Book Squad Podcast

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode, Polli and Adam discuss all of their favorite reads of 2023. Spoiler alert: we read a TON of good books this year, and plan on reading some excellent ones in 2024, too. Thanks for listening to our truly unhinged podcast. We'll see you in the new year.  Happy reading!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! We have a special guest joining us; our very own Spooky Queen, Christina! In this episode we'll talk about Halloween traditions, figure out whether Christina is Team Jacob or Team Edward, and hear all about Adam's weird pumpkin experiments. Spooky Season might be over, but our love for vampires is eternal.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode, we'll be talking all about the hot topic of banned books. How much have instances of books being banned increased over the years? What type of books do you typically find on Banned Books list? How can you make a difference by challenging these bans? You'll get answers to all that and more, including some of Polli and Adam's top picks for their favorite frequently challenged books. Have a listen, and celebrate your intellectual freedom by reading some banned books.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! It's been a couple minutes since we've last recorded an episode, and we're back with a bloody good one! In this episode we'll discuss some rumors featuring Taylor Swift, share all the details about our annual Booktoberfest extravaganza, and give some takes on Dracula that are just as spicy as paprika. And as an added bonus, Polli and Adam share their top picks of movies and tv shows to check out during Spooky Season!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! This time around we're talking all things Summer Reading, including all of the cool prizes. (Spoiler alert: WE HAVE TOTEBAGS). We'll also be giving recommendations for a few of our favorite audiobooks, to help you reach your summer reading goals. Listen to this episode to hear which audiobook narrator Polli thinks is the emotional equivalent of butter, and to hear some of Adam's recent reads, none of which are horrifying and/or sad.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! This month we're giving recommendations for Jewish American Heritage Month, but they're perfect picks for any time of the year. In this episode you'll find magical realism books, fairytales, messy coming-of-age stories, spicy romance, and more! There's something for everyone in this episode.  Happy reading!

In this episode, we talk about what first made us interested in becoming librarians and then we talk about books, some more books, and oh yeah, books! Listen to hear some of Polli and Adam's favorite books about books, and feel free to suggest synonyms for "sweet", "fascinating", and "lovely" in the comments.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In today's episode we're touching grass. Listen to hear Polli expound on her dreams of visiting Maine, Adam complain about bugs, and for our special guest Shirley to talk about an exciting nature-related event happening later this month.  Happy reading!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode Adam and Polli talk about the books they're reading this month and what the book clubs have been up to lately. Stick around for a special guest and to hear more about the annual Squad Goals challenge. What's the first book you're planning to read this year?

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! We've reached the end of 2022 and it's finally time to talk about our favorite books of the year. From rom coms to, er, womp womps, we've got a ton of recommendations! Give the episode a listen to hear all the ~spicy~ opinions of your local bookish "experts". Happy holidays, and happy reading!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! Grab your hot beverage of choice and settle in for a discussion of all things cozy. What feels comforting during the changing of the season? For Polli it's cookbooks (but maybe not cooking) and for Adam it's stories that fell like the emotional equivalent of wearing an old sweater. Listen to this month's podcast to discover Polli and Adam's favorite cozy reads and to hear who makes the best cinnamon roll in town.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! It's finally autumn: the season of crunchy leaves, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and scary the crap outta yourself while watching a scary movie. What drives people to watch and read horror stories? Join Book Squad members Polli Kenn, Adam Lopez and special guest Christina James as they talk about the possible reasons behind why some of us like getting scared. In this episode Polli does a lot of navel gazing, Adam hangs out with some goats, and Christina really likes mowing the lawn.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode we're give you all the insider information you need to celebrate Booktoberfest. Join Polli, Adam, and our special guest Leah to hear them ramble about Practical Magic, Welsh soccer, and Chris Pine being a dang snack. Be sure to register for all of the Booktoberfest events so you can show off your spooky 'fits and platform heels. We can't wait to see all of you in person!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! August is Read A Romance Month and in this episode Polli and Adam get on their soapbox and rant respectfully educate our listeners on all things Romance. Listen to hear all of Polli's spiciest takes, to hear Adam lament the loss of this past season of Love Island, and to discover why you, yes you, should be reading romance novels every month of the year. Haven't read romance before? Now's your chance to check out the genre!

This month is a delicious hors d'oeuvres of an episode, in which our intrepid librarians must bravely face their most challenging topic yet: keeping their chit chat to under thirty minutes. Will they succeed?! You'll have to listen to find out! In this episode you'll find little to no rambling, some discussions on our must-read books, and a Thor reference I BELIEVE everyone will enjoy. See what I did there?  Happy listening! For show notes, visit this link: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/059-we-love-the-sound-of-our-own-voices/

Wanting AAPI book recommendations, with a generous side helping of chaos from the rag tag team you've come to know and love? Well, you're listening to the right podcast! Join our co-hosts as Polli and Adam (formerly Kimberly) talk a lot about a whole lotta books. Grab a snack and a cuppa, folks, this one's a long episode! For show notes, visit this link: lplks.org/blogs/post/058-title-tbd/

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! Today's episode features a special guest to give you all the scoop on Read Across Lawrence. Listen to the end to hear all about it. You'll also get book recs for times of stress, and you'll get to listen to Kimberly finally master upspeak and Polli give a basic United States history lesson. It's John Wilkes Booth, not James Wilkinson Booth, by the way. For the show notes visit: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/057-the-word-of-the-day-is-lovely/

Polli Kenn and Kimberly Lopez are back at it (again) for more shenanigans (again), and this time they have even more books to discuss! Listen to the podcast to hear Kimberly completely butcher the premise of The School for Good Mothers (the main character has to take care of a toddler doll, not a robot child, because this isn't A.I.) and keep listening to hear Polli (definitely not) lose her mind over a certain co-worker's Wordle habits. The podcast has been revived! Get ready for the madness!

We're back, we're back! The Book Squad Podcast is back! Kate Gramlich, our longtime cohost, has brazenly left the library for another job. (Everyone wave to Kate at her new job!)  So along with starting back recording, Book Squad member Kimberly Lopez has taken up the mantle of shenaniganizing about books with Polli Kenn and we had a great time starting again and starting afresh together! We're so glad to be back and we hope you're ready to come along for the ride as we reboot and bring the bookish banter back to your ears!  In this episode, we talk about... struggling to read and what we're doing instead: Yoga, Niall Horan, Sweet Tooth, Farmer's Marketing, Reading Challenges, podcasts and more! Find the show notes at: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/055-the-reading-struggle-is-real/

As we're getting into the swing of things in this pandemic (what a weird thing to type), some of us are feeling more like revisiting our old friends - books. They're friends we don't have to sit 6ft apart from, and we might need them right now. Polli and Kate share some books they've been hearing others rave about, most of which are available digitally on Hoopla and/or Libby!  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/054-hello-books-my-old-friend/ On Tuesday afternoons at 4pm (Central), the Book Squad is offering BYOBB - Bring Your Own Book & Beverage - on Zoom (click the link for the Zoom info!) During the hour, anyone and everyone is welcome to get on and share what you've been reading... or just listen if you don't want to share! Afterward, a Book Squadder compiles a list on Bibliocommons of all that was discussed. Here are some of the previous weeks' lists. Note - there are LOTS of things to add to your to-read pile here. You may want to sign into your Bibliocommons account first so you can easily add items to your "For Later" shelf. BYOBB Part 1 • BYOBB Part 2 • BYOBB Part 3 • BYOBB Part 4 • BYOBB Part 5 Some of the books Polli and Kate chatted about in this episode are: Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (ebook and e-audio) The Giver of Stars (ebook and e-audio) Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants (e-audio) 18 Tiny Deaths (ebook - with pictures) Underland The Overstory (ebook) How to Do Nothing (ebook and e-audio + podcast episode) The Shadow King The Need (ebook and e-audio)  Library COVID-19 news: Our programs and events will be digital this summer. The library building will not be open to the public on May 18th. Please stay tuned on our social media, website, and/or newsletter for up-to-date information!

What better to read during a time of great societal upheaval and the breakdown of basic norms and values than compelling novel that explores the psychology of dealing with a plague? That's what we thought, too! Tune in to our discussion of The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker, which we call "Apocalypse Lite." (Heads up: the book does not end in earth-shattering disaster.)  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/053-apodcastalypse *** Note: this book is available on Overdrive/the Libby app in both ebook and e-audio formats. A mysterious sleeping sickness hits a college campus in a California town isolated from surrounding areas by deep wilderness. The novel follows several college students and community members as the news and sickness spreads. It is a profound look at how we think about and talk about (and respond to) plague or illness, which is particularly timely in time of COVID-19. Special thanks to one of our listeners, Fred, who recommended that we take this journey! This is a reminder that LPL will be closed until May 17th. If you are looking for information on COVID-19, please bookmark this page as we will be updating it frequently: https://lplks.org/covid-19/

What does it mean to write a protagonist that is completely different from you? Are you a guest, a tourist, or an invader? How do you write correctly and thoughtfully? What happens when you get it wrong? Listen up as Polli and Kate share some dirt and some resources.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/052-dishing-the-american-dirt/ Two Book Minimum: How to Catch A Mole by Marc Hamer The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez Dishing the...American Dirt: If you're a book nerd in any way, or interested in #OwnVoices literature, you've probably heard about the American Dirt drama. If not, here's a blurb from Rachelle Hampton: American Dirt follows the journey of a mother and son fleeing Mexico for America after their entire family is murdered on the orders of a local cartel kingpin. Before the slaughter, Lydia Quixano Pérez is a bookseller in Acapulco, mother to Luca and wife to journalist Sebastián. It is Sebastián’s exposé on the kingpin, who also happens to be a frequent customer of Lydia’s bookstore, that serves as the linchpin for the violence that sets off the novel and Lydia’s journey through the desert to the border. In her afterword Cummins describes a four-year writing process that included extensive travel and interviews in Mexico. Cummins writes of her desire to humanize “the faceless brown mass” that she believes is so many people’s perception of immigrants. “I wish someone slightly browner than me would write it,” she continues. “But then I thought, if you’re the person who has the capacity to be a bridge, why not be a bridge.”  (Slate.com) So. While the book had been released quite a while ago, it came out this year (to rave reviews) and was picked for Oprah's Book Club, which then led to some deeper digging and scandalous responses. One of the first and most vocal opponents was Myriam Gurba, author of Mean, whose lyrical takedown was (in Kate's view)... spectacular. It's pretty brutal and covers multiple levels, including the unnatural-sounding use of Spanglish and the lack of Mexican sensibility. She argues against Cummins' right to write this book, especially given the number of Latinx authors who are remaining unpublished or undiscovered. The backlash against this line of criticism has been stronggggg. And not cute.  David Bowles' piece, American Dirt: Dignity & Equity, offers a nuanced view of what it means to write the "other," and what a responsibility it is -- "When you write about an underrepresented group, one whose own voices have been excluded from the world of publishing, not getting it right isn’t just disastrous: it’s harmful to people in that group." Bowles' article gives lots of stats and figures to back up his argument, as well as tips FOR writing characters different from you. One to check out is called Writing the Other, a series by Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward, which has tons of resources for current or prospective authors. Likewise, Alexander Chee addresses this issue often in workshops and lectures and says "Many writers are not really asking for advice — they are asking if it is okay to find a way to continue as they have." He asks a few questions that are very helpful to writers, creators, and consumers: 1. Why do you want to write from this character’s point of view? 2. Do you read writers from this community currently? 3. Why do you want to tell this story? -----------------

Want a read that's sweet but not sugary, and philosophical without making you feel dumb? Listen up, folks! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/051-meet-me-at-the-podcast/ This episode is ALL about the She Said/She Said: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson From Shelf Awareness: "What does one's life look like on paper? In hindsight? Through the eyes of a dear friend? These are the questions at the heart of Anne Youngson's wonderful epistolary novel, Meet Me at the Museum." The author's debut came out when she was 70 years old, and features characters who claim to have "More behind us than ahead of us."  What follows is a beautiful story of friendship and self-discovery that plays out in a series of letters between Tina and Anders. We like to describe it as being sweet but NOT gushy or sugary, more.... real and open. Philosophical and smart but not obnoxiously so ;) ---------------------------------------- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

NEW YEAR NEW...RETURNING PODCAST There was a lil hiatus and we never really got to warn you, sorry! This episode, we jump back in with some bookish news, recommendations, and a chat about what's going on in Lawrence this spring! Turns out? Lots of stuff.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/050-welcome-back-you-bumptious-turdsworth Bookish News: According to LitHub, "Lord Byron used to call William Wordsworth 'Turdsworth,' and yes, this is a real historical fact." You're welcome and goodnight. There has been some capital-U Uproar over at Romance Writers of America. Some capital-R Racist capital-U Uproar. Polli walks us through a bunch of highlights, and here are some other sources:    Two Book Minimum:  The Little Book of Lost Words by Joe Gillard, found on the Schitt'$ Creek list/display that Ilka made! The Player's Handbook by Jeremy Crawford (D&D, not, like, being a playa) The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (“Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” Duh.) Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li What's Going On? (So much.) In partnership with the Lawrence NAACP, we have an awesome African American Read-In planned (events throughout February) with a Kick-off on Feb 2nd. Come to the kick-off for a lively panel discussion led by scholars, writers, and librarians about the importance of representation in literature. Read Across Lawrence has been announced! The adult read is The Round House by Louise Erdrich (who will be at Haskell this spring!!!!) The events for Adult RAL will be throughout April, with the giveaway on March 28th. (Stay tuned for more info, because that will also be our 2020 CENSUS BASH!)  Also coming this spring, as we've bragged about before, is Paper Plains Literary Festival ------------------------ Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunesopens a new window, Stitcheropens a new window, or SoundCloudopens a new window. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

In time for Día de los Muertos, Polli and Kate discuss a book about what it means to have a "good death" in many places around the world. Through Caitlin Doughty's From Here to Eternity, they encounter death houses, glowing Buddhas, Snow White-esque caskets, revered Angelitos, and more. Join us on an enlightening and surprisingly uplifting journey.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/049-whats-a-good-death-to-you Bookish News: Local bookstore owner, Danny Caine, wins Midwest Bookseller of the Year! If you missed our interview with him in an earlier episode, here ya go! Two Book Minimum: The Library Book by Susan Orlean Death's Acre by Bill Bass She Said/She Said: From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty We all have different ideas of what makes a "good life" -- different measures of success and accomplishment and happiness. The same goes for what makes a "good death," as Caitlin Doughty points out in From Here to Eternity. Known also for her first book, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons From the Crematory, and more recent Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions From Tiny Mortals About Death, Doughty is a mortician, funeral director, and death acceptance advocate. Polli and Kate talk about "good deaths" and what this means across the globe according to some of Caitlin Doughty's stories. They also talk about their own personal feelings on death and dying, and invite you to do the same in the comments!  “Insist on going to the cremation, insist on going to the burial. Insist on being involved, even if it is just brushing your mother’s hair as she lies in her casket. Insist on applying her favorite shade of lipstick, the one she wouldn’t dream of going to the grave without. Insist on cutting a small lock of her hair to place in a locket or a ring. Do not be afraid. These are human acts, acts of bravery and love in the face of death and loss.” ― Caitlin Doughty What's happening in Lawrence? Paper Plains Literary Festival is coming next spring! Check the link for the lineup and more details. -------------------------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Did you know it was National Book Month? And National Pickled Pepper Month?? And World Menopause Month??? October is wild, y'all. We decided to combine National Book Month with some of the others and give you reading material to celebrate whatever holiday month you prefer! Except picked peppers -- we forgot books for that one, sorry.  show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/048-national-american-cheese-month Bookish News - Roughly a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Jan. 8 to Feb. 7. Is this higher or lower than you'd expect?  - LitHub put together a list of the Best 10 Debut Novels of the Decade  National Book (AND EVERYTHING ELSE) Month! World Homeless Day is October 10th Where I Live by Brenda Rufener My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls Evicted by Matthew Desmond (P.S. if you're looking for a local way to make a difference, support the Lawrence Community Shelter)  Adopt a Shelter Dog Month Shelter Dogs: photos by Traer Scott Collared by David Rosenfelt American Cheese Month (is this America celebrating cheese? Or celebrating American cheese? We just don't know.) One Hour Cheese by Claudia Lucero Cheese, A Connoisseurs Guide to the World's Best by Max McCalman LGBT History Month:  Queer X Design: 50 Years of Signs, Symbols, Banners, Logos, and Graphic Arts of LGBTQ by Andrew Raymond Campbell Pride:The LGBTQ+ Rights Movement : A Photographic Journey by Christopher Measom  National Disability Employment Awareness Month:  More the Same Than Different by Lorraine Cannistra (local author! Also available in book club bag!) The Pretty One by Keah Brown (From the disability rights advocate and creator of the #DisabledAndCute viral campaign) Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma Don't Call Me Inspirational A Disabled Feminist Talks Back by Harilyn Rousso Depression Education/Awareness Month Depression in Later Life by Deborah Serani Just Peachy: Comics about Depression, Anxiety, Love, and Finding the Humor in Being Sad by Holly Chisholm Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh  Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker (author of Magical Negro: Poems) ***Shout-out to the SAD Lamps available at LPL -- stay tuned for some "Light" Reading sessions in the auditorium this winter!*** Family Sexuality Education Month: For Goodness Sex: Changing the Way We Talk to Teens About Sexuality, Values, and Health by Al Vernacchio Sex Is A Funny Word Cory Silverberg It's So Amazing and It's Perfectly Normal, both by Robie Harris What's Happening in Lawrence? We've had some stellar authors here lately: Attica Locke, Annalee Newitz, Ben Lerner, etc! Next spring is a great event: https://www.paperplains.org/ ----- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

On this episode, the inimitable Dan Coleman — LPL Librarian, Papier-mâché wizard, and #weneeddiversebooks advocate — talks to Polli and Kate about places where children's literature is sorely lacking. They also discuss alarm clocks and bird things. Listen up! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/047-crow-funerals-papier-mache-and-unsung-kansas-heroes Two Book Minimum: The Language of Crows by Michael Westerfield (out of print but available via ILL) More crow goodness: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, and famous crows of Seattle) The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez Special Episode: Kansas Needs Diverse Books! Joining us is Dan Coleman, Collection Development Librarian and selector of children’s items.* Did you know that the U.S. turned down the chance to send the first astronaut of color to space? And that this astronaut -- Ed Dwight -- is from Kansas? Read Dan's blog post that inspired this episode for more information on overlooked Kansas figures whose stories need to be told, including Oscar Micheaux (featured here), Billy Mills, Lucile Bluford, KU grad and editor/publisher for The Call, and more.  Check out a few of these awesome bibliographies with your kids (or for yourself!) -- Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game by John Coy No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas by Tanya Bolden Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherford (*btw youguyz, there are 65 THOUSAND items in the children’s section at LPL.)  Upcoming at LPL: A GIANT ALARM CLOCK TO SMASH! AND MORE! Join us at Keep Retirement Weird on Sunday, Sept. 15th to see Dan's other handiwork, an enormous Papier-mâché alarm clock that current and upcoming retirees can smash to bits!  ------------------------ 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

We've got a jam-packed episode for you -- book recs, personality types, Jewish mourning customs, and an amazing debut novel about memory that made us both laughcry.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/046-memories-and-other-lies Two Book Minimum: Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall (R.I.P. 2019) The Enneagram Made Easy by Renee Baron Good Talk by Mira Jacob Kaddish.com by Nathan Englander She Said/She Said: Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong Rachel Khong's first novel is charming, hilarious, and also heart-wrenching: Freshly disengaged from her fiancé and feeling that life has not turned out quite the way she planned, thirty-year-old Ruth quits her job, leaves town and arrives at her parents' home to find that situation more complicated than she'd realized. Her father, a prominent history professor, is losing his memory and is only erratically lucid. Ruth's mother, meanwhile, is lucidly erratic. But as Ruth's father's condition intensifies, the comedy in her situation takes hold, gently transforming her all her grief. Told in captivating glimpses and drawn from a deep well of insight, humor, and unexpected tenderness, Goodbye, Vitamin pilots through the loss, love, and absurdity of finding one's footing in this life. Note: This book is a great book club read! Suuuupes discuss-able.  Library News: check the show notes for some great events, plus our new calendar format! https://issuu.com/lplmarketing/docs/binder1 ----- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

August is Read a Romance Month which is perfect because it's hot outside aaaaaand hot inside the pages (oh my!) Whether you're a regular reader or not, we've got some great insights for why romance matters and how you can find your steamy (or sweet) reads. Warning: there are some terrible romance-related puns in this one.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/045-isnt-it-romantic-read-a-romance-month Bookish News: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is Lucasfilm's first non-Star Wars or Indiana Jones Film in a loooong time. The book’s sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengence is coming out this winter (and you can join the holds list now!) Two Book Minimum: The Source of Self-regard by Toni Morrison (Rest in Power) Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher (author of Reviving Ophelia) For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood -- and the Rest of Y’all Too by Christopher Emdin Hothead by Damon Suede RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrOMANCE! We wanted to bring you a little guide that you can refer back to all year! Listen up for themes, tropes, and recommendations! --------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Hey listeners, what's your sign? Your BOOK sign, that is! We took the "Universe of Stories" summer reading theme and astrologified it... or bookstrologified? Either way, check out this episode for a ton of recommendations, even if you're on the cusp!  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/044-oh-my-stars-its-bookstrology/ Two Book Minimum: Look How Happy I'm Making You by Polly Rosenwaike A People's History of Heaven by Mathangi Subramanian Deaf Republic: Poems by Ilya Kaminsky (who will be here on Sept 8th!) Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Women's Health Collective (which later inspired Trans Bodies, Trans Selves) BOOKSTROLOGY! WHAAAAT?! This year's Summer Reading theme is "A Universe of Stories," and we decided to go wild with this theme and create 12 Bookstrology signs! Here are some recommendations for each sign. See the show notes for ALL the book links! So many. --------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Well, Polli FINALLY got Kate to read a Jane Austen book. Find out if she hated it as much as she hated the audiobook intro music! Also get some great recommendations for some sweet gay reads and a few new releases coming out this fall!   Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/043-bennett-darcy-gramlich-kenn Two Book Minimum: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai Autoboyography by Christina Lauren Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis (out in Sept. 2019!) The Man They Wanted Me to Be by Jared Yates Sexton Also mentioned, coming out this fall: The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Oct 2019) and The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman (Sept 2019) She Said/She Said: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen We don't often tackle classics on this podcast, so this is a rare treat! (..Right?) We do include spoilers because, as they say, it's been out for a "hot century." Polli also found some fantastic contemporary retellings of Pride and Prejudice set around the world: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin Pride by Ibi Zoboi (e-audiobook on Hoopla!) Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal  Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev Longbourn by Jo Baker An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aiden Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith --------------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

If you made it out to Happy Shirt for our first Adults-Only Summer Reading Book Nerd Party (whadda title, right??) we'd like to say THANK YOU! If you didn't make it out, fret not for we will do it again! Listen to Kate and Polli rave about our community of nerds and swap some new and upcoming titles to add to your reading pile!  Show Notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/42-the-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-book-nerds **NOTE: We'd also like to thank everyone who voted for the Book Squad Podcast for Best of Lawrence -- we came in 3rd aaaand were the only non-sports-related podcast in the Top 5, which is AWESOME. Thanks for supporting our nerdery, we wouldn't do it without you :)  Two Book Minimum The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren The Way Home by Mark Boyle Eleven Hours by Pamela Erens Other Books Mentioned: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams High School by Tegan and Sara Tidelands by Phillipa Gregory Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson Recursion by Blake Crouch (author of Dark Matter) Mem by Bethany C. Morrow  The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson Motherhood So White by Nefertiti Austen Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? By Caitlyn Doughty Do You Mind if I Cancel by Gary Janetti Post-party special shout-outs to Happy Shirt Printing Co., Lawrence Beer Co., KB's Smokehouse, and Librarian Problems!

This is an episode about Doing Nothing. Well, it's about Doing Something to Do Nothing. It's also about lemons and cows. What? Yeah. Just listen. Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/041-how-to-podcast-nothing/ Two Book Minimum: The Farmer's Son (or The Cow Book if you're in Ireland) by John Connell The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead  The Book of Flora by Meg Elison The Natural Home by Isabelle Louet She Said/She Said: How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell Nothing is harder to do these days than nothing. But in a world where our value is determined by our 24/7 data productivity . . . doing nothing may be our most important form of resistance. So argues artist and critic Jenny Odell in this field guide to doing nothing (at least as capitalism defines it). Odell sees our attention as the most precious--and overdrawn--resource we have. Once we can start paying a new kind of attention, she writes, we can undertake bolder forms of political action, reimagine humankind's role in the environment, and arrive at more meaningful understandings of happiness and progress. We Can't Always Be Reading: Heads up! Summer Reading Book Nerd Party!!  Join us at Happy Shirt Printing Co. in North Lawrence for book trivia with Andy Morton, bookish tarot, button and t-shirt making, head-to-head challenges with Brad the Director, snag some swag and free books, and MORE!  Lawrence Beer Company will be on hand to treat your tastebuds right, plus we'll have snacks, music, and lots of book nerdish merriment, because Summer Reading isn't just for kids! Free and casual; ages 18+ (21 to drink). ----------------------------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Glennon Doyle (of Momastery fame) has written one heckuva powerful book.Love Warrior is sorta memoir, sorta self help and all-the-way beautiful. Hang out with Polli and Kate as they talk about body image, breakdowns, grief, "hot loneliness," higher powers, and a bunch of other TOTALLY LIGHTHEARTED TOPICS.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/040-lifes-messy-welcome-to-the-podcast Bookish News: Big ol' list of movie/TV book adaptations right here! A highlight - slash - nightmare is Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, whose trailer we will post but not watch, thanks very much. We made Kimberly watch it and they were upset.  Two Book Minimum: The Happy Pear  You Are A Bad Ass The Farm Queenie She Said/She Said: Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Here's the official blurb: Love Warrior is the story of one marriage, but it is also the story of the healing that is possible for any of us when we refuse to settle for good enough and begin to face pain and love head-on. This astonishing memoir reveals how our ideals of masculinity and femininity can make it impossible for a man and a woman to truly know one another—and it captures the beauty that unfolds when one couple commits to unlearning everything they've been taught so that they can finally, after thirteen years of marriage, commit to living true—true to themselves and to each other. Love Warrior is a gorgeous and inspiring account of how we are born to be warriors: strong, powerful, and brave; able to confront the pain and claim the love that exists for us all. This chronicle of a beautiful, brutal journey speaks to anyone who yearns for deeper, truer relationships and a more abundant, authentic life. Book clubs: get in here. We've got it in a Book Club in a Bag kit!  We Can't Always Be Reading... Sometimes we are both watching the same show! Introducing, Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. It's a feel-great food show with the silliest, most life-loving host imaginable.  He seeks out and shows us the community and humanity in places the media often portrays negatively or completely glosses over.  ---------------------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

In celebration of Jesmyn Ward coming to Lawrence on April 11th (tickets are free but required), we discussed Salvage the Bones, a novel that tackles many, many social issues in an incredibly human way. That is to say... beautiful and devastating All. Of. The. Time.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/039-systemic-oppression/ Bookish News: All the Light We Cannot See will be adapted to a Netlfix limited series There There by Tommy Orange won the PEN/Hemingway award for best debut novel! Hooray!  .....Not to say that we predicted these things, but we HAVE discussed both of these books on the podcast as She Said/She Said picks. (AtLwCS and There There) Stick with us, we know the good stuff.  One(?) Book Minimum: The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon (Movie coming out soon! This one we cannot claim credit for.) The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters The trailer to The Sun is Also a Star features the most gorgeous humans and the most beautiful story She Said/She Said: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward  First of all -- it's no secret that Kate looooves Jesmyn Ward. There's actually a bit of a mutual admiration between Ms. Ward and Kate's cat, Tubbs.  #Humblebrag.  Here's the general description: A hurricane is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch's father is growing concerned. A hard drinker, largely absent, he doesn't show concern for much else. Esch and her three brothers are stocking food, but there isn't much to save. Lately, Esch can't keep down what food she gets; she's fourteen and pregnant. Her brother Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pitbull's new litter, dying one by one in the dirt. Meanwhile, brothers Randall and Junior try to stake their claim in a family long on child's play and short on parenting. As the twelve days that make up the novel's framework yield to their dramatic conclusion, this unforgettable family--motherless children sacrificing for one another as they can, protecting and nurturing where love is scarce--pulls itself up to face another day. A big-hearted novel about familial love and community against all odds, and a wrenching look at the lonesome, brutal, and restrictive realities of rural poverty, Salvage the Bones is muscled with poetry, revelatory, and real. ------ 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Sometimes a book is much more fun to discuss than it was to read. This, friends, is one of those times. Join Polli and Kate as they rip apart a not-so-thrilling thriller... and say "get that bread" far too many times for women of their ages.  Show Notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/038-death-of-desire-to-read-agatha-christie Two Book Minimum: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan Atlas of Blues and Reds by Devi S. Laskar So Far So Good by Ursula K Le Guin Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera She Said/She Said: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware Ruth Ware is referred to as “the Agatha Christie of our time,” so we thought we’d delve into a psychological thriller/mystery, as it isn’t our usual genre!  Synopsis:  On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person--but also that the cold-reading skills she's honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased...where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it. Overall? We are lukewarm about this one. The audiobook is an easy listen and great to have on while you do other things (like paint your house) but as a THRILLER, we weren't super thrilled. Maybe Agatha Christie just isn't our collective jam.  Do you like thrillers? What are your faves?  Reminder: Jesmyn Ward will be at Liberty Hall (not the Lied Center) on Thursday, Apr 11th at 7:30pm. Tickets are required but free.  2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. --------------------------- This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

We are welcoming Mr. Bradley Allen, director of Lawrence Public Library, on this episode of the podcast. Brad's here to help discuss this year's Read Across Lawrence pick, Sourdough. Learn about the power of reading and fermentation aaaand about making milk pickles. Can three Scorpios share one podcast? Oh jeez, tune in to find out... (also, vote for us for Best of Lawrence! #shamelessplug) Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/037-that-time-i-almost-did-something-the-read-across-lawrence-edition/ Two Book Minimum: The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani Boom Town by Sam Anderson  She Said / She Said / He Said: Sourdough by Robin Sloan We could share the regular blurb on the book jacket, but that's boring and THIS is not a boring book. Instead, we'll quote an NPR article because we fancy: "Think of it like Candide without the pirates. And set in San Francisco. Wait, that's not quite right. It's like Fight Club meets The Great British Bake Off. It's like Fight Club if no one got punched. It's like Fight Club if Fight Club was written by someone concerned with a different, quieter kind of revolution, and if Fight Club was all about bread." As always, we have some epic events going on for Read Across Lawrence. Here are just a few to whet your appetite:  Feb 16: CSA Meet & Greet @ LPL Feb 26: Conversation with Sandor Katz: Fermentation Revivalist @ LPL! Mar 2: LPL After Hours Fundraiser, check out the details on this amazing fundraising event ("overalls and drinking in the library!") where Robin Sloan will be present! Tickets are $50 for this fundraiser, OR 10 tickets for $450 so grab your book club/your neighborhood/some strangers! Mar 3: An Afternoon with Robin Sloan at Liberty Hall IN ADDITION TO READ ACROSS LAWRENCE, another amazing thing happened to us. Huge shout-out to Kate in Edinburgh, Scotland for the incredible letter, postcards, and handmade bookmarks. Thank you thank you thank you forever.  We are compiling a return package for you!  -------------------------------------------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Show Notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/036-its-okay-not-to-be-okay/ Two Book Minimum: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson Dare to Love A Duke by Eva Leigh Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer Beautiful No-mow Yards by Evelyn Hadden (also, Kiss My Aster by Amanda Thomsen) She Said/She Said: Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram "Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming--especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom's family forthe first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything." As two not-so-Young Adults, we freaking loved this book. It deals with social awkwardness, depression, friendship, bravery, cultural differences, and so much more. Grab the tissues, y'all, and remember: “It’s okay not to be okay.” National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 1-888-628-9454 The Trevor Hotline: 1-866-488-7386 (text and chat options available) Headquarters Counseling Center in Lawrence: 785-841-2345 (after-hours chat available) ----------------------------------------------------------- 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

New year, new reads. Polli and Kate scoped out some upcoming book releases and are here to share their faves! Also, heads up: the 2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge is HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE:  http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019 The show-notes are huge for this episode, so head over to our site to get the list of books: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/035-booking-new-year/ Note: We’ve included links to the catalog for the earliest books so you can get on the holds list (marked with *). Otherwise, linked to Good Reads for more info until they’re order-able! --- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Note: This was recorded in August 2018, and then Kate... lost it? Something happened. We're back in action with episode 30: The Lost Cowboy Episode. Show Notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/030-the-lost-cowboy-episode/ Recently there has been a resurgence of the Western genre (good conquering evil is all the more necessary for WHATEVER REASON.) According to Lauren Havens, the Modern Western has shifted from the usual cliche characters and settings and, instead, "many authors are borrowing the themes commonly found in westerns, and placing them in new time periods and locations -- even new worlds."  Here are a few examples we mentioned in this episode: The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Lonesome Animals by Bruce Holbert The Round House by Louise Erdrich Want even more suggestions? Check out this Book Riot article, featuring....  She Said/She Said: True Grit by Charles Portis (1968): [True Grit] tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just fourteen years of age when a coward going by the name of Tom Chaney shoots her father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash money. Mattie leaves home to avenge her father's blood. With the one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshal, by her side, Mattie pursues the homicide into Indian Territory. Listen to our thoughts about Mattie, Rooster, havin' sand, and more... all peppered with some terrible attempts at Southern accents. Boy howdy!  ------------- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Sooner or later, it happens to everyone. It might be happening to you right now. You go about your day, your week, and eventually you realize that something crucial is missing: books. YOU ARE IN A READING SLUMP. If this sounds familiar, you're soooo not alone. Polli and Kate are here to help for when you just can't even (read.)  -------------------------------------------------- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

NNEDI OKORAFOR IS COMING!!! On 11/8 she will be at Liberty Hall as our latest Beach Series author, and we really hope to see you there! Go here for more info, clear your schedule, and then come back and listen to Polli and Kate discuss Akata Witch. Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/033-nnedi-okorafor-literal-blackgirlmagic Bookish News: The Great American Read results are in!  “A CENTURY OF READING: THE 10 BOOKS THAT DEFINED THE 1980s” (See LitHub for other decades!) Raymond Carver, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981) Alice Walker, The Color Purple (1982) William Gibson, Neuromancer (1984) Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street (1984) ... see the rest here and also check out the other decades' lists! Two Book Minimum: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo  Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Odeyemi What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada Contact High by Vikki Tobak She Said/She Said: AKATA WITCH by Nnedi Okorafor Sunny lives in Nigeria, but she was born in New York City. She looks West African, but is so sensitive to the sun (due to her albinism) that she can’t play soccer during the day. She doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. Then she learns why. Her classmate Orlu and his friend Chichi reveal that they have magical abilities- and so does she. … Orlu and Chichi have been working with their teacher for years. Sunny needs a crash course in magical history, spells, juju, shape-shifting and dimensional travel. Her new world is a secret from her family, but it’s well worth all of the silence, exhaustion and sneaking around. Still, there is a dark side. After she’s found her footing, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi, and their American friend Sasha are asked by the magical authorities to help track down a criminal. Not just a run-of-the-mill bad guy. A real-life hardcore serial killer-with abilities far stronger than theirs. (moar) ----- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

What do the genres Romance and Horror have in common?  They bring the feels. Learn more about Horror as a genre, and get LOTS of recommendations based on different appeal factors and interests. Huge thanks to Becky Spratford and Kelly Peter for being our spoopy gurus!  There are soooo many links on the show notes this time that we suggest you head on over: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/032-crying-or-peeing-your-pants/ ------------------------------------------------ Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

October 8th is Indigenous Peoples Day in Lawrence (and in several other cities across the country). To celebrate the occasion -- and because it looked flippin awesome -- Polli and Kate discuss There There, a brilliant debut novel by Tommy Orange (Cheyenne and Arapaho). Spoiler: it was flippin awesome.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/031-the-one-in-which-we-ostensibly-sing/ ("Hey, what happened to episode 30?" Hey! Good eye! We are... workin on it! Slight tech issue, but we'll release the coveted 30th episode ASAP. For now, enjoy this one instead!) Bookish News: LitHub came out with a list 23 Literary Movies and TV shows that will be coming out shortly! Awesome stuff like The Miniaturist, Bel Canto, The Children Act (STANLEY TUCCI ALERT!), The House with a Clock in Its Walls (CATE BLANCHETT ALERT!), Colette, The Sisters Brothers, The Haunting of Hill House, The Hate U Give, and mooooooar.  Two Book Minimum: Darius The Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King (and bonus - LaRose by Louise Erdrich) She Said/She Said: This episode, we go toe-to-toe discussing There There by Tommy Orange (2018) Long listed for the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence, There There is a complex and compulsive read that ticks all the boxes: plot, setting, character(s), and language. Tommy Orange is a part of the latest renaissance of Native American Literature, fighting against "a monolithic version of what a Native American is supposed to be." (Quote comes from an interview that we'd recommend reading after you read the novel!) If you’re looking for something to read to remember why Columbus Day is being changed to Indigenous Peoples Day in more progressive cities, this is it. What's Happening at LPL/Around Town: The Great American Read watch/discussion parties are still happening! Check out this page for all of the remaining dates, especially the finale on Oct 23rd! (Polli might wear a ballgown for when the winners are announced.)  AMAZING AUTHORS COMING TO TOWN: Phoebe Robinson on Oct 26th  Nnedi Okorafor on Nov 8th (free!) Neil Gaiman on Nov 19th (free!) Lots of folks coming through The Raven this fall & spring And, the one Kate's so excited about she's already planning her outfit, Jesmyn Ward on April 11th :D  Book Club Speed Dating: Thursday, Nov 15th -- mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details!! -------- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

On this episode we got to interview Danny Caine, owner of The Raven Bookstore! Along with owning a bookstore, Danny is also a published poet, a brand new dad, a dog person with 3 cats, and an all-around good human. Learn what's going on in the Lawrence bookish community this fall and how one boy's chicken nugget obsession turned into a... grown man's chicken nugget obsession.  Show Notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/029-chicken-nuggets-and-poetry-with-danny-caine-the-raven-bookstore Danny will have two books coming out in the next two years (NBD RIGHT?) - Continental Breakfast by Mason Jar Press in March 2019 and El Dorado Freddy's in Spring 2020 (side-note: "Ell-doh-RAY-doh")  The Raven Bookstore website & FB Events Sept 9: Kansas Book Festival, official bookseller Sept 18: Free State Festival Ideas Speaker: Craig Johnson Sept 20: Free State Festival Ideas Speaker: Author Michelle Tea Sept 21: Atlas Obscura | Kansas Edition Sept 25: Sarah Smarsh: Heartland Oct 10: Tommy Pico and Morgan Parker Feb 5: Fatimah Asghar and Safia Elhillo Mar 5: Hieu Minh Nguyen --------------------------- Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Two podcasters give four thumbs up for Mem, a fab book for book clubs (and folks who like to ponder what makes a human a human and/or are into awesome books.) Also a quick hit of some neuro-divergent heroines and Asian heroes, serial killer ladies, and ancient indigenous magic. Our take on dancing, wine, and the "dog zoomies" round us out! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/028-murder-farms-and-memories/ Bookish News: Congratulations to Bogi Takács, a Lawrencian, an author, and a LPL super-patron! Bogi won a Lambda award for editing Transcendent 2: The Year's Best Transgender Speculative Fiction. Anxious? You ain't alone. The world is madness, and books about anxiety are heckin popular. Want to know what to read next? The September LibraryReads list is OUT! Two Book Minimum: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoan  Bonus shout outs to: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah Maclean, A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare When a Scot Ties the Knot, also by Tessa Dare Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men by Harold Schechter Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse  Potentially pair with: Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko She Said/She Said:  This episode, we go toe-to-toe discussing MEM by Bethany C. Morrow (2018) (ebook on Hoopla!) “Set in the glittering art deco world of a century ago, MEM makes one slight alteration to history: a scientist in Montreal discovers a method allowing people to have their memories extracted from their minds, whole and complete. The Mems exist as mirror-images of their source ― zombie-like creatures destined to experience that singular memory over and over, until they expire in the cavernous Vault where they are kept. And then there is Dolores Extract #1, the first Mem capable of creating her own memories. An ageless beauty shrouded in mystery, she is allowed to live on her own, and create her own existence, until one day she is summoned back to the Vault.” What follows is an incredible Sci Fi debut that looks at what makes us human, what it means to have agency in a world that doesn't expect you to, and how our memories (good and bad) shape who we are. We are both REALLY looking forward to what Morrow brings us next!

Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/027-the-podcast-is-not-an-apology/ Bookish News: If you have not already, check out the trailer for the upcoming movie, The Public, written by/starring/directed by Emilio Estevez, who Polli got to stand sorta next to for a brief second at a conference!  She got to see the film in its entirety at the American Library Association annual conference. Estevez worked with Ryan Dowd, Executive Director of a large homeless shelter in Chicago and author of Librarian's Guide to Homelessness. Dowd's work is very interesting and helpful for library staff as well as community members interested in the issue of homelessness.  Two Book Minimum: Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kamau Bell Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue The Body is Not an Apology She Said/She Said: The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor We owe a debt of gratitude to Kimberly on the book squad. She basically told us we were fired if we didn't read it and, while she doesn't have that kind of power technically, we took her seriously. And thank goodness we did.  Sonya Renee Taylor is the founder of The Body is Not an Apology, "an international movement committed to cultivating global Radical Self Love and Body Empowerment."  We highly recommend checking out the website aaaaannnnddddd reading her book because it is pretty radical and amazing. Or, better yet, listen to the audiobook on Hoopla, narrated by Taylor herself! OR EVEN BETTER, GET YOUR FRIENDS TO LISTEN TOO AND HAVE A BOOK CLUB OMG.  ------------------ Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Humblebrag: we maaaaaybe have the best friends in the world. The Friends of the Lawrence Public Library bring in an incredible amount of funds to our library each year, making possible things like Book Club in a Bag, Read Across Lawrence, Summer Reading, Volunteer Recognition, all our cool LPL swag and much, much more! To celebrate their upcoming Summer Book Sale July 12-15th, we put together a lil special episode to say thanks! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/ep-026-thank-you-for-being-a-friend-of-the-lawrence-public-library/ In this episode, Polli interviews Angela and Sue from FLPL about the perks of becoming a friend, and how much FLPL does for the library. You’ll have to listen to hear how many items get donated each week (hint: OMG.) THEN, Kate & Polli rattle off some sweet titles that borrowed from the sale. All of the books mentioned will be available!) (They got returned, we swear!) --- Twice a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

What is your most-loved read? Through a national survey, PBS has shared a list of 100 of the most well-loved reads, which will be the focus of an eight-part series over the summer. Want info on how the books were chosen and how the process works? Here's some official deets. Want to hear what we have to say about this? LISTEN UP, FRIENDS! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/025-the-great-american-podcast/ Here are some things we mentioned: -- The 100 Great Reads list contains only 33 books by women, 18 by POC, and a combined SEVEN books by Women of Color. How did this happen?? What books were on the canon when you were in school, and how has that impacted your reading history?  -- According to Pew Research, Americans read an average of 12 books per year, while the typical (median) American has read 4 books in the last 12 months. How do you compare to the average?

Magic! Friendship! Gratitude! Tom Petty! We may have thought fantasy wasn't our thing, but it turns out... we were wrong. (First time for everything!)  Read the show notes here: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/025-do-you-even-fantasy-bro/ Two Book Minimum: Human Acts by Han Kang No Time To Spare by Ursula K. LeGuin ("The direction of escape is toward freedom. So what is 'escapism' an accusation of?") Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut ("If this isn't nice, what is?") You’ll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein She Said/She Said: Uprooted by Naomi Novik If you miss the magical feeling you got from fairy tales as a kid,this book is for you! Agnieshka lives in a idyllic village. Her country is at war with its neighbor, and between them lies a corrupted Wood, filled with malice that occasionally breaks through. Every 10 years, The Dragon, the local wizard who keeps The Wood at bay, demands his payment of the most exceptional young women from the village, who comes live in his tower as a servant. Everyone knows this time the Dragon will take Nieshka’s lovely best friend, Kasia. She’s desperate to save Kasia, but to everyone’s surprise (and the Dragon’s reluctance) he finds magic in Nieshka, and is forced to take her for training. But Nieshka’s magic is very different than The Dragons, and that, friends, is the start of our tale! ------------------------------------ Twice a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate

Reading and discussing books with others deepens your reading experience. If you want to start a book club, or are having issues with an existing club, this episode is all for you. Kate and Polli have reading suggestions, anecdotes, suggestions for drama-free meetings, and more!  Show Notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/ep-023-the-book-club-episode/ ---- Twice a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate