What Should I Read Next? Ep 540: Please save me from my library holds
Sep 1, 2026
Amy Czuba, a recently retired global HR leader and devoted reader, has more time for books but an unruly library-holds queue. She and Anne explore her appetite for immersive historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoirs, mysteries, and hefty novels that teach her something new. They discuss favorite reads, overlooked books on her shelves, and how to make library browsing more intentional.
01:03:29
Amy’s Reading Life Runs On Hardcover Books
- Amy Czuba reads about 50 books yearly, favoring historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, biographies, memoirs, and occasional mysteries.
- She prefers hardcover books, enjoys audiobooks, and carries a book everywhere—even Disney parks and the DMV.
Free Library Books Can Still Cost Reading Time
- Amy’s library creates a reading-time problem because its low financial risk encourages her to request merely promising books.
- Meanwhile, carefully chosen bookstore purchases—the books she expects to love most—remain unread on her shelves.
Add A Filter Before Requesting Library Books
- Before requesting a library book, record where you heard about it and why it interested you.
- Use library-system tools to monitor, prioritize, or delay holds instead of letting surprises dictate your reading schedule.
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Intro
00:00 • 8min
Amy’s Charleston Reading Life
08:21 • 2min
A Passion for Long, Reality-Based Books
10:45 • 4min
The Cost of Unfiltered Library Holds
14:38 • 5min
Balancing Owned Books and Library Finds
19:32 • 2min
Ad break
21:35 • 1min
Amy’s Favorite Books and Reading Tastes
22:55 • 3min
The Bee Sting’s Harrowing Family Story
25:54 • 5min
A Life Spanning Ireland’s Changing History
30:41 • 2min
When Jaber Crow Wasn’t Right
32:40 • 4min
Recent Five-Star Reading
36:15 • 2min
Seeking Immersive Books That Teach
38:06 • 2min
Books Waiting on Amy’s Shelves
40:05 • 12min
Narrative Nonfiction About Unexpected Subjects
52:07 • 9min
A More Intentional Library Relationship
01:00:53 • 2min
Outro
01:03:17 • 1min
#62758
Kin
Katherine V. Forrest
#133492
And Ladies of the Club
Helen Hooven Santmyer
Published in 1982, '. . .
And Ladies of the Club' recounts the lives of a group of women who establish a study club in the fictional town of Waynesboro, Ohio in 1868.
Over the years, the club evolves into an influential community service organization.
The novel follows primary characters Anne Gordon and Sally Rausch and numerous other residents across generations, depicting the social and political dynamics of small-town life.
Originally exceeding 1,900 pages, the manuscript was edited down to approximately 1,300 pages before publication.
#392
• Mentioned in 99 episodes
Say Nothing
A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Ariel Font Prades
Patrick Radden Keefe
The book delves into the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath, focusing on the lives of key figures such as Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, Gerry Adams, and Jean McConville's children.
It explores the civil rights movement, the Provisional IRA's bombing campaign, the 1981 hunger strike, the peace process, and the post-conflict struggle to understand crimes like McConville's murder.
The narrative also incorporates the Belfast Project, a secret oral history endeavor that collected stories from former IRA members.
The book is a panoramic history that captures the complexities and tragic consequences of the Troubles.
#4462
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
The Lost City of Z
a tale of deadly obsession in the Amazon
David Grann
James Gray
The book recounts the story of Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who vanished in the Amazon jungle in 1925 while searching for a fabled city he called 'Z'.
David Grann delves into Fawcett's expeditions, using previously unseen diaries and correspondence to reconstruct the events leading up to Fawcett's disappearance.
The narrative is a mix of biography, detective story, and adventure tale, highlighting the dangers and mysteries of the Amazon jungle and the obsessive nature of Fawcett's quest.
Grann's own journey into the jungle to uncover the truth adds an additional layer of suspense and personal risk to the story.
#1733
• Mentioned in 34 episodes
Boys in the Boat
Daniel James Brown
The book chronicles the journey of nine working-class American boys from the University of Washington who, despite long odds, won the gold medal in rowing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The story is set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the rise of Nazi Germany.
It focuses on Joe Rantz, a teenager who overcame significant personal hardships to become part of the team.
The narrative also explores the broader historical context, including the political and social climate of both the United States and Germany during that era.
The book highlights the determination, grit, and teamwork of the crew members as they achieved an extraordinary sports achievement.
#12854
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The Heart's Invisible Furies
Jordi Cussà Balaguer
John Boyne
#8428
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
Cast
Isabel Wilkerson
#4730
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
The Bee Sting
Paul Murray
#41599
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Invention of Nature
Alexander Von Humboldt's New World
Andrea Wulf
Andrea Wulf’s book tells the story of Alexander von Humboldt, the Prussian naturalist and explorer whose ideas helped shape modern environmental thinking.
It traces his travels, scientific discoveries, and influence on figures such as Darwin, Thoreau, and John Muir, showing how he came to see nature as an interconnected system.
#20493
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
13 Ways of Looking at the Novel
Jane Smiley
In "13 Ways of Looking at the Novel," Jane Smiley explores the evolution and essence of the novel as a literary form.
Drawing from her extensive reading of novels spanning from pre-Don Quixote manuscripts to contemporary works, Smiley presents thirteen insightful essays that delve into various aspects of the novel.
She examines the historical survey of novels, offering readers a critical lens through which to view the genre's inception and development.
One of her central arguments is that narrative fiction serves as an exercise in point of view, providing readers with a cathartic release and increased empathy.
Smiley's analysis enriches readers' understanding of how novels function and why they hold such significance in our cultural and emotional lives.
#42
• Mentioned in 366 episodes
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth.
The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth.
The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect.
Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption.
The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.
#31
• Mentioned in 415 episodes
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
In 'Project Hail Mary', Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher, awakens on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or his mission.
He soon discovers that he is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to save Earth from a microorganism called the Astrophage, which is threatening to cause a new ice age.
As Ryland regains his memories, he encounters an alien named Rocky, and together they work to solve the scientific mystery and save their respective home planets.
The story blends science, humor, and heart, exploring themes of survival, discovery, and unlikely friendships.
#232
• Mentioned in 142 episodes
Middlemarch
George Eliot
Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England.
The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class.
Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution.
The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives.
Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine.
Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.
#13655
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Everything Is Tuberculosis
John Green
Everything Is Tuberculosis is John Green’s nonfiction look at the disease’s historical significance and its ongoing global toll, framed through reporting and personal engagement.
Green explores how attitudes, politics, and neglect have shaped the spread and treatment of tuberculosis, arguing that eradication remains possible with political will.
Mixing travel reportage, interviews, and cultural history, the book illuminates the human stories behind statistics and criticizes systems that persistently marginalize the sick.
Green’s narrative voice aims to make medical and ethical issues accessible and urgent to a wide audience.
The work calls for empathy, global responsibility, and policy change to address preventable suffering.
#2754
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
The Warmth of Other Suns
The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
Isabel Wilkerson
In 'The Warmth of Other Suns', Isabel Wilkerson provides a detailed historical account of the Great Migration, a movement of approximately six million African Americans from the Southern United States to the Midwest, Northeast, and West between 1915 and 1970.
The book follows the lives of three primary subjects: Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster, illustrating the broader historical context of the migration.
Wilkerson examines the social, economic, and political factors that drove this migration, including economic opportunities in Northern industrial cities, escape from Jim Crow laws and racial violence in the South, and the impact of World War I and II on labor demands.
The book is notable for its blend of historical analysis and narrative storytelling, making complex historical events accessible through the personal and societal perspectives of those who lived through the Great Migration.
#3659
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
Challenger
A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Adam Higginbotham
This book provides a comprehensive and riveting history of the Challenger disaster, which occurred on January 28, 1986.
Higginbotham delves into the years leading up to the accident, detailing the ambitions, ingenuity, and political cynicism that undermined the space shuttle program.
The narrative follows the seven members of the doomed crew and the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled to get the first shuttle into space.
It highlights the ominous warning signs ignored by NASA, the investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers, and the broader context of the space race and its impact on the NASA space program.
The book is a masterful blend of human drama and scientific detail, exposing the complex costs of innovation and the fatal compromises made in the pursuit of national prestige.
#5854
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The High Cost of Free Parking
Donald Shoup
#114982
The Traveler
One Man's Quest for Humanity from the South Seas to Revolutionary Paris
Andrea Wulf
Andrea Wulf's 'The Traveler' chronicles the life of George Forster, an 18th-century German polymath who joined Cook's second voyage and later became an influential writer and revolutionary.
The book explores Forster's groundbreaking observations in natural history and ethnography, his progressive ideas about human equality and rights, and his intellectual quarrels with figures like Rousseau and Kant.
Wulf situates his travels and writings within the broader Enlightenment-to-Romantic transition and shows how his work influenced later thinkers such as Humboldt, Coleridge, and Engels.
The narrative follows Forster from the South Pacific to Mainz and revolutionary Paris, combining vivid travel writing with political and intellectual history.
Wulf emphasizes Forster's moral imagination and his persistent quest to understand what unites humanity across cultures.
#7283
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Midnight in Chernobyl
Adam Higginbotham
Midnight in Chernobyl provides a detailed and compelling account of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, drawing on extensive interviews and declassified documents.
The book delves into the political and social context of the Soviet Union at the time, revealing how secrecy and propaganda obscured the truth of the disaster.
It is both a historical narrative and a cautionary tale about the dangers of nuclear power and government deception.
#5714
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
The Calamity Club
Kathryn Stockett
#4041
• Mentioned in 16 episodes
Whistler
Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett's 'Whistler' (referred to in the interview as an upcoming book) appears to be a novel that captivated advanced readers with its emotional depth and craftsmanship.
Patchett, known for clear prose and complex moral portrayals, often writes about intimate personal relationships and ethical dilemmas, and this work continues that pattern.
Louise Erdrich reports being moved to tears by the book's ending, signaling its emotional resonance.
Patchett's reputation and narrative strengths suggest the novel blends keen observation with poignant character work.
As with much of Patchett's fiction, readers can expect elegant storytelling and a focus on human connection.
#17140
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Jaber Crow
An Autobiography
Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry's "Jayber Crow" is a novel that follows the life of a man who returns to his hometown after years of wandering.
The story explores themes of community, nature, and the search for meaning in life.
Berry's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose and its focus on the interconnectedness of all things.
The novel's depiction of rural life and its exploration of faith and doubt resonate with readers who appreciate thoughtful and evocative storytelling.
The book's focus on the importance of place and community offers a refreshing perspective on modern life.
Today's guest is recently retired and is excited to have more time to read in this chapter of life. She wants to find good books and, in particular, long books that she can really sink into, but her library holds keep wreaking havoc with her well-laid plans. When Amy Czuba wrote into our submissions page with this plea for help, Anne could not say no.
After wrapping up her career as a global HR leader, Amy said goodbye to Massachusetts after living there for nearly 40 years and moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where she's now enjoying soaking up the history of her new hometown.
Amy is here today seeking ideas for those long books that she's craving. She would especially enjoy a book that teaches her about a topic she might not otherwise learn about. Amy also has a goal to read more books from her as-yet-unread pile of titles that she already owns, but she cannot resist a shiny new library book that's available for checkout at her local branch, and this is keeping her from reading through her owned titles. Anne has ideas to share.
Find the list of titles discussed today and share your tips for Amy on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/540.
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