Ep 506: A new way to think about your reading in the coming year

What Should I Read Next?

Anne Bogel

Books, Arts, Leisure

4.8 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today's guest has been participating in reading challenges for nearly a decade, and she's putting a unique spin on this tradition in 2026 that you'll hear about today. Callie Dean lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, where in addition to reading she enjoys playing the violin in the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, writing children's books, and running and baking. Reading challenges aren't for every reader, but Anne wanted to talk about Callie's 2026 project because it sounds like fun and might help get you thinking about what you want from your own reading life in the year to come. Callie's challenge is both highly structured and incredibly flexible: in the new year, Callie's hoping to read one book that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Today she and Anne talk about the surprisingly difficult challenge parameters and the books Callie's already identified. Then, Anne fills in some of Callie's gaps in her 2026 reading alphabet, aiming to help her strike a delightful balance of topics, genres, and authors. The long list of titles mentioned today is collected over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/506. The Modern Mrs. Darcy shop is full of great last-minute gifts. Treat your favorite reader to a present inspired by your shared love of reading, like our sturdy tote, gorgeous journals, or reading accessories. Anne's book journals My Reading Life and My Reading Adventures—designed with the young reader in mind—make a great gift for any style of reader, any time of year, but especially with the new year upon us. And for a truly last-minute gift with no shipping required, give a membership to the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. Find out more and shop our in-stock selection at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is kind of what I'm thinking, but tell me what you're thinking.
0:03.7	I think you have nailed exactly what I'm going for.
0:07.0	A little bit of everything.
0:09.2	A little bit of everything.
0:14.6	Hey, readers. I'm Anne Vogel, and this is What Should I Read Next?
0:20.8	Welcome to the show that's dedicated
0:22.7	to answering the question that plagues
0:24.7	every reader. What should I
0:26.8	read next? We don't get
0:28.5	bossy on the show. What we will do
0:30.6	here is give you the information you need
0:32.7	to choose your next read. Every week
0:34.7	we'll talk all things books and reading and do
0:36.6	a little literary matchmaking
0:38.0	with one guest.
0:46.3	Readers, with the end of the year only weeks away, we still have great last minute gifts in our
0:51.0	modern Mrs. Darcy's shop. Treat your favorite reader to a present
0:54.3	inspired by your shared love of reading, like our sturdy tote, gorgeous journals, reading
0:59.5	accessories like book darts, or delightfully nerdy pencils and stickers. We also have signed copies
1:04.9	of my books available, which I'd be happy to personalize any way you'd like. My book journal,
1:10.0	my reading life, makes a great gift for
1:11.7	any style of reader, any time of year, but especially with the new year upon us. And for the kids in
	...

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