Read Dog is a monthly book subscription box that sends something to read along with other goodies in each box.
You can get or gift a Read Dog subscription. When you sign up, you'll tell the company a little about yourself, like your age, favorite genres, and your ideal reading experience. Then Read Dog sends a monthly book that fits your preferences. (Plus some other treats to enjoy!) According to the founders, their most popular genres are fantasy, young adult, thriller, children's, nonfiction, and contemporary literature. The company takes books and the relationship we have with them seriously, so look forward to thoughtfully chosen stories picked just for you.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Read Dog
The Cost: $31.99 per monthly box (less if you sign up for multiple months up front)
The Products: One book per month and small gifts, too.
Ships to: U.S. for free, Canada for $8.00, and the rest of the world for $15.00
Check out all of our Read Dog reviews and the Books Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
New year, new things to read! The note from the Read Dog team focuses on the continued pursuit of learning and communication. I'll be interested to see how that reflects itself in the box.
Calvin & Hobbes Bookmark - Value $1.00?
As always, there's a custom bookmark with a cute quote. I love Calvin & Hobbes, so these sweet cartoon faces were a welcome sight.
XO Orpheus: 50 New Myths Edited by Kate Bernheimer - Value $11.11 on Amazon (retail price $18.00)
This 2013 collection of writing draws inspiration from classic mythology but brings the stories into a new, modern light.
Book Summary on Amazon:
Fifty leading writers retell myths from around the world in this dazzling follow-up to the bestselling My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me.
Icarus flies once more. Aztec jaguar gods again stalk the earth. An American soldier designs a new kind of Trojan horse—his cremains in a bullet. Here, in beguiling guise, are your favorite mythological figures alongside characters from Indian, Punjabi, Inuit, and other traditions.
Aimee Bender retells the myth of the Titans.
Elizabeth McCracken retells the myth of Lamia, the child-eating mistress of Zeus.
Madeline Miller retells the myth of Galatea.
Kevin Wilson retells the myth of Phaeton, from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Emma Straub and Peter Straub retell the myth of Persephone.
Heidi Julavits retells the myth of Orpheus and Euridice.
Ron Currie, Jr. retells the myth of Dedalus.
Maile Meloy retells the myth of Demeter.
Zachary Mason retells the myth of Narcissus.
Joy Williams retells the myth of Argos, Odysseus’ dog.
If “xo” signals a goodbye, then xo Orpheus is a goodbye to an old way of mythmaking. Featuring talkative goats, a cat lady, a bird woman, a beer-drinking ogre, a squid who falls in love with the sun, and a girl who gives birth to cubs, here are extravagantly imagined, bracingly contemporary stories, heralding a new beginning for one of the world’s oldest literary traditions.
2 Stash Peppermint Tea Sachets - Value $0.50
These teas are the refreshing kind of flavor I love to start my day with. I will say that I'm a little tapped out on peppermint after the holidays, but I'll never turn down a good tea!
2 Ferrero Rocher Candies - Value $0.54
These flavors also feel a little left over from the holidays (I only ever seem to see Ferrero Rocher candies around December), but the crispy and smooth layers of chocolatey hazelnut are still super tasty year 'round!
This Will Be My Year! Notebook - Value $2.00?
This notebook seems custom made by Read Dog. I'm forever writing lists and notes, so I'm always in need of a notebook. That said, I wish the design was a bit more compelling. When so many other boxes have gorgeous custom designed pieces in their assortments, this one, unfortunately, seems to pale in comparison.
The staple-bound pages are blank, rather than ruled, which I actually prefer. Again, I wish this was of slightly higher quality. Especially since other Read Dog-made items, like the bookmark, are so impressive, this notebook seems sort of lacking.
Pen - Value $0.25?
There's a pen to use with the notebook, too. It's a simple black ballpoint pen, which is nice and versatile. The line is smooth, and I appreciate the textured grip.
Gold Metallic Balloon - Value $0.25?
This is another let down for me. It feels odd to have something that feels very New Year's after the holiday has already happened. Plus, there's just one. One gold balloon? It's a little lonely, isn't it?
Print Card - Value $1.00?
This print card appears on postcard-weight paper. It's square (about 5" x 5") and features a painterly print of mythical creatures, animals, and settings. I like the design a lot, and it nods to the theme of this month's book. I do wish it was presented in a more formal way than just appearing thrown in the box. If it's meant to be considered an art print, I wish it had a heavier weight paper. If it's meant to be more of a fun card, then this is fine, I suppose. It's just hard to ascertain how it was intended to be enjoyed.
Verdict: This month's Read Dog box was awesome in terms of the book, but weak in terms of the other items. I felt like the non-book products felt sort of thrown together, and some even seemed like holiday items being cleared out in the new year. To be clear, I still enjoyed and have some use of the items in the box, it just wasn't their strongest showing! My estimations say the box only had around $16.00 worth of value inside, which is about half of the $31.99 cost of the box. Most of that value was the book, too. I'll be interested to see what Read Dog has up its sleeve as we continue through the year. I'm eager for them to explore new, more valuable ways to fill the box!
What do you think of Read Dog?
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