Why do some books with heavy topics leave you feeling uncomfortable, while other books tackling difficult subject matter make you feel understood and connected to humankind? Today, guest Mandy Lambert and host Anne Bogel pick apart the ingredients of Mandy's favorite and least favorite books to discover the subtle difference between a hard book that pays off in the end, and a hard book that’s just… hard.
Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/229
You can hear more from Mandy on her blog: thisbrightlife.home.blog
Bonus episodes for you:
Readers, it is a difficult and confusing time. So this past week, we released two bonus episodes on Patreon to meet you where you are, plus some special events.
The first bonus episode is available to everyone. It's a book recommendation that has helped Anne during times of great loss and grief, and we think a lot of readers could use it in their life right now. Give it a listen at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext/posts, and feel free to share it with readers and other loved ones in your life.
Second, a patron-exlusive episode recommending 5 happy, hopeful reads, something many of you have written in to tell us you need right now. You can find this exclusive episode at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext/posts, along with 31 other bonus episodes and livestream replays!
Finally, if you are looking for bookish community during an isolated time, now is a wonderful time to check out everything happening in our Patreon community. We are holding our quarterly Spring livestream on April 9th, which is a community get-together with Anne and Brenna to chat about what we've been reading off our home bookshelves, and share recommendations with other readers. We hope you can will join us!
Thanks to this week's sponsors:
Rothy’s is the company making stylish shoes and bags for women and girls out of recycled plastic water bottles. They’re stylish, sustainable, comfortable, and even washable—really! Get your own at Rothys.com/READNEXT.Ep 253: A whole bunch of book recs, from our team of readers to you
Ep 252: Books that send you racing to Google
Ep 251: I love books and books love me back
Ep 250: I want a book that reads like a love letter
Ep 249: Who would read the dictionary for fun? (we would)
Ep 248: Reading on island time
Ep 247: Finding the common thread in two friends' wildly different TBRs
Ep 246: Does your reading life need a mid-year checkup?
Ep 245: Finding the right mix for your reading life
Ep 244: You love to read–don’t ruin it
Ep 243: Predicting the next great American classic
Ep 242: Sharing Good Reads with good friends
Ep 241: Memoirs, milk cows, and reading on horseback
Ep 240: Saving the world, one series at a time
Ep 239: The read-alike problem
Ep 238: Windows, mirrors, and why We Need Diverse Books
Ep 237: When the library is closed, what's a reader to do?
Ep 236: What SHOULDN'T I read next?
Ep 235: A crate full of summer reads
Ep 234: The recipe for a delicious summer read
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