Books on the Nightstand discussion

Post your final thoughts, remembrances, tributes and well-wishes on this thread.

BOTNS, we hardly knew ye!

Haven't listened yet, but caught wind of things from a few tweets. I'm heartbroken. But Ann and Michael, I totally understand and am eternally grateful for the books I've found, connections I've made, etc!

I haven't listened yet either but noooooooooooooooooo! say it isn't so.

What?? Nooooooooooooooooo...

I haven't listened lately but what?

Oh no the podcast is over !!!!

That figures, I. Lose my job, get sick, go into the hospital and now this? What can I say. BOTNS meant so much to me when I worked at a machine and had time to listen. Now I'm not listening and the world is changing so much. Thanks for everything BOTNS.

So so very sad!

We have each other - and still have Ann and Michael.

And we have 5 more episodes! It's not goodbye yet...

We have each other - and still have Ann and Michael.
And a big long index of books to read that will probably take us until...

Oh I'm so sad! BOTNS really revived my reading life!! I'm going to miss you guys so much!

Oh dear, but I totally understand & what a group of people I have met thru BOTNS!

I'm so sad to hear this -- it's my favorite podcast! And it's helped me add over 100 books to my to-read list!

Boo hoo, but perfectly understandable!

Ann and Michael, thanks for your generosity, your thoughtful reflections, your inside scoops and especially your creation of an international community of readers. I hope you can leave the BOTNS Goodreads group active for us to keep in touch, and for you to let us know about any future projects that you undertake separately or together.

All the best, Joanne

Wow - I am bummed to hear this, but so grateful to Ann and Michael for the book community they've created. And of course for many, many excellent book suggestions - you two have truly superb taste.
Thank you for all of your work on the podcast, and thanks for giving us some more episodes instead of cutting us off cold turkey ;)

Eleven years ago, I started running. I couldn't run a full mile without stopping to catch my breath. I was also lugging around a portable CD player with audio books on my runs. I eventually purchased my first iPod, and found Ann and Michael on about their third or fourth podcast. I have been a faithful listener ever since. Last April I ran the Boston Marathon, and I feel that part of my accomplishment belongs to Ann and Michael for talking me through those long training runs.

I had the privilege to meet them in Petoskey at both of the Booktopias there. I am very sad that the podcast will end, but I understand that they need some rest and time to themselves.

Thank you for everything, and I wish you all the best.

*tear* This was one of the first podcasts I started listening to. Thanks for all the reads, and the wonderful booktopia memories. You will be missed on my podcast feed for sure.

I've just joined your GR group specifically so I could thank you for years of happy listening. I don't remember where I learned of the podcast but it was within a week or so of the first one and I was immediately hooked. I always made sure I downloaded BOTNS unto my iPod so I could listen to it in the car. Frankly, now I'm glad I'm several months behind in my listening. Thanks for all the great book recs and Booktopia Boulder!

Didn't get a chance to listen yet. I was saving BOTNS podcast for my gardening work this afternoon. Then I saw the tweets this morning. So, so sad! As many have stated above, I too, have met and shared great times with people I would have never met if it wasn't for BOTNS. Thank you Ann & Michael!!

Nooooo :'-( I'm so heartbroken. this podcast has brought me so much comfort and joy (besides good book recommendations), it has helped me feel less alone. I don't really have any in person friends who like to read like I do, so listening to this podcast on my commute made it so companionable to hear people chatting about books with a passion that I share as well. I will miss the weekly episodes but I understand the reasons for taking a break. Hoping it returns in one form or another.

P.S. This is hands down my favorite podcast, and I listen to a LOT of podcasts. It is the only one I specifically seek out weekly on Stitcher!

Darn. Sad, but I understand their need to move on. I can't understate my appreciation and a renewed joy of reading that I got from listening to Ann and Michael, and I truly wish them a terrific future.

Thank you Ann and Michael. I looked forward to listening to your podcast each week and it has brought so much joy (and good books) to my life. Downloading each new episode always brought a smile to my face - the two of you have a wonderful rapport, and, by listening to two friends discuss books, felt that I was welcome to join your book-loving circle of friends. Attending Booktopia took this to a whole new level when we were able to connect with members of this awesome community that Michael and Ann created. May your future be as bright as the joy you brought to so many people. Enjoy time with your families and I hope to hear from you again sometime in the future. For now, I'll console myself by cueing up episode #1.

Say it ain't so....

Let me repeat it one more time:

The selfish part of me does not want you to end the podcast however I do understand the time commitment this has meant to both of you. Geoffrey Chaucer's said "all good things must come to an end", so true in regards to BOTNS Podcast. Though I listen to other podcasts there is none that compare with BOTNS.
The combination of your friendship, love of books and desire to share this with listeners can't be duplicated. You tweaked the format, considering what worked best and produced a first-rate podcast. I will miss you both. Wishing you all the best in future endeavors and thanking you for your expertise, humor and the community you have built. Happy Reading!

Thank you Ann and Michael for many wonderful podcasts, thoughtful discussions, connecting readers across the world, Booktopia (proudly wear my hat), and great book recommendations. I am leaving my job at the end of May and starting a new career in June, so in a sense we are all beginning new chapters in our lives.

What a wonderful thread! I echo everyone's sentiments. I'll be so, so sad not to have the weekly treat of a new BOTNS epsiode to listen to, but appreciate and respect the decision to stop. When it's time, it's time.

I haven't listened to the episode yet. I caught up as soon as I discovered the podcast a few years ago, so I'll have to hoard the last few episodes.

I only went to two Booktopias, but they were two of the most delightful weekends of my life, and I hope that tradition continues. I'm glad we have Linda around to keep us moving forward, and I hope we will get to see Ann and Michael again, up close and personal, at future Booktopia / BOTNS events.

You two should be, and I'm sure are, so very proud of the beautiful, tangible, living, breathing community you created. I hope to be a part of honoring you and that achievement by continuing what you started.

Onward, Booktopians!

I haven't finished the episode, so I wondered if you spoke to what happens to this Goodreads community? I'm a late joiner to the fanbase and have really enjoyed the readers in THIS group. Can we keep it? :)

You two have done marvelous work. As a newbie book podcaster myself, I have always been inspired by your breadth and continuity. Weekly episodes can't have been easy to keep up with no matter how much you read. Reading and talking about reading and recording about reading and editing the recording of the talking about reading... it does multiply!!

Thank you both for your efforts with the podcast. When I discovered BOTNS, I felt as though I had finally found my people. Before that I often felt isolated in my love of reading and books, because I didn't know anyone else in my daily life who shared that interest. (In fact, I have family members and friends who pride themselves on not having voluntarily read a book since graduating high school 30 years ago...)
For expanding my world and showing me that I am not alone, I thank you. :)

Amy wrote: "Thank you both for your efforts with the podcast. When I discovered BOTNS, I felt as though I had finally found my people. Before that I often felt isolated in my love of reading and books, because..." Amy, I feel the same way! And I do actually have friends that read, but it's not the same as the BOTNS listeners. When I went to Booktopia in the fall, I truly felt like I had found "my people." It was bliss :)

I will again say, that this is my family - people who know about books and read, read, read. I thank Ann and Michael for creating this marvelous, sharing, genuinely positive community.

In case there is any doubt this is a family and that we know each other's foibles and fortitudes.

One of the members of this family evidently watched as I listened to Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World immediately followed by Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. That was April 28.
Two days ago, I posted that I was listening to The Supreme Court: The Personalities and Rivalries That Defined America. Shortly after that, I received a message that said, "Now that's a rut."
I roared.
Thanks so very, very much for this community (family) that I love and have been looking for all my life.

I don't often post here, but I can't quit thinking that BOTNS is going the way of the dinosaur. Last year was my first year for bingo and I could hardly wait to play this summer. I've printed out my card, and I've been working on my book choices - as I'm sure many of y'all have. My only other bookish podcast is The Readers, so I guess this is my summer book bingo swan song.

Thank you Anne and Michael for opening up my world to reading again. Many of y'all's recommendations would never have crossed my radar if not for your podcast. I'll be forever grateful to the two of you!

Any other podcast recs? I listen to the readers and so many damn books, but I liked how regularly BOTNS was released.

All the Books and What Should I Read Next? are a couple of my favorite book podcasts. :)

I haven't heard of these! I'm going to check them out. I've heard a lot of people like Literary Disco.

I enjoy Lit Up, though Angela Ledgewood's voice takes a bit of getting used to. She gets great guests.

New Yorker Fiction Podcast is always great, and they have a new one of authors reading their current stories which has been pretty good too, though it lacks the commentary that makes the original so great. It's called The Author's Voice: New Fiction From the New Yorker.

I love Literary Disco. It makes me laugh out loud.

Well, at least we didn't get to the episode where Michael, while water skiing, jumps the shark.

A million thanks, Ann and Michael. So long and thanks for all the fish. xxx

I'm one that doesn't care for Literary Disco. It reminds me of high school with all the tittering and f*bombs....not that I mind an occasional f*bomb. But everyone should try it once.

I like Book Riot but if you're not interested in the business and politics of book publishing, it's not for you. All the Books is also one of Book Riot's podcasts and it is more geared to reading recommendations. They also do a podcast called Get Booked that answers specific readers quest for a certain type of book.

The only other book podcast that I listen to faithfully is the NYT Book Review.

Hannah wrote: "All the Books and What Should I Read Next? are a couple of my favorite book podcasts. :)"
Thanks for the scoop on a few of your favorite book podcasts. I will subscribe and try to fill the void.

Thanks a million Ann and Michael. You have perfected conversation banter. I will miss your points of view and my favorite podcast. Happy to have met you at Booktopia Asheville. I am already hoping that a 'special edition' BOTN podcast will be recorded in the not too distant future. In the meantime will savor the last few episodes.

Thank you Ann and Michael for all that you've shared and given to all of us over the years. I've listened every week from the beginning and enjoyed every episode. BOTNS has given me many book recommendations and compelling thoughts about reading. I've made new friends through BOTNS and the postal book clubs that have emerged from Booktopia events. I've shared BOTNS with longtime friends as well. I was sad to hear that the podcast will be ending, but I completely understand why you would need to make this decision. We still have the reading communities you helped to build, but I will definitely miss this important part of my week.

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got til it's gone

Thanks so much, Michael and Ann!

Liza wrote: "Any other podcast recs? I listen to the readers and so many damn books, but I liked how regularly BOTNS was released."

If you like YA, Adventures in YA is a good one. I also enjoy Book Jawn, there is a bit of a leaning towards YA but also on diverse books which I appreciate.

I listen to all of the Book Riot podcasts and absolutely love them.

Liza wrote: "Any other podcast recs? I listen to the readers and so many damn books, but I liked how regularly BOTNS was released."

I do enjoy listening to Reading Envy, the brain child of Jenny Colvin, a fellow BOTNS listener.

I'm new to What Should I Read Next and like the consistent format as well as voice of Anne Bogel.

Thanks for the recommendations, everybody!!

Not a podcast, but I often find things I'm interested in reading from posts on largeheartedboy.com

I like the book notes series, but he also links to good interviews and book lists and excerpts.

Heavy sigh. I, too, understand "the decision". Being from Cleveland, this reminds me of "the other" decision (and I'm not even a basketball fan...much). I have enjoyed the camaraderie between Ann and Michael, their banter, their book recommendations (introducing me to graphic novels!) , Booktopias(!), the friendships made through Booktopias . . . . I could go on and on! I will miss the weekly podcast, but I'll try to be brave. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my reading experiences richer than they would otherwise have been.

What about the blog/website?

Eric wrote: "What about the blog/website?"

Eric,
Ann told me that it will stay up for at least a couple of years.

I enjoy listening to "Books & Authors" podcast from the BBC; Guardian books podcast; World Book Club (BBC). BBC has other books podcasts as well. Still, I will definitely miss BOTNS.