What Should I Read Next? Ep 506: A new way to think about your reading in the coming year
Dec 9, 2025
Join Callie Dean, a children’s book author and violinist from Shreveport, Louisiana, as she shares her creative reading challenge for 2026. Callie details her plan to read one book for each letter of the alphabet, diving into the intriguing rules and challenges this presents. She explores how structured limits can enhance reading experiences, while also maintaining a flexible approach to her selections. The conversation sparkles with exciting book recommendations and insights into her favorite reads, like 'Station Eleven' and cozy fantasies.
59:53
Alphabet Reading Challenge Reframes Discovery
- Callie plans a 2026 reading challenge: one book per alphabet letter with all title words starting with that letter.
- This narrow rule forces creative discovery and reshapes how she thinks about books and genres.
Rediscovering Reading Through a Blog
- Callie rediscovered adult reading after following Anne's blog around the birth of her first child in 2014.
- She used blog recommendations to explore genres and rebuild a joyful, wide-ranging reading life.
Build Rules, Then Build Flexibility
- Do create structured rules for a challenge but keep flexibility so mood-reading still works.
- Keep alternative book options per letter to swap when a title doesn't feel right in the moment.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
Meet Callie Dean: background and interests
05:34 • 27sec
Callie's reading life and rediscovery
06:01 • 3min
Why Callie loves reading challenges
09:13 • 1min
The 2026 'alpha books' challenge rules
10:19 • 2min
Discussing the challenge's strict limits
11:53 • 2min
Flexibility, order, and mood reading
13:33 • 3min
Books that exemplify Callie's taste
16:19 • 3min
Why Station Eleven resonates for Callie
19:23 • 4min
Cozy fantasy and nonfiction favorites
23:05 • 4min
Balancing fiction and nonfiction in the challenge
27:28 • 13min
Ad break
40:33 • 2min
Callie's spreadsheet method and criteria
42:15 • 50sec
Which letters are challenging for Callie
43:05 • 27sec
Anne recommends D options and tonal matches
43:32 • 3min
E recommendations: quiet fiction to YA
46:39 • 3min
G recommendations: ghosts, comfort, and thrillers
49:43 • 4min
J recommendation: Jubilee by Margaret Walker
53:18 • 57sec
N options: Night Bitch and magical realism
54:15 • 2min
O suggestions: romance, speculative, and Orleans
56:03 • 2min
P possibilities across genres
57:59 • 2min
Callie's reactions and final takeaways
59:47 • 2min
Outro
01:01:47 • 1min
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Dakota
A Spiritual Geography
Kathleen Norris
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Descent
Tim Johnston
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My Reading Life
Anne Bogel
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Orleans
Sherri L. Smith
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Soil
Camille Dungy
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Marvelous Mistakes
Callie Dean
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My Reading Adventures
Anne Bogel
#
Even Tide
Kent Haruf
#15726
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
One on One
Jamie Harrow
#23664
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Out of Order
Chris Bryant
Chris Bryant is known for his historical and political writings, but there is no available information on a book titled 'Out of Order'.
His notable works include 'Entitled: A Critical History of the British Aristocracy' and 'Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament'.
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A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
Sangu Mandanna
#17055
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Improvement
Joan Silber
#2186
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
The Small and the Mighty
Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
Sharon McMahon
In *The Small and the Mighty*, Sharon McMahon highlights the stories of ordinary Americans who, through their courage and resilience, shaped the course of American history.
The book features a diverse cast of characters, including a woman riding a white horse down Pennsylvania Avenue, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, and a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter.
McMahon’s thorough research and engaging storytelling bring these untold histories to light, emphasizing that anyone, regardless of background, can make a significant impact on the nation’s future.
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Dancer
Colum McCann
Dancer is a novel by Colum McCann that tells the story of Rudolf Nureyev, a renowned Russian ballet dancer, through a chorus of voices including his first ballet teacher, lovers, and other figures from his life.
The book spans four decades, from Nureyev's early days in Soviet Russia to his rise as a global celebrity in the West.
It captures the complexities of his life, marked by both artistic brilliance and personal turmoil.
#21292
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Ghost
Jason Reynolds
The story follows Castle Cranshaw, nicknamed Ghost, a teenager who has always known running as a way to escape his troubles.
After a traumatic incident involving his father, Ghost and his mother are left to fend for themselves.
One day, he challenges an elite sprinter to a race and wins, catching the attention of Coach Brody, who invites him to join the track team.
As Ghost navigates his new life on the track, he learns to harness his raw talent, confront his past, and form meaningful relationships with his teammates.
The book explores themes of identity, friendship, and overcoming adversity.
#13823
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
O My Friends
Mirabai
Mirabai's "O My Friends" is a passionate devotional poem expressing the intense longing and surrender of the soul to the divine.
It uses vivid imagery of nature—deer, partridge, fish—to illustrate the complete devotion required on the spiritual path.
The poem's central theme is the annihilation of the ego and the merging of the individual self with the divine.
Mirabai's powerful imagery and emotional intensity convey the ecstatic experience of union with God. The poem's enduring appeal lies in its ability to articulate the universal human desire for connection with the transcendent.
#62586
Eastbound
Milas de Karengal
#362
• Mentioned in 62 episodes
Open
an autobiography
Andre Agassi
In 'Open,' Andre Agassi provides a deeply personal and honest account of his life, from his rigorous and often abusive training as a child to his rise as a tennis champion.
The book details his relationships, including those with Barbara Streisand, Brooke Shields, and Steffi Graf, as well as his struggles with fame and his eventual transformation into a philanthropist.
Agassi recounts his career highs and lows, including his comeback from a low point in his ranking and his final years in the sport.
The memoir is praised for its raw candor and vivid descriptions of his experiences on and off the court.
#31039
Jubilee
Margaret Walker
The Jubilee is not a book but a concept found in Leviticus 25, describing a year of release and restoration for the Israelites.
Every 50 years, debts were canceled, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its original owners.
It symbolized God's justice, mercy, and restoration.
The Jubilee year served as a reminder of God's covenant with his people and his commitment to their well-being.
The concept of Jubilee has resonated throughout history, inspiring movements for social justice and economic equality.
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Day's Work
Chris Batchelder
Jennifer Habel
#39252
Nightbitch
Rachel Yoder
In 'Nightbitch', Rachel Yoder tells the story of a stay-at-home mother who feels trapped in her role and begins to undergo a physical transformation, growing hair and sharper teeth, and developing animalistic instincts.
The novel delves into themes of motherhood, the societal pressures on women, and the struggle to maintain one's identity and creativity in the face of domestic responsibilities.
It is a darkly humorous and insightful exploration of the complexities and challenges of modern femininity and motherhood.
#24987
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Ghosts
Dolly Alderton
#7290
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Babel
Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
Michel Pagel
Rebecca Kuang
In this novel, R. F. Kuang explores a fantastical version of Oxford in the 1830s where Britain's dominance is fueled by magical silver bars that capture the power of 'lost in translation' between languages.
The story follows four students at the Royal Institute of Translation, their growing awareness of the imperialist system they are part of, and their eventual rebellion against it.
The book delves into themes of imperialism, academia, and the moral dilemmas faced by those caught in the system.
#65120
Ghosted
An American Story
Nancy French
#23095
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Oranges
John McPhee
Originally conceived as a short magazine article about oranges and orange juice, John McPhee's book 'Oranges' evolved into a detailed exploration of the fruit.
It includes sketches of orange growers, botanists, pickers, packers, early settlers on Florida's Indian River, the first orange barons, and modern concentrate makers.
The book also features a profile of Ben Hill Griffin, who may be the last of the individual orange barons.
McPhee's work is highly readable, frequently amusing, and covers a wide range of historical and cultural aspects of oranges, from the great orangeries of European monarchs to modern customs in the Caribbean.
#79220
Elsewhere
Gabrielle Zevin
#55695
A Mercy
Toni Morrison
Jordi Fibla Feito
Set in the late 1680s, 'A Mercy' follows the story of Florens, a young black slave girl, and her experiences on a rural New York farm owned by Jacob Vaark.
The novel is told through multiple narrative voices, including Florens, Jacob, his wife Rebekka, and other characters such as Lina, a Native American, and Sorrow, a black-toothed woman.
It delves into themes of slavery, displacement, and the complex relationships between men and women in early America.
The story highlights the struggles of characters who are bereft of their roots and struggling to survive in a new and alien environment filled with danger and disease.
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Zorro
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende's 'Zorro' is a captivating tale that delves into the life of Diego de la Vega, tracing his journey from his childhood in California to his adventures in Spain and his transformation into the iconic figure of Zorro.
The novel weaves a rich narrative filled with romance, danger, and social justice, set against the backdrop of Napoleonic Spain and early California.
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Next
Warren Bird
William Vanderbloemen
#22760
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Cast
Isabel Wilkerson
#1746
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
Awake
Anthony de Mello
#160
• Mentioned in 108 episodes
Quiet
The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Susan Cain
In 'Quiet', Susan Cain presents a comprehensive argument that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people.
She charts the rise of the 'Extrovert Ideal' and explores how it permeates various aspects of society, including workplaces, schools, and social interactions.
Cain draws on research from biology, psychology, neuroscience, and evolution to demonstrate that introversion is common, normal, and valuable.
The book offers advice for introverts on functioning in an extrovert-dominated culture and advocates for changes to support and recognize the contributions of introverts.
It also distinguishes between introversion, shyness, and anti-social behavior, and highlights the unique strengths of introverts, such as deep thinking, persistence, and excellent negotiation skills.
#15315
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Come and Get It
R. Eric Thomas
#1216
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
Station Eleven
Emily St John Mandel
#42062
Delicious
The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human
Monica Sanchez
Rob Dunn
#3816
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Erasure
Percival Everett
In 'Erasure', Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, a professor of English literature and novelist, struggles with the publishing industry's expectations of what constitutes 'black enough' literature.
Frustrated, Monk writes a parody of ghetto novels, titled 'My Pafology' or 'Fuck', which unexpectedly gains widespread acclaim and financial success under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh.
The novel explores themes of identity, alienation, and the commodification of black experiences, while also delving into Monk's personal life, including his family's struggles and his own identity crisis.
#21085
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Buckeye
Patrick Ryan
#3645
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Audition
Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part
Michael Shurtleff
This book, written by Michael Shurtleff, provides comprehensive advice on auditioning techniques.
Drawing from his extensive experience in casting over 200 Broadway shows and various film and television productions, Shurtleff offers practical guidance for actors.
The book includes his famous '12 Guideposts' for monologue and scene work, such as 'Relationships – how to create them onstage' and 'Conflict – what are you fighting for?
' It covers every aspect of auditioning, from basic acting techniques to handling distractions and risks, and is applicable not only to actors but also to other areas of life where 'auditions' occur.
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X
Alistair McDowell
Today's guest has been participating in reading challenges for nearly a decade, and she's putting a unique spin on this tradition in 2026 that you'll hear about today.
Callie Dean lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, where in addition to reading she enjoys playing the violin in the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, writing children's books, and running and baking.
Reading challenges aren't for every reader, but Anne wanted to talk about Callie's 2026 project because it sounds like fun and might help get you thinking about what you want from your own reading life in the year to come.
Callie's challenge is both highly structured and incredibly flexible: in the new year, Callie's hoping to read one book that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Today she and Anne talk about the surprisingly difficult challenge parameters and the books Callie's already identified. Then, Anne fills in some of Callie's gaps in her 2026 reading alphabet, aiming to help her strike a delightful balance of topics, genres, and authors.
The long list of titles mentioned today is collected over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/506.
The Modern Mrs. Darcy shop is full of great last-minute gifts. Treat your favorite reader to a present inspired by your shared love of reading, like our sturdy tote, gorgeous journals, or reading accessories. Anne's book journals My Reading Life and My Reading Adventures—designed with the young reader in mind—make a great gift for any style of reader, any time of year, but especially with the new year upon us. And for a truly last-minute gift with no shipping required, give a membership to the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. Find out more and shop our in-stock selection at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop.
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