The To Read List Podcast

Well, Page-Os, after six years of irreverent book reviews, we have come to the end of The To Read List Podcast. In this, our final episode, we reminisce about our most loved (and most hated) books and share memorable moments from the pod's 150-episode run. We give out our final Bookend Awards, play a final Andrew game, and face the final Russian Rou-List. Plus, a mini-review from the podcast baby, Maggie! Thank you so much for listening. See you in the next chapter. Books books books!

THE BRIGHT SWORD by LEV GROSSMAN THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR by JEAN M. AUEL Du nuh nuh, nuh nuhhh (to the theme song of A Charlie Brown Christmas) Page-O's! It's our last review-centric episode, and boy howdy do we have some good ones. First Toby unsheathes his reviewing rapier to tackle Lev Grossman's new Arthurian epic The Bright Sword, then Bailey rakes her critical claws across the prehistoric potboiler (not really but I'm having fun here) The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. All this plus a time-centric game from Andrew, a pod poll on the new Sally Rooney, and an air of ending and vague sadness that's perfect for fall! Tell people your tears are cold wind related!

HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams   In our 148th episode, Andrew covers not one, not two, but three books! That's right, it's HIS DARK MATERIALS week on the pod. Will Andrew be captivated by this classic, which Toby reveres? And just in case you were worried that we didn't have enough touchstone works of fiction for children featuring animals, Bailey dives into WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams. There's also a healthy heaping of speed reading discussion, sassy author quotes, and capybaras - aka something for everyone!   *If you'd like to have your voice on our last episode, please send a voice note of your best "Books, books, books!" to our email - more info in the episode!

THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER by Gene Wolfe / A SEPARATE PEACE by John Knowles Why, hello, Page-os. We apologize for the delay with this episode's release--we had an important announcement to make, and we wanted to do it right. Also, Bailey's been traveling and totally messing with the recording schedule. Shame! After our bittersweet announcement, Toby reads a book written by someone named Gene about a man remembering his glory days, and Bailey reads a book written by a man about someone named Gene remembering his glory days. Add in the keywords "high fantasy" and "World War II," and you get THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER and A SEPARATE PEACE! We also discuss an imaginary friend and torture Andrew with academia. Enjoy! xo

ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE by ROBIN HOBB THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS by URSULA K LE GUIN All hail King Smart, Page-O's! This episode is a genre fiction double-shot as Andrew checks out the Six Duchies and lets us know what he thought of Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice (Toby has opinions). Meanwhile, Bailey travels light years away to the planet of Gethen and evaluates The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin (Toby has even MORE opinions). All these Toby opinions, plus a game that pits your hosts against each other in a battle of wits to see who can serve King Thinks Good best!

THE GUEST by Emma Cline / THE PROSPECTS by K.T. Hoffman This week, we review the classic film BULL DURHAM...I mean...we review books! After Toby writhes in the tense discomfort of Emma Cline's THE GUEST, Bailey joins the minor league with THE PROSPECTS, a romantic sports comedy featuring a bevy of trans joy. Finally, Andrew takes us out to the ballgame by testing our knowledge of ridiculous mascots. Will anyone make The Show? What is The Show? Why are we still talking about The Show? All this and more will be revealed...maybe.

SLEEPING MURDER & A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED by Agatha Christie / THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott   Miss Marple has entered the chat! This week our valiant hosts cover not one - but two! - Agatha Christie mysteries, SLEEPING MURDER and A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED. Will they solve the crime before the murderer strikes again?? And - if that wasn't enough intrigue for you - Bailey read a twisty thriller of her own, Megan Abbott's THE TURNOUT. There's also an unhealthy amount of love for a certain non-fiction book, a bizarro game, and Andrew is... a bit of a butthead about ballet.  

GHOSTS by Edith Warton / FAMILY MEAL by Bryan Washington Set your plates and don your capes, Page-O's! This week on the pod Toby dives into GHOSTS by Edith Wharton, which is, well, maybe you can guess what it is. Bailey dines on FAMILY MEAL by Bryan Washington, Andrew serves up a game of ghostly food, and all the hosts absolutely tear apart the New York Times' Top 100 Books of the 21st Century!

TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN by John Green / THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward In today's new episode, Andrew tries desparately to make John Green notice him, while Bailey tries desperately not to spoil the book she spoiled for herself. Plus, Bailey shares the shameful result of a trip to a romance bookstore, Andrew brags about his dream SSR vacation, and Dillon leads us down the turtle-hole with the hardest game ever. Enjoy! 

THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD (and RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA) by Arthur C. Clarke / ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. by Judy Blume Fellow "pleasures to have in class," join us this week for Toby's rollercoaster of a review plus a short journey through Bailey's puberty. First, Toby surprises us all with a review of the film ARMAGEDDON...oh wait, we mean the sci-fi classic RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA by Arthur C. Clarke! Then, Bailey tries to relate to an eleven-year-old when she finally reads the seminal coming of age novel ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. We have time to share our non-book-buying shame, to give ourselves report card comments, and to play a game identifying all the Daisys...oh wait, we mean Margarets!