explore all three of those this summer, but I think the one that's calling to me first is Good Dirt by Charmeen Wilkerson.

[Anne Bogle]

Chelsea, I'm so glad to hear it. I can't wait to hear what you think. And thank you so much for talking about your reading life and where it finds you right now with me today on the show.

[Chelsea Seiler]

Oh, Ann, thank you so much. This has been an absolute pleasure and I'm really excited for all three of these books.

[Anne Bogle]

Hey, readers, I hope you enjoyed my comments conversation with Chelsea and I'd love to hear what you think she should read next. Find the full list of titles we talked about today at what Should I read next podcast.com and if you have suggestions for Chelsea, that is the place to put them in comments. We'll see you there. Join our email list to make sure you're hearing from us with new episode updates, important announcements, no algorithm required for any of it. Sign up at what Should I read next? Podcast.com/newsletter. Make sure you're following us in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, wherever you get your podcasts when you subscribe, and especially automatically download our latest episode each week. That makes a measurable impact on our podcast. Stats, which are important to our advertisers, help increase our visibility and provide valuable data that has a direct relationship with our show's success and our ability to pay our tax team. It's free for you. It means so much to us. Thank you so much for taking just a moment to make sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcast player. You'll also find us on Instagram where they're hatshouldireadnext. Follow along and be sure to tag us when you share your summer reading posts and stories. Thanks to the people who make the show happen. What Should I Read Next? Is created each week by Will Bogle, Holly Wokochevsky, and Studio D Podcast Production readers. That's it for this episode. Thanks so much for listening and as Reiner Maria Rilke said, ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading. Happy reading everyone.