Ep 461: Backlist books that make your brain fizz

Jan 14, 2025

Nell Cavallo, a passionate reader from Sydney, shares her love for backlist books and the seasonal reading dilemmas she faces. She discusses how winter in the southern hemisphere ignites a quest for summer releases, highlighting the struggle of choosing the right titles amidst the vast sea of options. The conversation dives into the nostalgic pleasure of summer reading, emotional depth in literature, and the distinct literary culture of Sydney. Nell's insights on navigating literary choices create an engaging exploration of reading habits and preferences.

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Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 5min

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Navigating Time Zones and Literary Choices

04:43 • 11min

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Nostalgic Summer Reads and Future Goals

16:11 • 3min

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Exploring Passionate Narratives

19:28 • 15min

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Cozy Comforts: Embracing Winter with Style and Self-Worth

34:26 • 4min

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Exploring Emotional Depths in Literature

38:17 • 12min

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Exploring Sydney Through Literature

50:25 • 3min

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#5130

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

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Many of the readers we talk to tune into the seasons to inspire their next read, and today's guest has a twist on the usual seasonal reading dilemma: Nell Cavallo is joining Anne today from midsummer in Sydney, Australia.

When Nell sent in her guest submission for the show, she told us that as a southern hemisphere reader, winter meant reading the shiny and new titles that are summer releases here in the U.S. For Nell, her summer reading was all about backlist titles.

Nell loves reading backlist, but she agonizes over choosing what older books to read next, because there are just so many good backlist books to read. She wants to make careful choices, she wants them to be the right ones, and it can leave her feeling stuck. Today we'll talk about that and Anne recommends titles that provide her with that brain-fizzy feeling she loves, especially books that are emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating.

Find the list of titles mentioned today and share your suggestions for Nell by leaving a comment on our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/461.

It's a new reading year and that makes it a great time to start a new journal: keeping track of what you're reading has a big impact on your reading satisfaction. Anne's reading journal, My Reading Life, is the perfect companion for your year of reading. Get yours at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop or at your local bookstore.

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