The To Read List Podcast

Most people have books on their shelves they’ve been meaning to read. Bailey has 125. With this podcast, she and her friends set out to finish their ever-growing To Read Lists.

His Watership Materials 09/25/2024

His Watership Materials HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams In our 148th episode, Andrew covers not one, not two, but three books! That's right, it's HIS DARK MATERIALS week on the pod. Will Andrew be captivated by this classic, which Toby reveres? And just in case you were worried that we didn't have enough touchstone works of fiction for children featuring animals, Bailey dives into WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams. There's also a healthy heaping of speed reading discussion, sassy author quotes, and capybaras - aka something for everyone! *If you'd like to have your voice on our last episode, please send a voice note of your best "Books, books, books!" to our email - more info in the episode! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/33196762

The Shadow of the Separate Peace 09/13/2024

The Shadow of the Separate Peace THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER by Gene Wolfe / A SEPARATE PEACE by John Knowles Why, hello, Page-os. We apologize for the delay with this episode's release--we had an important announcement to make, and we wanted to do it right. Also, Bailey's been traveling and totally messing with the recording schedule. Shame! After our bittersweet announcement, Toby reads a book written by someone named Gene about a man remembering his glory days, and Bailey reads a book written by a man about someone named Gene remembering his glory days. Add in the keywords "high fantasy" and "World War II," and you get THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER and A SEPARATE PEACE! We also discuss an imaginary friend and torture Andrew with academia. Enjoy! xo /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/33014087

The Assassin's Left Hand 08/28/2024

The Assassin's Left Hand ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE by ROBIN HOBB THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS by URSULA K LE GUIN All hail King Smart, Page-O’s! This episode is a genre fiction double-shot as Andrew checks out the Six Duchies and lets us know what he thought of Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice (Toby has opinions). Meanwhile, Bailey travels light years away to the planet of Gethen and evaluates The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin (Toby has even MORE opinions). All these Toby opinions, plus a game that pits your hosts against each other in a battle of wits to see who can serve King Thinks Good best! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/32714987

The Guest Prospects 08/14/2024

The Guest Prospects THE GUEST by Emma Cline / THE PROSPECTS by K.T. Hoffman This week, we review the classic film BULL DURHAM...I mean...we review books! After Toby writhes in the tense discomfort of Emma Cline's THE GUEST, Bailey joins the minor league with THE PROSPECTS, a romantic sports comedy featuring a bevy of trans joy. Finally, Andrew takes us out to the ballgame by testing our knowledge of ridiculous mascots. Will anyone make The Show? What is The Show? Why are we still talking about The Show? All this and more will be revealed...maybe. /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/32561602

The Turnout is Announced 07/31/2024

The Turnout is Announced SLEEPING MURDER & A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED by Agatha Christie / THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott Miss Marple has entered the chat! This week our valiant hosts cover not one - but two! - Agatha Christie mysteries, SLEEPING MURDER and A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED. Will they solve the crime before the murderer strikes again?? And - if that wasn't enough intrigue for you - Bailey read a twisty thriller of her own, Megan Abbott's THE TURNOUT. There's also an unhealthy amount of love for a certain non-fiction book, a bizarro game, and Andrew is... a bit of a butthead about ballet. /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/32359777

Ghosts Meal 07/17/2024

Ghosts Meal GHOSTS by Edith Warton / FAMILY MEAL by Bryan Washington Set your plates and don your capes, Page-O’s! This week on the pod Toby dives into GHOSTS by Edith Wharton, which is, well, maybe you can guess what it is. Bailey dines on FAMILY MEAL by Bryan Washington, Andrew serves up a game of ghostly food, and all the hosts absolutely tear apart the New York Times’ Top 100 Books of the 21st Century! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/32168907

Needless Street All the Way Down 07/03/2024

Needless Street All the Way Down TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN by John Green / THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward In today's new episode, Andrew tries desparately to make John Green notice him, while Bailey tries desperately not to spoil the book she spoiled for herself. Plus, Bailey shares the shameful result of a trip to a romance bookstore, Andrew brags about his dream SSR vacation, and Dillon leads us down the turtle-hole with the hardest game ever. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/31982577

The Nine Billion Names of Margaret 06/19/2024

The Nine Billion Names of Margaret THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD (and RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA) by Arthur C. Clarke / ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. by Judy Blume Fellow "pleasures to have in class," join us this week for Toby's rollercoaster of a review plus a short journey through Bailey's puberty. First, Toby surprises us all with a review of the film ARMAGEDDON...oh wait, we mean the sci-fi classic RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA by Arthur C. Clarke! Then, Bailey tries to relate to an eleven-year-old when she finally reads the seminal coming of age novel ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. We have time to share our non-book-buying shame, to give ourselves report card comments, and to play a game identifying all the Daisys...oh wait, we mean Margarets! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/31779827

The Song of Speech Team 06/05/2024

The Song of Speech Team THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller SPEECH TEAM by Tim Murphy Prepare your position papers and make sure you have your humorous interpretation memorized, because this week, Bailey dives into SPEECH TEAM by Tim Murphy! High School competition not really your style? That's okay, Andrew has plenty of thoughts about Madeline Miller's bestselling novel, THE SONG OF ACHILLES to tide you over. There's also a host of obscure Greek Gods, a breakdown of Andrew's caterpillar situation, and Bailey shames her former teachers! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/31608817

The Most Lathe We Ever Had 05/22/2024

The Most Lathe We Ever Had THE LATHE OF HEAVEN by URSULA K LE GUIN / THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by CLAIRE LOMBARDO Dream a little dream of us, Page-O’s! In this episode, Toby gives an ‘effective’ review of Ursula K Le Guin’s THE LATHE OF HEAVEN plus an explanation of what exactly a lathe is. Then Bailey has a rip-roaring good time reviewing Claire Lombardo’s THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD. All this AND a terrifying tale of plants gone mad await your ear-holes! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/31413042

The Splendid and the Beach Read 05/08/2024

The Splendid and the Beach Read THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE by Erik Larson / BEACH READ by Emily Henry In this episode, we get to talk about two of our favorite authors--Emily "The Love Book" Henry and Erik "The Larsman" Larson. Will we be able to stop ourselves from reading every book they've ever written? Will we ever stop talking about Winston Churchill's bathtime? Will our college crush return our texts? Tune in to find out! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/31188877

Pale Blue Fear 04/24/2024

Pale Blue Fear PALE BLUE DOT by Carl Sagan / THE GIFT OF FEAR by Gavin de Becker Toby makes his triumphant return to the podcast only to reveal his greatest shame yet! While "reviewing" PALE BLUE DOT, he makes us question how much we all care about space. Next, Bailey dives into THE GIFT OF FEAR, a thrilling self-help book that demonstrates why you should listen to your gut feelings (and be friends with Meryl Streep). Finally, we re-name the planets with the help of Gen Z. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/30936678

The Unwomanly Banner of Heaven 04/10/2024

The Unwomanly Banner of Heaven THE UNWOMANLY FACE OF WAR by Svetlana Alexievich / UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN by John Krakauer The choosening really brought some heavy hitters to the book nook this time--these tomes pack a punch! First Andrew learns about the women of the Soviet Army during World War II in Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich's THE UNWOMANLY FACE OF WAR, a harrowing oral history. Then Bailey dives into John Krakauer's part true crime, part history UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN. There's plenty more in this episode, including a very intense job interview, some truly wild facts, and GAK! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/30760458

The Liars' Survivor 03/27/2024

The Liars' Survivor THE LIAR’S CLUB by MARY KARR / SURVIVOR by CHUCK PAHLANIUK Tell the truth, Page-Os, you’re excited for this one! In this episode, Toby reads Mary Karr’s THE LIAR'S CLUB, a memoir so powerful that it is rumored to have revitalized the genre as a whole in the 1990s, and Bailey has her first Chuck Pahlaniuk experience (what!? I know, right?) with SURVIVOR, his slightly lesser-known but possibly-just-as-good-or-BETTER follow up to FIGHT CLUB. Plus, we get some advice about visiting Istanbul from Andrew, hear about Toby’s shame, and play a game where we say, “UM, ACTUALLY…” quite a lot! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/30554618

City of Mitfords 03/13/2024

City of Mitfords THE CITY OF BRASS by S.A. Chakraborty / THE MITFORDS edited by Charlotte Mosley Today's the day that Bailey finally reviews THE MITFORDS, the 800-page epistolary non-fiction that's been glaring at her from the shelf for over a decade. Plus, Andrew dives into a new fantasy series with THE CITY OF BRASS and gets a song stuck in our heads in the process. Don't miss a game that reveals our limited Broadway knowledge, an admission of delayed shame, and a series of wild speculations about the making of the Mitfords. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/30341433

Sorrowland vs. the World 02/28/2024

Sorrowland vs. the World SORROWLAND by Rivers Solomon THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD by Jade Chang Bailey and Dillon are back, baby! Now that the crew has re-assembled, Toby can introduce us to a new friend in Rivers Solomon, and Bailey can finally review the Jade Chang book she read two months ago. Plus, Dillon shares his latest reads, Andrew witnesses an unexpected fight, and we all leave Toby by the side of the road. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/30137213

Babel Wood w/ Gillian Beth Durkee 02/14/2024

Babel Wood w/ Gillian Beth Durkee BABEL by R.F. Kuang BIRNAM WOOD by Eleanor Catton This week the boys are joined by none other than composer extraordinaire (and Andrew's wife) Gillian Beth Durkee to discuss books, life, and New Zealand! First, Toby gives his verdict on BookTok sensation BABEL by R.F. Kuang. Then it's a group discussion of Eleanor Catton's eco-thriller BIRNAM WOOD off of resident bad boy Andrew's list. There are plenty of laughs, tears, and a game that tests the international cred of Toby and Gillian - it's a rollicking good time! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/29944168

Stay Soup 01/31/2024

Stay Soup STAY TRUE by Hua Hsu IN THE MISO SOUP by Ryu Murakami Lads episode! Andrew and Toby take the wheel this week and it is as ROWDY and CHAOTIC as you would expect a book review podcast recorded by two men in their 30s to be! So, pretty normal and chilled out! Andrew reviews Hua Hsu’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning memoir Stay True and flirts with a band that threatens to dominate his aesthetic and Toby, seemingly influenced by Ryu Murakami’s sex-thriller In the Miso Soup, can’t stop saying things like ‘School is a seductive place.’ Plus, the boys discuss their holiday shame, share their Goodreads goals of the past year and the year to come, and play a game with REAL FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES. /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/29703128

Hiatus Deflatus! 01/24/2024

Hiatus Deflatus! Call your headphone mechanic and your earbuds back from the shop, Page-O's, because HIATUS IS CANCELLED. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode - have a listen for the full details! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/29620613

Hiatus Announcement - Stay Tuned! 01/10/2024

Hiatus Announcement - Stay Tuned! Hi loyal Page-os! This is a quick announcement to explain the lack of new episode this week: we're taking a brief hiatus to regroup. We'll be back before you can say "shame." Stay tuned! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/29419808

The Fourth Annual Bookend Awards! 12/27/2023

The Fourth Annual Bookend Awards! Check it, Page-O's: it’s our favorite episode of the year, and also the most bowl-shakingly terrifying episode of the year — the Bookend Awards! Join us as we take a look at our stats, hand out superlatives (both positive and negative), and play a pair of games that alternately fill us with shame and dread. Plus, well, actually that’s it for this episode. Trust us, it’s plenty! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/29235808

Sour and Punishment 12/13/2023

Sour and Punishment CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by Fyodor Dostoevsky / SOUR HEART by Jenny Zhang Sacre bleu! This week, Andrew digs into his first Dostoevsky—CRIME AND PUNISHMENT— while in Parisian quarantine. Plus, Bailey reviews SOUR HEART, a surprisingly lewd collection of short stories à clef. And of course, we learn how to feel shame in multiple languages. Raskolnikov! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/29049298

The Left-Handed Booksellers of Westing with Ella Gale 11/29/2023

The Left-Handed Booksellers of Westing with Ella Gale THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON by Garth Nix / THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin Would you like to play a game? In this very special episode of The To Read List, comedian and podcast creator Ella Gale joins us to discuss the classic middle grade mystery THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin. We riff on overly complicated inheritance schemes, methods of passive research, and the dark habits of ravens. Plus, Toby reviews a book suggested by a listener-- THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON by Garth Nix! Don't forget, Ella's narrative podcast, CANDY CLAUS, PRIVATE EYE, is available wherever you listen to podcasts! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/28816733

Cry, The Beloved Hypothesis 11/15/2023

Cry, The Beloved Hypothesis CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY by Alan Paton / THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood In this very NOT spooky episode, we have a classic pairing of novels. They go together as well as peanut butter and jelly! First, Andrew reviews Alan Paton's 1948 classic, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY and finds it a bit... surprising. Then Bailey delves into the world of STEM with Ali Hazelwood's buzzy romance, THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS. There are plenty of laughs, cries, and more shipping than a port town in the 1800s! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/28646958

Trust Chincoteague 11/01/2023

Trust Chincoteague MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE by Marguerite Henry / TRUST by Hernan Diaz Don’t make a sound, Page-O’s! Bailey’s on the warpath after she reads MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE by Marguerite Henry, and she totally takes it out on the boys. Meanwhile, Toby tries his best to encapsulate the many levels of the .5 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel TRUST by Hernan Diaz. All this plus striking out on spooky books, Toby’s opinion on the best Stephen King ending of all time, and Andrew’s reasons behind why he’s reading all the books Bailey and Toby hated! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/28480427

Tufflektra 10/18/2023

Tufflektra TUFF by Paul Beatty / ELEKTRA by Jennifer Saint This week, Andrew attempts to summarize Paul Beatty's poetic style and finds it... TUFF. (You're welcome.) Then, with ELEKTRA, Bailey comes to the tragic conclusion that she doesn't know as much as she thinks she does about Greek Mythology. Finally, we celebrate the masterful career of the one and only Rufus Sewell. (You're welcome.) /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/28347071

Bonfire of the Force 10/04/2023

Bonfire of the Force DRIVING FORCE by Dick Francis / THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES by Tom Wolfe And we're off! This week, Toby reviews DRIVING FORCE by Dick Francis, a certified dad book set in the glamorous world of horse transport. Then Bailey finally discovers what THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES is about (fire is surpisingly not involved) and finally gets what everyone likes about Tom Wolfe. Plus, we break Andrew down with the power of film trivia. Neigh! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/28213670

I Have Some Questions for Siddhartha 09/20/2023

I Have Some Questions for Siddhartha I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai SIDDHARTHA by Herman Hesse Take a journey with us on this week's episode as our hosts dive into Herman Hesse's class, SIDDHARTHA, and I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, your friend and my - Rebecca Makkai's - new novel. We'll laugh, we'll cry, we'll grow, and one of us will get absolutely schooled in this week's game. There's also more shame than ever before - it's a rip-roaring good time! /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/28089704

The Falconer Man 09/06/2023

The Falconer Man FALCONER by JOHN CHEEVER THE WHISPER MAN by ALEX NORTH Caw-CAW, Page-O’s! Join us this week as Toby gets incarcerated by John Cheever’s prison novel FALCONER (sadly not about a man who trains falcons) and Bailey gets A24’d by Alex North’s THE WHISPER MAN. We also discuss just how fast of a reader Bailey is, unmask Alex North (probably) against his wishes, and uncover a disturbing revelation as to the true age of Gillian’s cousin. Doesn’t that sound exciting as all get-out? /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/27930249

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Rodham 08/23/2023

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Rodham A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN by James Joyce / RODHAM by Curtis Sittenfeld The books we read for this episode spark provocative questions, like: "What would happen if Hillary never married Bill?" (RODHAM) and "Does James Joyce really think we can't tell he's writing about himself?" (A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN). Plus, Andrew taunts us with his vacation plans, we discuss if "boogers" is a curse word, and we discover that we know way more than we thought about First Ladies. /episode/index/show/thetoreadlistpodcast/id/27827586

The To Read List Podcast

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