Andy Pollen

A Month of Intentional Reading It's a tradition to dedicate my February reading to Black authors and stories.

For the past five years, I've dedicated my February reading to Black authors and stories for #blackhistorymonth. Here's what I discovered this year.

open.substack.com/pub/pleasere...

Introducing the Audiobook Narrator Hall of Fame & Shame We made it.

I finally put five years of audiobook reviews to good use and created my own narrator hall of fame and shame. None of this is meant to be definitive or cruel, just my subjective view after thousands of hours of listening.
open.substack.com/pub/pleasere...

In February, I stepped away from #Bookstagram. Without the constant churn of trends, hot takes and “must-read-now” pressure, I read for curiosity, not clout - and actually enjoyed it again. Here's what that looked like, by the numbers: open.substack.com/pub/pleasere...

The best Booker audiobooks to curl up with this winter, chosen by you | The Booker Prizes ’Tis the season to be told a good story. We asked you to tell us which audiobooks of Booker-nominated novels are your all-time-favourite listens, and why

Thanks to @thebookerprizes.com for including my love for @margaretatwood.bsky.social "The Testaments" audiobook in their wrap-up. Easily one of my favorite listens of the year.
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...

A Tale of Two Seasons November in the Midwest did not play around this year.

open.substack.com/pub/pleasere...

Perfection

Halloween, But Make It Literary Before diving into the spooky season reads I tore through this month, a quick detour into author events.

substack.com/@pleasereadi...

Lovely evening hearing @annanorth.bsky.social & @carsonfaust.bsky.social talk about their new releases. Grateful to Storyhouse Bookpub for offering these opportunities in Des Moines.
#booksky #bookstore #shoplocal

I’m definitely going to try!

Looking forward to this event in Des Moines next week with @annanorth.bsky.social and @carsonfaust.bsky.social. The question is: can I get through both new releases in time? 🤔
#booksky

My two favorite horror writers.

Welcome to the Please Read It To Me Newsletter! It only took five years, but we finally made it!

open.substack.com/pub/pleasere...

Yay! You found me!

I feel the exact same way!

Amazing 😂

My husband and I were on the same Seattle Underground ghost hunting tour with Brittney Griner.

Quite possibly my favorite photo of all time. Our beloved 19-year-old icon and ally, Link.
#pride #pridemonth #catsofbluesky

My 2025 Pride Month Reading List and Recommendations — Please Read It To Me This year, my Pride Month reading list is an act of deliberate protest. I’m prioritizing queer stories that push boundaries: books by trans writers, by authors of color and by creators outside the U.S...

For the past 5 years, I’ve curated a #PrideMonth reading list, but this year feels different. As queer folks face growing hostility, I’m focusing on the most vulnerable in our rainbow: trans and immigrant voices. Remember: reading is also protest.

www.pleasereadittome.com/home/my-2025...

Same 😂

Holly – Stephen King — Please Read It To Me Expectation: The author’s best character in recent years tackles another supernatural mystery.  Reality: Somewhat sidelined by an infusion of current events, it still represents a satisfying entry in...

Happy Publication Week to @stephenking.bsky.social and "Never Flinch." After reading nearly 30 King books over my lifetime, I have to say that Holly Gibney is one of my all-time favorite characters. Here's my review of her first standalone novel: www.pleasereadittome.com/home/holly-s...

Des Moines showed up for Abby Jimenez tonight. More than 2,000 book lovers enjoying one of the best cultural experiences the state has to offer, #AViD. Thank you, @desmoineslibrary.bsky.social!

The party over people posturing is becoming exhausting. All this when Iowa has one of the highest workforce shortages in the U.S. By all means, let’s make this a hostile place for people to live.

Thank you for sharing. What a great story! Thanks for hosting a fantastic event.

It was amazing to see one of my all-time favorite writers, Hanif Abdurraqib, at the Des Moines Book Festival. Thanks to @beaverdalebooks.bsky.social for making it happen. #booksky

2024: The Best and Worst Audiobook Narrations I Heard — Please Read It To Me With 72% of my reading this year incorporating an audio component, it’s surprising that more performances didn’t land on my “worst” list – especially considering how average my overall reading year fe...

More than 70% of my #reading last year had an #audiobook component. Here are the best and worst narrations I heard. www.pleasereadittome.com/home/2024-th...

2024: The Best and Worst Books I Read — Please Read It To Me Short story collections, anthologies and graphic novels provided much-needed variety, proving that it’s always a good idea to shake up your format. As for my quest to tackle the “chonky” novels langui...

It wasn't the best reading year I've ever had, but there were still several books that left a lasting impact. Here's the best (and worst) of what I read in 2024: www.pleasereadittome.com/home/2024-th...

The Avid Listener Review: The Heart's Invisible Furies — Please Read It To Me In the two novels I've read — each very different from the other but both compulsively readable — Boyne's shown a finely tuned, yet completely accessible way of storytelling that in the span of a few ...

Throwing it back to the first #bookreview I ever posted on my website, and it remains one of my favorite reads of the decade thus far. If you haven't read John Boyne, this is a fantastic introduction to his work. www.pleasereadittome.com/home/the-hea...

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present – Adrienne Keene — Please Read It To Me If you find time to read only one book in recognition of Native American Heritage Month (or Nonfiction November, for those who celebrate), I highly encourage Adrienne Keene’s excellent spotlight on no...

If you only read one book in recognition of #nativeamericanheritagemonth (or #nonfictionnovember, for those who celebrate), I highly encourage Adrienne Keene’s spotlight of individuals from some of the 574 federally recognized American Indian Tribal nations.
www.pleasereadittome.com/home/notable...

There were parts of this I really loved and parts that felt a tad reductive, but Rice really nails the ending. Please let me know what you think about it!

Moon of the Turning Leaves – Waubgeshig Rice — Please Read It To Me Expectation: A true continuation of the first novel, picking up where things left off for the Anishinaabe as they enter the next phase of survival in the Canadian north. Reality: Less intimate and mor...

After devouring “Moon of the Crusted Snow," I was excited to to see how the Anishinaabe continue to survive the technological end-of-times. While less intimate & more standard dystopian tale, the emotional ending provided a satisfying conclusion. #bookreview www.pleasereadittome.com/home/moon-of...