Have You Read This? A Podcast for Bookworms

Goodreads announces a new feature regarding DNFs, did Theo of Golden live up to the hype we see online or was it total crap, and a teaser about a unique piece of dystopian fiction that I will discuss in a future episode (No, it doesn't have to do with our current political state).

So many want to read the most frightening and scary book they can get their hands on. Well, Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen fits the bill.

After spending time online I have found several trends and habits that really, really need to die. I hope all of these are left behind in 2025.

I cannot avoid this topic any longer, regardless of how triggering or sensitive this conversation might be. In this episode, I present only factual information to hopefully end this debate once and for all.

Some beautiful and powerful poetry that I have found a deep and personal connection with comes from the pen of Loan Wendling and his collection titled Takes and Ink. For those not into poetry, I still believe you would enjoy this.

If you have read Fever House and The Devil by Name, enjoying them as much as I did, you might wonder if Keith Rosson can keep the momentum going by writing another 5-star book. Let's find out, shall we?

One thriller, one extreme horror, and one book considered the most dangerous book in America. It has been an interesting time lately for reading 'round these here parts.Featured Books:You Watched in Silence by H. Lee JustineThe Border House by Simone Trojahn

Released in 1996 and later adapted into a film, this book seems to slide under the radar of many readers. I finally pulled it off the shelf to see if it lived up to the hype or not.

Two wildly unique novels by the same author and only a small glimpse into a massive body of work. Grab your back pills because we are talking serial killers and experimental doctors from the 19th century.

I have spent as much time as I was willing to devote comparing these three popular reading tracker apps to give you the ultimate opinion. You're welcome.

Michael McCreary is an autistic comedian, actor, author and TEDX speaker who’s been performing stand-up comedy since age 13. “Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic” is his memoir and I explain, as briefly as possible, why I feel like this is worth your time.

A round up of all the books I read while on vacation: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison, Allegedly by Tiffany Jackson, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell by Brian Evenson, and Once Gone by Blake Pierce.

Since thinking for ourselves is overrated, tune in to hear how a soulless algorithm actually understands your reading tastes better than you do. All you need is the right prompts, and a lot of Ibuprofen. This episode covers tips on how to adjust prompts in AI to better find books you actually want to read. Now you can leave that annoying Facebook group.

Another book round-up, but this time I am talking about my 5-star books from each month, which include The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, and Dispatches by Michael Herr. More details on the website.

For those willing to endure 20 minutes of my voice, this episode discusses what is said to be one of America's most famous 'unpublishable' novels and features "the most vile, disgusting personality to emerge from contemporary American fiction." Show notes and a deeper dive will be available on haveyoureadthispodcast.com.

The title says it all. Or does it? Is this book actually real and what is it? Quan Millz urban satire This Hoe Got Roaches In Her Crib is on deck!

Five self-improvement and mindset books that you need physical copies of: Undoing Urgency by Ryan Matt Reynolds, Tough by Greg Everett, You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy, Violence of Mind by Varg Freeborn, and This Is Water by David Foster Wallace. Keep this on your shelf, annotate, and re-read.

Somewhere along the line I was asked, "Why do you hate Stephen King?" This seems like the best place to air this out. Read more in depth on the website.

The worst books of 2024, followed by one that I really enjoyed which was Father of Lies by Brian Evenson.

Reflecting back on Claire Dederer's book Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma, how do we balance the art someone creates with the knowledge that they may be a monster. Relevant conversation given the new information to have come out about Cormac McCarthy and Augusta Britt.

Recent round-up of a few reads worth talking about: Good-Looking Ugly by Rob Smith, Rest Stop by Nat Cassidy, and Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates.

Do you have any authors that you enjoy so much that you would read anything they write without knowing anything about the book? Jon Krakauer is one of those authors for me. More details about the books mentioned in this episode here.

When I say I enjoy reading dark and disturbing books, that could possibly mean different things to different people. Here are three examples of different dark and disturbing books that will mess you up but are still worth reading. All of the links mentioned are available on the website.

It is time to add All the Fiends of Hell to the list of dystopian fiction that doesn't suck and things you must read. This isn't your run of the mill horror novel. This one packs a few new punches making it well worth your time. Check out the show notes for bonus content.

If our current political climate isn't enough to drive you to tears, you may find yourself looking for a novel to read that will break your will to live and crush your soul. Here are three books that pushed my emotions over the edge. More details at haveyoureadthispodcast.com.

If non-fiction, especially true crime, is not your thing but you want to dip your toe in the waters, this episode is for you. I went through my favorites list and found 5 true crime books that I believe anyone should start reading. Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon, Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer by Katherine Ramsland, The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy Tyson, John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster by Sam Amirante, and Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three by Mara Leveritt. More details on haveyoureadthispodcast.com.

Without question, The Groomer by Jon Athan is a controversial book and one that so many DNF due to the graphic nature. Just how extreme is the book and is it worth reading? Can we separate the monsters in our art from those that create it? Can you make it through this episode without pounding energy drinks and Ibuprofen?

Some of my favorite short fiction reads lately. Books from Jorge Luis Borges and Philip Fracassi and stories you might not have read yet, such as The Necrophiliac and A Short Stay In Hell. Just about everything on this list is at or under 100 pages and all but one I would recommend.

"Why do you only read dark books?" Plot twist: I don't. To prove you all wrong, here are my top 10 favorite memoirs that I have read to date. Bonus points for hitting the website and checking out the honorable mentions.

Do you love dystopian fiction? If the answer is yes, and even if the answer is no, Jacqueline Harpman's I Who Have Never Known Men will not disappoint.

Alissa Nutting's debut novel Tampa is one that many love to hate. The topic of a female teacher taking a job at a middle school to groom and abuse boys is not an easy read. The subject matter coupled with graphic language and situations is usually why many DNF it, discarding it as smut. I got something different from this entirely and I also think everyone who hates it is wrong. Check the website for links mentioned in this episode.

Who the hell is David Joy and why should you care? I am so glad you asked because I have prepared a 15 minute rant on why you should have been reading all of David's books by now. Check out haveyoureadthispodcast.com for all of the links mentioned in this episode as well as some bonus videos.

A small-time criminal. A has-been rock star. A shadowy government agency. And a severed hand whose dark powers threaten to destroy them all. Oh, don't forget zombies. Keith Rosson's book Fever House was a wild ride.

HBO just released a new documentary that caught my eye: The Truth vs. Alex Jones. While a great doc, this is a perfect time to discuss Sandy Hook by Elizabeth Williamson and why the book and documentary are worth your time.

“Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders. It will keep you up at night long after you've read the last page, questioning beliefs you once thought were true.” Goodreads wasn't lying. Lucinda Berry's book was powerful with an ending like a sledgehammer.

What is splatterpunk? Are these books interesting at all and worth reading or is this a genre you should avoid at all costs? In this episode, I talk about Talia by Daniel J. Volpe, Gone to the See the River Man by Kristopher Triana, My Vice Is Your Unfathomable Agony by Otis Bateman, Playground by Aron Beauregard, Cows by Matthew Stokoe, and Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica.

What is the darkest book you have ever read? What actually makes a book dark in the first place? Up until this book, I am not certain what my answer would have been. The story is powerful, difficult to read, important to experience, and well worth your time and attention.

In this episode, you will be relieved to know I have a co-host and we discuss a new challenge: My oldest daughter and I are broadening our reading horizons and are taking turns suggesting books for the other read. The idea is to have the other read a book that we think the other would enjoy, but more importantly, one that would never show up on the other person's radar. I went first and read If He Had Been With Me, which meant I had to drag Lauren on the podcast to talk about why this book was good, in a soul-crushing way. For links to all of the books mentioned in this episode, visit haveyoureadthispodcast.com.

This book by Luis Alberto Urrea follows the brutal journey a group of 26 men take to cross the Mexican border. Only 14 make it. The Atlantic referred to this book as "the single most compelling, lucid, and lyrical contemporary account of the absurdity of U.S. border policy". Urrea's book has been a national bestseller, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a "book of the year" in multiple newspapers, and a haunting look at the dangers involved in making a trek across the border.

Blindness by Jose Saramago is a dark read, however, it holds a great plotline told by a talented and creative writer. Have you read this?

This year I listened to quite a few audiobooks and picked out some of my favorites, along with a couple honorable mentions. Hit up the website for links to all of the resources mentioned in the episode.

The names Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold will forever be attached to one of the most horrific and terrible events to have happened. I had read Dave Cullen's book, Columbine, but was surprised to later learn that Sue Klebold, the mother of Dylan Klebold, wrote a book in 2016. In this episode, I discuss A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy and why it is an important read. For links mentioned in this episode as well as recommended reading, visit www.haveyoureadthispodcast.com

Just before the release of Ben Bookman's latest horror novel, terrible crimes are happening in the exact fashion as described in his new book. A vet detective and his rookie daughter jump on the case as they discover some grisly murders. But that is only the beginning of the story. I loved reading The Nightmare Man and think you will, too, so much so that I thought I would dedicate about 20 minutes offering reasons why this is worth checking out. THE NIGHTMARE MAN: Goodreads Penguin Random House Amazon Barnes & Noble LINKS: Official Website Instagram Facebook Twitter/X Goodreads FURTHER READING: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage Brother by Ania Ahlborn

Would you believe me if I told you that a police department dropped a bomb on its own citizens? Would you believe me if I told you this happened in the mid-80s? Would you believe me if I told you that couldn't find any book about this in your library? Episode 5 is out and the subject is the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia in 1985. SOURCES: Let It Burn: MOVE, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Confrontation that Changed a City Let the Fire Burn MOVE Philadelphia's Chief Says He Wanted Fire to Burn Brilliant "Let the Fire Burn" Explores 1985 MOVE Bombing by Cops in Philadelphia Vice News: The Day Police Dropped a Bomb On Philadelphia | I Was There The 1985 MOVE Massacre: When Cops Bombed Philadelphia (Injustice Documentary) | Real Stories The forgotten police bombing of a Move compound in Philadelphia Historic marker for ’85 MOVE bomb site RECOMMENDED READING: Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America’s Deadliest Drug Epidemic by John Temple

Just a little overview on some of the books I read over the last month and which ones I think would be worth checking out. I also ventured out of my comfort zone and attended a local book club social, so naturally, I just had to share my thoughts on that. Book Social Links David Domine Official website Instagram Facebook Goodreads A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville James Markert Offical website Instagram Facebook Goodreads The Nightmare Man OCTOBER READS: Sandy Hook by Elizabeth Williamson Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw Making a Psychopath: My Journey into Seven Dangerous Minds by Mark Freestone Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson The Ends of the World: Supervolcanoes, Lethal Oceans, and the Search for Past Apocalypses by Peter Brannen Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw Background music, "LoFi Chill", by BoDleasons and "Lofi Study", by FASSounds both via Pixabay.

The Painted Bird is one of those books that has stuck with me well after reading. It is one you cannot forget, powerfully violent, and full of symbolism while also being wrapped in controversy. Links of Interest: Article: "Read At Your Own Risk: 27 Of The Darkest Pieces Of Fiction Ever Published" For Sale: First edition, autographed edition of The Painted Bird Wikipedia: The Painted Bird Article: "Jerzy Kosinski’s Traumas, Real and Invented" Article: "Novelist Jerzy Kosinski, 57, Kills Himself in N.Y. Home : Literature: Works by the Polish native include ‘The Painted Bird’ and ‘Being There.’ He had been ill." Article: "Book vs Film: The Painted Bird" Movie Review: "The Painted Bird: Torture Porn for Intellectuals" Movie Review: "The Painted Bird review – grueling descent into the hell of wartime" You May Also Like Blindness by Jose Saramago Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica Animals by Don LePan The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

If you launch a podcast about your love for books, it seems only right to make the inaugural episode about the book that officially turned you into a reader. For me, that book was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. This book chronicles the disastrous 1996 Mt. Everest expedition where many died attempting to reach the "roof of the world". It was, and remains to this day, one of my favorite books, so well written and embraced by readers, regardless of the genre of book they prefer. In this episode, I talk about the background of the book, what makes it so special, and why this story has a timeless relevance. Where to find Jon Krakauer: Official website GoodReads Instagram Facebook Additional Reading - Books: "Climbing to Disaster" Galen Rowell "The Climb" by Anatoli Boukreev "Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest" by Beck Weathers Additional Reading - Articles: The 2015 Mount Everest Movie Is Missing These 11 Facts As he lay dying, Everest climber radios pregnant wife Everest actor used real recordings to 'touch the truth' ‘Everest’ Reality Check: How True Is Jake Gyllenhaal Drama Based on 1996 Climbing Tragedy?

Welcome to "Have You Read This?" where I will do my best to mix in book suggestions and reviews among the muddy waters of sarcasm and dry humor. This episode is my introduction, how I managed to read nearly 300 books over the past few years (all by myself, I might add), how this podcast came to be, and what to expect. Book suggestions: [email protected] Instagram: www.instagram.com/haveyoureadthispodcast Jon Acuff's archive on reading more: http://www.jonacuff.com/read100