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 393: What makes you a "real" reader?
Ep 392: Insightful and entertaining memoirs
Ep 391: Habits of a happy reader
Ep 390: Audiobooks for the longest flight of your life
Ep 389: Anne and Will’s European reading adventures
Ep 388: Books that take you off the beaten path
Ep 387: Books that feel like a vacation for your brain
Ep 386: Your ticket to unexplored genres
Ep 385: A summer of European reading
Ep 384: Reading for pleasure, not productivity
Ep 383: Juicy, big-hearted family novels
Ep 382: How your favorite books become shows and movies
Ep 381: Past and Present Summer Reading Guide favorites
Ep 380: Behind the Scenes of the Summer Reading Guide
Ep 379: An "impossible" travel reading project
Ep 378: (Mostly) YA books that surprise and stretch me
Ep 377: What NOT to read next
Ep 376: Bookstore confidential
Ep 375: Short novels that contain whole worlds
Ep 374: Gripping, page-turny narrative nonfiction
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