TBR Lowdown

Follow TBR Lowdown
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

TBR Lowdown is a book club and podcast dedicated to reading diversely. Two bookish friends who met on bookstagram talk about what they're currently reading and what they want to read in the future. We'll interview interesting readers, authors, and creators, so subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss a thing!

TBR Lowdown Book Club


    • May 26, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 10m AVG DURATION
    • 177 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from TBR Lowdown with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from TBR Lowdown

    We Discuss Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, translated from the Persian by Faridoun Farrokh

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 90:37


    In season 4, episode 173, we discuss Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, translated from the Persian by Faridoun Farrokh.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss Stag Dance by Torrey Peters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 41:28


    In season 4, episode 172 we discuss Stag Dance by Torrey Peters.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss Death Takes Me by Cristina Rivera Garza

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 49:06


    In season 4, episode 171, we discuss Death Takes Me by Cristin Rivera Garza, translated from the Spanish by Robin Myers and Sarah Booker.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Annotating Books and Other Reading Habits

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 64:19


    In season 4, episode 170, we chat about annotating books and other reading habits.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Weekend Recap: A Book Thrifting Extravaganza

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 59:36


    In season 4, episode 169, we chat about the weekend we spent book thrifting and hanging out.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Anticipated Summer Releases

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 64:10


    In season 4 episode 168, we share some of our anticipated summer reads.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    The Evolution of Our Reading Tastes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 74:38


    In season 4, episode 167, we talk about the evolution of our reading tastes. What a journey it has been.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We discuss A Separate Peace by John Knowles

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 68:29


    In season 4 episode 166, we discuss A Separate Peace by John KnowlesVisit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We discuss Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 68:29


    In season 4 episode 165, we discuss Black Chalk by Christopher J. YatesVisit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    black discord substack chalk christopher j yates
    We discuss The Impatient by Djaïli Amadou Amal, translated from the French by Emma Ramadan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 69:08


    In season 4 episode 164, we discuss our January/February book club pick The Impatient by Djaïli Amadou Amal, translated from the French by Emma Ramadan.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    [REBROADCAST] March is National Small Press Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 61:28


    Team TBR Lowdown has laryngitis. Since March is National Small Press Month, we're rebroadcasting an episode from season 1 where we share some of our favorite small presses.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Are the Classics Still Relevant?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 85:08


    In season 4 episode 162, we discuss whether the Classics are still relevant.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Translated Literature Starter Pack [2025 Edition]

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 43:56


    In season 4 episode 161, we give readers a Translated Literature Starter Pack to help you ease your way into reading translated literature.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Did the Big 5 Ruin Literary Fiction?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 64:03


    In season 4 episode 160, we discuss two articles about the Big 5 ruining literary fiction and literary fiction not being a real thing.Visit our website athttps://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We discuss Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán, translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 57:38


    In season 4 episode 159, we discuss Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán, translated from the Spanish by Sophie HughesVisit our website athttps://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Our Anticipated Spring Releases

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 37:19


    In season 4 episode 158, we share 10 Spring book releases we're looking forward to reading. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss All Yours and Times of the Flies by Claudia Piñeiro

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 53:46


    In season 4 episode 157, we discuss All Yours (translated from the Spanish by Miranda France) and Times of the Flies (translated from the Spanish by Francis Riddle) by Claudia Piñeiro. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Best Books of 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 58:29


    In season 4 episode 156, we share our best books of 2024. Visit our individual Substack newsletters to see our full lists. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 53:40


    In season 4 episode 155, we discuss Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Announce Our 2025 Book Club Picks + Reading Challenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 33:16


    In season 4 episode 154, we announce our 2025 book club picks and talk about our 4th annual reading challenge! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss The Secret History by Donna Tartt

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 53:49


    In season 4 episode 153, we discuss The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    AI & Publishing.... What the Heck is Going on?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 51:43


    In season 4 episode 152, we discuss how AI initiatives continue to grow in the publishing industry. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Whose Names are Unknown by Sanora Bab

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 83:30


    In season 4 episode 151, we discuss The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Whose Names are Unknown by Sanora Babb. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 51:35


    In season 4 episode 150, we discuss Near to the Wild Heart by the incredible Clarice Lispector, our May book club pick. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    The Rise of Romantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 63:11


    In season 4 episode 149, we talk about the romantasy subgenre and how publishing plays a role in its explosion. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    10 Before the End

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 63:11


    In season 4 episode 148, we jump on the 10 Before the End trend. What 10 books would you like to read before the end of the year? Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Fall Books to Read!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 44:56


    In season 4 episode 147, we share some books we think are perfect to read during the Fall season. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    It's Nonfiction November! What We're Thinking About Reading

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 47:47


    In season 4 episode 146, we discuss the nonfiction books we'd like to read for Nonfiction November. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 50:41


    In season 4 episode 145, we discuss Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. Who else is excited about the upcoming Apple TV series adaptation?!?! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    We Discuss I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, Our Aug/Sep Book Club Pick

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 68:45


    In season 4 episode 144, we discuss our Aug/Sep book club pick I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, translated from the French by Roz Schwarz. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

    Anticipated Translated Fiction Fall Reads to Add to Your TBR!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 55:57


    It's Fall and we read translated fiction all year long. Here are some upcoming releases to keep your eye on. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to your Substack newsletters.

    Add These Anticipated Fall Reads to Your TBR!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 45:17


    Fall is here, and some books are coming out that we think you should add to your TBR! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to your Substack newsletters.

    Hello and Welcome Back to Season 4!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 61:17


    We're back from our summer break and ready to talk about books! Hello and welcome back to season 4! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com/ to join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters. Books mentioned in this episode The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout The Last Shootist by Miles Swarthout The Little Friend by Donna Tartt The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. The Wall by Marlen Haushofer, translated from the German by Shaun Whiteside Liars by Sarah Manguso Also mentioned The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century by The New York Times

    [REBROADCAST] We have a conversation with literary translator Tina Kover

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 94:53


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our conversation with literary translator Tina Kover. Kover has translatedDisoriental by Négar Djavadi, Blue by Emmelie Prophète, Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, and The Postcard by Anne Berest, to name a few. Highlights:

    [REBROADCAST] We Discuss Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, translated from the French by Tina Kover

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 58:26


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, translated from the French by Tina Kover. The story of Belle da Costa Greene is nothing short of amazing. Reading about her story felt like a real adventure full of worry, excitement, hope, loss, and pride. It's a book we highly recommend. Highlights:

    [REBROADCAST] We Discuss Elena Knows by Claudia Piñero, translated from the Spanish by Francis Riddle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 53:19


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Elena Knows by Claudia Piñero, translated from the Spanish by Francis Riddle. Highlights:

    [REBROADCAST] We Discuss Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 80:24


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. Highlights:

    [REBROADCAST] We Discuss Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 61:25


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth. Highlights:

    [REBROADCAST] We Discuss Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, Our December 2022 Book Club Pick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 60:02


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, our December 2022 Book Club Pick, from Season 2 Episode 71. Highlights:

    [REBROADCAST] We Discuss Boulder by Eva Baltasar, translated from the Catalan by Julia Sanches

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 62:20


    In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Boulder by Eva Baltasar, translated from the Catalan by Julia Sanches, from season 2 episode 77. Highlights:

    We discuss The Glutton by A.K. Blakemore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 62:09


    In this episode, we discuss The Glutton by A.K. Blakemore. Highlights:

    We discuss A Little Luck by Claudio Piñero

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 70:09


    In this episode, we discuss A Little Luck by Claudia Piñero, translated from the Spanish by Francis Riddle. We are big fans of Piñero and truly enjoy reading her work. In 2022, we chose her book Elena Knows as our August book club pick and we had a great discussion on that book (episode 55). Highlights:

    S.T. Gibson stops by to chat about her new novel Evocation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 89:24


    In this episode, we chat with S.T. Gibson, the author of the forthcoming novel Evocation, with special guest Jess Owens. Highlights:

    The Adultification of YA

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 56:52


    In this episode, we discuss an article on The Bookseller titled The Adultification of YA. Highlights:

    Why Does Every Famous Woman Have a Book Club Now?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 69:17


    In this episode, we discuss an article on The Cut titled Why Does Every Famous Woman Have a Book Club Now? Highlights:

    We Discuss The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, translated from the Dutch by Michele Hutchison.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 73:52


    In this episode, we discuss our MAR/APR community read: The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, translated from the Dutch by Michele Hutchison. Highlights:

    The Great American Novels

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 70:47


    In this episode, we discuss, The Atlantic's March 14, 2024, The Great American Novels article. Highlights:

    2024 Q1 Book Favs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 46:57


    In this episode, we share our favorite books from the first quarter. Highlights:

    Late Spring/Summer Book Releases

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 62:43


    In this episode, we talk about some of the late Spring and Summer book releases we're looking forward to and think you should put on your radar. Highlights:

    We Discuss Grapes of Wrath and Whose Names are Unknown [UPCOMING]

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 3:10


    STAY TUNED FOR THIS UPCOMING EPISODE.... The Grapes of Wrath was published today in 1939. We have been reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Whose Names are Unknown by Sanora Babb, and we will have a deep dive discussion about both books and their publishing history. You don't want to miss this episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbrlowdown/message

    We chat about the Bloomberg article: TikTok Is Turning the Publishing World Into Fast Fashion

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 58:30


    In this episode, we chat about the Bloomberg article: TikTok Is Turning the Publishing World Into Fast Fashion. There have been several articles and YouTube video essays on this topic. Highlights:

    Claim TBR Lowdown

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel