The To Read List Podcast

BEASTS OF NO NATION by Uzodinma Iweala / THE WONDER by Emma Donoghue This week, Andrew reviews BEASTS OF NO NATION, the powerful, evocative, and creative exploration of a fictional child soldier. Then, Bailey brings an Irish Gothic mystery to the table that everyone's dying to read--THE WONDER by Emma Donoghue. Plus, we meet a Freaky Bat, discuss Netflix's prestige films, and debate the proper amo...

FAIRY TALE by Stephen King / SCHOOLED by Anisha Lakhani Things start off with a bang in our 101st episode when Bailey embraces chaos right out of the gate! After a shocking intro, we get to hear about Dillon and Bailey's Adult Time IN DETAIL. Then Toby tells us whether or not he thinks Stephen King's newest book FAIRY TALE ranks among his best, and Bailey evaluates SCHOOLED by Anisha Lakhani with...

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery On this, our 100th episode, we discuss ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, the childhood favorite chosen by you, our dear listeners! In addition to chatting about the joy of a good bedtime story, the fun of competing for a scholastic medal, and the importance of doing your own shopping, we reminisce about our favorite memories of the podcast so far, and we learn our readi...

THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES by Joseph Campbell / A TASTE FOR DEATH by P.D. James Here's a Call to Adventure for you -- listen to this podcast episode about Joseph Campbell's theory of the monomyth (a.k.a. THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES). We will be your wise Mentor and teach you all the hot gossip about our pal Joey C. Then, after several Challenges and Temptations to reference "Mr. Brightside,...

THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING by Carson McCullers / I'LL SHOW MYSELF OUT by Jessi Klein This week, Toby comes of age with the young protagonist of THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING by Carson McCullers. Then, Bailey reads I'LL SHOW MYSELF OUT and wonders what the heck she has to do to make Jessi Klein her BFF. Finally, the hosts produce 100 percent guaranteed Broadway hits!

MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS by Emil Farris / HAMNET by Maggie O'Farrell This week, Andrew finally reads MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS, a graphic novel that Bailey and Toby have been bugging him about for years. Will it become Andrew's favorite thing? Then, Bailey reviews HAMNET, a thoughtful exploration of Shakespeare's personal life, and asks herself, how many references to HAMLET are enough? F...

CONSIDER PHLEBAS by Iain M. Banks / IMAGINARY FRIEND by Stephen Chbosky What, and who, is even REAL? Bailey finds out when she reads the new horror novel IMAGINARY FRIEND by THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER author Stephen Chbosky. Meanwhile, Toby travels across the galaxy following a shape-shifting secret agent in Ian M. Banks' seminal sci-fi CONSIDER PHLEBAS. Plus, we hear how The To Read List is...

THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt / FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury The heat is turned up on this week's episode when Bailey tackles Ray Bradbury's masterpiece of science fiction, FAHRENHEIT 451! Will it blow hot or cold for her? Also Andrew dives into Donna Tartt's massive modern classic novel, THE GOLDFINCH. Will it steal his heart? There's also as surprising amount of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dis...

THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY by Agatha Christie / ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's time to solve the biggest mystery of all -- why did Bailey give up on ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE with 100 pages to go?! This week, Toby spends time with one of his favorite mystery authors, and our new best friend, Agatha Christie, with THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY. Then, Bailey finally tackles...

CHILDREN OF ASH AND ELM by Neil Price / BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney. This week, Sally Rooney earns a To Read List hat-trick with the buzzy, sexy BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU. Will the third novel hold up to the Roonster's previous work? Also, Andrew digs into his first non-fiction doorstopper with CHILDREN OF ASH AND ELM, a comprehensive history of the Vikings. You'll be shock...

TITUS GROAN by Mervyn Peake / THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES by Grady Hendrix. Genre books unite! This time on the pod Toby wades back into a book that already defeated him once, the formidably slow TITUS GROAN by Mervyn Peake, and Bailey indulges in a treat from one of her favorite contemporary authors, THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES by Grady Hendrix. Plus...

THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH by Michael Chabon / EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR MOTHER IS A WITCH by Rivka Galchen. What do an angsty college grad discovering himself in 1988 Pittsburgh and an onery old woman accused of witchcraft in 1618 Germany have in common? They're the protagonists of this week's reviewed books, of course! Andrew dives into his first Chabon with the problematic bildungsroman THE MYSTERIE...

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger & THE MAN OF MY DREAMS by Curtis Sittenfeld. This week, Toby questions whether THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE is a tale of true love or true grooming. Then, Bailey digs into THE MAN OF MY DREAMS, a lesser known novel by a favorite author, to determine whether it's worth the read. Plus, we try to come up with shame, find ways to relate to a toad, and discove...

YES, PLEASE by Amy Poehler & THE IMPERFECTIONISTS by Tom Rachman   This week on the pod Andrew engages with an uber-popular memoir of a few years back, Amy Poehler's YES, PLEASE, and Bailey checks out the hit first novel by author Tom Rachman, THE IMPERFECTIONITS! The hosts debate skipping early books in a series, whether or not Toby's new employment opportunity is worth it, and which of them is m...

THE RIGHT STUFF by Tom Wolfe & SURVIVE THE NIGHT by Riley Sager. This episode comprehensively addresses the age-old question: why do some dudes become astronauts while others become serial killers? Perhaps THE RIGHT STUFF by Tom Wolfe and SURVIVE THE NIGHT by Riley Sager have the answers. Plus, we share our thoughts on Free Comic Book Day etiquette, pirate awareness, and the disarming effects of a...

IN THE DREAM HOUSE by Carmen Maria Machado & THE WITCH ELM by Tana French   This week, two popular authors make their To Read List bows! Andrew reviews Carmen Maria Machado's powerful memoir, IN THE DREAM HOUSE, and Bailey digs into Tana French's THE WITCH ELM. Will Andrew like the unique structure of Machado's work? Was Bailey captivated by the mystery? Find out here! Plus, we dissect the proper...

FINGERSMITH by Sarah Waters & A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES by John Kennedy Toole. This week, Toby takes a twisty ride with queer Victorian tricksters in Sarah Waters' astounding FINGERSMITH. Then, Bailey travels to the Big Easy with Ignatius J. Reilly, a bombastic character she won't soon forget. Plus, the hosts test how many times they can say "jambalaya" in one episode. Answer: more than necessary!

Episode 85 PERSEPOLIS by MARJANE SATRAPI & HOOT by CARL HIASSEN This week on the podcast Andrew engages with Marjane Satrapi's critically acclaimed graphic novel (or comic book) PERSEPOLIS, and Bailey gets to investigate a book that has been on her mind for years - Carl Hiassen's HOOT. Plus we learn of the existence of a mysterious figure known as Mullet Fingers, see what Andrew thinks of a peculi...

INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison & MY BODY by Emily Ratajkowski. This week, Toby covers Ralph Ellison's 1952 masterpiece, INVISIBLE MAN. And no, it's not about a spooky ghost. Then, Bailey digs into MY BODY, a sharp essay collection by model/actress/activist/influencer Emily Ratajkowski that will make you think twice before dancing along to the "Blurred Lines" video. Plus, we discuss Brandon Sanders...

TO PARADISE by Hanya Yanagihara & HOW SOCCER EXPLAINS THE WORLD: AN [UNLIKELY] THEORY OF GLOBALIZATION. On this week's show, we examine the book on everyone's lips, the talk of the town – you guessed it – HOW SOCCER EXPLAINS THE WORLD: AN [UNLIKELY] THEORY OF GLOBALIZATION by Franklin Foer (we also cover a lesser known book called TO PARADISE by Hanya Yanagihara). We talk prescient writers (and su...

THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion & THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE by Caitlin Starling.  This week, Toby tackles a devastating memoir beloved by many: THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING. Will the book leave him Joans-ing for more Didion? Then, Bailey reviews THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE, a modern Gothic horror novel that makes her want to explore the locked room she promised she would avoid. All tha...

WHITE NOISE by DON DELILLO & NO ONE BELONGS HERE MORE THAN YOU by MIRANDA JULY. This week on the pod, Andrew takes on 1985's smash literary hit WHITE NOISE to see if he can hear what all the fuss was about, and Bailey engages with a weird book beloved to her weird husband: Miranda July's NO ONE BELONGS HERE MORE THAN YOU. Plus we hear about Dillon's little free library shenanigans, discover what D...

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS by Augusten Burroughs & LES MISÉRABLES by Victor Hugo.   Look down! Look down! You don't have to wait one day more for Bailey's review of LES MISÉRABLES! At the end of the day, will she have a heart full of love for the tome (that she's had on her shelf since the 90s)? Or, will she and LES MIS expert/master of the house Toby have a confrontation? I dreamed a dream you'd tune...

BAND OF BROTHERS by Stephen E. Ambrose & FRENCH EXIT by Patrick deWitt This week on The To Read List, Bailey finds herself absolutely buried in shame! We also play a game about some famous burials and Dillon gets to flex his knowledge about a certain HBO miniseries. But, before all that, Andrew digs into Stephen E. Ambrose's chronicle of heroism, BAND OF BROTHERS and Bailey digs into Patrick deWit...

As 2021 comes to a close, we reflect back on the highs and lows of our reading year -- our favorite protagonists, our most surprising reads, and the characters we'd like to lock in a wine cellar under Venice. Plus, we play "To Read List Roulette," a game with some seriously high stakes. Books books books!