Today’s guest is Susan Meissner, a historical fiction author based in the Pacific Northwest. You might know Susan from books like Only the Beautiful and The Nature of Fragile Things: Susan is also a reader and listener and today she's here to talk with Anne about her readerly dilemma.
Susan writes character-driven, historical fiction: sometimes books like hers are described as “quiet” and she’s okay with that. Susan knows what she loves to write and what she loves to read. But lately, there have been whispers in the industry that this kind of “quieter” historical fiction is not what readers want right now. Instead, today’s readers are seeking out short, snappy, and plotty books. At least, that’s the conventional industry wisdom these days. So what does that mean for Susan and everyone else loves to read and write "quiet" books?
As a lover of these types of books herself, Anne's been mulling over Susan's query, and in today's conversation, they unpack the quiet novel and discuss its place in today’s literary landscape. They dive into questions like what it even means to call a book “quiet” and whether readers have indeed lost their appetite for them, before sharing titles that are highly character-driven while also offering incredibly compelling plots. Whether you know you like quiet books or aren't quite sure, today's show is sure to pique your curiosity.
Find the full list of titles discussed today and share your thoughts (and book recommendations) with Susan on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/423.
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Ep 313: Books that stand the test of time
Ep 312: Everyone needs a book box
Ep 311: Reading is LIFE!
Ep 310: Big books that are worth the effort
Ep 309: I don't know what I like to read!
Ep 308: The crowd goes wild for these perennial favorites
Ep 307: Writers start as readers
Ep 306: You don't read in a vacuum
Ep 305: Read yourself like a book
Ep 304: Your trusty list of bookish gifts
Ep 303: Reading for thrills and chills
Ep 302: Books you can believe in
Ep 301: Ask Anne Anything
Ep 300: How good it is to be among people who are reading!
Ep 299: Playing genre hopscotch
Ep 298: A reading life without regrets
Ep 297: Right book, wrong time
Ep 296: Backlist and brunch
Ep 295: Unleash your pent-up book energy
Ep 294: Dickens ruined my reading life
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