Currently Reading

Season 8, Episode 25: Get Your Eyes Checked + All Things Special Editions

January 26, 2026

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  • The hosts launched a 'What is your reader type?' quiz on the Currently Reading website, which has already been taken by thousands of listeners. 
  • The discussion on special editions highlighted that while subscription boxes set the initial high bar, mainstream releases like *Fourth Wing* popularized highly decorated hardbacks, leading to a market saturation where 'if everything is special, then nothing is special.' 
  • Meredith's fountain wish advised listeners experiencing reading slumps to get their eyes checked, as a recent prescription change significantly improved her reading enjoyment. 

Segments

Bookish Moments and Reader Type Quiz
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(00:01:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts launched a ‘What is your reader type?’ quiz on the Currently Reading website, revealing four distinct, relatively evenly spread reader profiles.
  • Summary: Kaytee shared her goal to reinvigorate her bookstagram by posting every finished book alongside her 3D-printed reading counter. Meredith highlighted the launch of the ‘What is your reader type?’ quiz on the podcast website, noting the results have been surprisingly spread across the four defined types. Meredith also recommended the Smithsonian’s ‘Side Door’ podcast, specifically an episode on ‘The Golden Age of Arsenic’ for fans of historical mysteries.
Current Reads: Kaytee’s Picks
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(00:06:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Kaytee highly recommended Daria Lavelle’s debut novel, Aftertaste, as a fast-paced, food-based thriller involving a protagonist who can commune with the dead through flavor profiles.
  • Summary: Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle follows Kosya, who harnesses the power to connect the living with the deceased via crafted drinks, pulling him into the intense New York City culinary scene involving mobsters and high stakes. Kaytee rated it 4.25 stars, enjoying its thriller elements more than a saccharine afterlife story. Kaytee also praised Darcy Coates’ Voices in the Snow as a propulsive, genre-blending horror novel featuring apocalyptic horror and gothic atmosphere, giving it 4.25 stars.
Current Reads: Meredith’s Picks
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(00:16:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith found Heather Cox Richardson’s Democracy Awakening necessary for understanding the historical trajectory leading to current political issues, despite it not being a ‘fun’ read.
  • Summary: Meredith rated Democracy Awakening highly (4.5 to 5 stars), appreciating how Heather Cox Richardson connects the Founding Fathers through the 20th century to explain current events concisely. Meredith also championed Wendy Cope’s poetry collection, Two Cures for Love, calling it her favorite poetry book so far due to its accessible, witty, and emotionally ranging tone. Finally, Meredith loved For Whom the Belle Tolls by JC Lynn as a cozy fantasy romance about a woman who organizes the afterlife/hell after dying of cancer, noting its strong found family themes.
Deep Dive: Special Editions
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(00:35:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The proliferation of special editions, accelerated by titles like Fourth Wing, forces readers to choose which books warrant the premium price based on personal significance or desired features like sprayed edges or bonus content.
  • Summary: The hosts noted that special editions have moved from being exclusive to subscription boxes (like OwlCrate or Fairyloot) to being widely available in retail stores, often featuring sprayed edges or unique covers. They agreed that while more attention on printed books is positive, they prioritize buying special editions only for books they have already read and loved, like Louise Penny’s Still Life anniversary edition. The ideal special edition, according to the hosts, includes unique internal content, such as bonus chapters or author notes, rather than just external cosmetic changes.
Fountain Wishes
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(00:46:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Kaytee pressed listeners to read Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, connecting its theme of questioning authority (supervillain side) to Meredith’s read about organizing the afterlife (For Whom the Belle Tolls).
  • Summary: Kaytee strongly recommended Hench as an emotional support book for those who enjoy dark humor and questioning justice, noting its themes resonate with those who root for complicated villains. Meredith’s wish was a practical health reminder: if reading feels difficult or tiring, listeners should check their eyesight, as a recent prescription update greatly improved her enjoyment of reading. The hosts also teased upcoming changes to the Fountain segment.