Well-read

With the world in its current state, who doesn't need a comfort read? We're discussing what we look for when we turn to books in difficult times, and we'll end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz - Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie - Foyle's War (TV) - Midsomer Murders (TV) - Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz - The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz - The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid - Jane Austen books - Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - Val McDermid books My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life by Ruth Reichl - Gourmet Magazine Halle’s picks: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane - ALA RUSA CODES Reading List - Emily Post books - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Josh and Hazel’s Guide to

We’re so excited to talk about the books we’re looking forward to this spring and summer (there are soooooooooo many!) And we’ll finish with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Public Library Association (PLA) Conference 2020 We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry Episode 58 – Witches The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan Episode 63  – Royal Reads Ann’s picks: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell In Five Years by Rebecca Serle – Rebecca Serle books – Taylor Jenkins Reid books – The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel – The Act (TV) Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo – The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo – Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature – With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld – Curtis Sittenfeld books Mexican Gothic by Silvia Morena-Garcia One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London – The Bachelor (TV) The

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about books that grapple with love in all its sweet, messy, delicate, difficult, and wonderful forms. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Less by Andrew Sean Greer – Pulitzer Prize The Only Story by Julian Barnes – Episode 61 – Favorite Reads of 2019 – The Graduate (film) The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli – Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – J.R.R. Tolkein books – Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli Halle’s picks: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf – Our Souls at Night (film) Normal People by Sally Rooney – Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney – Normal People (TV) – Rooney Mara filmography – Joaquin Phoenix filmography – Rachel Bilson filmography – Bill Hader filmography The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan – 500 Days of Summer (film) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan – 

As part of our Book Tourism series, we’re headed to France! Find out which books we turn to when we want to feel très chic. And of course, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Episode 52 – Book Tourism: Southeast Asia ALA Midwinter Conference ALA RUSA CODES Reading List The Passengers by John Marrs Ann’s picks: Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod – Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – Daniel Craig filmography – Janice MacLeod’s Etsy shop Nana by Émile Zola – Moulin Rouge! (film) – Les Rougon-Macquart series by Émile Zola – The Ladies’ Paradise by Émile Zola – The Paradise (TV) – Germinal by Émile Zola – La Bête Humaine by Émile Zola The Provocative Colette by Annie Goetzinger – Colette (film) – Colette books – Claudine series by Colette – Gigi by Colette – Gigi (film) Halle’s picks: The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury – Amélie (film) The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer – Love and Ruin by Paula McLain – The Paris Wife by

With so much royal drama in the news right now, we can't help but share our picks for some royal reads. As always, we'll end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Royal We by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks The Crown (TV) Go Fug Yourself (blog) The Heir Affair by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks (releases June 16, 2020) Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinton Lauren Graham filmography Mae Whitman filmography Ann’s picks: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh - One Thousand and One Nights - The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey - Agatha Christie books - Dorothy L. Sayers books - Inspector Alan Grant series by Josephine Tey - The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter - Richard III by William Shakespeare Victoria the Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird - Charles Dickens books - Victoria (TV) - The Favourite (film) - Rufus Sewell filmography Halle’s picks: A Princess in The

Happy New Year! Ann and Halle look back at their 2019 reading and make some plans for 2020. They end with what they’re reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Goodreads ALA RUSA CODES Reading List POPSUGAR 2020 Reading Challenge Book Riot’s 2020 Read Harder Challenge Litsy Modern Mrs. Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge What Should I Read Next? (podcast) 2020 Reading Women Challenge Helen Oyeyemi books #bookstagram on Instagram Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon 24in48 Readathon Book Riot 2020 Reading Log War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Jane Austen books Catharine and Other Writings by Jane Austen Lady Susan by Jane Austen Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Tana French books Isak Dinesen books Libby Bray books The Diviners series by Libba Bray What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Monk by Matthew Lewis – Episode 61: Reads of 2019 – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Halle: Best Laid Plans by Lauren Blakely – Michael Connelly books Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter

We’re getting into the spirit of the season and talking about books to read in December. Afterward, we discuss what we’re reading this week. Happy Holidays from your friends at Well-Read! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Hallmark Countdown to Christmas Ann’s picks: Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews – Weezie and Bebe series by Mary Kay Andrews – Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews – Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews – Schitt’s Creek (TV) – Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews We Are Okay by Nina LaCour – Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand – My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows – A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Halle’s picks: Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory – Episode 55: Fall 2019 Book Preview – The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory One Day in December by Josie Silver Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak – The Family Stone (film) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Hiding

Sorry, everyone, but we were unable to record an episode this week. We will be back in two weeks with books about Christmas!

Ann and Halle once again tackle one of their very favorite bookish topics: books that have been adapted for the screen. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Big Little Lies (TV) "Books Boost Movie and Television Adaptation Success" (blog article) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (film) Box Office Mojo

In this very special Halloween episode, Ann and Halle discuss why witches are having a moment and suggest some spellbinding books for the season. They end with what they’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (TV) Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer Ann’s picks: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry – Emilio Estevez movies – Heathers (film) – The Craft (film) – The Breakfast Club (film) – Stranger Things (TV) – The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy – The Worst Witch (film) – Tim Curry movies I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem by Maryse Condé – Maryse Condé books Halle’s picks: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – All Souls Trilogy series by Deborah Harkness – All Souls Universe series by Deborah Harkness – A Discovery of Witches (TV) – Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon – ALA Annual Conference The Magicians by Lev Grossman – Magicians series by Lev Grossman – The Magicians (TV) – Harry Potter series by

Fall is peak publishing season for memoirs, and we've got you covered. Whether you like stories about celebrity life, everyday survival, food, or criminal justice, memoirs offer something for every taste. As always, we end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Still Life by Louise Penny Educated by Tara Westover Episode 55 - Fall 2019 Book Preview Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell Inside Out by Demi Moore Me by Elton John Ann’s picks: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling - The Office (TV) - Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV) - Matt Damon movies - Ben Affleck movies - The Mindy Project (TV) - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling - Yes Please by Amy Poehler - Reese Witherspoon movies Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson - Public Library Association (PLA) - Equal Justice Initiative - Just Mercy (film) Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguis

As the weather turns crisp and the leaves begin to change color, these are the books that put us in the right frame of mind for fall. As always, we end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Ann's picks: Still Life by Louise Penny - Three Pines series by Louise Penny The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - Dracula by Bram Stoker - The Witch Elm by Tana French A Wicked Way to Burn by Margaret Miles - Bracebridge Mystery series by Margaret Miles Halle's picks: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James - ALA RUSA CODES Reading List - Simone St. James books - The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy - Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Episode 55 - Fall 2019 Book Preview - The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern - Episode 28 - Our All-Time Favorites What We're Reading This Week: Ann: Rosema

Fall is the biggest season for publishing, and there are so many great books to choose from this year! Ann and Halle discuss what they're excited to read as the weather cools down, and they end with what they're reading this week. (Apologies for Ann's audio quality - sometimes things don't go right and you don't find out until you're editing!) Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ingram Content Group The Testaments by Margaret Atwood Ann's picks: The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (releases September 3) - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (releases September 24) - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Violet by Scott Thomas (releases September 24) The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith (releases October 1) - A Novel from Hell's Library series by A.J. Hackwith How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones (releases October 8) - Saeed Jones books - Roxane Gay books Ninth H

Hi! Remember when we used to be podcast friends? We sure do! Ann and Halle are back with an update over what’s been happening for the past two (!) years, and some of their favorite reads during that time. And of course, they’ll end with what they’re reading this week.    Books and other media mentioned in this episode: NoveList (check your local library) Parnassus Books Ann Patchett books Favorite Books of 2017 Favorite Books of 2018 ALA RUSA CODES Reading List Ann’s picks: The Witch Elm by Tana French – Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi and Joshua David Stein – Top Chef (TV) Halle’s picks: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne – A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – John Irving books City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Rules of Civility by Amor Towles – Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – Episode