Ep 398: A reading life that shifts with the seasons
Sep 19, 2023
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A reader from Utah seeks book recommendations for the transitional fall season. They enjoy keeping track of their reading and are looking for literary picks that aren't too heavy. They discuss their fascination with Greek mythology and bridge books that provide entertainment and thought-provoking writing. The guest recommends 'Strange Sally Diamond' and other books, while the host concludes with book recommendations and an advertisement for 'The Cat in the Hat Cast'.
51:55
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Quick takeaways
Finding transitional books for the fall reading season that deliver an immersive and highly discussable reading experience.
Exploring a blend of entertainment and thought-provoking themes through propulsive plots and complex relationships in literary picks for the fall.
Deep dives
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Jillian McAllister
In this time-travel mystery, a woman finds herself going back in time to prevent a tragic event. With a propulsive plot and exploration of complex relationships, it offers a blend of entertainment and thought-provoking themes.
Portrait of a Mirror by A Natasha Jakovsky
Set in New York City and Philadelphia, this novel combines true crime with an examination of generational trauma. It follows four characters over a summer as they navigate love, ethics, and self-discovery.
Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang
In a dystopian future where climate change has ravaged the world, a chef is offered a job at an elite research community in the Italian mountains. This thought-provoking novel explores love, survival, and the impact of environmental disaster.
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
A dark and propulsive character study set in Ireland. The story follows Sally Diamond, a chef who finds herself entangled in a world of secrets and lies. This book delves into deep themes of narcissism, self-delusion, and the nature versus nurture debate.
After a satisfying summer of reading the twisty thrillers and entertaining books she really enjoys when the temperatures rise, Melanie Steimle is ready to discover some transitional books for the fall reading season.
Melanie lives in Utah, where she enjoys cake decorating and her favorite adjacent bookish hobby: keeping close track of her reading in her book journal and associated spreadsheets (and looking forward to her end-of-December book stats review.)
While Melanie feels confident about the types of books she's looking for this time of year, she'd love some help finding specific titles that fit this reading preference. Melanie's looking for more literary picks than she typically reads in the summer, but she's not quite ready for the heftier and often darker reads she enjoys in the winter. She'd love Anne's help in bridging this gap and creating a fall reading list featuring titles that will deliver an immersive, highly discussable reading experience.
Find the full list of titles discussed today and leave your suggestions for Melanie on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/398.