Ep 229: Works of literary fabulousness

Why do some books with heavy topics leave you feeling uncomfortable, while other books tackling difficult subject matter make you feel understood and connected to humankind? Today, guest Mandy Lambert and host Anne Bogel pick apart the ingredients of Mandy's favorite and least favorite books to discover the subtle difference between a hard book that pays off in the end, and a hard book that’s just… hard. Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/229 You can hear more from Mandy on her blog: thisbrightlife.home.blog Bonus episodes for you: Readers, it is a difficult and confusing time. So this past week, we released two bonus episodes on Patreon to meet you where you are, plus some special events. The first bonus episode is available to everyone. It's a book recommendation that has helped Anne during times of great loss and grief, and we think a lot of readers could use it in their life right now. Give it a listen at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext/posts, and feel free to share it with readers and other loved ones in your life. Second, a patron-exlusive episode recommending 5 happy, hopeful reads, something many of you have written in to tell us you need right now. You can find this exclusive episode at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext/posts, along with 31 other bonus episodes and livestream replays! Finally, if you are looking for bookish community during an isolated time, now is a wonderful time to check out everything happening in our Patreon community. We are holding our quarterly Spring livestream on April 9th, which is a community get-together with Anne and Brenna to chat about what we've been reading off our home bookshelves, and share recommendations with other readers. We hope you can will join us! Thanks to this week's sponsors:Rothy’s is the company making stylish shoes and bags for women and girls out of recycled plastic water bottles. They’re stylish, sustainable, comfortable, and even washable—really! Get your own at Rothys.com/READNEXT. If you need something engaging to fill your days, now is the perfect time to sign up for The Great Courses Plus. Become a better news consumer with Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy. Or keep the kids learning about math, science, and history while they’re out of school. WSIRN listeners get a free trial at TheGreatCoursesPlus.com, and it’s only $10 a month when you sign up for a quarterly plan! The simple addition of a new towel turns a bathroom into a spa, softer loungewear turns function into luxury, and quality bedding turns a bed into a retreat. Turn your own space into an oasis with 10% off your first order and free shipping at Brooklinen.com when you use promo code READNEXT!