Reading As an Act of Resistance
02/14/25 • 59 min
This week, we have a chat about why reading is an act of resistance and delve into the books we turn to during a crisis–whether climactic, sociological or existential. We also discuss our favourite reads for a complete escape.
Recent reads
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers
The Long View by Elizabeth Jane Howard
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
Reading for resistance
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe
The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid
For a crisis
Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
On Freedom by Maggie Nelson
Eating Animals byJonathan Safran Foer
Surrender by Joanna Pocock
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
Empireland and Empireworld by Sathnam Sanghera
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshanna Zubenoff
To escape
The Moomins and The Summer Book by Tove Janson
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
Also mentioned in this episode:
NYRB Classics Challenge
Harbour Books (@harbourbooks)
Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, we have a chat about why reading is an act of resistance and delve into the books we turn to during a crisis–whether climactic, sociological or existential. We also discuss our favourite reads for a complete escape.
Recent reads
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers
The Long View by Elizabeth Jane Howard
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
Reading for resistance
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe
The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid
For a crisis
Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
On Freedom by Maggie Nelson
Eating Animals byJonathan Safran Foer
Surrender by Joanna Pocock
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
Empireland and Empireworld by Sathnam Sanghera
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshanna Zubenoff
To escape
The Moomins and The Summer Book by Tove Janson
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
Also mentioned in this episode:
NYRB Classics Challenge
Harbour Books (@harbourbooks)
Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Our Backlist Picks for 2025
This week we learn more about each other and get into the books on our backlist, including our recommendations for non-fiction and fiction reads. We also take a look at the longlist of the Dublin Literary Award and talk about surprises, omissions and favourites that you might want to add to your own TBR.
Recent reads
Nothing Ever Just Disappears: Seven Hidden Histories by Diarmuid Hester
Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKenna
From the backlist/longlist
Hold Still: A Memoir by Sally Mann
The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
King by Jonathan Eig
When the Clock Broke by John Ganz
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Safon
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks
Ducks by Kate Beaton
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
Audition by Pip Adam
Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Deep Dive) & March releases
This week, we deep dive into Liz Moore’s viral woodland thriller The God of the Woods - and we have opinions. We also talk about the new releases we’re looking forward to reading in March.
Recent reads
The Future by Catherine Leroux (translated by Susan Ouriou)
Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue (translated by Natasha Wimmer)
March 2025 releases
The Horse by Willy Vlautin
Show Don’t Tell and Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Universality by Natasha Brown
Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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