What Should I Read Next?

Over the past six years of talking books with our guests, we've heard about life-changing reading experiences, but today's guest has a unique twist on this story. When Nicole Fagan decided to give away almost every book she owned (not an easy decision for a lifelong bibliophile), she wasn't sure what to expect. But in the years since, Nicole became convinced that this drastic book purge was absolutely worth it, and in today's episode she'll tell us why. We'll also talk about Nicole's reading life now, digging into what makes a book work for her, the specific type of story she’s enjoying lately, and a genre she’s hoping to break into. Anne will add to Nicole's reading menu with some suggestions for titles that line up with her tastes and what she's hoping to bring into her reading experience this year. Have a suggestion for Nicole? Leave a comment at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/315, where you can also find the full list of titles we discussed today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We love reconnecting with previous guests to get an update on their reading life, and today's conversation with Tara Nichols is no exception! Since Tara's previous appearance on the show, in WSIRN Ep 168: A century of good books in a single year, we've been curious to know how her challenge worked out, and what she learned along the way.If you missed Ep 168, Tara shared her goal to read one book published each year between 1920 and 2019, and she and Anne talked about some options that might help her complete her century-long reading list. Tara's back today to share the results and chat about what's she's looking for in her reading life now!Join Anne and Tara in conversation about what surprised Tara about her challenge and how it's impacted her reading choices now that she's not looking for books tied to a specific time.As always, all the books mentioned today can be found in the show notes at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/314, and that's also where we'd love to hear what you think Tara should read next!To see more peeks into Tara's reading life, find her on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a fresh new year ahead of us and so much reading to look forward to, today's conversation brings back a listener favorite and sets the stage for a year of thoughtful reading experiences.Jim Mustich, who you may know as the author of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die, first joined us on the podcast back in January 2019 on Episode 165 (which shared a title with his book). That’s one of our most downloaded episodes, and if you missed it the first time around, it's worth a listen to hear him describe the process of choosing those thousand books.Join Jim and Anne in conversation about the challenge of choosing what to read when we’re faced with so many options and so little time. Many readers reach for the latest book getting buzz on social media or a celebrity book club, but they might be missing some incredible titles that require just a little bit more effort to discover.Today we'll share a lengthy list of titles that have proven their staying power across the years. We'll also pass on some ideas to help you reconnect with what you love most about reading, and feel more confident in picking up your next read.See the full list of titles we discussed today at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/313, and let us know whether you'll be adding any of the books we mentioned today to your 2022 reading list! You can also connect with Jim on his website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a favorite holiday reading tradition? We recently asked our WSIRN Patrons this question, and we loved one response so much, we had to share it with all of you.Kim Kortas lives in Minnesota, where she's enacted an annual holiday tradition of curating book boxes for each family member! It's a year-round project that brings an extra dose of holiday joy, and Kim and Anne talk about how it started, and how it's going, before pivoting to chat about Kim's reading life.Like so many listeners, Kim's grappling with a lengthy to-be-read list, and Anne helps her narrow down the list today with a spontaneous and fun approach to selecting what she thinks Kim should read next.See the full list of titles we discussed today at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/312, and let us know in the comments if you've got a suggestion for Kim! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to picking what to read next, many of us live by our to-be-read (TBR) list, but today's guest has a different approach!Danielle Callendar is a lifelong bookworm, a library devotee, and a mood reader who loves the serendipity of discovering the right book at the right time. She's rejected any kind of reading list, because to her, that would feel like a constraint. But as much as she loves selecting books that reflect her immediate reading mood, sometimes this makes it a challenge to figure out what to read next.Listen in to today's conversation about the joy of picking up a book at the exact moment you're ready for that story, domestic fiction that has you questioning what you really know about a person, and Danielle's search for diverse narrators in stories that don't focus primarily on race or ethnicity.Find the full list of recommendations for Danielle at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/311, and leave a comment to suggest what you think she should read next! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between the WSIRN team and many of the guests we've had on this show, we definitely see a trend of readers who consider themselves introverts, and find the quiet act of reading a book the perfect complement to their personality. But what happens when a reader is other end of the energy spectrum?Paul Randall Adams has a reading dilemma that he associates with his self-described mega-extrovert energy, as well as his adult diagnosis of ADHD. He knows his outgoing personality served him well in his previous career as a middle-school teacher, but when it comes to his reading life, he can be easily distracted.Paul Randall loves pairing audio-books with his work as a soapmaker, and while he's generally satisfied with his reading life, he's noticed a major gap he wants to address. He's hesitant to pick up longer books and invest the time to read hundreds of pages when he's unsure of a positive outcome. Today, Paul Randall is looking for the confidence to select the right "big books" that will feel worth it to him, and we'll discuss some methods he can use to select longer books that will satisfy.See the full list of books we discussed today or follow along with a transcript on the show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/310.Connect with Paul Randall on Instagram, shop his soaps, or tune in to his podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guests on this show are united in a love of reading, but sometimes that joy can get lost as life, work, and other obligations take center stage. Today's guest is looking for some suggestions that will help her rediscover not only her love of reading, but identify what she loves to read now—and she's come up with a special project to help frame her quest.Jessica Harrill decided to celebrate her 32nd birthday by reading 32 books, and she's looking for some help to decide which books will make the cut. As an attorney, much of Jessica's recent reading has been work-oriented, and she's ready to tackle some fresh genres, reconnect with her love of reading, and find some support for her current stage of life.Anne and Jessica discuss the three types of books Jessica wants to include in her project and revisit her past favorites, before Anne offers some suggestions to help Jessica rekindle her passion for getting lost in a good book and inform her 32nd year.Listen in and find all of the titles we discussed today at our website: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/309.We put together our best seasonal posts to get you in the holiday spirit and we'll be adding to that page over the next few days. Get prepared to deal with holiday stress, find the best gifts for everyone on your list, and learn how to make my favorite seasonal snack at modernmrsdarcy.com/christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Readers, this show is all about helping you discover your next read—which means we talk each week not only about the books our guests love and Anne's recommendations, but about the authors behind the books. Anne's recommendations and our guests' tastes vary widely, but sometimes we see authors who show up again and again on the show. And in today's episode, we're bringing you conversations with three of these writers who mean something a little extra special to our WSIRN community.Join Anne in conversation with Peter Heller, Tayari Jones, and Becky Chambers, as we explore their writing and reading lives, the books they've loved, and what they recommend we should all read next.To see the full list of books discussed today, check out our website at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/308. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever dreamed about becoming a writer, you're not alone. Writers begin as readers, after all, whether they're grounded in a love of memoir, fantasy, or any other genre on the shelf. Today's guest has built a career around coaching people from all backgrounds to embrace the joy of writing.Allison Fallon (Ally) is a Nashville-based writing coach and author of The Power of Writing it Down. She's seen firsthand the benefits that people experience when they begin to write, whether it's in a personal journal or a draft of a future publication. Ally's also a lifelong reader who has struggled to find as much time to read as she'd like since starting a family.Join Anne and Ally today in a conversation about how writing impacts us, the power of reading to transform us, and our shared appreciation for stories about complex human relationships. Anne has a few suggestions to help Ally re-discover her reading rhythm, and recommends some lyrical stories that we hope she'll love.Connect with Ally at her website or on Instagram @allyfallon.Listen in and see the full list of titles discussed today at our website: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/307. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is a dedicated reader who appreciates reading as both a leisure activity and a way to learn about other perspectives and experiences. But over the past few years, the stress of her work in the healthcare industry has impacted her reading life as she's found herself more easily distracted from her usual reads.Corinne Miller turned to poetry collections, finding joy and inspiration in shorter stints of reading and appreciating the elegant artistry of words on the page. Her exploration of the genre has given her energy to push through difficult times and led her to reconnect with the joy of reading.Anne and Corinne chat about why found family plots resonate with her, our shared appreciation for an artful structure on the page, and how poetry has helped re-energize her over the past year. Anne is recommending books and poetry collections that hopefully Corinne will love, and that would serve as wonderful entry points for anyone looking to sprinkle some poetry into their reading life.See all of the books and poetry collections discussed today at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/306, and let us know if you've read anything you think Corinne would enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices