Do you prefer like dragons or vampires? Pick [laughter] your poison. >> Neither. >> Neither. >> Girl, maybe fantasy season isn't for you then. 200 pairs of shoes. >> I have a ridiculous amount of shoes because I was like, I don't have time for fun
I'm trying to work
I hear about stories like that and I'm like, what? What am I doing? What am I doing? >> We're booked and busy
That's what we're doing
Olivia
Hi angels
Welcome to Booked Blonde and Busy because the hottest girls read
I'm Olivia Ponson and today we're joined by Daniellea Roé
She is the host of Bookmarked which is Reese Witherspoon's iconic book club podcast and her own show Question Everything where she interrogates the most interesting people alive
Today we're flipping the script and putting her in the hot seat
Danielle, welcome to Booked Fond and Busy
I'm not blonde but I am Booked and Busy
I'm so happy to be here. [laughter] >> Well, thanks for being here
Before we kind of get into everything bookreated, I wanted to do our beverage of the day
So, we got this little iceed matcha latte because I thought we were just like girlies and the girlies love the matcha
So, this is from a local bee >> B public >> be public in Brooklyn
So, we'll try it
Cheers
Because I needed this so badly
I'm on day five of New York
I live in LA and day five in New York is like being day 31 on any trip
You are just run down and ragged and I love it here
But I am tired
So, thank you to be public. [laughter] >> Oh my gosh
So, it's your fifth day here. >> What have you been doing? >> I've been working so much
Um, I'm the host and co-executive producer of Reese's Book Club and Bookmarked the podcast. >> Um, so we've been doing events
We've been doing like story walks and story fests
And then, you know, I try and make the most of my New York trip
I'm like going to dinners with friends and I'm meeting new people and running around in Ubers and sweating and getting rained on >> and it's been raining
What? It's been raining for the past 2 weeks straight and I'm like what is going on? [laughter] Please stop. >> I know
I didn't know that it rained in New York in the summer. >> It doesn't
I've been here for 5 years. 5 years. >> Okay
And why did you move here? >> Oh, I really wanted to work for Victoria Secret and my agents were like, "You're only going to work for them if you move to New York." So, I was like, "I'm on my way." >> Wow
Oh, and did you end up working for them? Was it a positive experience? >> It was the best experience of my life. >> I love hearing that. >> It was the best like the only thing I ever cared about in my life >> and then I did it and then I just cried for like 5 days afterwards. >> We got to get you like some wings in like a clear frame to put on your wall. >> I am manifesting that
You know, I just can't wait for the day
Yeah
Okay
Anyways, enough about me
About me. [laughter] What do you like absolutely love? Um, I mean besides books, I really [clears throat] do love books
Um, people always ask me like, "What are your hobbies?" >> I don't know if they've ever done this to you in modeling, but I was a TV host
I was a reporter
I worked in news and entertainment news
And when I would go in for meetings with people, they always wanted to like get to know who you were as a person
So, they're like, "Tell me what you do for fun." And I had to make so much stuff up because I was like, "I don't have time for fun
I'm trying to work
Um, >> I can't cook. [laughter] I don't surf
I really don't have a lot of hobbies
I work out and I read books. >> Dream Life
TBH. >> And I love having long conversations
Like I love sitting at a meal with friends and talking for hours like way for way too long. >> But I heard you do love shoes. >> I do
I love shoes. >> So that's a hobby
I call that a hobby. >> Well, you know that I have like this embarrassing saying I made up that [clears throat] um books and shoes have something beautiful in common
They both take you places and they've taken me across oceans
They um put me in rooms with like the most interesting people
They've actually taken me into romances. >> Um you know, sometimes men will say like, "Don't ever buy a woman a pair of shoes cuz she'll walk out of your life." But I found it to be the exact opposite. [laughter] >> She'll walk right in. >> Yes. >> I don't think I've ever had anyone buy me a pair of shoes. >> It's a good gift. >> I'm not really like a a shoe person
Oh, I'm a shoe person
I probably own three two 200 pairs of shoes. >> I have a ridiculous amount of shoes. >> I need a photo. >> I don't really wear them that much
And that's why Yeah
And it's like they I have I can't show my feet online. [laughter] >> I have so many blisters on my feet all of the time from all of the different heels that I wear cuz I never wear them enough to break them in
So, it's like I'll wear [snorts] one one night and then it's like I have 17 blisters on my feet and then I'll wear another the next night and the next day and I'm like I can't keep doing this to myself. >> No, I love it. [snorts] Yeah
I I for some reason as a kid was always a shoe person
I've never really been a bag person that much. >> Me either
I hate purses
Get a purse away from me. >> It's just like a shoe is a work of art. >> I agree
What's something that's like super defining about yourself that you would say that maybe people wouldn't know about you? >> Question
I mean, the one that people probably do know about me is that I think curiosity is my defining characteristic
It's gotten me into some trouble
It's a blessing and a curse
Um, but the one that people don't know, um, >> I think I'm really thoughtful
I'm a thoughtful giftgiver. if we have a conversation like if we had one 5 years ago and I didn't see you for 10 years, I would remember exactly what we spoke about. >> Um, so yeah. >> Well, for the people that don't know, you also interview people for a living
What's it like to be on the opposite side of it? >> I'm getting more and more comfortable
I'm like doing it more. >> Um, at first I hated it. >> Really? >> Yeah
I think I mean I think people that go into interviewing for a living do it in a lot of ways so they don't have to talk about themselves like even if I'm in a casual conversation in with friends >> I'm not really talking about myself that much unless someone like really >> prized you know >> interesting is it true you get your interview style from Charles Dickens >> you know it's funny it's kind of in a roundabout way um I've always studied I believe in being a student and a teacher I think There's different at different moments in life it's important to be both
Um, but I'm a forever student when it comes to interviewing
So like I studied the greats
I would watch hundreds of hours of Barbara Walters and Robin Roberts and Bob Kostas and I like would write down notes and questions and how they move their hands and >> um but >> I think as I've sort of developed my own style cuz I think when you study people what happens is you start to try on what you're learning and then you keep some that fits. you throw away the stuff that doesn't really fit you
And as you develop your own style, >> I've really leaned into contradiction
And Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, that first line is, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." >> And [clears throat] it's like, I think one of my it's probably my favorite line of all time. >> Um, so yeah, in a roundabout way, it does really sort of infuse or inspire my interview style
Yeah
Well, mine's Caller Daddy, so a little different
Uh, >> tell me tell me why. >> I went on Caller Daddy when I was 21, maybe 20
And she got me to open up about things that I have never felt comfortable talking about in any public setting
Even with people that I would meet on like the dayto-day, >> I just didn't feel comfortable talking about things like that
And I think the way that she asked specific questions and like I think for me personally when I'm interviewing people I never want to like like step on any toes and like I sometimes feel like a little like like can I ask this can I not >> but like I'm genuinely curious about it and I feel like with her like she doesn't care she's just going to ask. >> Yeah
Yeah
So, I don't know if that's a negative thing, but that is what I do or that's what I try to like think about in my head. >> If this helps you at all, cuz I used to feel similarly to you. >> And then I interviewed this uh journal journalist Julia Borstein >> and she said to me that you have to think about it like you are doing somebody a service
Like you're actually giving them an opportunity to talk about the thing that is on everybody's minds
Cuz if you're curious, >> other people are curious
Most likely people at home watching are curious >> and you're doing it with integrity and kindness and so like better to have an opportunity to to discuss it, you know, >> and then move on. >> What's been your favorite >> Yeah. >> person that you've ever interviewed >> of all time? >> Yeah
Let's do author first. >> Oo, that's like picking a favorite child
I can't say I have a favorite author
I can There's been I think a lot of it is timing, right? like somebody somebody's message hits you at the right moment in time. >> I mean, Tia Williams is so fun to interview
She was a former magazine editor, so she just like infuses pop culture and she's so fun
Um, Ann Lamont I got to interview for the Reese's Book Club podcast
That was amazing. >> She's a legend
Like I've never gotten so many texts from people after an interview came out
Yeah. >> Um, and then who else is so fun? Emily Henry is so fun to interview and she's so generous. >> I feel like I've never I don't think I've ever met her, but like when I see her do press, first of all, she's gorgeous. >> Stunning
Her legs. [laughter] >> She has like your legs
It's crazy. >> Thank you
I just remember seeing her and being like, "Wow, she can write that and look like that." >> My dream
My dream
Have you ever thought about writing a book? Like I think I would have to do this for a while and really get the science of it because I think a question that I normally ask authors is like what's your style? How do you kind of come up with the ideas? Like kind of what's your writing process look like? And all of them are like it's so long
And I think with the publishing style now is that you're supposed to you're expected to come out with like three books a year where or even more
Like I think Alex Astra came out with five last year. >> She's just not human though. >> She writes like she's Alexander Hamilton >> literally
And when I was interviewing her, she was like, "Yeah, I write six six hours a day and seven days a week and I'll do that for like 4 months and then you know she'll take a break or you know if she has a specific event or press that she needs to do she'll go and she'll do it." Yeah. >> But >> I don't have 6 hours a day for 4 months to write or write
You know what I mean? >> Yeah
I was like maybe when I'm a little bit older and I've like lived more life and have more things to inspire me. >> Yeah. >> What about you? >> That's so real. >> Mhm. >> Yeah
I've always wanted to write a book. >> Really? >> Part of doing the the bookmarked podcast that is so fun for me
The first is that writers are my rock stars
So, I think they deserve a very cool platform
And years ago, I remember like going on YouTube to try and find some of my favorite authors talk and it the only interview was like a weird Zoom interview in somebody's basement
It was dark and poorly lit and I'm like, they deserve better. >> Um, so I love [clears throat] the opportunity to like hopefully give them a very cool interview. >> Yeah. >> But also I'm like mining for information
Like I'm [snorts] like, "Okay, wait, tell me about how you wrote this sentence." And um yeah, I asked them all the questions I'm personally curious about. >> Is there anything that you wish somebody asked you? >> You know, I always wish that um an interviewer or somebody would ask me what I've learned after interviewing thousands of people about their lives. >> Okay
So, what would the answer be? Like what what have you learned from interviewing thousands of people? Um, I have learned that, >> well, let me say it two different ways and then you can pick [clears throat] which one you like
Okay. >> Okay
Um, >> I have learned that you can learn anything you need to know about yourself by listening to somebody else's story. >> Like everybody has, you're not the only person on earth to have ever been through that thing
And so what I love about talking to people from all walks of life is that I feel like I in a professional way I get to learn to live better through their stories. >> It's like I don't know
I feel like I'm like a thousand years old because I just have so much of their information and their learnings and their mistakes and their success and >> all of it like within my brain and my heart now. >> Yeah
I unfortunately have to learn through my actions
So I can listen to someone's experience all day long
I have to go and do it. >> I don't think that's unfortunate. >> Okay. >> I think that's so awesome cuz like people are different in that way. >> I also think that um your level of joy can only match like the level to which you're willing to be vulnerable or like the level of your pain
And so I think you probably even though you've skinned some knees, probably have like a really high level of fun and joy and have some amazing stories. >> I have many stories which are sometimes not great to be to tell people
Sometimes I'm like, "Oh, I should have shut up
Let me let me stop talking." Actually, are you an oversharer? >> Yes. >> It has gotten me into I've had plenty of media training, by the way
It has gotten me into some very um unfortunate situations where I'll share something and then that that person will send it to me and being like, "Why are you talking about this online?" And I'm like, "Oh, sorry. [laughter] Don't mind me
I just forgot that the cameras were recording." It's so funny
I just interviewed a Harvard professor, Dr
Leslie, about this
She wrote a book about oversharing
Hm. >> And halfway through the interview, her thesis, her idea is that like oversharing actually connects us
Like you need vulnerability
It's endearing
And I was like halfway through the interview, I've never done this
I was like, I disagree with your entire preface. [laughter] >> Like oversharing has only gotten me into trouble at work, in friendship, at dinner
And she was like, "Yeah, I disagree." So it was very funny. >> I would love to see that. >> I really should watch that
People are probably endeared by it when you do it. >> Well, I hope they are and I hope they don't take it the wrong way. >> No, >> I don't know
Speaking of that, do you have any advice for me? Like not oversharing
Do you have any advice for like in like as someone who's been doing this for how many years? >> Yeah. >> Like do you have like was there something that you wish you could go back to your younger self and like give her advice on or give someone that's like just kind of starting on? >> Well, first of all, I think you're doing an amazing job
So, honestly, no advice from [laughter] me
Um, I think the two big things are being a good listener, >> cuz like we always think of interviewing as talking, >> but like being a a present listener, I think, is just such a big deal cuz that's how you get the good follow-up questions. >> Um, and then you get to the heart of somebody. >> I agree
I agree >> because like when I was first starting this like I was talking about earlier Alex Aster was my first guest on and they were like hey can you send over the questions before I probably spent over 5 hours like making a like document for what I use on my uh for each episode with like hundreds of questions and like I sent her this huge thing and by the time we recorded I'm like okay I asked like 12 questions I'm like, why did I do all that? And like you're talking about, it's when you don't have that, you don't have the followup questions
And I feel like that's where you actually let your curiosity go. >> So interesting. >> But I think you did the right thing
Bob Kostas, who's um he was known as like a sports anchor
I think he's one of the most brilliant people in media of all time. >> Really? Why? >> He's his IQ is so high that like Bill Clinton was known for this. like he could just speak and not need a prompter
Bob Costas is the same way
Like god forbid all the all the prompters went out. >> He's fine. >> He's so and he's an incredible storyteller
I've like watched him for so many hours. >> And he would always say that a great interviewer should be the most researched, the most prepared in the room and then never show it once you're there
So like you should know everything and then kind of throw it away once you're in person with somebody. >> What do you mean by throw like what do you mean by that? like just not bring it up or like would how can you explain that a little bit more? >> Yeah, you could I think you can bring some of it up but when I was younger I would always research like I would like know all these fun facts and all these things and some of them are fun to pull out but if you're like constantly trying to show that you prepared you're not like being chill and in the moment and so I think like it's good to have that base of information and then it allows you to have spontaneity. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah
No, I agree with Interesting
So, you have like the background of it
Okay
I'm understanding what you're putting down. >> Yeah
I mean, you probably do it naturally cuz like you've read all these people's books and so like you know so much >> I know about their interaction. >> Yeah. >> And sometimes I'm like please tell me every single thought that went through your head into this entire book. >> That's why you need a [laughter] podcast
This is perfect. >> How do you think you get people to like open up to you in a podcast? Like, has there ever been a situation where you're like, "Wow, like I asked this and that led to her talking or them talking about this huge other topic that I didn't even know that was going to come up." >> Yes
That's the goal, right? Cuz like I never want to do an interview that's like a replica of what's already out there
I always want to learn new information
And sometimes it's hard cuz like you don't know how to curate your interview on anything other than what's out there already
Um, I try and listen to like little sparks of what they get lit up talking about and then I try to zoom in there
Yeah. >> Interesting. >> So, like when you do when you film or when you do an episode or an interview with someone, like >> I guess that kind of goes back to your other advice like you you're already going to know information about that, but you're not going to talk about it
So, say they spark up about this one thing that they did 5 years ago. like what if you're not wellversed in that topic? >> Like how do you kind of explore that or do you just kind of let them go on with it? >> I don't mind like not knowing
So I'm just like I have no idea about this
Tell me more, you know. >> Um and so I think it's totally okay to say that you don't know. >> Um and I also I go into every interview with this question in my mind which is what can this person teach me that nobody else can? And that's really helpful
Like just from watching your clips like that like that does make sense
Like most of the clips that I do watch I do learn something
I was like wow like I would have never like known this about carbs or this about ompic or whatever it may be whatever the conversation is and then I'm like like it's just so fascinating to me
So well >> thank you. >> So you've been a lifelong reader. >> Yeah
And I know you've turned to reading like in a dark time
What kind of was like your reading journey like? And what was like a book that like really stood out in the beginning of your time? >> Ooh
So, I grew up in a suburb in Chicago and we had our little Gleno Public Library and um it's still so special to me, but my dad would take me there all the time
I don't know if this is uh common or not, but like when Amazon started, I opened an account and uh it was like under my parents credit card and I got a call and they were like, "Stop buying books." And I was like, "You know, you're like the only parent to ever tell their kid to stop buying books." They're like, "There's a library." Like, [laughter] so libraries were a big part of my upbringing
Um, and I'm glad they were actually cuz they're like amazing community places
Librarians, I think, >> um, you know, the librarians were actually at the forefront of the women's movement back in the day um because banning books was like a big thing and they were mostly women were working as librarians and um, yeah, I grew up in a library and so books were always my friends
I think I had a lot of feelings as a kid
Um, I was kind of lonely and I was a little bit of an old soul and so I don't know that I got like the I don't know that talking to my friends like made me feel validated because they weren't thinking about what I was thinking about and I would open a book and be like, "Oh my god, I'm not alone." >> So books became my friends in a lot of ways
I had real friends, but they were they were my friends
Um and then as I got older, they were like my companions because if I didn't know how to do something, >> open a book
Um, Will Smith has this amazing clip on the Teen Choice Awards
It's my favorite award show, Speed Show all time
And he says, "There are two keys to life, running and reading." Running
Because, uh, when you're on a treadmill and you're running hard and you get to the point in time where you feel like you cannot go any longer, if you can get yourself to move past that, you will be successful in life
And two, reading because every answer is in a book
Nobody has done anything that like nobody has ever not done anything that you haven't done before
And so I totally believe that
And um I was going through a really probably the darkest time of my life um in 2018 maybe >> and nothing would work
I was I was so proactive
I was doing therapy
I signed up for a triathlon
I was like what can I run my way out of this? Can I bike my way and swim my way out of the sadness? and nothing really made me feel better, but reading women's stories did
And it sort of reinvigorated my reading
And I started reading a lot of non-fiction cuz I'd always always read fiction before
Um, and that helped
And now I read everything
I read celebrity memoirs
I read fiction
I read um non-fiction
My dad told me that I should if I read as much about money as I read about feelings, I'd be in a much better [laughter] position
But >> and you know what? I'd rather be happy than rich
That's my opinion. >> There we go. >> And so I'm >> I'd like to be both. [laughter] >> What do you think a book or what book do you think had like a serious impact on your mental health in that era of your life? Like a book that you were like, "Wow, like I really connect with that character or the non-fiction
I learned a lot from this." >> Yeah
I think um Jane Fonda's memoir was amazing. >> Um [clears throat] she had gone through so much >> and reading about her like pain and sadness and frustration and all of it made me feel so much less alone. >> Um I remember um reading what else did I read during that time that was so good? I read um a lot of Maryanne Williamson >> um a return to love
If if you are ever going through a breakup, read a return to love. >> Why do you think that? >> It is the breakup book
Like [laughter] it is first of all, it's very short. >> Okay. >> And she talks about love and miracles in a way that like will totally make you feel better
Actually, I interviewed the Culpo sisters and they agreed with me
Really? They were like, "We get it as a gift for anybody going through a breakup." >> Huh
Okay
I need to do a when any of my friends I'm like you. >> Oh yeah
I always give my friends books and they're like, >> "It's the best gift. >> Enough
Stop sending us books. [laughter] >> It's the best gift." >> I give it to my friends that don't read. >> So, like I just like keep filling them up and I keep giving them and I keep giving them and sometimes they read it and that's that's the that's the best present in my opinion
So, >> well, I don't know if you do this, but I have a ton of books on my bookshelf that I have not read yet
And I think books find you at the right time when they're meant to because like something will happen. and I've had a book for five years, seven years, and I don't read it
And then I'm like, >> I'm going to grab that one. >> Um, that was Man's Search for Meeting
I had that book on my bookshelf for a decade and never opened it until this year. >> Oh my god. >> It's like it's one of my favorite books now. >> So, you were the host of Bookmarked, which is Reese Witherspoon's iconic book club
Do you get like a say in like what books are like the monthly pick? >> Oh, no
I have nothing to do with the monthly pick
Um, that process is actually like super mysterious and kept under wraps. >> Um, what I do know is Reese does read all of the books. >> That's crazy. >> Um, she reads all of the options even like you know so she's reading a ton. >> Um, and they keep that process very private
Um, I think they have probably like, this is my guess, like some mysterious readers and that like send her books
I don't know
I don't know if that's how it works. >> Um, I do get a say on on the podcast
Um, there's like levels of approval, but I can, you know, say like when I read Strangers, >> Mhm
I got to read that book before it came out and I was just like this is going to be so I knew it was going to be buzzy and I was like we have to get Bel Burden on the podcast. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> So what's been like an episode or an episode that you've read a book and you've really vouched for it and it ended up coming to fruition? >> Oo
Um, my friend Ally Creggsman actually wrote a book uh months ago and [clears throat] she published it independently. >> She had shopped it around and nobody picked it up and she had written a book
She had written a book with a major publisher previously. >> Um, >> she's so smart and such a good writer and I loved the concept and then she sent me the arc and I was like, "This book is awesome." >> Uh, I couldn't believe that a publisher didn't pick it up
I think a lot of that has to do with timing
Um, like often times like if one vampire book does well then publishers are like we're looking for vampire books, you know, [laughter] >> cuz I was just thinking about this
I'm like a dystopian girl tie-dye
Like give me a dystopian book
I will read it in 3 days
Like I'm obsessed
And I think there was kind of a surge of this like fantasy romantic like dystopian >> yes >> universe probably in the past like 6 months a year
I really think like acatar a quart of thorns and roses and fourthwing did really well and then every all of a sudden >> everyone was like let's get them out
Let's get them out
Let's publish some
I have not been mad about that
I have been loving it. >> Well, you're a fantasy girl, right? >> Yeah. hardcore. >> Okay
So, if I if if I were a fantasy noob, >> where would you point me first? >> Like, do you prefer like dragons or vampires? [laughter] >> Pick your poison. >> Neither. >> No. >> Girl, maybe fantasy isn't for you then. >> No, I want to get into it. >> Okay
Do you prefer like dystopian worlds? Like where there's like no magic but it's >> Well, like I love Veronica Roth. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay
So, honestly, I'd recommend this
Okay
I'd recommend Conform by Ariel Sullivan. >> Okay. >> Because I love the I It's a short book and I feel like the problem with fantasies is that they make them like 4 to 600 pages. >> This is kind of a barrier to entry for me
I don't have a lot of time. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> I agree with that
I started reading Acatar because so many people recommended it to me
It's like a hefty book, but it's nothing crazy. >> Okay. >> And then the following books are like >> 600 pages
Like there's a dual read in one of the series that's like a thousand something pages, and I'm like, do I really want to spend two months reading this book? I don't know about that
But okay, anyways, back to the recommendation
Conformed by Errol Sullivan
I will literally send it to you
I have like three copies at my apartment because I love it
It's like a divergent
How do I pitch this? Like basically in this mysterious world or this fictional world there's like two people
There's like the elites and then there's they're called something us in our memory. [clears throat and laughter] >> This is like one of my favorite books
I can't remember but um so the elites will like choose one of these random people in this uh the lower cast and their whole job is to be there to uh give birth
So they're like pregnancy there there's a specific word for it
So they'll like pluck them and so the whole character or the whole book is about one female getting picked by like the highest of the elite and he's like the prince of the kingdom or whatever you want to call it, but it's not actually called that
Anyways, um >> tell me she takes him down. >> I like can't tell you anything because it won't spoil it
But the dynamic through it, it's she told me it's going to be a nine book series, so it's going to be massive
I think personally it's going to do very well
Um >> yeah, I'd recommend that. >> Okay
Are you on book talk? >> Yes, I'm I really like book talk. >> I find that it's totally different from like the institutional book world. >> I would I would strongly agree with that
I think I started reading and kind of didn't realize book talk was there because my for you page was like like dancing videos like book talk was not on mine
And then I eventually was like slowly I posted like my first book video and then I was like, "Oh, like other people talk about this
Okay, nice." And then I kind of found like my like niche little community of people. >> Oh, I love that. >> And >> well, you must love it because it's so much fantasy and romanty. >> Oh, I love it. >> Is that sometimes too much for you? >> It's not too much
Like I I think of it it's like almost two totally separate places
Like I go to book talk if I a want to hear what people are talking about because like if if a book is winning on book talk it's like the people's princess you know it's kind of like bottom down and like institutional stuff is top down. >> Yeah. >> So I think they both have great places
They're just so different. >> I would agree with that one. >> I normally get all my book I normally get all my recommendations from book talk specifically
Like if I see a book on my for you page and someone's giving a really good review, >> the chances of me reading there are incredibly high
I'm like >> as opposed to like if you're on good readads, >> I don't have a good readads. >> Oh, I love this
I'm going to start sending you books. >> I would literally love that
And one of my top questions is like why don't I have a good readads? And it's like I don't know
I It's just never been something that like I'm going to I have. >> Yeah. >> And for me I'm like well if I really need to talk about a book I'll just talk about it here
I'll talk it on my Instagram story
I'll post it. like I don't it's like another platform, you know what I mean? To me, >> I'm so with you
Like I I interviewed um Cindy Fan for and she's a a book YouTuber. >> Okay. >> And I didn't know a lot about that world
It's like a whole another >> world
Like the booktubers and the book talkers are two different things
I have done some like research on books like watching like uh like I'll search about like the selection series that I read and I was doing an episode on that
I was like oh let me get a little refresher
The twisted series by Anna Hong and it was like >> I was stepping in I was like >> 2 million views
I was like who is watching this like recap of this series? I was like what the heck? So yeah definitely >> a crazy niche world
So, kind of going off that, do you Oh, I'm going to ask this
Can you or what's your opinion on celebrity book clubs versus like book talk book clubs? >> Oh, I love this question. [laughter] Um, I think that both are so important >> because celebrity book clubs or just like book clubs in general, like on Instagram or even like with friends, >> I think that those are really curated
Like there's a lot of taste that's involved
There's institutional thought. there's maybe like you picked it because you saw it on Good Morning America or um you're trying to learn about sort of like a subculture, right? Like there was a memoir, Crying in HMart
I would have never read it or heard about it had it not been for a celebrity book club or an institutional book club
And like it's amazing
It did so well. >> Um but book talk book clubs are so fun and you hear about books you would have never heard about otherwise
And I do think you sometimes get like really in-depth thoughts and reviews from people >> that are hard to get, you know, there's not like a [clears throat] message board elsewhere. >> I have you read um the Boys of Ten series, Binding 13, Keeping 13
No. >> Great series. >> Okay. >> Cult following on book talk like massive massive following
Like just people >> there's not that many other books that I've really seen that have like that much like off-campus like The Deal by Al
Kennedy had a pretty like decent, but Boys of to Men is like a five steps further than that
The girlies that are obsessed with the Boys of Tmen series are they come up with the craziest conspiracy theories behind the different authors or not authors behind the different characters and why they choose to act this way and whatnot
And uh her books are like in a two like two uh the first two books are about two uh characters falling in love
The next one is about like her brother and his girlfriend
Like they're about couples and >> people just really get into like the conspiracy theories about and behind it
And I love that
I love when that comes up on my for you page and it's like talking about Shannon and Johnny and like >> what happened about this or Gibbsy like all the different characters and it's like it makes them just feel like 10 times more alive and like a real person which I don't know if that's parasocial or not
So >> maybe but I I don't know that that's bad
Like I think that's >> it speaks to the writing like if you're that invested in the character the author did something right. >> I agree
You know what's interesting? I inter when I interview authors and ask them about book talk, I always wonder like I asked Emily Henry this if if they read book talk and ever change >> things based on that information
And 10 out of 10 had said no. >> Really? >> Yes
They were like, "We do not write for book talk
We don't change any of our characters based on what people are saying
Like if we did that, we would go crazy." >> What are you reading right now? >> Ooh, I'm reading The Joy of Funerals. >> Wow
Um, okay. >> Which is It's actually really funny. >> Who's it by? >> Um, by Alex Strauss. >> It is very funny
It's um not as depressing as it sounds. >> It sounds like I would not want to read it. >> No, I actually think it's like dark comedy. >> Okay. >> Um, which is usually not even my genre. >> Uh, but Alex Strauss is a New York Times um editor
What? She was a New York Times columnist and she's so talented
Um, what else am I reading? I just read A Pair of Aces, which was A Reese's book club pick
That was really good. >> I've seen I saw her post about it
I was like h >> it's a good I love the plot because it's based on a true story of two women in New York. one that was um a black woman DA, the first black female DA in New York, and then one Jewish woman who was an immigrant from Russia, fled the country because of anti-semitism and started like this very popular brothel where politicians and celebrities would frequent and they were enemies, >> but the mob, they needed the mob, like the DA was trying to get the mob and >> there was an issue with the brothel that I don't want to give away
And so both women had this common enemy >> and they never become friends but they were allies to take down the mob. >> It's such a good book. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And that's based off a real story. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> See, I hear about stories like that and I'm like, what? What am I doing? What am I doing? What? >> We're booked and busy
That's what we're doing
Olivia, [laughter] >> so we're yapping. >> Yeah
I saw that you said that you read like a 100 books a year
Yeah. >> Um I read like 24 last year and I thought I was like really really doing a good job
How do you >> That's really important
That's amazing. 24 is insane. >> Thank you
But like how do you have the time? >> It's so hard
I for I just want to say I didn't used to read 100 books a year
I only because of bookmarked the Reese's Book Club podcast read 100 books a year now
And I have a process. >> I'd love to hear it
I was just going to ask about it [laughter] cuz I'm like are we doing audio books? Are we like what is going on? So, I have a hard copy, a PDF, and an audio book of every book that I'm reading, not like for Reese's book club, for the podcast. >> Um, because if I am somewhere and I forget the actual book, then if I'm in the doctor's office, I'll listen to the audio book
If I'm on the treadmill, I'll listen to the audio book
And then I'll go back >> to like the page that I left off. >> Wow. >> And a lot of my weekends are spent reading. question, like a personal question
Yeah, >> I would love to do like a readathon
I just can't sit still for more than like >> Yeah. >> an hour or two
Like I probably can read up to like 2 hours straight and then but that's like if I'm really obsessed with the book
If I'm like mid about the book, like I'm going to put it down. >> Is there like how does that work? Like if you sit down like how long are you reading for in one sitting? probably like an hour or two hours
Um I also like unless I'm like it's gripping. >> Yeah. >> Probably max two hours at a time
I do a lot of reading when I walk on the treadmill now. >> Like I can't get behind that. >> I understand. >> It makes me like motion sickness cuz I'm like trying to read and I'm like moving and then I like come up and I'm like what is going on? >> That's so fair
I get it
Airplanes, audiobooks are great or like you know I try and finish a book on a plane always. >> Sometimes I cry at books and then I like cry on the plane and I can tell the flight attendant is like are you okay? >> Story of my life
Literally story of my life
How many times have I cry on the airplane and they're like do you need something? And I'm like no sorry like my dragon just died
I'm sorry. [laughter] Sorry
I'm having an emotional like can't um but I read like I'm a heavy reader when I travel because I hate my phone
I don't like going on it
I don't like texting people
I don't like I don't like any of it
So when I'm able to just like turn it off and like go MIA like hey I'm going to do that all day long. >> Do people think you're rude cuz you I like don't get back to them. >> I'm I think definitely it comes off across as not the kindest when I don't answer people for a few days
But I'm getting better at it
I'm good. >> I It's like my biggest issue in life right now
Thank god that's my biggest issue
Um but I really think people probably think I'm rude and I just I it's not >> a hurt
I just it like I hate the phone
I agree
And then my head starts hurting and I'm like I never feel that way after I read. >> Totally agree. >> What is like three books that like every girl or person that's listening right now should read? >> Ooh
Are most of the pe are most of your listeners fiction girlies? >> I would say it's like a mixture
I normally talk about fiction because that's normally what I gravitate towards and what I read
But if you have like an awesome memoir or non-fiction book, go for it. >> I love educated
I love unreasonable hospitality by Will Gera
Those are two non-fiction
Um I am obsessed with anything Jessica Nol like The Luckiest Girl Alive
Probably the book that I recommend most are is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo just because I've never had a person not like that book, you know, like when someone's like, I need a beach reader
I need I'm like it's a slam dunk book. >> I would agree
When I first read that, it was honestly like earlier in my reading kind of journey and I just remember being like like teeth sunk in like what the heck is happening? Why don't they just be together? Like I all about it
I was like I cried during it
I remember sitting on my rooftop just being like oh I understand that like it was so >> I'm so excited for the movie. >> I'm also really excited for Night and Gale
Um, >> I wonder if you would like it
It's one of my favorites
I love Chris and Hannah, but um the like Dakota and her sister, the Fanning sisters are going to be in it and it looks so good. >> Okay, we're going to do a rapid fire book wrecks. >> So, I'm scared. >> We're going to do a book wreck for a girl going through a breakup. >> Oh, a return to love for sure. >> A book wreck for a girl falling in love. falling in love
Um, maybe like anything Taylor Jenkins Reed
I was going to say Evelyn Hugo. >> Yeah, >> I feel like that's my two friends who are dating who are actually on the podcast like a few weeks ago
They're two famous and they uh co-reed the book when they first started dating in the honeymoon phase. >> That's so cute. >> Yeah
And they were like, "That was the best experience
It made our honeymoon phase like 10 times better because we read it together and they had like a playlist for it and they would listen to it together and it's like I just think something like that I'm like so so wholesome. >> I wish any man I've ever dated would read the same book as me
That's crazy. >> I agree
So what if you're like a really ambitious like career woman that needs [clears throat] like a good book wreck? >> Ambitious career woman
I would read From Good to Great. >> I haven't read that
It's a great book about leadership and also like how to literally go from good to great >> on my TBR. >> Yeah. >> What's a book wreck that you would recommend for like a beach read? >> Oh, Emily Henry or Ellen Hilderbrand. >> Mhm. >> Um yeah. >> Okay
Um >> what? >> Nothing. >> No
Tell me what you were going to say. >> Did you watch I think it's by her
Did you watch the new uh FiveStar Weekend? I did. >> It's by It's an edited book
Okay
Did you like it? >> I did
I think it's a really like fun watch
It's in Nantucket. >> It is in Nucket
She's written 30 books about Nantucket
So, that's kind of her thing. >> That's why I was like, "What? What is going on?" [laughter] >> So, an audio book
I'm sure you you do listen to audio books. >> Yeah. >> A book or I guess a listening wreck that you could stop and start like a hundred times and like not really have to follow through like 24/7. >> So, I love any audio book that has different people cast as the characters
Like I just think it's so full and amazing
Um Reese Witherspoon actually wrote a book last year with Harlon Cobin called Gone Before Goodbye and Chris Pine is like plays a character
It's so good
Wow
See, I which might be a little bootleg, but I have like my Spotify little audio books that like I try to find to the end ends of the earth to try to find a free one and then I find them and like the audiobooks narrator is like I will go to the store and I will do this and I'm like >> pet peeve like Lena Dunham's memoir is so good cuz she narrates it. >> I love anybody who narrates their own book I will listen to
I love it
And I think I need to get into that because I think it would be hard for me to read a memoir. >> Yeah. >> But I think >> listening to it might it just will feel like a podcast. >> Yes
I mean Julia Whan is like an incredible audio book narrator and she'll play the different parts with her voices
Like she's a unicorn >> for sure. >> Yeah. >> I think she's narrated like Yeah
Like 900 and something
Anyways. >> Yeah. >> Well, thank you so much for being on Booked Upon a Busy
I was so honored to be on your podcast and oh my god, you're so amazing and smart and curious and talented and endearing and I just I was so grateful
So, thank you. >> I'm so happy that you came on
I was like, wait, I'm going to someone else that understands reading like me
I'm like, we're going to connect >> a thousand%
I'm not as blonde as you, but like maybe I could be one day and you tell me how to not fry my hair and do it. >> I don't recommend it
I'm not going to lie to you
Well, angels, thank you so much for watching this week's episode
I am so happy and blessed that I was able to talk to Danielle
And thank you guys for watching this
And don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and if you want to talk more in depth about books, don't forget to check out my Patreon
I love you
Bye.
