Hey everyone, I'm Ann Bogle and this is What Should I Read Next, Episode 12.

Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader.

What should I read next? We don't get bossy on this show.

What we will do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read.

Every week we'll talk all things books and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one guest.

Before we do that, have you signed up for the What Should I Read Next newsletter?

Just go to WhatShouldIReadNextPodcast.com, slash newsletter, and subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

Today's guest is Kara Strickland, a food critic, writer, and former library worker in Spokane,

Washington. Kara and I talk about British versus American Chick-Lid,

relatable memoir, and the pros and cons of reading for a living. Let's get to it.

Kara, welcome to the show. Thank you, Ann. It's so good to be here.

Well, I can't wait to talk books with you, especially because I know in your past life you

worked at a library helping other readers figure out what to read next. So I hope you enjoy the

shoobying on the other foot today. Me too. Okay, let's start by talking a little about your reading

life. Kara, what do you like to read, and especially why do you read? Okay, so I think

that really at this point in my life, one of the main reasons that I read is for work. I do a lot

of book reviewing, and I do a lot of that sort of thing. I end up reading a lot, and then having

to do something with that information, which is probably exactly what my childhood self wanted.

I used to say that I wanted to be paid to read, and that's happening to me now, which is lovely.

I think that one of the things that I would like to do, gosh, that's another question, isn't it?

So I would like to do with my reading life is have the opportunity to read a little bit more for

pleasure and not feel like I need to be noting what quotes I need to tweet or what things would be

...