Currently Reading

Season 8, Episode 10: Squeeze Your Tenders + When Reading Gets Dangerous

October 6, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts celebrated the news that Louise Penny is writing a new Three Pines book, fulfilling a major bookish wish for Meredith. 
  • The episode featured strong recommendations, including *The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon* (Volumes 1 & 2) by Beth Brower, which was highly praised for its audio performance and charming, witty narrative. 
  • The 'Deep Dive' segment humorously explored various physical dangers associated with reading, ranging from paper cuts and eye strain to the specific, bizarre injury of 'squeezing your tenders' by closing a book too fast. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Housekeeping
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(00:00:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts introduce themselves and outline the episode structure, which includes current reads, a deep dive on reading dangers, and a visit to the fountain.
  • Summary: Meredith Schwartz and Katie Cobb welcome listeners to the Currently Reading podcast, emphasizing their commitment to strong opinions and spoiler-free book talk. The episode agenda is set to cover bookish moments, current reads, a deep dive, and fountain wishes. Katie mentions sustaining a minor injury that informs the deep dive topic: when reading gets physically dangerous.
Patreon Promotion and Community
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(00:01:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The Bookish Friends Facebook and Discord groups, exclusive to $5/month Patreon supporters, are highlighted as thriving, supportive communities where members actively provide recommendations.
  • Summary: The hosts dedicate the first ad slot to promoting their Patreon community, emphasizing the value of the supportive Facebook and Discord groups. These communities are described as self-feeding gardens where members offer excellent book recommendations and emotional support. Supporting at the $5 level grants access to this community, bonus content, and keeps the main show commercial-free.
Bookish Moments of the Week
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(00:05:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith experienced immense joy upon learning that Louise Penny is writing a new Three Pines book, while Kaytee celebrated recording the October Indie Press List with Stephanie Skis of Novel Neighbor and recommended the picture book Don’t Trust Fish.
  • Summary: Meredith’s bookish moment was the confirmation from Louise Penny that she is writing the next Three Pines novel, alleviating long-term stress about the series ending. Kaytee highlighted recording the October Indie Press List episode with Stephanie Skis from Novel Neighbor, calling it ‘spooky season gold.’ Kaytee also enthusiastically recommended the hilarious picture book Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, suitable for ages two to twelve.
Meredith’s Current Reads
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(00:09:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon (Volumes 1 & 2) by Beth Brower is a highly recommended, binge-worthy audio experience blending Jane Austen charm with Gilmore Girls wit and light magical realism.
  • Summary: Meredith is obsessed with The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon by Beth Brower, which follows 20-year-old Emma navigating Victorian London society with a modern sensibility. The audio version, narrated by Genevieve Gaunt, is essential, featuring masterfully distinct character voices, including a hilarious portrayal of the cousin Archibald. The book is described as a perfect, charming ‘puttering book’ with enough intrigue to keep listeners engaged.
Kaytee’s Current Reads
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(00:15:57)
  • Key Takeaway: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh is a compelling, reality TV-themed thriller that can be read out of order within its DC Morgan series, while The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown was disappointing due to excessive repetition and length.
  • Summary: Kaytee read A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh, a thriller about contestants on a survival reality show whose secrets are threatened to be exposed live, which she enjoyed despite the large cast of characters. Conversely, Kaytee rated The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown poorly (2 to 2.5 stars), criticizing its nearly 700-page length and repetitive plot points, suggesting the author has become stagnant in his writing techniques.
Meredith’s Second Current Read
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(00:32:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Wilding Hall by Elizabeth Hand is a short, atmospheric novella perfect for spooky season that blends horror, rock memoir, and ghost story elements through a documentary-style interview structure.
  • Summary: Meredith highly recommends Wilding Hall by Elizabeth Hand, which details the mysterious disappearance of a new frontman from the band Windhollow Fair at a remote English manor in 1972. The narrative is constructed through later interviews, forcing the reader to piece together conflicting accounts and experience creeping dread rather than jump scares. It is compared favorably to a mashup of Daisy Jones and the Six meeting Shirley Jackson.
Kaytee’s Third Current Read
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(00:38:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Best Hex Ever by Nadia El Fassi is a lighthearted, spicy, witchy romance set around a lavish English wedding, offering cozy fall vibes without any genuine scariness.
  • Summary: Kaytee enjoyed Best Hex Ever by Nadia El Fassi, featuring a kitchen witch whose pastries are infused with magic but whose love life is cursed. The romance blossoms between the witch, Dina, and the handsome new museum curator, Scott, during a wedding weekend at an English estate complete with a hedge maze. The book is rated 3.5 to 4 chili peppers for spice and is characterized as fun, cozy fall reading.
Deep Dive: Reading Dangers
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(00:42:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Physical injuries from reading include common issues like paper cuts and eye strain, but also more unusual risks such as developing ‘Popeye arms’ from heavy books or suffering concussions from falling hardbacks.
  • Summary: The hosts catalog various physical dangers associated with reading, starting with paper cuts and progressing to tendonitis, nearsightedness, and headaches. More extreme examples include dropping heavy books on one’s face or foot, or developing muscle strain from holding heavy volumes. Meredith shared specific injuries, including back strain from reaching for a Kindle and temporary eye muscle fatigue from reading too long with only one eye open.
Fountain Wishes
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(00:51:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith wished for more authors to adopt the ‘volume’ format, similar to Beth Brower’s Emma M. Lyon series, as it offers low-commitment entry points while allowing for deep immersion, echoing Dickensian serialization.
  • Summary: Meredith wished for more books to be released in volumes, finding that this format makes a long series feel less daunting and allows for easier palette cleansing between installments. Kaytee supported this, noting the concept feels fresh, reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ serialized writing style. Kaytee’s wish was to press An Immense World by Ed Yong into listeners’ hands, praising its ability to make complex animal perception science accessible without condescension.