Victoria and Laura WTRN

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Laura Yamin: Hi Victoria. Welcome to What your next podcast.

Victoria Wood: Hi, Laura. So nice to be back. It kind of feels like I haven't been home in such a long time.

Laura Yamin: I know I was actually, we had an episode with Francesca and I told the listeners that the reason why I'm no longer noble, our is not dramatic. We're still friends, we still talk to each other. It was that I had a job. I had to show

Victoria Wood: Yes.

Laura Yamin: but you guys are still going every Thursday at 12 o'clock. New episodes, new bookish tea, new bookish information, recommendations and everything,

Victoria Wood: yeah, it's still happening. Listen, the day job will day job. It is mad. So we get it. But listen, people, we talk every day, every week, okay.

Laura Yamin: Yeah, because we were like nosy, like, are they like not friends anymore? I'm like no. We are still friends. We still talk, we still see each other, so, and honestly like having you back, 'cause you guys were pretty much our content for the past year 'cause I kept hearing no hour. They probably have heard you and heard your [00:01:00] recommendations, but Victoria's my resident classics.

It what's new in literary fiction, what's new and genre said I typically don't do, and I really appreciate Victor's take on things, especially making classics like easy to understand for a reader, like someone who may be intimidated by them, you actually make them more palatable and actually an enjoyable experience.

Victoria Wood: Oh, I appreciate that. I really do think people have a preconceived notion when it comes to the classics that it is hard, it's intimidating, it's boring. And look, some of that might be true, but I think if you have a really great entry point, it can really change your life. So we do have beginner friendly classics.

We have other exciting classics that are also seasonal. I do think some classics hit. Better when you read it at a certain time of year. So yeah, we're gonna get into all of that today too.

Laura Yamin: Yeah, so today we're doing December. 'cause as many listeners will understand, I've been celebrating Christmas as of November 1st. And Victoria had to yell at me 'cause I really [00:02:00] wanna put my Christmas tree this week when we're recording, which is Halloween week. And they're like, you gotta wait. You gotta wait.

Victoria Wood: Yes, wait till at least November 1st, like I am all for celebrating Christmas early and long because truth is, especially when you put things up, you won it around for a while. But November 1st, everyone. November 1st.

Laura Yamin: Yes. So let's start some recommendations. Yeah. Yourself, you got from adult real loud. You got one book a week, December, you got a book that directs you and some December classics,

Victoria Wood: yeah.

Laura Yamin: probably beyond the Christmas Carol. So.

Victoria Wood: Yes, we are going beyond the Christmas Carol today, though I will mention a Christmas Carol. However, I kind of feel like classics are really important to read now. I think classics are hitting different because I think we're all craving a kind of quiet that, or present day modern life doesn't give us, but classics can give us, it can give us that escape because they were written for a slower time.

Candlelight readings. Silence. And when you really had time to [00:03:00] linger on what these words really said. So I do reread a Christmas Carol every December. All right, I am. I'm that person. I'm just always struck by how relevant it still feels. I do think Dickens wasn't just writing about Scrooge. Okay.

I do think he was writing about fear of regret and just obsession with productivity, which, hello, we are all trying to be super productive today and just longing to feel connected again. There's so many other themes, but I'm just gonna leave it with those three. So I do revisit a Christmas Carol Bot. I do think a lit little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

I think that also hits different during the Christmas time and the winter months. So don't feel bad if you don't get to it by Christmas. But in that book, we do get those early Christmas chapters with the March sisters and them deciding to spend, some of their money to help another family instead of buying gifts for themselves.

And I think it really leans into the true meaning of the season, kind of vibes, helping others and not. Just necessarily enriching ourselves. Plus again, it's Jesus' [00:04:00] birthday. But every time I reread little women, I really do think about what we are missing in terms of like the joy of giving without expecting.

Earlier this year though, I revisited persuasion by Jane Austen. And I do think that book hits different the older I get. I was definitely a Pride and Prejudice. Girly though. Full transparency. I'm a Rebecca by Daphne du Morrie, Gurley, Jane Eyre, girly, very dark classics, girly. But I always appreciated Pride and Prejudice.

But the older I get, I think I'm connecting with Anne Elliot a lot more. And I do think persuasion is a good classic to kind of really get into during. The Christmas season, just seeing her quiet longing, it feels very modern as well. And she really reminds me that, being patient and being gentle and resilient.

So those are things that never go outta style. If you want something short, but also perfect, you have to read the gift of the Maggie. Okay? Some people say Magi, Maggie. Regardless. It's by O Henry.[00:05:00]

I do think that still captures the spirit of Christmas better than anything I've read. It's simple, but every time I just, I feel it gets me. It really does get me. But I'm curious, Laura, do you have a Christmas classic that you maybe have reread, you might not have to reread it every year, but just something that really you think of when it comes to Christmas.

Laura Yamin: I actually I live in New York City and actually I've been to the bar where the Gift of Magic was written. I actually, it's a cute little bar. Can this picture in my, it's a corner bar and near Gramercy Park, which is this beautiful neighborhood where there's like a locked new park and I was like, oh yes, I been, I actually had eaten in that place and it's like commemorated and everything. So, but I would say little of women has been the book that I the classic epi kids coming back on and on. I read it in high school and then I read it in college and I read it like a few years later and I find it, I haven't seen adaptations 'cause I feel like it's hard to watch an [00:06:00] adaptation of something that feels like special. It's a book that I share with my grandmother. Who really pushed forward like women's literature, like women's voices and especially in history. I studied that in history and it was like a great place to see the mark sisters grow. I appreciate some of the retellings about the Mark sisters in this contemporary world and what would they do? And it's kinda like a fun little thing, but I think little women is the one that I actually, the classic that I can keep going back to.

Victoria Wood: Oh, I love that. I mean, that's the thing with class. Six. I just feel like they're little mini time machines. They take us back to either the time we first read them or when we went somewhere and just interacted with the text. I also think adaptations when they come out, it's a great time of resurgence, of classics.

I watch the latest little women adaptation. I haven't watched the older ones, and I really enjoyed the production. It was great. And every time I talk to someone about a Christmas Carol, they're always telling me, they rediscover something new.

So this new classic [00:07:00] that Joss really hit me in a different way. It really got me, had me in my fields is the Bird's Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin. So I actually found this book by happenstance. I do frequent, friends of the library, bookstores used bookstores, estate sales, charity shops, wherever I can find them.

I always be aligned to the book section and I found this very slim, kind of all tattered kind of book. I really wasn't gonna pick it up, but I was like, I've never heard of this. Let me grab it just in case I can't find something fancy and new to replace it. And I was so happy I did because it's about a little girl named Carol Bird.

Okay. She's born on Christmas Day. She radiates kindness even though her health is declining, 'cause she's not doing well, she's ill. She decides to throw a Christmas dinner for this family next door who are not really doing well financially right now. And it's just very beautiful and devastating at the same time because again, this girl is kind of going through her own thing, but she's also being very [00:08:00] thoughtful.

So, there's this moment at the end. I really don't wanna spoil it. It's just, it's so good. But seeing her family kind of gather around. This particular Christmas morning, it was just, it was heartwarming. Okay. It pulled out my heartstrings. And again, I'm not a crier, very stoic here, but it was written with such tenderness that I really had to stop reading at bits because, it hit me now it is short.

Okay. It is also in the public domain, by the way, so you can get your hands on a copy. Now. I feel privileged that I found this copy. 'Cause again, it's that old, it's from the 18 hundreds. It is bittersweet, but I think, if you are looking for something new and different, that's definitely the book.

But other books that have that similar vibe are The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. I think that will wreck you every single time. I'm a big Beatriz Potter fan. And Beatriz Potter has the tailor of Gloucester. Yeah, that one also has a quiet redemption arc that is. Also emotional as well.

[00:09:00] And I know those aren't your, typical classics, but has a book ever made you cry? Like, don't leave me hanging here. Okay. Don't leave me hanging.

Laura Yamin: I do. hate crying, so it's, and I hate crying because it is

Victoria Wood: Yeah.

Laura Yamin: something, and I don't like to have that emotion. But yes it is a really tough way because if someone sells me, the book is like, this book is gonna rock you. I'm gonna like, I have to be in a certain mood, a certain thing. And so intimidates me 'cause I have to tap in those feelings.

And so I'm less likely to pick it up. But there's times where you kind of need to have that cathartic cry, and you gotta feel the feelings that, one of my biggest gripe is when they kill off the character in the last chapter, like a main character. And there's no resolution. And I mean, I need to have resolution for myself and for the characters, how they're gonna interact. And so I have to know, is someone gonna die? Same goes with a pet if a pet dies. No, do not

Victoria Wood: I know.

Laura Yamin: sorry. Like I care about pets just as much as a family [00:10:00] member

Victoria Wood: Mm-hmm.

Laura Yamin: Like they're part of the family. They have unconditional love. And so I have to be in a certain right mood to be and be warned that I am gonna be wrecked,

Victoria Wood: Yeah.

Laura Yamin: need to I should not read this in an airport, an airplane or a.

Victoria Wood: No, and listen, I'm giving everyone fair warning, it will wreck you. When I really think about it, I think we have negative associations with like crying because of like how we were raised, because I know that was definitely the case for me, but my husband's always like, listen, you need to cry. You need to let it all out there.

So you know, now I'm in a very cry encourag. Space. But before we kind of get too sappy, let's talk about something joyful. I do have some joyful books that bring the Christmas magic back, especially when you're reading with the little ones. I do wanna share like some really great read aloud books for children.

So if you have children, yourself, nieces, nephews, cousins, you could be a teacher in the classroom. Any way you're interacting with children, I feel there's no better way to build memories than [00:11:00] Christmas read alouds. I have fond memories during Christmas being read too, and that is something I also do today still.

So of course, easy win is a Polar Express by Chris Van Allensburg. That one is always a winner. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. You can't go wrong with that. The night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore. All of these take under 15 minutes. So this is a quick win because I know we're super busy in our lives, but just take that extra 15 minutes with the littles because I think the magic in their lives will last a lot longer.

I also like the idea of maybe doing a story per night that can also be fun. So by Christmas morning you would've shared. A whole 25 stories and 25 little moments, and I just think those are perfect time capsules of togetherness. But as always, those are the popular ones. But I do wanna share some others you might not know.

There's Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry. It is so clever and joyful. There's also the Toton [00:12:00] by Astrid Lindgrin. That one feels like a snow globe dream. Lots of fun. The year of the Perfect Christmas tree by Gloria Houston is so heartfelt. It's a heartfelt story of just love and sacrifice, but also fun.

And if you have toddlers, okay, we have toddlers in the family. We wish you a Merry Christmas is always a great singer along, and they're barely pronouncing the words, but it's okay. Just let them clap, let them sing and mouth the words. I think it's a fun time because again, this is something they will remember.

Do you have like family memories? I know you said your nan. And you and little women did y'all read along or have any fun traditions growing up?

Laura Yamin: No, unfortunately was an interesting childhood and so we didn't, I was encouraged to read when I discovered reading and it was like an solitary escape for me. But it's interesting 'cause it's Christmas, it's an interesting. Time. 'cause Christmas was not a joyful time at home. My parents had a store and [00:13:00] there was all, they were busy, so usually Christmas time was the time we spend with grandma's and it's a fun time.

And my grandma was like loving to us. And so. It was like a good escape from like the reality of what was going on at the time. But then after that we would go travel to Orlando, to Disney World. We would spend the week after Christmas time, like Go Travel World New Year's and spend the first two weeks.

'cause in Puerto Rico we celebrate three Kings Day or the Epiphany. So we had some extra vacation that American schools did not have. So we'll have the Disney Park for ourselves and it was a great time. And so, yeah, so it's just. to look at those experiences. And then reading for me was never part of like a family thing.

It was just like my own hobby, my own hyper fixation, my own escape. I was known to be in Disney in the Disney World and the lines with my Sweet Valley high book or my biggest search club book. And just that was a great way before the Kindles I was with my paper body, so I always found it such a [00:14:00] comfort thing and so, yeah.

Victoria Wood: You know what? I love that. For me it is tell me your parents or your family or whoever you're growing up with, tell me they're small business people without telling me they're small business people because. Everyone I knew growing up and my grandparents were business people, my parents were business people to tell.

That is just like the hallmark. They're never available during Christmas week. It's December. The whole month of December is a super busy time. I will say though, I did have those nighttime reads and because my grandparents were like, basically. Really retired, slowed all the way down and they lived with us.

I think that's what really helped because we were all under one roof. So, that read really helped. But I will say read alouds aren't just for children. Okay. Because adults need a good story too. And I grew up a culture where adults read aloud amongst other adults as well too, because. I do [00:15:00] think adult read alongs are magical as well.

And what's so, so funny is a lot of the adult read alongs I remember were after dinner and so, like after dinner you'd have after dinner drinks or you are out at a pub just for a drink. Listen, people were reading aloud there as well. So just like how people would have like game nights at, local bars and pubs and stuff like that.

I grew up with read aloud. So reading aloud I feel is something I wish more adults would do today. I do think it's very intimate, it's grounding, it's human, and I think it's reclaiming in a way, the art of oral storytelling. Listen, I trade in gossip. I love gossip. I love talking. I love sharing stories.

And I think if you read aloud, that is also a different way to kind of, bring people together and connect. So with that in mind, here's some adult read aloud recommendations. I think the Truman Capote a Christmas memory is perfect for that because of the [00:16:00] story. It's about a boy and his elderly cousin baking fruitcakes together.

It's also nostalgic. There are bittersweet moments in there as well. I really don't wanna simplify it, but it is good in the best way to read aloud.

. And of course I'm bringing up a Christmas Carol by Dickens again because it just, it is split across a few evenings.

I don't remember if this Dickens was published as a serial, but honestly I just find all Dickens can be great. Broken up red serially, but also read orally. Though a lot of his, longer works are a bit tough, but I think a Christmas Carol is really good. And it's a funnier story than people expect.

So I guarantee you, you're gonna be reading certain parts and people are gonna be chuckling. Another one is in the Bleak Mid-Winter by Christina Rosetti. Another great one to read aloud. It's short, it's meditative. It will slow you right down, but if you want something reflective, Wendell Berry's essays.

Or a Timbered choir. [00:17:00] I think that one is really good. The Sabbath poems, they're all about stillness and gratitude. They're perfect to read on an evening or just when you need a reset. But my personal tradition, I read letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolken every December. Every day I'll be reading something aloud, whether we're sitting down and we're eating dinner.

Or sometimes they're playing video games. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm like, no, let me read a story. And I'm reading it out loud. I'm reading it for me. But they're also listening and sometimes they'll ask questions too. But talking wrote these letters to his children from the North Pole. So he is kind of pretending like, I live in the North Pole and I'm writing these letters to my children.

It is perfect. It has drawings in there. There are lots of mishaps. There's a polar bear who keeps getting into trouble. It is so funny. It's charming. It's also moving and I think it really reminds us that the holidays can be special. So I wanna challenge everyone to do [00:18:00] a read aloud with adults and unless from Father Christmas, are super short again, perfect over a drink because I think, Christmas is about slowing down, finding comfort.

And giving ourselves permission to be childlike, but also give ourselves pause. So yeah, that, that's how I feel about Christmas And read aloud. Do you often go for like comfort reads or just reads that slow you down during the holidays?

Laura Yamin: I do comfort. I am the cozy, the coziest of cozy. Like I don't like any gore or any specific things for people dying unnecessary unless there might be like a fun little thing, so I tend to go for that comfort space. I think it's. look for joy since sometimes it's so terrible. Things are, I look for the balm of it and look for reading as escape. I also look for melodramatic for like big soap drama, like specific things that are just you can suspend disbelief, like things are, they're [00:19:00] potholes. There's specifics, but there's something to be said about the writing to fill, like what do you consider bat riding that you're like, it's addictive that it can't stop. But in Christmas time I tend to look. For a place of just cozy comfort. It's weird. I grew up in a tropical island still summer, early round, and then I moved up north and I was like in the snow time and it was cozy warm, but then I moved back to a warm weather. So I don't seek the snowy part. I don't miss it. So I look for just the cozy comfort, but it's okay with more weather.

Victoria Wood: Yes, we can still get comfy and cozy down here in Florida.

Laura Yamin: Yeah.

Victoria Wood: are Floridians, we're living in Florida. Don't come for us, but,

Laura Yamin: No,

Victoria Wood: we could be cozy.

Laura Yamin: the, we're in the little bubble in Florida. We're fighting a fight.

Victoria Wood: I love that we are living in a bubble in Florida. Okay. So yeah, don't come for us, but I wanna challenge folks instead of like rushing this December, maybe just slow down with [00:20:00] one book. I would say if you're gonna slow down with one, if you can get your hands on letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolken, that will tide you over for the whole month.

You can read a little bit with your littles. You can read by yourself. It's just that perfect book for alone time. Or with people time. But if you want a four week challenge, start with the gift of the Maggie by O Henry. I think that's a great start. You can then switch in week two to a Christmas memory by Truman Capote.

Week three can be some letters, 'cause odds are, you probably can't finish that in a week, but some letters from Father Christmas by Tolkien. And then you can end week four with again, a Christmas Carol, because I just kind of feel like if you've never read it before. Now is the time. Now is the time to get into it and just create a whole new rhythm.

Again, you don't need anything fancy. You just need a chair. You need a blanket, maybe a cup of tea, hot chocolate, whatever is, your vibe. And just unplug [00:21:00] because I think classics have survived for a reason. They remind us to feel, to listen, to slow down and just, spend some time with yourself.

'cause that's not a bad thing either. So, yeah, that's a couple classics for Christmas. I'll give Laura a link so that you can get a list of all the books so you don't have to be scrambling and writing down as we're talking.

Laura Yamin: Yes, the folks are gonna be in the show notes in addition to our block link, so you can visit Victoria's website, Victoria, talk to us on Bibliolifestyle and YouTube.

Victoria Wood: Yes, biblio Lifestyle is alive and well. I send a weekly newsletter. I'm on a two times a week. Calendar. I really just kind of round up books in themes. I share book lists. I share what I'm doing. For example, I just shared my thoughts on Wife Swap which is a new Bravo show. So I'll share stuff like what I'm watching, my thoughts on the woman in Cabin 10, but I'm also sharing book lists, like here's some funny books you can read.

I do share classic book lists and more. So the [00:22:00] main thing is definitely sign up to the newsletter so that you can stay informed. Go to biblio lifestyle.com and you can subscribe there. You can also find a whole bunch of resources right there on the blog. But I'm really excited about YouTube.

I've been doing video content. It's been quite an experiment. It's. Been a year, and we're switching things up for the next year ahead. So it's really exciting. But you can find all my links. Again, Laura will put them in the show notes, but just go to blo lifestyle.com. We have the winter reading guide coming up, which is super exciting.

It's gonna be different this year, but I think you're also gonna love it too.

Laura Yamin: Thank you Victoria. So for our listeners, Victoria, we'll in back next month with a new topic, new book list, we're gonna have new contributions. So if you, if your goal is to read a classics. Next year we're gonna get you covered. We'll have conversations like this, so it makes it much more easier and more beginner friendly, not overwhelmed. So, thank you so much for listening. Thank you [00:23:00] Vic Chair, for being the show.

Victoria Wood: Thanks for having me.

Thanks for listening to the What three next. For more book lists, cozy reads and library tips, visit the what three Next block.com. Your next great read might be waiting there.