Hi Deedi Welcome to What to Read Next podcast.

Hi. I'm so excited to be here. Thank you for having me.

So excited to have you here. I was thinking about it. We met in real life at a book club, which is very fitting 'cause you do have a book club, even though we have very different region tastes, but that time we were just kinda before we were in this space really, Congo. It's been like almost six or seven years actually. We had lived in Jersey City. God bless. The sixth borough. And now we have moved on from other places. But tell us what you've been off to and Yeah.

Oh my gosh, so much. Six or seven years it's

Yeah.

since we first met. So I now live in the Syracuse, New York area. I have a 13 month

I.

so life looks really different these days. But still lots of reading going on. I am primarily a books to Grammar and on substack,

Yeah.

been books toing for like probably eight or nine years at this

Yeah.

A lot of people celebrate their like, bookstagram anniversary. I like literally couldn't tell you what day, like it was so long ago, and. Just something that I had built, like just decided to do one day. So I've been reviewing books on the internet for like almost 10 years now, which is really wild. And I've been on Substack. I moved like from a traditional newsletter that was like more like a MailChimp style over to Substack like a year and a half ago, and I've really been enjoying. That space. I think it's just, I'm in my day job, I lead content marketing for a tech startup and I got my start in editorial. So long form is really, my bread and butter. So I've really been having a lot of fun lately. In the bookish spaces. There's no better part of the internet than the book internet.

Yes. Yes. I remember you were like, you were ready to go to 10 K. Like that was like the big thing at the time before reels. 'cause then reels came up and you were. So good at them and you're like, and doing like the virality. I was like, oh, this is this is someone who to follow with that. I was like, no, I'm not. I don't care about social. I think I'm happy with talking on the internet,

yeah, that was the. golden age of reels when like they first started, and it was a lot easier to go viral them. I will say these days I don't do quite as many. I'm starting to ramp up a little bit more, but I

Yeah.

that often it's actually I just don't dry my hair that often these days with my little one and whatnot. So I'm not as on camera as much. But yeah, man, those were the golden days of Instagram. And when you look back at it

Yes.

20 19, 20 20 era. Yeah.

Yeah. And then you have this book club, which we're gonna talk about it, but it's around that era. Like it was, you are reading, you like fantasy, you like sci-fi and learn fiction. And we know we, we've heard if you've been on Substack like your, you evolution with it and evolution, but you started this book love, way back when before we had online book love book spaces, so talk to us about the Booker Price on book love.

Yeah, so the book club is called Booker of the Month, which when I first had the idea, I first had the idea for the book club because I read the 2019 Booker Prize long list. On my own, basically like one a month. There's 13, they call it the book or dozen. That's the long list. It's 13. And so you just have to double up one time in order to get through all of them over the course of a year. And then you're ready for the next year's long list by the time you're done. And so I did that. I mean, I wasn't like alone, like I had friends who also were interested in the Booker Prize and had read these books, so it wasn't like I didn't have anyone to talk to. But it was like a solo journey. This like one a month thing. And so then I was like, what if I thought, what if I saw if other people wanted to do it with me? This next year when we get the 20, what was the 2020 long list? And obviously we were on lockdown, so, we were looking for a lot more ways to connect virtually. And then I thought of the name Booker of the month and I was like, well, now I have to do it. Now I have no choice. It must be done. And so that's how Booker of the month was born. So we just wrapped up our fifth year, which is really just. Wild to think about. And we are starting our sixth year in August because we just got the 2025 long list as of this recording this past Tuesday. And so really excited. It's grown into such a great group. We have a really strong. Like group of regulars. And not everybody comes every single time, but a lot of people come most of the time and it's all on Zoom, which is really great because we have people from all over the country and sometimes all over the world. If the time zone differences don't stop them. But it's just been one of the best. Parts of my time on the bookish internet because everybody who has become a regular is just they're good people and they are so excited when like new friends join, it's like one of those clicks that's like easy to get into 'cause they're like, you're here. Hooray. And but also just like really smart people who love to like actually talk about the books. I know that's like kind of a meme going around about people who like join book clubs and don't read the book or don't like to talk about the book. They just like to drink wine or whatever. But we are like. Dog friendly, knitting friendly, zoom friendly people who like to talk about literary fiction and I think it's just been so great because the Booker Prize, tends to long list books that are a little bit more cerebral or like slower paced or experimental. Not always, not every single book is like hard to, not hard to read, but like a more challenging read. But it certainly, like a long list will include some challenging reads and they just tend to be books that are really great for discussion. And the kind of book that you, the more you talk about it, the more you get out of it. And so, it has just been. Just been wonderful and I'm really excited to go into the sixth year of Booker of the Month.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I remember you started I remember like it just, I remember the seed like it happened because it was. It was prime lockdown. We were just like, what are we doing with our lives looking for community? And those bookish communities were lifesavers like, I don't know about you, but those were what kept us going, in the middle of the world's in crisis and we're just kinda books are actually our people and they're, and then finding book people to keep us going. So I love that the community has evolved and has continued beyond lockdown and has grown in way that you never thought it would possible, but at the same time being like having a place to come home despite all the life changes that had happened,

yeah.

So talk to us about your reading taste. 'cause I know, like you're, you do fantasy and I think that's another area where it's like that requires time, requires energy. And your reading line has changed since the baby, since the 1-year-old. So obviously audiobooks are not important.

Yes.

Talk to us about that and how do you juggle these books that require more of, it's not just a. Quick scape a romances and not that Romans is not liberal, but you know what I mean. It's not it.

You take a little bit more of a closer read a little bit more like mental energy sometimes. Yeah, I mean, I think so I have three buckets of. that I like tend I, I like to read widely. I read a little bit of everything, but I tend to gravitate towards the three buckets, which are very like emotional, literary fiction. Sci-fi and fantasy, mostly fantasy and a little bit of sci-fi, I would say. I just like magic and then like nonfiction that's like hard to categorize, like the kind of stuff that's just like interesting to know. Reported. And so before Bookstagram, like I thought I was like the only person in the world who liked those things that are also different, like primarily. And then I just found people who are so much like me, which is like another wonderful thing about the bookish internet. But yeah, so that's my general reading taste. I have this year really been trying to pay a little bit more attention to the mix because I have found in recent years that, like half of my favorites for the year tend to be in the sci-fi and fantasy area, but it only tends to be like a third of the books that I'm reading because I have a lot of, a lot more relationships with like literary fiction imprints. I get a lot more of those books in the mail and a lot of my friends are reading those books. So I just found that I was kind of being unintentionally pulled more towards that than like my taste necessarily wanted me to be. So I was kind of trying to like even that out, which I think I've done a good job of this year. Been more evenly split between the literary fiction and the fantasy, which has just been great. And I've also been trying to like really pick up. kinds of literary fiction that call to me the most. And like a Karen Russell or something like that. And so that's also I think helped me really just 'cause last year I read a lot of literary fiction that like I liked well enough. I, but it didn't have that much where I was like, I love this, and so I was kind like, that's like insidious, that kind of thing will sneak up on you because if you're not actually actively disliking what you're reading, it can be hard to understand that something needs a little bit of an adjustment. So, I feel like I've been doing, I feel like I've been picking good books for myself this year. Anyway, so, so as you mentioned in this era of having the little one audio books are like hugely important for me. Because I just don't have as much time to like just sit on the couch with a physical book anymore. And the time that I do have to do that is after she goes to bed and like my brain is made of potatoes

Yeah I don't have a little one, and my brain at the end of the day is what are you doing?

still.

I need a bedtime story. I don't need you. I need no one to listen to, to do the thing that would do to a child. I need you to do it for me. I need Julie willing to read me a story. That's what I want.

Exactly. And so it's funny that you should say that because what often allows me to. Get good reading in at that time is a tandem read where I'm listening to the audio book and reading the physical book in front of me. It really just helps me, helps my brain stay engaged better. And I also just I love a tandem read. I've been doing it since before there was a word for it. Like when I used to tell

Yes.

would listen along with the physical copy, they would like what? That's crazy. And now, like now there's a word for it. People know what I mean when

Yeah.

reading, which is awesome. And I have always loved that because I just think that audiobook, like performance and production is so good these days. And, but there's especially in literary fiction, there's a lot to be gained by seeing the words on the page. And honestly in the beginning of a fantasy novel too, because like you've got world building to get through, right?

Yeah. You know those names? How do you say those names?

yeah. Yeah. But you can't, like I, I usually will start, I make sure to start a fantasy novel, like tandem at least.

Yeah.

then I usually can switch to audio, like only if I need to, but I gotta start on the page. So I do a lot of tandem reading and then just a lot of audio in general. I've also, this year. I been doing a lot of crocheting and knitting because this is like a little bit of a d like I, I'll be short, but like

Yep.

passed away a couple of years ago and she used to make these really beautiful Christmas stockings with people's names on them for everyone, like six degrees of separation. Like literally, like she's my mother's grandmother and like my cousin on my dad's side like all have these stockings. So I decided that I was going to, I have always, I've been a lifelong crocheter, so I decided that I was gonna teach myself knit so that I could take up the mantle and start making these Christmas dockings, not only for my daughter, but you know, I've got a cousin who had a baby and she has a new husband and they all need 'em, right? So, so I've been doing that a lot this year too, and that's been bringing me a lot of joy and that pairs well really well with audio books as well. So audio books have been saving my life. Right now I am reading one of the actual. Booker prize nominees that just got listed this week, but it's like almost 700 pages and it doesn't actually come out in the US until the end of September. And I don't have an audiobook 'cause it's too soon. And I just I'm really struggling to get through it quickly even though I'm enjoying the book because I just it's just really, I'm in a phase of my life where audiobooks are just so valuable to me.

Yes. Audiobooks, and we both are lifelong library users. I know you're huge on the independent bookstores and breaking off with Amazon, which is if you're looking for a grade, substack had to break off with the Kindle. Ecosystem. JD has a great subset about it and all they use for independent bookstores and Libra fm, but there's also, libraries are another option, and a lot of the Amazon ecosystem has heard libraries because exclusive content.

Yeah.

do have tips on how to game the Amazon system,

yeah.

it, but libraries are like such a valuable tool for people who may not be able to afford it, but they still wanna access the document, especially in the US although right now in the US they're getting defunded and that's a long story. Hopefully in the future we can do, but you know, libraries are another option to do. But yeah, if you're looking to break up with the Amazon ecosystem, I think DB is a great resource for that.

Thanks. Yeah, I use the library a lot. I mean, I try not to buy a book twice,

Yeah.

you know what I mean? So if I bought it like the book, like I try to The audio book from the library spotify premium or like one of those things like I,

yeah.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Yes, I understand. So let's talk about Booker Price. Let's do 22 4 'cause you just wrapped up a one list. What were some of your standout favorites from that? From this past year's reading?

That's a great question. So the, so 2024, if you are like at all plugged into the literary fiction genre, there was like very few books that dominated the conversation in a way that felt really unique, right? Everything was about James and Martyr.

Yeah.

And then maybe a couple others. And so that was interesting because they also dominated a lot of the prizes. So, there were some that a lot of people heard about and like maybe even read because they were nominated for the National Book Award or won the Pulitzer. But James was long listed, shortlisted for the Booker Prize. And. I don't know anyone who's read that book who didn't think it was phenomenal.

Yeah.

and it's like absolutely worth your time. You do not need to read Huck Finn first. I personally read the detailed SparkNotes summaries of all the chapters and then read, and then read James and got just as much out of it. So I'd loved that one. The book that won the Booker Prize last year was Orbital, which like also ended up on Obama's like list of favorite books. That was a lot of fun for me because it's set in space. It's not a sci-fi book, but it's like very existential and literary, but it's set in space, which was very fun. And it's also very short. I loved that one too. And then like my Friends by Hisham Matar also a national book board nominee. So that one like got a lot of press last year. The safe Keep. By Yale Vander Wooten, which like won the women's prize and got a lot of that one. I think actually if you're a romance reader listening to this, you should give that one a try.

Okay.

it's like and like surprisingly horny for a Booker prize

Oh, yes,

Yeah. And was really good. And

yes.

what else? Headshot by Rita Bullwinkle, which won the Pulitzer. And then one of my favorites. Was held by Ann Michaels. One, have to, you kind of have to read it twice to like really get it, but it's short. And what's interesting is that the Booker Prize is like publicly stated that they tell the judges that like. looking for a book that like rewards rereading. And so when you like think about it in that lens, I think it like can make for an even more interesting experience of trying to predict what they'll choose and like what will win. so those were some standouts for me. Oh, and then Playground by Richard Powers. Richard Powers wrote the Overstory, obviously. Which one? The Pulitzer. And but I actually think that playground was my favorite of his books yet, so

I love this. And so now let's look at the long list that just came out, is fresh out the press. We got an audition, which was mentioned at another podcast episode, Jason from Gates reading talk about audition. And I was like, I saw this actually on the PRH audio and I had a friend to it and she's I, it was too smart for me. And Jason tried to explain it to me and I was like. It sounds interesting, but I dunno if I'm gonna get it. So, which is a short, it's a short book. It's a short,

Yes it is. It's short. It's 200 pages, so

yes,

long. I will say, if you like, look on good reads, even Roxanne Gay is I don't think I know what happened, but that was really good.

yes. That was the, that was like the, basically it's a great book. It's, but I don't know it, I don't know what It's too, it went above my, yeah.

she wrote it that way on purpose. So just I, so I just read this book last month actually, so it was really timely. This is the only one from the new long list that I have already read. I'm, like I said, I'm halfway through another one. But is like in two parts and basically the two parts are in conflict with one another, and so you have to decide. How that can be possible. And

Yeah.

It's not meant to have an answer which is going to make for an amazing book club discussion. And

Yeah,

is our August pick. We're gonna start there. So we meet on the last Monday of the month at eight o'clock eastern on Zoom. If anybody wants to join us for audition, like truly, I don't think I can even name off the top of my head a book that is like to be discussed more than this book. So.

so it's good. I was like, I consider it the. The synopsis look good, and I was like, oh, this is interesting. And there was like, yeah, like it's above your head, which actually might be an interesting time. I've actually shifted, my reading has shifted by the way I now read mysteries. I am a whole about all the mysteries, all the murders that happen on and off page and whatnot. I get the Christie, the golden age of mysteries and nonfiction. Actually, I've been listening to a lot of nostalgia, a lot of odds nineties on nonfiction. It's been like my comfort. Listen to now. I'm like, it's yeah I'm too cynical for love. This is what the Trump administration has done. I don't want love right now. I just wanna like murder.

Yeah. I feel like people go they're like, I need that, or I like, can't do

No, I wanna kill the husband. I don't care. I don't care whether you're gonna get married, have babies. We don't not, we don't want babies right now. We want murder, so.

Oh my goodness.

So this is where I changed, I actually listening to Murder on Sex Island by Joe Firestone, which is a mystery about a love island contestant where they murder one of the contestants. And this, I, it seems to be great. Steven Culver actually did a little bit like blurb it and I was like, he's I wish this was a reality show. I was like, me too. I wish there was a

Fascinating.

so, but. Let's talk about 20, 25 list, like which ones are you look like you're hopeful or you're like, this one's interesting, or this one's we'll bring some good conversation, or some of your predictions now that you know.

Yeah, so like I mentioned audition, I think a lot of people are really excited about that. We, I like to start with a book for book club that a lot of people have heard of that was probably already on your TBR or maybe you already read it. It's a really accessible way in, if you wanted to get started with us, and I tried to do the same thing in September, so we're gonna read Flashlight by Susan Choi, which like was also already on my TBR. I love Susan Choi. And I feel like trust exercise, which,

Yeah.

won the book. The, not the Booker Prize, sorry, trust Exercise, won the National Book Award and people either loved it or hated it. I was one of the people who loved it. But Susan Choi, like she, she deserves this. Like she's written a lot of books and until trust exercise broke through in like the cultural awareness, like she was kind of like a writer's writer. And now I feel like she's like finally getting like what she deserves, but heard nothing but good things about flashlight and I was, I said I was planning to read that soon anyway, so I'm really excited about that one. And then I'm also halfway, the book, I'm halfway through right now is called The Loneliness of Sonya and Sonny by Kirin Desai. and. She won the Booker Prize before. Actually we have two previous winners. David Salza, I think he won the Booker Prize before that could, he could have just been like shortlisted, but I think he did. His book Flesh is also on this year's list, but I'm reading The Loneliness of Sonya and Sonny, which is like almost 700 pages long. It is like a kind of a love story, but kind of a family saga about these, two young people who were born in India and they like spend time living in the US or I'm only halfway through, so I don't know if they end up living in the us. I can tell you maybe they will. But they their parents tried to like basically get them together in an arranged marriage. And. So that like immediately turns them off to each other, but they're also kind of drawn together. So I, it's definitely not like a traditional love story. So far. There's a barely any interaction between them and it's a lot about their families and like the lead up to this moment. But I'm really excited to see where it goes. I'm definitely enjoying it. And then. Yeah, those are probably the ones I'm most excited about. There are a couple that are not published in the US yet because the Booker Prize is like a based in the uk. And so that is sea scraper and the rest of our lives, but I'm sure they'll get picked up,

Okay.

for, by a publisher and get like published. Usually that happens and they end up coming out in like February-ish. And then there are a couple that come out in September like I mentioned But yeah I mean a lot of people have really liked Ling by Maria Riva, like I mentioned, flesh by David Salza, or Salle, I cannot say his name.

That's okay. Okay.

and Universality by Natasha Brown. I think that one has been a little bit polarizing, so that'll probably be for a good discussion. So we only have July and September set right now for book club. I like to, like I mentioned, start with ones that feel like a little bit more buzzy and then I wait for the shortlist announcement, which happens towards the end of September. And once we know what the shortlist is, I. Scheduled the shortlist for the next however many months. So hopefully we picked two books in the beginning that also get shortlisted. So we have only four more left. 'cause the shortlist is usually six. But that gives us the best chance of having read the winner by the time the announcement is made in November about which book won. And then once we finish the shortlist. we go and read the rest of the long list. So right now we have the first two months set, like I said, audition and flashlight. And then in September I will, once we have the short list, I will set the schedule for the entire rest of the year. But all of the meeting dates are already on my website. We just dunno exactly which book we're gonna read yet.

Awesome. So this episode is gonna go live in a couple weeks, right before an audition. We'll have enough time to read, audition, and maybe reread, audition twice to see if you can get it.

it again. I just read it, but I really

Yeah.

I really feel like it needs to be read twice. Actually, someone in my, in the, like the, in the book club group chat was like, I think I'm gonna read part two. And then part one, as a reread, and I was like,

Yeah. Yeah. So, so we'll post this, so we'll post a list. If you're a literary fiction, reader, if you want to just get into this, if you wanna make this a project, a reading project that has community, this is a good place to get started. So, Didi, tell us where you can find you online.

So I'm Deedee Reeds on Instagram. So my name is spelled D-E-E-D-I. So that might trip you up. So Deedee Reeds and then substack dei reeds.substack.com. And then like my website is just dee res.com, but all of that is like obviously linked in my Instagram bio if you find me there. But yeah, come hang out because I love. friends. I am an Enneagram too. And like back in the days when it was like not awful to talk about Harry Potter, I used to introduce myself as a Hufflepuff. But obviously,

yeah, it's okay.

how that goes these days. But I'm the people person, right? I

Yeah.

friends. That's why I like started a book club out of my own personal passion project. And so come find me, come hang out. It's gonna be great.

EE is a great friend, so it's like just as someone who has known her for quite some time, she's a great person to talk to. She's a great. And not just that, like it's warm and caring in a sense and understands we may not have the same reading taste but we respect each other and we support each other, and I think that's something that's valuable so yes.

you.

Awesome. All right. Thank you Deedi, for being on the show. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider rate, review or subscribe. Thank you so much for listening. Have a great day. Bye.