I love listening to the stories but I find the host’s seemingly endless banter to be unbelievably annoying. I cope by skipping through those parts, going straight to the stories.

Stories are great but I really miss the old host who passed away. This new one seems to thin we all need to hear her analysis of the story and her take on why it’s good. Too much nattering on - have to fast forward to get to the story.

The selection of stories use to be monumentally better. Meg's giant ego has stolen all of the greatness from this podcast. Other listeners have been giving feedback and reviews about the host for YEARS! How many hundreds of reviews have to be written before someone actually gives the listeners what they want.

Perfect selection for this time in history. Bravo!

This used to be such a great program when Isaiah Sheffer was host now the host rambles at the stories of boring. Why not mix it up the different hosts each week?

Irritated lately by the story selection. Snarky McSweeney’s essays and the like are commentary, not fiction. I was excited about the banned books episode but then they didn’t read a single banned work! The story selection under Wolitzer is just a huge disappointment. Ditch the essays, lose Wolitzer’s precious intros, and bring back good, substantive fiction read by actors with gravitas. And make the back catalog available please. Alec Baldwin reading Wharton, Jane Curtain reading anything/everything.

Always a pleasure to listen to and enjoy. A delight.

I loved this show when Isaiah Sheffer was host. Now with Meg Woolitzer, there is too much talking before and after each story and when she stated the, “return of book club,” I let out a loud groan. Ugh. I’m here to listen to stories, not the host gabbing with their friends or family members. And, I don’t find her interviews with the actors who have done the reading very compelling or interesting.

Are there directors? Rehearsals? Or do they just come from the sound stage of their sit coms to speed read through volunteer gigs? More than half of the stories are ones I cringe through because of the very very poor quality of the reading. The more famous and busier the reader, the worse the reading. From the first to the last word of capotes short story I was slack jawed. Not to mention that the intro was literally as long as the story. Meg Wolitzer is the bane of my existence. The. Bane. Then the first line of the next story just starts with a mistake. Is there a period after counter? This sounds like someone had never read the story before. SS has always had a smattering of emotive readers who over do it. That’s for the last 20 years. Maybe bc I’ve decided to give it a try again over Covid I’m poorly conditioned for performances like the ones I’ve been hearing. Also I’ve been spoiled by stellar performances on audible by no name readers of superior skill. Ok I get it audible is edited and this is live. All the more reason to rehearse and direct these readings.

This for me was the best. I grew up watching them and then the love story I experienced thank you for all the great memories.