Podcast Summary: What Should I Read Next? – Episode 519

"Let's plan a Read the USA project"
Host: Anne Bogel
Guest: Mary Pogue
Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on reader Mary Pogue's ambitious "Read the USA Challenge"—a personal project to read one book set in, or written by a native/longtime resident from, each of the 50 U.S. states in honor of America's 250th anniversary year. Mary, a passionate historical fiction fan from St. Louis and longtime listener, joins Anne Bogel to discuss the highs, hurdles, and methods behind her challenge, favorite reads, and the states where she's seeking recommendations. Throughout, Anne offers insightful commentary, specific book suggestions, and reflections on how regional literature shapes our understanding of American history and culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mary's Background and Motivation

• Personal Context

  • Mary lives in St. Louis, is a new mom, field hockey coach, and avid reader.
  • She’s a longtime fan of the podcast and runs the Instagram account @showmereads.
  • Reading has always been integral; both her parents encouraged it.

• The Challenge

  • The Read the USA Challenge was inspired by the country's 250th anniversary.

    “I have to complete it within this year for sure because it’s America’s birthday..." (12:15)

  • She aims for 50 books—one for each state, either set there or written by someone from there ("no double-dipping").
  • Audiobooks count, due to her busy schedule as a new mom.
  • She enjoys historical fiction, appreciates learning about state history/culture, but is open to a range of genres.
  • Uses a scratch-off U.S. map to track her literary travels.

2. Project Mechanics and Personal Preferences

• Project Details

  • Seeking both fiction and nonfiction; historical weight is welcome.
  • For states without obvious historical novels, she's open to contemporary, literary fiction, or mysteries.
  • Accessibility is key: prefers books available at her local library or via Libby.
  • Backlist titles are appreciated; audio/Kindle access is a plus.

• Enjoyment of the Planning Process

  • Researching, crowdsourcing recommendations, and matching books to states is "part of the enjoyment." (13:54)
  • Some states, like the Dakotas and parts of the Southwest, have proven challenging to find books for.

3. Mary’s Book Picks & Reading Style

Books She Loves (19:20):

• The Huntress by Kate Quinn
  • Multi-POV historical thriller centered on post-WWII Boston and Europe.
  • "It kept me in a throes for days...I just could not figure out who the Huntress was." (21:22)
• The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
  • Literary mystery set during/after WWII in England, with themes of family and loss.
  • "[It] moved me to tears. It was such a wonderful book." (24:12)
• The Library Book by Susan Orlean
  • Nonfiction about the LA Public Library fire, blending true crime, library history, and journalism.
  • "I really gravitate towards [nonfiction] that reads like fiction…" (25:48)

Book That Didn’t Work for Her:

• Main Characters by Hannah Orenstein
  • Set in Maine; the concept was promising but fell short in character development and didn’t fulfill its "Parent Trap retelling" pitch.
  • "Sometimes a retelling...doesn't resonate with me as well." (29:29)

Recent Reads for the Challenge (31:20):

• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
  • "A sports person...sports history is also something I'm interested in. This one really scratched that itch." (32:33)
• Secret Book and Scone Society series by Ellery Adams (set in fictional North Carolina town)
  • Cozy mystery series; "You really get to dive into this tiny little fictional town..." (32:56)

Reading Life Right Now

• Wanting to focus less on numbers and more on experience; uses her library heavily.
• Flexibility (audio/ebook) is crucial: "When you have an eight-month old baby, you sometimes don’t have as much time to sit down with a book..." (35:54)

4. Challenging States—Where She Needs Help

• Most Difficult to Find So Far:
  • North and South Dakota
  • Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona
  • Montana, Wyoming
  • Rhode Island, Maine (though there are many options, hasn't picked yet)
• Personal Interest:
  • For Kentucky, interested in books on horses, bourbon, or local history (Derby, coal mines).
  • Missouri pick: The Ivory City by Emily Murphy (set during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair)

5. Anne's Book Recommendations by Region

Dakotas

• Louise Erdrich (North Dakota especially)
  • The Night Watchman (2020): Based on her grandfather's advocacy for the Chippewa tribe. Suspenseful, immersive, award-winning.
  • The Beat Queen, Love Medicine, new collection Python's Kiss (2026).
  • "I don't think there's a bad book you could pick [by Erdrich]." (45:39)

Arizona

• The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
  • Kentucky roots, but set in Tucson, AZ. Explores themes of family, immigration, and identity.
  • "The bean trees are wisteria!" (48:40)
• These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
  • Epistolary historical fiction based on a family diary, set in late 19th century Arizona.
  • "For readers who really enjoy warm-hearted, likable characters..." (51:00)
• Rebecca Roanhorse – Trail of Lightning
  • Post-apocalyptic Navajo (Diné) Nation. Blends Native American history and speculative fiction.
• Nonfiction
  • Yellow: An American Story of a Poisoned Land (Judy Pasternak)
  • Code Talker by Chester Nez (Navajo code talker’s WWII memoir).
    • "Perhaps this would qualify as lesser-known history that would then appeal to you." (53:52)

Montana

• Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
  • Short, devastating historical novel about secrets, justice, family, and race.
  • "Short and intense and a little bit bloody and haunting and quite a reading experience." (56:05)
• Ivan Doig – This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind
  • Memoir with rich descriptions of Montana landscape and family history.
  • "[It] reads like a meditation on family and forgiveness and survival..." (57:33)

Kentucky

• The Bourbon Kings series by J.R. Ward
  • Author is from Louisville; multi-book family saga centered on bourbon dynasty.
• Horse by Geraldine Brooks
  • Fictionalizes the history of a legendary racehorse, with scenes set in Kentucky.
• Groundskeeping by Lee Cole
  • Literary fiction set in Louisville; “There’s this sequence…from the Highlands down at Lexington Road…as someone whose city does not get featured in fiction, I ate this up.” (60:19)
• New in 2026:
  • Anne teases an upcoming, "very Kentucky" novel set in 1980s Lexington.
  • Literary tourism post with Kentucky recommendations launching near Derby time.

Missouri

• The Ivory City by Emily Murphy
  • Set during the 1904 World's Fair; mystery/romance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the joy of the challenge:

  "Where can I armchair travel and where can I be inspired to go in the future?... This is my way of getting to all 50 within the birthday year." (15:31)

• On backlist books:

  “Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how many new books are out there that I forget there are so many that have been published that are also great.” (36:49)

• Anne on regional reading:

  “You will encounter such different history because that's how history works as you travel to these different states.” (43:26)

• Mary on reading’s flexibility as a new mom:

  "When you have an eight-month-old baby, you sometimes don’t have as much time to sit down with a book in hand. So having the flexibility is something I’m really looking for right now." (35:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction of Mary and her challenge: 04:00–08:03
• Discussion about challenge logistics and purpose: 10:14–15:31
• Favorite books (Mary’s picks): 19:20–27:43
• Book that didn’t work & lesson learned: 28:10–30:29
• Recent reads for the challenge: 31:20–34:49
• Library, audio, backlist preferences: 35:54–36:49
• Lists of challenging states/provinces: 37:13–38:15
• Anne’s recommendations begin: 43:03
  • Dakotas (Louise Erdrich): 43:03–47:28
  • Arizona/New Mexico (Kingsolver, Turner, Roanhorse): 48:05–54:16
  • Montana (Watson, Doig): 54:51–58:17
  • Kentucky (Ward, Brooks, Cole): 58:21–61:29

Episode Takeaways

• Mary’s “Read the USA Challenge” is a creative, historically-minded project and perfect for readers looking to combine armchair travel, state history, and literary exploration.
• Anne’s recommendations emphasize voices deeply rooted in their locales, with heavy attention to Indigenous authors and works that showcase state-specific culture/history.
• Listeners are encouraged to explore backlist titles for library accessibility and to help surface hidden gems.
• The collaborative, research-driven process of matching a book to each state is part of the adventure—and offers an inviting model for other readers, especially in milestone years.

For Further Exploration

• Follow Mary: @showmereads on Instagram
• Full list of recommended titles & resources: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com
• More regionally focused reading lists on Modern Mrs. Darcy, including upcoming Kentucky recs

This episode is rich in regional recommendations, community wisdom, and the celebration of discovering America, one page at a time. Happy armchair travels!