Read Alert

Welcome to season 2 of Read Alert! Back after a hiatus, this season Ashtar and Sarah will bring you two types of episodes: Most Anticipated Books (MABs) and Blind Date episodes. In our first episode this season, Ashtar and Sarah discuss Charmaine Wilkerson's sophomore novel, Good Dirt. Hope you enjoyed!

In this episode,  Ashtar and Miriam discuss two more debut novels: "Disorientation" by Elaine Hsieh Chou and "Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm" by Laura Warrell. Listen in to hear us discuss the writing, plots, and themes, as well as whether we liked the books, and if they deserved their places on the most anticipated lists of 2022!  Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away dur...

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar explore two different novels with a history focus: "Violeta" a historical fiction novel by Isabel Allende and "South to America: a Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation" a work of narrative fiction by Imani Perry. How do these authors different in their unique ways of writing about history? What did we love about the...

In this episode,  Ashtar and Miriam dive into two fantasy novels: "Goliath" by Tochi Onyebuchi and "Siren Queen" by Nghi Vo. Listen in to hear us discuss whether these books should even be classified as fantasy, whether we liked the books, and if they deserved their places on the most anticipated lists of 2022!  Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away during this discuss...

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar explore two different memoirs: "Manifesto" by Bernardine Evaristo and "Finding Me"  by Viola Davis. What defines a memoir? When should someone write a memoir? This episode touches on those questions, and more! Listen in to hear whether we liked the books, and if they deserved their places on the most anticipated lists of 2022!  Spoiler Alert:...

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar dive into two very different romance novels: "You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty" by Akwaeke Emezi and "Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?"  by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn.  These books took us both out of our usual reading genres and led to a great conversation. Listen in to hear whether we liked the books, and if they deserved their places o...

Surprise! We got a bonus minisode for you! In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar read two poetry collections for this conversation: Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong and Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi. This episode felt a little vulnerable to record because reading and talking about poetry is hard! Listen in to hear our thoughts on the poetry genre at large, these particular collections s...

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar dive into two short stories: Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho and The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe and collaborators. Are these books even short stories? How does classifying a book as a short story change a reader's experience with it? Listen in to hear us discuss these questions, and also to find out whether these books deserved their places on the most...

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar discuss two of the most anticipated books of the year: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel and The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Do they deserve the hype? Listen in to find out! Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away during this discussion.  Agree with our takes? Disagree entirely? Join the conversation at #readalertpodcast on IG and Twitter.

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar discuss two books that tell distinct stories of friends and family: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson and Wahala by Nikki May. Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away during this discussion. Listen in to find out whether these books deserved their places on the most anticipated lists of 2022!  Join the conversation at #readalertpodcast on IG and Twitter.

In this episode, Miriam and Ashtar dive into two dystopias with The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan and How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu.  Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away during this discussion. Listen in to find out whether these books deserved their places on the most anticipated lists of 2022!  Join the conversation at #readalertpodcast on IG and Twitter.

In this episode, Ashtar and Miriam discuss Hanya Yanagihara's much-anticipated novel, To Paradise. Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away during this discussion. Listen in to find out whether this book deserved its place on the most anticipated lists of 2022!

In the first episode of Read Alert, Ashtar and Miriam discuss Xochitl Gonzalez's debut novel, Olga Dies Dreaming. Spoiler Alert: many plot points are given away during this discussion. Listen in to find out whether this book deserved its place on the most anticipated lists of 2022!

Read Alert is a bookish podcast hosted by Miriam and Ashtar. In season one, each month we will focus on one or two of the most popular books to appear on the Most Anticipated lists of 2022. Join us as we discuss the books and the merits of whether they deserved their place on the lists. Happy reading!