Welcome to our very first Book-Ish Segment! Anne and Sarabeth—lifelong readers and narrative nerds—have been itching to dedicate an episode to the joy, function, and nuances of reading. In this conversation, we dive into our personal relationships with books: what we read, how we read, and how those habits have shifted over time. Of course, sitting in our life experiences as moms we also touch on fostering a love of reading with kiddos, and SB lends her professional experience on helping make that happen.
From audiobooks to graphic novels, ratty paperbacks to digital downloads, we celebrate the many valid ways to consume stories. There’s no one “right” way to be a reader—and no genre or format too niche to count.
We also explore how neurodivergence, particularly ADHD, can complicate traditional reading habits. Producer Tim, Sarabeth, and Anne share personal reflections and practical strategies—like reading while listening—to make books more accessible and enjoyable.
We talk:
- 📖 Reading for fun vs. reading for function
- 🧠 ADHD and attention struggles around reading
- 🎧 Multi-format strategies (audiobook + text = magic!)
- 🌈 Removing shame from your shelf—yes, that romance novel counts. As does audio books, graphic novels, reading is reading.
- 🪴 Rebuilding joy and choice into your reading life and for our kids
- 📚 Letting go of book guilt + embracing your TBR pile your way
And of course, we tackle the ultimate reader’s debate:
Do you finish every book you start, or are you at peace with abandoning a story mid-read?
Whether you’re a passionate page-turner or a recovering perfectionist learning to read for pleasure again—this episode is for you.
Links
Reading Theory:
Windows Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors Ted Talk by
Books as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors
Fostering love of reading in children/kid choice
Books and Authors we discuss (buckle up, it’s a doozy of a list!)
- Legendborn trilogy by Tracy Deonn
- Nicholas Sparks
- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
- Marissa Meyer: Heartless, Gilded, and the Cinder-Book One of the Lunar Chronicles
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
- The Giver by Lois Lowry and new release in graphic novel format
- Lore Olympus (graphic novel on Webtoon)
- The Guncle and the Guncle Abroad – Steven Rowley (Excellent on audio!!)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (affectionately ACOTAR) by Sarah J Maas
- Abby Jimenez
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
- We Need No Wings by Ann Dávila Cardinal
- A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
- The Women by Kristin Hannah
- Enneagram Books: The Road Back to You by Suzanne Stabile and Ian Morgan Cron and The Unfiltered Enneagram by Elizabeth Orr
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Childhood’s End and 2001 Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke
- Charles Dickens
- House of Mirth by Edith Warton
- Dean Koontz
- A Tale of Two Cities
- Jane Eyre
- Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn
- Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo
- The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Tere Lesesne
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
- Stephen King: The Stand, The Shining, The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption,On Writing, Eyes of the Dragon, Gunslinger, and SO MUCH MORE
- Kids Books: Amelia Bedelia, The Magic Tree House, Stellaluna, Verdi, Love Makes a Family
Reading Resources
- Public Library (ours is linked!)
- The Joy of Reading
- Webtoon
- Sora
- Libby and Hoopla (apps, use library card to access content on your tablet, smart phone, computer, or kindle)
- Local Independent Bookstores (Bookmarks and Book Ferret are our faves here!)
Recorded in the Omniverus Studios at Liberty Plaza, we are produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media.
Theme Music by Doug Davis.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
English