Would you go on a bookish vacation?

Send us a textHave you ever wondered why we have "summer reads" but not winter or spring or fall reads? We both had various associations with "summer reading," namely from being kids out of school and having the languorous expanse of the summer stretching out in front of us. But we wondered what is really behind this phenomenon. Join us to find out more and hear about our own summer TBR lists.-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:   Dragon Haven (Rain Wild Chronicles 2) by Robin HobbSwift and Saddled by (Rebel Blue Ranch #2) by Lyla SageMorbidly Yours by Ivy FairbanksThe Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin----------------------- Sources listed in the order they appear in the episode:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/books/a-brief-history-of-summer-reading.html https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5405022/fake-summer-reading-list-aihttps://lindac.substack.com/p/why-do-writers-use-ai https://lithub.com/50-of-the-greatest-summer-novels-of-all-time/ The Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textElizabeth just got back from a trip that included a day in the Original Book Town, Hay-on-Wye in Wales in the UK. It was adorable and she went to more bookstores than you can shake a stick at. It also made her wonder what other bookish vacations she could go on. When we started to dig into this idea for this episode, we found out that the answer is: a lot! Join us in daydreaming about bookish trips to literary festivals, literary museums, bookish hotels, famous libraries, a friends reading retreat, and more!-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:  Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (Rain Wild Chronicles #1)Voyage of the Basilisk–A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #3)84, Charing Cross Road by Helene HanffThe Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #3) ----------------------- Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hay-on-Wyehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_town https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/apr/26/10-worlds-best-book-towns-france-spain-south-korea-usa https://www.hayfestival.com/hay-on-wye/homehttps://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/tourism/bookshops https://themelodramaticbookworm.com/2023/07/18/bookish-places-on-my-travel-bucket-list/ https://www.buenosairesfreewalks.com/what-to-see/el-ateneo-bookstore/ https://www.cntraveler.com/story/book-fairs-to-travel-for https://bookriot.com/bookish-cities/ https://libraryhotel.com/en/ https://bookandbedtokyo.com/en/ https://www.hotelsylvia.com/ https://theeverygirl.com/reading-retreat-trip-idea/ The Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textHave you heard about the IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) in the news lately? An Executive Order in mid-March ordered it be "eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law" and there has been a lot of conversation about it since. But this agency was relatively low profile politically until recently, so many people might not know much about it. On this episode we talk about what the IMLS is, what it does (and what it does not do), its history and mission, what our communities stand to lose with its elimination, and what you can do to support libraries and museums. You won't want to miss this important and relevant conversation! -----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:  Murder in Postscript by Mary WintersTom Lake by Ann PatchettJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteThe Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #2)Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (The Inheritance Cycle #3) Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes ----------------------- Sources:Houpert, Cécile. 2019. “The New Role of Libraries: Places for All”. European Journal of Creative Practices in Cities and Landscapes 2 (2): 175–184. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2612-0496/10429 https://apnews.com/article/institute-doge-musk-museum-library-services-executive-order-trump-30ebde013ce3e9f97e2f4af72c869c0bhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Museum_and_Library_Serviceshttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-79/pdf/STATUTE-79-Pg845.pdfhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/21/trump-attack-libraries-devastatinghttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/ ----------------------- How to help:EveryLibrarThe Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textHave you ever wondered what it would be like to work in a bookstore? According to Rebecca, bookseller and events manager at the independent bookstore Fireside Books, who we interview for this episode, it's a lot like playing a video game! Join us to find out what she means by this, and also hear her talk about so many other interesting parts of her job, including how her work affects her reading, what it's like managing a book club, how her store and other indies are dealing with AI, and the things she wishes everyone knew about indie bookstores.(Side note: can someone actually develop a video game where we can play working in a bookstore?!)-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:   Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam ZhangThe Astrology House by Carinn JadeA Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie IrwinJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteThe Giver of Stars by Jojo MoyesWe All Live Here by Jojo Moyes Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros----------------------- Rebecca's book recommendations about indie bookstores:How to Resist Amazon and Why by Danny CaineHow to Protect Bookstores and Why: The Present and Future of Bookselling  by Danny Caine The Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textWe were planning to talk about our reading habits and rituals in this episode...but then Elizabeth heard an NPR podcast about how no one reads anymore, at the same time as Martha read multiple articles about how more people bought Rebecca Yarros' latest book than any adult book since records began and that thanks to TikTok, Barnes & Noble is opening more stores this year. We had to ask ourselves: how could both of these things be true?Join as we try to sort fact from moral panic, discuss the gendered media narratives around book releases by women authors and the loss of literary men, debunk an oft-repeated (even by us) statistic about reading, and ponder whether reading has indeed become a niche hobby. We do also, eventually, talk about the struggles we both face with reading and the habits and rituals we've developed to help fit reading into our lives.-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:   All Fours by Miranda July A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie IrwinThe Women by Kristin HannahI Ran Away to Evil 2 by Mystic NeptuneOnyx Storm by Rebecca YarrosThis is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone----------------------- Sources listed in the order they appear in the episode :https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1263527033Irwin, William. "Reading Audio Books." Philosophy and Literature 33, no. 2 (2009): 358-368. doi:10.1353/phl.0.0057.https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/03/romantasy-and-booktok-driving-a-huge-rise-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-saleshttps://www.newsnationnow.com/business/booktok-barnes-and-noble-60-stores/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/books/rebecca-yarros-onyx-storm.html https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/06/three-in-ten-americans-now-read-e-books/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/books/sally-rooney-intermezzo.html https://www.vox.com/culture/392971/men-readiThe Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textHave you ever wondered what it takes to be an audiobook narrator? Or is it perhaps your dream job like it is for Martha? In this episode, we interview audiobook narrator extraordinaire Laura Horowitz.Laura tells us how she got into the business, what a day in the life for an audiobook narrator looks like, how she connects with authors and fans, and what the rise of AI might mean for audiobook narrators like her. This interview was so fun and informative! It’s one you won’t want to miss.  -----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:  The Plated Prisoner series by Raven KennedyWings So Wicked by Emily Blackwood (Golden City #1)Blood So Brutal by Emily Blackwood (Golden City #2)Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltThe House Witch 2 by DelemhachWe Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley JacksonI Ran Away to Evil by Mystic Neptune The Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a text[Apologies, listeners! We're re-releasing this one because there was an audio glitch in the original episode. If you've already downloaded the episode from Wednesday, try this one instead!] Happy New Year! There are some beliefs, truisms, urban legends, myths, whatever you want to call them, about books and reading that seem like they just won't die. Do audiobooks really count as reading? Are all readers introverts? Has reading education in schools really gone downhill? Is learning to read a natural process that will just happen organically if we let it? We talk about all these questions and more. Join us for some bookish mythbusting to start the new year!-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:   The Paris Novel by Ruth ReichlThe House Witch by DelemhachThis is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max GladstoneLe Fay (Morgan Le Fay #2) by Sophie Keetch----------------------- Sources:  https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-biggest-myths-about-reading-booksFive Myths About Reading & How to Put Them to Death (goinswriter.com): https://goinswriter.com/reading-myths/Ten Myths About Learning to Read | Reading Rockets: https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/about-reading/articles/ten-myths-about-learning-readThe Myths About Reading We Need to Bust | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/myths-reading-we-need-bust-bitelyaiThe Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textHappy Holidays! We're bringing back our year-end reading round up. Join us as we talk about our year in reading, our favorite books of 2024, and what we're looking forward to reading in 2025. We also talk about how our conversation about goal-setting in January of this year impacted our years in reading (spoiler: profoundly and in a good way!) -----------------------Books we talk about in this episode:Books we're reading now:The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie LeongTower of Dawn by Sarah J MaasHeartburn by Nora Ephron2024 reads we haven't talked about on the podcast:The Familiar by Leah BardugoMorbidly Yours by Ivy FairbanksWe Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley JacksonDracula by Bram StokerConfessions of a Forty-Something Fuck Up by Alexandra PotterCurse of Penryth Hall by Jess ArmstrongThe Day of the Triffids by John WyndhamThe Hapless Milliner (Miss Austen Investigates #1) by Jessica BullKitchen by Banana YoshimotoOur favorite books of 2024:Elizabeth: Tie between Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltMartha: Tie between A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross and Nora Goes Off Script. Honorable mention to The House Witch series.Books on our TBRs for 2025:History Lessons by Zoe Wallbrook (July)The Lioness (Dec 2024) And The Trees Stare Back (YA) by Gigi Griffis (May)Heavy Hitter by Katie CotugnoAll Fours by Miranda JulyGreat Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (April)Stop Me If You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett (March)The Women by Kristin Hannah?Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros (Jan)Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (April)Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey (Feb)Ordinary Monsters by J.M. MiroWhen the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. ParkerThe Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textRomantic fantasies have taken the book world by storm in recent years, but fantasy stories that allow us to break free of the rules and limitations of our own world and reality are as old as human history. We wanted to learn more about the genre's history and its variations and sub-genres. What's the difference between fantasy and science fiction? Between high fantasy and low fantasy? What about all the sub-genres? Are Romantasy really something new or are they just a marketing ploy? How about cozy fantasy? Join us as we take a deep dive into fantasy and add lots of books to our TBR that will help us escape the current reality!-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie GarmusJust for the Summer by Abby JiménezAdelaide by Genevieve WheelerThe House Witch by Delemhach----------------------- Sources:https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-the-fantasy-genre-history-of-fantasy-and-subgenres-and-types-of-fantasy-in-literaturehttps://litjoycrate.com/a/blog/fantasy-book-tropes?srsltid=AfmBOoqZ5EBUD7-q8IYgOI0pTKRcyZmSfBLyexpqCVQrgkF8Mybxz7DQhttps://www.britannica.com/art/fantasy-narrative-genrehttps://bookriot.com/fantasy-sub-genre-primer/ Dassler, J. (2021). Women in Literature: The Impact of Feminism on Fantasy Literature, 1950-1990. International Social Science Review, 97(4), 1–20.Schlobin, R. C. (2011). Mendlesohn, Farah, and Edward James. A Short History of Fantasy. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, 22(2), 292+https://zipdo.co/book-sales-by-genre-statistics/https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/book-and-reading-statistics/https://fantasy-faction.com/2015/classic-female-fantasy-writershttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/27/sff-community-marion-zimmer-bradley-daughter-accuseThe Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!

Send us a textWhether or not you'll enjoy a book club depends a lot on your reading style, habits, and preferences. But if you're interested in joining a book club, there is truly one out there for everyone - different types, communities, themes, modalities, and more.Join us as we talk about our own experiences with book clubs (as both participants and moderators), the history of book clubs (which includes a lot more social activism than we expected!), celebrity book clubs, and how to find a book club that's right for you.-----------------------Books we're reading in this episode:A Date with Death by Julia Chapman (Dales Detective #1)A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie IrwinA Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen (Saga of the Unfated #1)The House Witch by Delemhach----------------------- Sources:Book Riot: https://bookriot.com/a-history-of-book-clubs/Medium: https://medium.com/the-mission/the-best-book-clubs-throughout-history-d45537334de0Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/03/27/womens-book-clubs-history-oprah-reese/Huffington Post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ladies-who-book-club-have-always-been-the-glue-of-resistance_n_595db02de4b02e9bdb0a3454NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/18/books/reese-witherspoon-book-club.html https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/book-clubs-and-book-commerce/3C50183E95136DAD1FC7FB51FD6E6A1E https://testprepinsight.com/resources/us-book-reading-statistics/https://thgmwriters.com/blog/global-book-reading-statistics-2022-2023-complete-survey-data/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/09/why-do-so-few-men-read-books-by-womenThe Write NoteExploring the craft of writing and its impact on pop culture.Listen on:   SpotifySupport the show----------------------- Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. And if you want to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.If you liked this episode, please consider leaving us a review to help us reach more listeners.And if you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.Read on!