In the first episode of this special 5-episode series, Russell, Rachael, Rachel, and Riley share inspiring quotes from favorite authors.

• Brené Brown, “Atlas of the Heart”
• C.S. Lewis, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”
• Rita Mae Brown, “Rubyfruit Jungle”
• Lauren Wolk, “Echo Mountain”
• Dr. Seuss, “The Lorax”
• Jack London, “The Call of the Wild”

Russell, Rachel, and Rachael chat about our January reading challenge, books featuring a horse. They discuss the Chinese Zodiac which inspired the challenge, share a glimpse behind the scenes into the creative process and bond over the nostalgia of childhood trauma.
If you have a favorite literary horse we somehow missed, let us know on social media!

Books we discuss include:

• “The Neverending Story” by Michael Ende
• “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
• “My Friend Flicka” by Mary O’Hara
• “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving
• “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien
• “The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck” by Don Rosa
• “Casper and Nightmare” comics
• Barney Google Snuffy Smith
• “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman
• “The Horse and His Boy” by C.S. Lewis
• “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks
• “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy
• “Seabiscuit: An American Legend” by Laura Hillenbrand
• “The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America” by Elizabeth Letts
• “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry
• “The Perfect Horse: the Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis” by Elizabeth Letts
• “Ghost Riders: When US and German Soldiers Fought Together to Save the World's Most Beautiful Horses in the Last Days of World War II” by Mark Felton
• “The Unmothers” by Leslie J. Anderson
• “Wild Horse Country: The History, Myth, and Future of the Mustang” by David Philipps
• “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell
• “National Velvet” by Enid Bagnold
• “The Black Stallion” series by Walter Farley
• “Joe Pickett” series by C.J. Box

Find out more about Booked Monthly on our website.

Russell, Rachel, and Rachael chat with our guest Katelyn Murray, one of the new owners of The Dog-eared Page bookshop on Main Street. We discuss finding that one perfect book for you, receiving letters of praise from your favorite author, and unexpectedly learning how showers work!

Books/Authors we discuss include:

• “Daughter of the Forest” by Juliet Marillier
• “Redwall” series by Brian Jacques
• “Kaleidoscope” and everything by Ray Bradbury
• “The September House” by Carissa Orlando
• Author Ali Hazelwood
• Author Abby Jimenez
• “Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry
• “The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter” by Brionni Nwosu
• “Vampires of Shanghai” by Katherine Mercer (releases January 2, 2026)

For more Ray Bradbury, join us at Unrequired Reading Classics Book Club to discuss “Fahrenheit 451” on Monday, January 26 at 5:30PM. Call 434.799.5195 or visit readdanvilleva.org to register.