Books and Bites

We're wrapping up the 2025 Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge with science fiction! Our picks include a prequel from a popular YA dystopian series; a novella for fans of Star Trek: First Contact; and a bittersweet comic novel about an alien sent to Earth to learn about humans.Don't forget to turn in your completed bingo sheets at the Customer Service, Ask a Librarian, or Teen Desks by June 30, 2025 for a chance to win a $100 Joseph-Beth gift card. Can't make it into the library? Submit your bingo card online.Thanks for reading along with us! Look for the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge in July.Jacqueline's PickSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsPairing: Soft White Dinner RollsMichael's PickThe Scourge Between Stars by Ness BrownPairing: Xenomorph Egg CupsCarrie's PickBeautyland by Marie-Helene BertinoPairing:  a sesame seed bagel from Pearl's Pizza

 On this episode, we discuss books in translation, a prompt on the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. From Iceland to Argentina with several stops in between, come travel the world with us from the comfort of home. Carrie's PickMiss Iceland by Auður Ava ÓlafsdóttirPairing: Icelandic rice puddingJacqueline's PickThe Beast Player by Nahoko UehashiPairing: Japanese Enoki and Shiitake Mushroom SoupMichael's PickThe Unworthy by Agustina BazterricaPairing: Churrasco Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

We're in a celebratory mood this April. Not only is it National Poetry Month, it's also our 100th episode! Whether you're a new or longtime listener, we appreciate you tuning in to our podcast.This episode, we discuss books of poetry and novels in verse, a prompt on the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Our picks include a book by a former Kentucky poet laureate, an updated translation of a classic epic poem, and a middle-grade novel in verse.Michael's PickLoad in Nine Times by Frank X WalkerPairing: Tanzania Peaberry Lyamungo, a medium roast coffee from Sunergos CoffeeCarrie's PickBeowulf: A New Translation, translated by Maria Dahvana HeadleyPairing: your favorite bro-ey beerJacqueline's PickAlone by Megan E. FreemanPairing: Crispy Sourdough Grilled Cheese

Join our discussion of Rednecks by Taylor Brown, winner of the 2025 Southern Book Prize! On this episode, Michael Cunningham, Carrie Green, and guest John David Hurley share their thoughts on this novel about the West Virginia Mine Wars of 1920-1921.Want to talk with other book lovers about the novel? Register for our in-person book club discussion of Rednecks, which will take place on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 6:30 pm. If you're participating in Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo, you can earn another free square by reading the book and either listening to this episode or attending the book club.PairingsGarlicky White Soup Beans and Indian Creek Skillet Cornbread from Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks by Crystal Wilkinson Pepperoni Rolls from Victuals by Ronni Lundy Butterscotch Pie and Maypop Tea from Celebrating Southern Appalachian Food: Recipes & Stories from Mountain Kitchens by Jim Casada and Tipper Pressley 

This month we're getting nostalgic with books set in the 1990s, one of the prompts in the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Teenagers all figure prominently in our picks: a YA mystery, a thriller that celebrates horror's babysitter trope, and a novel where two teens accidentally start a moral panic. Don't miss this episode—it's the bomb! Jacqueline's PickThe Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. CooneyPair with Homestyle Pot RoastMichael's PickMidnight on Beacon Street by Emily Ruth VeronaPair with Tipsy Chicken Pizza from Big City PizzaCarrie's PickNow is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin WilsonPair with your favorite Little Debbie snack cake

Start the new year with the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge! We hope our prompts will inspire you to read and have fun while doing it.Up first, we share wintry books perfect for reading by the fire. Our picks include an Irish Christmas story, a horror novel set in a Pennsylvania orphanage, and a YA fairy tale.Carrie's PickTime of the Child by Niall WilliamsPairings: Fish and Chips, classic Irish pub food. Or sip an Irish tea.Michael's PickBoys in the Valley by Philip FracassiPairing: Smoked Over-the-Top Chili, one of Michael's favorite wintertime dishes.Jacqueline's PickWintersong by S. Jae-JonesPairing: German Vanilla Crescent Cookies

It's time to wrap up the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge! On this episode, we discuss books published in 2024. Our picks include a suspense novel that is also an immersive alternate reality game, a National Book Award-winning adaptation of an American classic, and a YA mystery by a bestselling author. Michael's PickWe Used to Live Here by Marcus KliewerEve Palmer answers the door on a cold, snowy night to a family wanting to know if they can take a quick look around since the father, Thomas, used to live there as a child. Eve, still waiting for her partner to get home, reluctantly invites them in. As they're touring the house, Thomas's daughter goes missing. Eve and Thomas begin their search in the basement, and that's when Eve notices some disconcerting things.We Used to Live Here is part of an ever-evolving immersive alternate reality game that allows you to hunt clues and decipher messages in web code, message boards, and social media accounts long after you've finished the book.Pairing: A hot dish of Totchos (Loaded Tater-Tot Nachos)Carrie's PickJames by Percival EverettThis National Book Award-winning novel retells Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the point of view of Jim, the enslaved man who travels down the Mississippi River with Huck. While the novel pays homage to the original, it also challenges some of Twain's nineteenth-century conventions and deepens Jim's humanity. The risks Jim--who prefers to be called James--faces on this journey, his love for his family and for Huck, all make for a compelling, suspenseful read.Pairing: Grilled Catfish with Tomato Blackberry Salsa, a dish that combines the two foods most readily available to James and Huck.Jacqueline's PickThe Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly JacksonIn this YA mystery, 18-year-old Bel Price was just two years old when her mother, Rachel, disappeared. Now, a struggling British documentary filmmaker is making a film about her disappearance.One evening, Bel sees a  woman who looks just like her mother stumbling around in front of her house. At first, Bel thinks it's the actor playing Rachel during a reenactment scene, but the woman claims she is the real Rachel. Bel thinks the woman is lying and works to uncover the truth.Pairing: A salty, sweet, rich recipe for peanut butter cookies.

On this episode, we discuss books about chosen or found family, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. According to library database NoveList, books with this theme focus on families "formed by choice, rather than birth." Close friends, nontraditional families, and people who bond over their circumstances can all form chosen families.Our picks include a YA novel about a found family of unhoused teens trying to save the world; an alternative history about a ragtag crew working to rid the Mississippi River of its feral hippo problem; and a historical novel about a chosen family in post-World War II England and Italy.Jacqueline's Pick: The Sword of Summer by Rick RiordanRiordan weaves Norse mythology into a mythical fantasy novel for modern day teen readers. When main character Magnus's mother is murdered in their Boston apartment by wolves, he becomes homeless. Magnus keeps ahead of the truant officers and the wolves who killed his mother with the help of two other homeless teens. The three teens become close and look out for each other on the streets of Boston.On his sixteenth birthday, Magnus learns that he is the son of a Norse god, Frey. Magnus is the only one who can retrieve weapons that can save the world from doomsday (Ragnarök).Pairing: Perfect homemade falafel in honor of Arab American character Sam.Michael's Pick: River of Teeth by Sarah GaileyThis alternate history tale introduces us to a late 19th Century U.S. where hippos have been introduced into the Mississippi River that runs through Louisiana. The story opens with the federal government hiring Winslow Houndstooth, a former hippo rancher, to assemble a crew to take care of the feral hippo problem before the river's crumbling dam fails. This ragtag group forms a highly dysfunctional chosen family. This hippo caper, or operation, as Winslow would say, is action-packed with hippo mayhem and full of colorful, interesting characters.Pairing: A 19th century hippo romp calls for a 19th century New Orleans cocktail, the La Louisiane.Carrie's Pick: Still Life by Sarah WinmanStill Life is a witty, sprawling historical novel about art, love, and friendship. It opens in WWII-era Florence, Italy, where 24 year-old British soldier Ulysses "Temps" Temper meets a kindred spirit, sixty-something art historian Evelyn Skinner.Their time together in Florence is brief, with Temps and Evelyn's lives diverging into parallel narratives. Each forms their own chosen families, but will these two friends ever reunite?Still Life spans the years 1901-1979, and plenty of things happen during that time. But relationships are the focus of this character-driven, leisurely paced novel.Pairing: Pasta with olive oil and chili. Learn how to make two fresh pasta versions on the Pasta Grannies YouTube channel: "How to make an easy garlic, chilli & pepper pasta - with a twist!" and "Enjoy Maria's garlic, chili pepper & olive oil dressed 'sthridhlja' pasta!" Or make it using dried pasta with a recipe from the blog Saturdays in Rome.

On this episode, we discuss Southern Gothic books, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Southern Gothic is a sub-genre of Gothic fiction--or, as Michael says, it's "Gothic with a twang." According to Book Riot, some of the characteristics of Southern Gothic include, “eccentric, flawed characters, sinister events, elements of the supernatural or fantastical, and themes relating to race, class, decay, violence, and isolation.”Our picks for this month include a Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, a YA mystery, and a haunting, surprisingly spicy novel.Carrie's PickThe Optimist's Daughter by Eudora WeltyIn this 1973 Pulitzer Prize-winning novella, Laurel McElva Hand, a widow in her mid-forties, travels from her home in Chicago to New Orleans, where her father is having a routine eye operation that proves fatal. Laurel and her crass, young stepmother accompany his body back to Mississippi.After the funeral, Laurel is left alone in her childhood home to reckon with her past and the loss of her mother, father, and husband.Pairing: Pat Nixon's Hot Chicken Salad, a comforting and nostalgic casserole that was popular in the 1970s.Jacqueline's PickLosing Brave by Bailee Madison and Stefne MillerPayton Brave is a popular high school girl whose twin sister Dylan has been missing for more than a year. Payton was mentally devastated by the disappearance of her sister and cannot remember anything about the day Dylan disappeared at the train station. As Payton slowly attempts to recover the events in her mind, strange, unexplainable things begin happening. Set in a small Mississippi town, this young adult mystery focuses on death, social interaction, and terror.Pairing: Air Fryer Donuts. Enjoy with coffee for a modern equivalent of tea and crumpets.Michael's PickHouse of Cotton by Monica BrashearsAlone and practically broke in the East Tennessee mountains, nineteen-year-old Magnolia meets Cotton, a well-dressed man with blood on his hands who offers her a modeling job. The catch? Cotton has discovered a niche market where people who have missing loved ones will pay a lot of money to see them again. His aunt Eden can transform Magnolia to look like just about anyone.Pairing: Nashville Hot Chicken, because a spicy book calls for a spicy dish.

 On this episode, we discuss books with kings and queens, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Our picks include a page-turning history of the Magna Carta; a novel about Mary, Queen of Scots; and a YA novel that imagines an American royal family. Michael's PickMagna Carta: The Birth of Liberty by Dan JonesDan Jones crafts a historical narrative that is compelling and as close to a page turner a book of history can be. Over 800 years ago, at Runnymede in England, the Magna Carta was born out of a bunch of very angry barons and King John I coming to terms of peace after a serious fraying of relations with each other. Since that day in 1215, the Magna Carta has come to influence countless constitutions across the world and is still seen as a cornerstone of Western traditions of liberty and democracy. Pairing: Spit Roasted or Grilled Steak, a medieval recipe featured on the British Museum's blog.Carrie's PickThe Tower by Flora CarrIt's 1567 when this debut historical fiction novel opens, and Mary, Queen of Scots has just been captured and taken to Lochleven Castle, where she will remain imprisoned for about a year. The novel takes place over the course of this year, mostly in the two rooms Mary shares with three other women: her chambermaids, Jane and Cuckoo and, later, one of her ladies-in-waiting, Lady Mary Seton.If you enjoy lyrical, character-driven novels with a strong sense of place and history, lock yourself away with The Tower. Pairing: Dried Pears, a comforting and shelf-stable treat fit for a queenJacqueline's PickAmerican Royals by Katharine McGeeThe premise of this young adult novel imagines what would have happened if America had become a monarchy after gaining independence from England. The novel is set in the present day, and the story follows the royal family of America, who are the descendants of George Washington.If you are fascinated by the history of English Royal family, you might like this series.Pairing: Homemade Cherry Pie, an all-American dessert.

On this episode, we discuss books that are hybrids of at least two genres, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Jacqueline's favorite romantasy novels are a good example. They combine elements of romance and fantasy. Other books mash up elements of science fiction and horror or, in the case of both Michael's and Carrie's picks, Westerns and dystopian fiction.Some nonfiction titles blend different genres, too, such as A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa or The Paper Garden by Molly Peacock. Both mix the authors' personal memoirs with biographies of historical women.Jacqueline's PickMy Lady Janeby Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi MeadowsNot only is My Lady Jane a hybrid romantic comedy, it is also a fantastical historical fiction novel. The novel is a re-imagined account of England's shortest ruling monarch, Lady Jane Grey. The novel is told in the alternating perspectives of our three main characters and narrator historians who often break the fourth wall to set the historical record straight.This book brings in fantasy aspects from the beginning while still interweaving history from the sixteenth century.Pairing: Old-fashioned Blackberry PuddingMichael's PickThe Great State of West Floridaby Kent WascomPublished just this year, The Great State of West Florida blends Southern Gothic with Western, dystopian, and coming of age with hints of sci-fi thrown in for some added flavor.This book is told by Rally Woolsack, a 13-year–old in 2026. Rally is raised by his aunt after his spurned mother conspires with Rally's other aunt to wipe out the rest of the Woolsack clan. After a violent confrontation, Rally's uncle Rodney takes Rally to meet his aunt Destiny, aka the Governor, who now has a golden robotic arm and is working to fulfill her grandfather's grandiose dream of establishing the state of West Florida. Pairing: Shrimp Po'Boys with Pineapple SlawCarrie's PickUpright Women Wanted by Sarah GaileyUpright Women Wanted blends dystopian and Western fiction with a touch of romance. While it's set in the unspecified future, the Arizona landscape feels very Old West.When we're first introduced to main character Esther Augustus, she's hiding in the back of the Librarians' wagon. Esther is on the run from a marriage her father arranged after he executed her best friend and secret lover, Beatriz, for possessing insurgent reading material.Esther gradually learns that the Librarians aren't exactly the government agents she'd imagined. They're part of the resistance movement, working to protect people like Esther and Beatriz.Pairing: Tuscan Stewed Beans

July is Disability Pride Month! Learn more about the history, experiences, and contributions of the disabled community by reading books by authors with disabilities.On this episode, we also introduce the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge.Teens and adults, from now through December 30, 2024, keep track of books you read or listen to by writing the title and author in the matching square. Complete all 25 squares for a chance to win a $100 Joseph-Beth gift card or an Amazon Kindle. You'll also earn an enamel pin (while supplies last).Carrie's PickIn How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir, Lexington resident Shayla Lawson explores what it means to travel the world as a Black, nonbinary, and disabled person. The reader accompanies Lawson (who uses they/them pronouns) on journeys that span from young adulthood to early middle age, from New York City to Tokyo to Zimbabwe and many other places.Pairing: Banana Pie, a recipe found in the Bermuda entry of library database AtoZ World Food. (To log in, enter your library card number.)Michael's PickWhen Chuck Tingle's Bury Your Gays opens, Misha Byrne, a writer for the famed Harold Brothers' Studios, is on top of the world. His short film has been nominated for an Oscar and his popular television series, Travelers, is about to wrap its third season with a grand finale where the two agents finally confess their feelings for each other.Except now, the studio higher-ups want him to axe that part and have one of his agents tragically die “for the algorithm.” This satirical horror novel about creating stories is layered yet fast-paced and compelling, using unease and disorientation to ratchet up the tension. Pairing: A flute of California 75.Jacqueline's PickStorm and Fury is a paranormal YA novel set in a supernatural world full of gargoyles, demons, and a girl, Trinity, who must be protected at all costs. Trinity is lonely because she lives in a gargoyle compound. Only her Protector, Misha, and her father figures, Matthew and Thierry, know the truth about her past and what she is. Though Trinity is actually more powerful than any of the gargoyles, she must learn to compensate for her vision losses as she prepares for a supernatural battle.Pairing: Homemade vanilla ice cream.

No matter the genre, when you read a book with a map, you're in for an adventure. This month, we share a YA historical fiction meets fantasy novel; a mystery set in 1920s Bangalore; and a dystopian novel set during a future American Civil War.Don't forget to turn in your bingo sheets for the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge by June 30, 2024! If you still need book suggestions, check out the book lists on our Books & Bites page. Jacqueline's PickDivine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is book one of the YA Letters of Enchantment series. After centuries of sleep, two ancient gods are warring again, using human armies in this fantasy set during World War I. Pairing: Simple Plum Pudding, a World War I-era recipe.Carrie's PickSet in colonial Bangalore, India, in 1921, The Bangalore Detectives Club is the first book in a mystery series by Harini Nagendra. If you like your mysteries on the cozy side and enjoy learning a little history and culture while you're at it, this might be the book for you.Pairing: Lemon rice, the perfect South Indian dish for a picnic. Michael's PickAmerican War by Omar El Akkad takes place over two decades, beginning in 2075, during the outset of the second U.S. Civil War. Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia have seceded from the United States after vehemently opposing the Sustainable Future Act that outlawed oil production. Pairing: Mississippi Mud Pie, a delicious Southern dessert that will take the edge off this sobering book.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with books by AAPI authors! It's one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Our suggestions include an action-packed adventure tale, a YA romance, and a comic but realistic immigration story. Michael's PickThe Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin begins with Ming Tsu traversing the salt flats of the Utah Territory, making his way to a Union Pacific camp to kill a man. The past couple years, Ming Tsu had been serving his sentence laboring for the railroad, all because he made the mistake of falling in love and marrying the daughter of a railroad baron.This is an action-packed, cinematic adventure tale full of brawls, gunfights, showdowns, betrayal, and ambushes. It also gives a peek at the xenophobia and racism experienced in the Old West by Chinese immigrants and marginalized folks.   Pairing: Pit Beans is a hearty dish that's perfect for any cowboy.Jacqueline's PickEmergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi is about two young people, Penny and Sam, whose awkward meeting results in them exchanging numbers and promising to be each other's emergency contacts because neither of them has a reliable parent. Their friendship grows via text as they find themselves texting one another non-stop.Fans of Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before will enjoy this novel. Both novels have fresh Asian American voices and similar story arcs.Pairing: A flat white espresso.Carrie's PickIn The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma, main character Shelley is an 18 year old Chinese student eager to seek his fortune in the United States, where he plans to win back his girlfriend by becoming a famous poet. His "foolproof plan" hits some snags as soon as his flight lands in San Francisco.Though the characters, including Shelley, are all grieving, his comic and somewhat satirical voice keep the tone hopeful. Fans of The Wangs vs. the World will appreciate this character-driven and intricately plotted book.Pairing: Steamed Sea Bass with Ginger and Spring Onion, a recipe from Every Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking by Fuschia Dunlop.

 On this episode, we discuss books set in or about the outdoors, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. We recommend a memoir by a teenage naturalist and environmental activist; a popular YA dystopian novel; and a horror novel set in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Carrie's PickDiary of a Young Naturalist is by Dara McAnulty, a young autistic writer, environmental activist, and naturalist from Northern Ireland who began writing the book when he was just fifteen years old. It chronicles one year in his life, from winter to spring.In lyrical prose, Dara writes about his experiences in nature with his family, his work as a climate activist, and what it's like to be autistic. Pairing: Kale and Bean Stew from Rachel's Irish Family Food by Rachel Allen, available on Hoopla.Jacqueline's PickThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an award-winning dystopian, action-adventure YA novel. The districts of Panem must send two people (tributes) between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete to the death in the tournament known as the hunger games.Main character Katniss Everdeen volunteers to compete in the hunger games when her younger sister Prim is chosen to be a tribute for their district. Can she survive the games? Even if she survives what will it cost her?Pairing: Fresh Dandelion Greens Salad with Dandelion Dressing.Michael's PickIn Jenny Kiefer's This Wretched Valley Clay, a geology student at UK, discovers a pristine cliff face in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, and puts together a group of climbers to document the first climb of this rock face. Seven months later, one of the climbers is missing, and the rest have been found dead in the Kentucky wilderness.To piece together what transpired we go back to that fateful spring as the group treks into the woods of Rockcastle County.Pairing: Enjoy a refreshing Kentucky Mule after a hike through This Wretched Valley. 

 On this episode, we celebrate Women's History Month with fiction and nonfiction about women's history, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. From a graphic novel about Soviet women fighter pilots to a page-turning book about the evolution of female bodies, we'll show you that there's nothing dull about women's history. Michael's PickThe Night Witches is a graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Russ Braun. During World War II, the Soviet Union formed the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, recruiting women to fly night missions, bombing the invading Nazis as they cut deeper into Russia. The Nazis came to dub them the “Nachthexen” or “Night Witches.”The novel follows Anna Kharkova, a fictional Night Witch. It opens as Anna is recruited to join the 588th regiment with her friend and gunner, Zoya. If you're a World War II history buff or a fan of military history, you might enjoy this powerful story.Pairing: A glass of Kompot, homemade fruit juice enjoyed by many Russian and Ukrainian families.  Carrie's PickEve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolutionby Cat Bohannon upends popular and scientific belief to argue that female bodies have been the primary agents of humans' evolutionary change. Bohannon builds her case over nine well researched and lively chapters: Milk, Womb, Perception, Legs, Tools, Brain, Voice, Menopause, and Love.Pairing: Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas in honor of our matriarchal primate relatives.Jacqueline's PickThe Lovely War by Julie Berry tells the love stories of two WWI couples through the frame of the Goddess of Love's own love story.She seeks to answer the age-old question: "Why are Love and War eternally drawn to one another?" but her quest for a conclusion that will satisfy her jealous husband, Hephaestus, uncovers a multi-threaded tale of prejudice, trauma, and music, revealing that War is no match for the power of Love.Pairing: The war-time treat Lemon Sponge Cake. It's made with rice flour instead of wheat, which was in short supply during World War I. Books & Bites Reading PartyThursday, March 14, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pmConnect with fellow book lovers at a party that celebrates readers! Join us for some silent reading time followed by bookish conversation. If you're participating in the Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge, you'll earn another free bingo square of your choice just for attending. No registration is required.

 On this episode, we discuss romance novels, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. This popular book genre has something for everyone, even the horror fans among us! Jacqueline's PickOnce Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a young adult fantasy novel. Seventeen year old Evangeline had loving parents who raised her on tales of magic, fates, and fairytales. She believes in hope, true love, and “happily ever after” until she learns that the boy she loves is going to marry someone else.Then she makes a bargain with Jacks, a Fate whose kiss is deadly to all but his one true love, leading her into a dangerous adventure.Pairing: Tempt yourself with French Apple Cake, a recipe with the appeal of an apple pie or apple tart, but in a decadent, custard-like cake.Michael's PickThe Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw is a gorgeously written novella that perfectly mashes up horror, fairy tales, and romance. An unnamed, mute narrator sets off from the kingdom she's been living in since being caught and married by the prince. She's what we would likely refer to as a mermaid, a creature from the Deep with sharp teeth.She's joined by the androgenous Plague Doctor, the one who has attended to her since her marriage to the prince and the only one who has never been afraid of her. This book leans into horror but at its heart is the love story between the Mermaid and her Plague Doctor.Pairing: Enjoy a glass of Sierra Nevada's Narwhal Imperial Stout, a perfect beverage to sip while reading this tale set in the snow and ice.Carrie's PickIn Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan, main character Sewanee Chester is a former actor turned award-winning audiobook narrator known for performing the most demanding audiobooks out there, the ones with  multiple voices and accents. Sewanee got her start narrating romance novels, but she no longer takes those jobs because she doesn't believe in the typical romance ending.Then she gets an offer she can't refuse, and soon she's exchanging flirty texts with her co-narrator, Brock McKnight. Will Sewanee get her own happily-ever-after ending?Pairing: Taco Dip, a favorite recipe of one of Sewanee's grandmother's friends. The secret ingredients? Taco seasoning and sour cream.

 On this episode, we ring in the New Year with the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge! From now through June 30, 2024, keep track of books you read or listen to by writing the title and author in the matching bingo square. Complete all 25 squares for a chance to win a $100 Joseph-Beth gift card or an Amazon Kindle. You'll also earn an enamel pin (while supplies last). Ease into the challenge with our suggestions for books you can read in one sitting. Grab a cozy blanket to read under, and you'll be able to check off two prompts on your bingo card. Carrie's PickFoster by Claire Keegan is about a young Irish girl sent to live with distant relatives while her mother prepares to give birth to yet another child. The Kinsellas give the girl the care and attention that is sometimes lacking in her own chaotic home. But there are details to suggest that the couple has their own sadness.This is a quiet, spare story full of tenderness and the solace these three bring to one another.Pairing: Rhubarb Tart, the first dessert the girl eats in the Kinsella home. Watch the video How to Make Traditional Irish Rhubarb Tart, read "How to Make the Perfect Rhubarb Tart and the Common Mistakes to Avoid," or make an Easy Rhubarb Jam Tart.Michael's PickIn the Miso Soup, by Ryu Murakami and translated by Ralph McCarthy, begins with narrator Kenji, a Tokyo "nightlife guide," recalling his encounter with an American client, Frank. As he leads Frank through the seedier parts of Toyko nightlife, Kenji begins to feel there's something off about Frank. Is he the serial killer roaming the streets?Pairing: A bowl of miso soup from a recipe found in the Gaijin Cookbook. Jacqueline's PickThe Course of True Love (and First Dates) by Cassandra Clare is an account of Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood's romance told from Magnus's point of view. Magnus is an immortal, and an immensely powerful warlock, and Alec Lightwood is a Shadowhunter. Before their alliance, many Shadowhunters killed Downworlders for any small infraction. So, Magnus is taken aback when Alec asks him to go on a date.If you want to learn more about Alec's and Magnus' relationship or are just looking for a book filled with humor and romance, you should read this short story.Pairing: Ethiopian Beef Tibs, which Alec and Magnus share on their first date.

This month, we discuss books with magic, our final prompt from the 2023 Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks include an anthology of witchy tales; a novel about the magic of sourdough starter, robot arms, and the human who works with both; and a YA fairytale set in contemporary times.If you're participating in Books & Bites Bingo, don't forget to turn in your bingo card throughout the month of December!Michael's PickThe anthology Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery, edited by Christopher Golden and Rachel Autumn Deering, contains 18 stories from authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon, Sarah Langan, Tananarive Due, Alma Katsu, and Kelley Armstrong. These stories of witchery range from cozy and humorous, to fantastical, to spooky and downright scary.Pairing: Channel your inner Audrey from the story “Bless Your Heart” and whip up a batch of Seven-Layer Magic Bars.Carrie's PickIn Robin Sloan's novel Sourdough, main character Lois is a young programmer who works at General Dexterity, a San Francisco tech company that programs robotic arms. Lois works so much, she sometimes sleeps at the office and drinks meal replacements instead of eating. But when two brothers give her their sourdough starter, a whole new world opens up to her, one filled with the magic inside a new community food market–including her own singing, possibly sinister starter.Pairing: San Francisco Sourdough from the book Super Sourdough by Great British Baking Show contestant James Morton.Jacqueline's PickThe Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black is an enchanting YA fairytale set in contemporary times. In this novel, Black returns to her dangerous, alluring world of faerie tales. This fantasy novel's complex worldbuilding is full of romance, terror, and adventure.Pairing: Old Fashioned Blackberry Pie, a recipe that will remind you of the magic that is childhood, when you could play all day, spending hours in the sun picking wild blackberries. 

 In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we discuss books by Indigenous authors, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks are as varied as ever, with a ghost story set in a bookstore, a teen mystery, and, of course, horror! Jacqueline's PickFirekeeper's Daughter is a young adult mystery by Angeline Bouley. The story mostly takes place on the Sault St. Marie Reservation in northern Michigan. Main character Daunis Fontaine is torn between two worlds: her mother's wealthy French/white family and her father's Ojibwe Firekeeper's side. Although she code-switches easily between both cultures, Daunis does not feel like she fits in her hometown or on the Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of getting a fresh start by going away to college. When tragedy strikes her family, she puts her dreams on hold.Pairing: Fry bread, which you can read more about in Kevin Maillard's children's book, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Michael's PickDon't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones picks up four years after the first book in the Indian Lake trilogy, My Heart is a Chainsaw. Jade is a half-Native American teen with an abusive father and absent mother, and she's a bit of an outcast in her hometown of Prufrock.Now a little more world-weary and having sworn off slashers, Jade arrives back home in Prufrock just as a blizzard paralyzes the town. And unbeknownst to her, Dark Mill South, an Indigenous serial killer who is seeking revenge for 38 Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes his prison transport when an avalanche hits near Prufrock. People start turning up dead in uncanny ways that are straight out of the slashers Jade knows so intimately. Is Dark Mill South acting out his vengeance on the citizens of Prufrock, or is there another killer lurking around town? Pairing: Three Sisters Chili, named after the traditional Indigenous farming practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together.Carrie's PickThe Sentence by Louise Erdrich is the darkly humorous story of Tookie, an Ojibwe woman, and Birchbark Books, an independent Minneapolis bookstore owned by the author. Tookie begins working at the bookstore after being released from prison. When the store's "most annoying customer" dies, she begins haunting Tookie. Tookie and the rest of the Indigenous staff must contend with a ghost, the beginnings of the coronavirus pandemic, and the long history of police and racial violence—a history made even more painful when George Floyd is murdered.Pairing: Hand-harvested wild rice, which you can read about in The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman.

For October, we discuss Gothic fiction, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks have all the creepy mansions, women in the attic, and brooding characters you could possibly want. Not to mention fungi! Carrie's PickO Caledonia is a little-known classic that, according to the publisher, “has been compared to the works of the Brontes, Edgar Allan Poe, and Edward Gorey.” This atmospheric and witty novel opens with the death of 16 year-old Janet, who has been murdered in her family's dilapidated castle in the Scottish Highlands. Except for her pet jackdaw, nobody seems to miss her much: her family wants her quickly buried and forgotten. What follows is not a traditional mystery. Instead, the book goes back in time to tell the story of her sad and misunderstood life.Pairing: Cinnamon scones from Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook or, for a vegan option, Buttery Scottish Teatime Scones. Jacqueline's PickHave you ever felt strongly about a house? You do not know why but for some unexplainable reason you feel a connection or a presence?In the young adult novel Frost by Marianna Baer, main character Leena has strong feelings the first time she sees an old two-story Victorian house at the edge of her boarding school. But after Leena moves into the house with her friends, things turn sinister. If you enjoyed Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, you might enjoy Frost.Pairing: Aztec Chile Chocolate cupcakes.Michael's PickMexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is like Lovecraft meets Wuthering Heights. In 1955 Mexico, young socialite Noemi is sent to High Place after her father receives a distressing letter from her cousin, Catalina. In a crumbling manor on top of a mountain, she finds Catalina confined to her room due to “tuberculosis.” While her cousin rests during the day, Noemi roams the house and grounds, where she slowly uncovers some of the family's history and dark secrets–including their strange fascination with fungi.Pairing: Garlic mushrooms.

This month, we discuss books about music or musicians, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. From mixtapes to AI, music memoirs to YA novels, we share our thoughts on both music and books. Michael's PickMichael recommends The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl. This memoir describes the passion that Grohl has had for music since he was a kid and goes into his punk-rock roots. He tells stories that are hilarious and heartfelt, from his days in Scream to the rise and fall of Nirvana and the formation of the Foo Fighters and everything in between.Pairing: KFC and champagne, a staple the Foo Fighters enjoy after special occasions.Carrie's PickCarrie enjoyed Don't Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. Williams writes about her journey to becoming an artist, from her chaotic childhood to her struggle to get signed by a recording company to her eventual success. If you've ever aspired to make art, whether music, literature, or something else, you'll find her persistence inspiring.Pairing: Monday's Red Beans from Melissa M. Martin's cookbook, Mosquito Supper Club: Cajun Recipes from a Disappearing Bayou.Jacqueline's PickJacquelline chose Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist a YA romance by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. The authors write alternating chapters for each character's point of view, with Cohn voicing Norah's point of view and Levithan doing the same for Nick. The characters bond through their shared love of musicians and music. The novel takes readers through a catalog of music from rock and roll to mainstream punk, as the characters navigate New York's Indie rock scene.Pairing: Mai Tai Mocktail Party Punch.

 This month, we discuss adventure stories, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Choose your own adventure, whether it's with a group of teens on a road trip, on top of Mount Everest, or on a pirate ship! Jacqueline's PickJacqueline enjoyed Five Survive by New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson. Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends. When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they soon realize this is no accident. They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead. With eight hours until dawn, the six friends must escape, or figure out which of them is the target.Pairing: No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Cookies, a yummy road-trip treat.Michael's PickMichael took a trip to Mount Everest with Jon Krakauer's nonfiction book, Into Thin Air. Working for Outside magazine, Krakauer was given the opportunity to ascend Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, during the 1996 climbing season on Rob Hall's team, Hall being one of the most experienced and respected climbers and guides in the world. They were about to witness one of the deadliest days in the mountain's history. A storm rolled in on summit day that ultimately left eight people dead. This is Krakauer's personal account of that expedition, relying on interviews with others to corroborate his experiences and provide perspective.Pairing: A hot cup of Masala Chai.Carrie's PickCarrie went on an adventure with The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, a YA novel that takes place in the 18th century. Felicity Montague wants to become a doctor, but the English and Scottish hospital boards she appeals to for apprenticeship turn her down because of her gender. When she learns that one of her medical idols is about to marry her childhood best friend and may need an assistant, she sets out for Germany to plead her case. What follows is a quest with two other young women involving pirates, a voyage to Algeria, and (spoiler alert!) sea monsters.Pairing: Shakshouka, an Algerian dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno, onion, and spices. Find the recipe in the library database AtoZ World Food.

 In honor of this year's summer learning theme, Dig In, we're digging into some authors we already know with the Books and Bites Bingo prompt, read another book by an author you love. Carrie's PickNorthanger Abbey by Jane Austen, a coming of age story that satirizes Gothic novels. Seventeen year-old Catherine Morland visits Bath with family friends, where she indulges in her love of reading Gothic novels. When her new friends, Henry and Eleanor Tilney, invite her to their home in a former abbey, Catherine's overactive imagination almost gets the better of her.Pairing: Bath Buns, a sweet enriched yeast dough bun that was reportedly a favorite of Austen's. Michael's PickGone to See the River Man by Kristopher Triana. This splatterpunk novel follows Lori, a superfan of the notorious serial killer, Edmund Cox. She corresponds with him regularly and even goes as far as to visit him in prison. During one visit, he gives her a task to prove her devotion that she of course eagerly accepts.Pairing: Mississippi Delta Infusion, a refreshing cocktail inspired by the birthplace of the Delta Blues.Jacqueline's PickClockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. When orphan Tessa Gray's aunt dies, Tessa travels across the ocean to reunite with her brother, Nathanial, her only living relative. Upon her arrival, the Mysterious Dark sisters kidnap Tessa, who work for the Magister. During her captivity, Tessa learns that she has the power to transform into other people. The Magister wants to marry Tessa and use her ability. The Dark Sisters threaten to hurt her and her brother if she fails to comply with their demands to change into other people.Pairing: Angel Food Cake, a light, airy dessert that goes great with fresh berries.

 On this episode, we discuss books by LGBTQIA+ authors, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. We've got a diverse group of characters and settings for you, including a Splatterpunk novel set in 1990s New Orleans, a Booker Prize-winning novel set in the United Kingdom, and a YA novel set in 1987 El Paso, Texas. Michael's PickMichael read Exquisite Corpse by Billy Martin (formerly Poppy Z. Brite). This Splatterpunk novel about a pair of gay, necrophiliac serial killers in New Orleans is not for everyone--even Michael admits he had to put it down at times. But the lyrical writing and focus on the AIDS epidemic kept him reading. Pairing: Immerse yourself in the New Orleans setting with a bowl of Duck and Andouille Gumbo, a recipe that be found in Justin Devillier's The New Orleans KitchenCarrie's PickCarrie recommends the Booker Prize-winning Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, an Anglo-Nigerian writer. Each chapter is told from the third-person point of view of eleven different British women and girls and one nonbinary person, ranging in age from their teens to their nineties. Their different classes, races, and sexualities highlight the diversity of the United Kingdom. The book's power grows as you see the characters' lives intersect.Pairing: This book is full of delicious sounding Caribbean and West African dishes, but the description of a character making Thai Chicken Coconut Curry is especially mouth-watering. Lemongrass and Coconut Curry with Summer Vegetables has similar ingredients and would be a great way to use up some summer squash.Jacqueline's PickJacqueline enjoyed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Pen Faulkner Award-winning author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This YA novel is a coming-of-age, LGBTQIA+ story set in the summer of 1987 in El Paso, Texas. It tells a story of a friendship between two boys on the cusp of manhood. The author uses the boys' friendship to explore issues of family, ethnicity, and sexuality.Pairing: An Edible Mosaic's brisket recipe would make a good choice for a summer picnic under the stars.

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about a place you want to visit, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Join us as we travel to Mexico City, Paris, and the English countryside--all with the help of some good books! Jacqueline's PickIf you dream of the City of Light, Jacqueline recommends The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor. The book has two strong female characters whose stories are set seventy years apart. Alice's story is set in modern-day France, while Adalynn's story takes place in 1940s, occupied France. Pairing: Croissants with chocolate and coffee. Find a recipe for croissants, traditional and pain au chocolat, on The Simply Luxurious Life.Michael's PickMichael's pick, Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is a tense noir set during the turbulent 1970's in Mexico City. We follow a bored and lonely secretary named Maite who lives in her own little world, obsessing over music and romance comics. When her neighbor, Leonora, a local student, asks her to watch her cat for a few days and never returns, Maite decides to track down her whereabouts. Pairing: A hot bowl of Huevos a la Mexicana from Gabriela Cámara's My Mexico City Kitchen. Carrie's PickCarrie enjoyed Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield, a book set along the western portion of the Thames River in nineteenth-century England. A gravely injured man appears at an old inn carrying a small child who is not breathing. But when the girl appears to wake up a few hours later, the community must try to uncover who she is. To which of the three families claiming her does she belong?Pairing: Dippy eggs with toast soldiers, a popular breakfast for British children.

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about Appalachia, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Collection Access Associate John David Hurley, who is from Mount Vernon, Kentucky, joins Michael, Carrie, and Jacqueline to share some favorite books about Appalachia. John David recommends a Books & Bites favorite, Elizabeth Catte's What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia. He says it's a good primer on the history of Appalachia, and it responds to JD Vance's book, Hillbilly Elegy. John David also discusses Belonging: A Culture of Place by bell hooks, which explores identity and what it means to belong to Appalachia. Finally, he recommends All This Marvelous Potential: Robert Kennedy's 1968 Tour of Appalachia by Matthew Algeo. Michael recommends Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murder and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America by Mark A. Bradley. Taking place mostly in central Appalachia during the late 60's and early 70's, this book looks at Joseph “Jock” Yablonski and his insurgent presidential campaign to clean up the rampant corruption of the United Mine Workers of America, as well as his subsequent murder and the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators and conspirators.   Pairing: A One-Eyed Jack, an Appalachian breakfast dish from Ronni Lundy's Victuals: An Appalachian Journey with Recipes.  Carrie enjoyed Trampoline by Robert Gipe. It's the coming-of-age story of 15 year-old Dawn Jewell, who lost her father in a mining accident when she was younger. Dawn joins her grandmother in fighting a coal company's plans to strip mine Big Bear Mountain. Her life is chaotic, and she makes a lot of mistakes, but you'll root for her along the way. Carrie also recommends Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith, an epistolary novel set in southwest Virginia. Pairing: A Slaw Dog, also from Ronni Lundy's Victuals.Jacqueline read The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Set in 1937, it's a fictional account of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. The main character is a young English woman named Alice Wright who moves to Kentucky with her new husband. Unhappy with her situation, Alice sees a chance to do something meaningful when she learns about the President and Mrs. Roosevelt's efforts to restore attention to literacy and learning with a mobile library program.Pairing: A mint julep made with Mint Simple Syrup.

On this episode, we discuss epistolary books, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Epistolary novels are told primarily through letters, but they can also include diaries, emails, instant messages, transcripts, and even post-it notes. Prefer to read nonfiction? Collections of letters count for this prompt, too. Carrie shares some of her favorites.Our PicksTo the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey is an epistolary novel that combines some of Carrie's favorite things: historical fiction, adventure, nature, romance, and a touch of magic. In 1885, U.S. Army Colonel Allen Forrester leads an expedition up the fictional Wolverine River in the Alaska Territory, leaving his pregnant wife Sophie behind in the Vancouver barracks. The book is written primarily in the form of Sophie's and Allen's diaries and letters.Pairing: Allen and his expedition team are so malnourished, they get scurvy, a severe form of vitamin C deficiency. If only they'd had citrus and herb tonic to sustain them! This concentrated tea can be served warm or chilled over sparkling water or tonic.Jacqueline chose the YA science fiction novel Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It's the account of a Stellarcorp War in the year 2575 between two competing companies and the military. It has a little something for everyone, including horror and the romance between two high school students, Kady and Ezra. The story is told from the point of view of the survivors, military personnel, and the ship's computer through hacked documents.Pairing: Vegan Galaxy Cake from Vegan Doll House. Michael read Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie. It's a haunted house story that involves ghost hunters, and the story is told in transcripts of raw video footage, webpages, journal entries, emails, and text messages. This book compiles these documents in an attempt to piece together what happened to the cast and crew of the paranormal investigation show, Fade to Black.Pairing: Start off a night of paranormal investigation right with a hot, hearty bowl of bacon mac and cheese. 

This month, we discuss the Afrofuturism/Afrofantasy square from Books & Bites Bingo. As Michael pointed out on the podcast, “Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy are sub-genres of science fiction and fantasy that are rooted in African cultures, myth, folklore, and the overall Black experience.” Jacqueline enjoyed Raybearer by Jordon Ifeuko. This debut YA Afrofantasy novel was inspired by African folklore. Some of the issues this novel tackles are women's struggles in patriarchal societies, the erasing of marginalized people in history, self discovery, and found families. Bite: Since author Jordon Ifueko grew up eating fried plantains, Jacqueline suggests trying them at the Hola Havana Cuban restaurant in Lexington or using the Fried Plantain Chips recipe from Serious Eats.Michael recommends The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark. It's a steampunk novella that fully immerses you in an alternate 1871 New Orleans. The U.S. Civil War is in an armistice, with New Orleans being a free and neutral city that's enjoyed by both sides. The book's protagonist is a thirteen-year-old girl named Jacqueline, who goes by the name of Creeper. Bite: If you can't be in New Orleans in person, why not transport yourself there with a dish of Maque Choux from Gumbo Ya Ya?Carrie's pick is Redemption in Indigo by Barbadian author Karen Lord. It's a brief Afrofantasy novel that revisits a Senegalese folktale. The main character, Paama, has left her gluttonous, spoiled husband Ansige and returned to her family in the village of Makendha. While there, magical, undying beings called the djombi give Paama the Chaos Stick, allowing her to change the course of human disasters. Bite: Experience the taste of Senegal with Peanut Stew from AtoZ World Food, a library database with recipes from all over the world.

We're starting the New Year with a new Books and Bites reading challenge, Books and Bites Bingo! You'll have more prompts to choose from, and more chances to win prizes. Plus, every time you get a bingo, you'll earn a fun, book-themed sticker. Complete a blackout of all the squares, and you'll earn your very own enamel Books and Bites pin! We'll discuss a different bingo square on each episode of the podcast. This month, it's books about books!Michael recommends Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom. It intersects quite nicely with the darker subjects he typically reads about. Listen to the podcast to find out why he suggests pairing the book with Skyline Chili, a staple restaurant of the Queen City.Carrie enjoyed The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. It's a coming-of-age novel about many things, including books, libraries, grief, and consumerism. The characters eat a LOT of Chinese takeout, so order in or make your own with help from Diana Kuan's The Chinese Takeout Cookbook: Quick and Easy Dishes to Prepare at Home.Jacqueline suggests The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser. As you jump along with Amy into different stories, try a jam tart inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

If you're participating in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, it's time to wrap up your reading! On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the books we read for the twelfth and final prompt, read whatever you want. If you've completed ten of the reading challenge prompts, turn your entry forms in at the library or online for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite or a $100 gift card to Joseph-Beth Booksellers.Book & Bite NotesMichael recommends She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper. As you accompany Nate and Polly through the streets of LA and the deserts of California, enjoy a street taco from Nicholasville's own El Rancho Taqueria. Carrie's pick is The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alammedine. Pair this novel with a cup of Cardamom Green Tea and a batch of Crunchy Sesame Cookies. Both recipes are from Rose Water & Orange Blossoms: Fresh and Classic Recipes from My Lebanese Kitchen by Maureen Abood.Jacqueline enjoyed Veil of Winterby Melanie Dickerson. A warm cocoa drink with a hint of peppermint is the perfect companion for this book's winter setting. Find the recipe for Vegan Peppermint Drinking Chocolate at Minimalist Baker.

 On this episode, we discuss the eleventh prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, a nonfiction book about something you're curious about. We hope we can pique your interest with books about octopuses, Sherlock Holmes, and cults! Book Notes Carrie recommends The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery. Jacqueline recommends Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the case of the Hound of the Baskerville by Pierre Bayard. Michael recommends Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell.  Bite Notes Watching a cup of flowering or blooming tea steep is as relaxing as watching an octopus swim. Since most of Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong takes place on a windy moor, warm yourself up with the Best White Bean Soup. Pair Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism with a pint of Schlafly's Pumpkin Ale, a beer that has quite the following.

On this episode, we discuss the tenth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, read a manga! Manga are comics or graphic novels that began in Japan. Since you read them from right to left instead of left to right, they can be challenging at first. But thanks to the wide variety of subject matter, you should be able to find something you'll enjoy. Book Notes Michael recommends Remina by Junji Ito. Carrie recommends She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai and Tsubasa Yamaguchi.  Carrie also seconds former Books and Bites co-host Adam's recommendation of Dragon Goes House-hunting by Kawo Tanuki and Choco Aya. Jacqueline recommends Fairytail Vol. 1 by Hiro Mashima. Bite Notes A refreshing pint of Hitachino Nest White Ale nicely juxtaposes with the madness and chaos of Junji Ito's Remina. Pair She and Her Cat with a big bowl of Sapporo Soup Curry from the book Japanese Soul Cooking by Tadashi Ono. A bowl of ramen would complement Fairytale, whose character Natsu has a hearty appetite. Try this Quick Homemade Ramen from Pinch of Yum.

 On this episode, we celebrate the freedom to read with the ninth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, read a banned or challenged book. Dr. Ron Critchfield, JCPL's Executive Director,  joins us to discuss the importance of intellectual freedom, the role of parents in helping their children choose books, the problems with censorship, and more. What's the Difference Between Banned and Challenged Books?According to the American Library Association, book challenges are "documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries." A banned book is one that has been removed in response to a challenge.Book Notes Jacqueline recommends The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Michael recommends Animal Farm by George Orwell Carrie recommends Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Find more banned or challenged books on the ALA's Top 10 Most Challenged Books page or on their Frequently Challenged Books page. You can also stop by the library display in our adult section or ask a librarian for help. Bite Notes Pair The Hate U Give with Red Velvet Cake with Ermine Frosting, a Southern specialty that Starr's neighbor has perfected. Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries is the perfect cheese to snack on while reading Animal Farm. Martha's American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation's Most Treasured Dishes, from Coast to Coast includes recipes for both Cedar-Plank Roasted Salmon and Pike Place Fish and Chips. Celebrate your freedom to read Lawn Boy with whichever sounds best to you.

On this episode, we discuss the eighth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, novellas. These short novels of 200 pages or less are just the right size for reading in one sitting or trying something new. We've got something for everyone with cozy SciFi, a creature feature, and a dark fairy tale that both teens and adults will enjoy. Book Notes Carrie recommends A Psalm for the Wild-Builtby Becky Chambers Jacqueline recommends The Lost Sistersby Holly Black Michael recommends Below by Laurel Hightower Bite Notes Sip a soothing cup of ginger thyme tea while reading A Psalm for the Wild-Built. Or try custom blending tea like Dex, a tea monk. Learn how with Homegrown Tea: An Illustrated Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Blending Teas and Tisanes. Pair The Lost Sisters with peach sorbet, a smooth and easy treat. Chow down on savory pepperoni rolls while experiencing the thrills of Below.

On this episode, we welcome our new co-host Jacqueline Cooper and discuss the seventh prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, books that take place near the ocean. To celebrate our summer learning theme, we have an ocean of possible reads for you, including horror, cozy mystery, and fantasy. Book Notes Michael recommends The Fisherman by John Langan Carrie recommends The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths Jacqueline recommends The Siren by Kiera Cass Bite Notes Pair The Fisherman with the aptly named Leviathan Baltic Porter from Harpoon Brewery. Appearing like the black ocean in a glass, it has a nose of toasted biscuits and dark fruits with a dark chocolate and earthy finish. Munch your way through The Postscript Murders with Spicy, Crisp Puffed Rice Nibbles, a recipe from Madhur Jaffrey's book, Vegetarian India: A Journey through the Best of Indian Home Cooking. The Siren deserves a sweet treat like Lemon Layer Cake with Summer Berries, a recipe that reminds Jacqueline of picking berries, swimming, and just enjoying the sun.

 On this episode, we discuss the sixth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, books that include Black joy. These books celebrate the richness and fullness of Black lives. Book Notes Michael recommends Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby. Shantel recommends Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. Carrie recommends Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. Bite Notes Pair Blacktop Wasteland with the Richmond, VA, staple, the Sailor Sandwich.  Enjoy Seven Days in June with the best snickerdoodle cookie recipe. Find recipes from Antigua and Barbuda in the library database AtoZ World Food. Dacuna, a sweet potato dumpling, and Seafood Salad sound particularly delicious, though you could also pair Mr. Loverman with a taste of rum.

On this episode, we discuss the fifth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, a book published in the decade you were born. We're covering the hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s—brought to you by WJCPL!Book Notes Michael recommends Pet Sematary by Stephen King. Carrie enjoyed Pet Sematary's direct opposite, the memoir All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. Adam discusses The Revelation by Bentley Little. Bite Notes Contemplate the ending of Pet Sematary with a whiskey sour. Grab a pint of bitter and imagine you're at the pub with James Herriott. A great choice from this side of the pond is Green Man ESB. Pair The Revelation with Coffee Ground Cashew Butter, a recipe that turns trash into a tasty treat! Find this recipe in Lindsay-Jean Hard's Cooking with Scraps.

Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 64JCPL librarians bring you book recommendations and discuss the bites and beverages to pair with them.On this episode, we discuss the fourth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, a biography or autobiography. You may be surprised to find biographies and autobiographies come in varied formats and styles to match any reader's tastes.Book Notes Adam recommends autobiographical Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon and Mu by horror master Junji Ito. Michael recommends You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe, which takes an honest and sometimes humorous look at the life of George Washington. Carrie recommends genre-bending A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa. This book pieces together the buried history of eighteenth-century Irish poet Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. Bite Notes Indulge Juji Ito's love for the… Lovecraftian with an Earl Grey Bourbon Pomegranate Punch, aptly titled Under the Scarlet Sea. This dark scarlet drink mixes fruity flavors, the bitterness of tea and bourbon, and some intrigue through club soda and black tapioca pearls. Find the recipe at feastinthyme.com Start your morning off like George Washington with a plate of hoecakes swimming in melted butter and honey. The recipe can be found in Alexis Coe's You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. Colcannon, a traditional Irish comfort dish, is the perfect accompaniment to A Ghost in the Throat. Find the recipe in Real Irish Food by David Bowers.

 On this episode, we discuss the third prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, books recommended by young people. Young is a subjective term, so feel free to define it by whatever seems young to you! Reference Librarian Mycah Sylvain kindly fills in for Michael, who is busy welcoming a new young person into his family. Book Notes Carrie and her niece recommend Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey. They also enjoy series that feature strong girls having adventures, including Ivy and Bean, Princess in Black, and Bink and Gollie. Mycah's younger self enjoyed Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Adam and members of the JCPL Teen Manga Club recommend Kamisama Kiss by Julietta Suzuki. Bite Notes Get into the spirit of Dav Pilkey's potty humor with some dog poo brownies. They're just regular brownies shaped to look like dog poo. Katharine Hepburn's brownies bake up nice and gooey for that perfect "disgustingly delicious" taste. Since noodles are the next best thing to unicorns, pair Ella Enchanted with a bowl of ramen from the cookbook Let's Make Ramen: A Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano. Why not accompany Kamisama Kiss with some tasty mochi? Make some yourself with a recipe from Mochi Magic by Kaori Becker.

On this episode, we discuss the second prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, inclusive and diverse award winners. Our Teen Librarian Jacqueline Cooper stops by to talk about the Global Reads for Teens challenge. [Content warning: the books we discuss describe abuse and racism.]Book Notes Adam recommends The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman Michael recommends The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Carrie recommends Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha Trethewey Bite Notes To accompany The Bridge Home, dig into a comforting bowl of Moong Dal Payasam from Indian for Everyone: The Home Cook's Guide to Traditional Favorites, available in print or as an eBook on Hoopla. Pair a cold pint of Guayabera Pale Ale from Cigar City Brewing with Elwood's and Turner's harrowing story of survival in The Nickel Boys. Savor the sweetness of Trethewey's early childhood with Easy Fig Pecan Bars. Find More Books With These Diverse AwardsAnisfield-Wolf Book AwardsArab-American Book AwardsAsian/Pacific American Awards for LiteratureAssociation for Asian American StudiesBlack Caucus of the American Library Association Literary AwardsLambda Literary Awards Stonewall Book Awards

Book NotesAdam recommends: Can't Stop Cursing You with art by Natsuko Uruma and story by Kensuke KobaMichael recommends: Where All Light Tends to Go by David JoyCarrie recommends: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip WilliamsBite Notes In the duplicitous spirit of Can't Stop Cursing You, savor the sweet, fireside smell of Yaki Imo while you and your friends suss out the traitor in your midst. Instructions for these Fire-Roasted Sweet Potatoes can be found in The Gaijin Cookbook by Ivan Orkin and Chris Ying. For a tasty treat with Where All Light Tends to Go, travel to the hills of North Carolina with this slow cooker Carolina-Style BBQ recipe. Pair The Dictionary of Lost Words with a pot of tea and Esme's specialty, scone-like rock cakes packed with dried fruit.

Book Notes Michael recommends Furious Hours : Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey N. Cep Carrie recommends Ivory Shoals by John Brandon Bite Notes Pair Furious Hours with Harper Lee's satirical recipe for Crackling Cornbread. Swamp Cabbage Stew makes a satisfying meal when you're roughing it on the Florida frontier.

Book NotesCarrie recommends: Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin Michael recommends: Haunted Nights : a Horror Writers Association Anthology edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa MortonAdam recommends: Witch Hat Atelier, by Kamome ShirahamaBite Notes Complement Early Morning Riser's Taco Tuesdays with Tacos with Roasted Winter Vegetables and Red Cabbage Slaw. Carrie recommends using corn tortillas from Tortillería Y Taquería Ramírez in Lexington. Fall into a….well, fall mood by mixing an Apple Cider Mimosa before turning the chilling pages of Haunted Nights.  Apprentice witches may break from their studies with Hunny & Rosemary Cakes, inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. These cinnamon and rosemary cakes from Kate Young's The Little Library Cookbook  are topped with fluffy cream cheese icing and drizzled with rosemary-infused honey.

Book NotesMichael recommends: The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward Adam recommends: Dragon Goes House Hunting, written by Kawo Tankui and art by Coco AyaCarrie recommends: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro Bite Notes Saddle up to the bar with a Vampire's Kiss Martini while vampire Joey Peacock regales you with his tales.  Pair Dragon Goes House Hunting with a hot bowl of Arkhan the Cruel's Flame-Roasted Halfling Chili from Heroes' Feast: The Official D&D Cookbook. In The Little Library Cookbook: 100 Recipes from Your Favorite Stories, Kate Young suggests Potato & Leek Soup with Rye Bread as the perfect meal to comfort you when reading The Book Thief.

Book NotesMichael recommends: The Everything Ghost Hunting Book: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Exploring the Supernatural World by Melissa Ellis Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel by Tom Wainwright How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley Carrie recommends: How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell Playing with Image Transfers: Exploring Creative Imagery for Use in Art, Mixed Media, and Design by Courtney Cerruti Can I Recycle This? A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics by Jennie Romer Beyond Beautiful: A Practical Guide to Being Happy, Confident, and You in a Looks-obsessed World by Anuschka Rees Adam recommends: You Call This Democracy? How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People by Elizabeth Rusch Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement by Nadya Okamoto Girls Garage: How to Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build the World You Want to See by Emily Pilloton Bite Notes The Conjuring will offer a chilling cap to a night of investigating the paranormal with The Everything Ghost Hunting Book. Enjoy How to Do Nothing with a cup of matcha tea, a type of Japanese green tea powder known for its ability to help you focus. Add some fiber to your non-fic dessert pairing with Corn & Blackberry pops. For the full recipe, see People's Pops, available from JCPL in hard copy.

Book NotesAdam recommends: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky The Ballad of Yaya, Book 1: Fugue by Jeanne-Marie Omont, Charlotte Girard, and Golo Zhao Michael recommends: Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones Carrie recommends: The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Bite Notes Accompany the uncomfortable juxtaposition of creativity & anxiety in Imaginary Friend with a dessert which satisfyingly mixes sweet, tart, and savory flavors: a plum-thyme sundae available in The Forest Feast: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from My Cabin in the Woods. Enjoy a refreshing Clowns Cup after a long, hot night of running from killer clowns. To take your bonfire from ordinary to extraordinary, check out The Campout Cookbookby Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson. It offers a dozen twists on hotdogs and s'mores. In her Guardian column Novel Recipes, Kate Young offers two recipes inspired by I Capture the Castle: Bread, Butter, and Honey and Cassandra's Midsummer Cake. For more recipes inspired by books, check out Kate Young's The Little Library Year, available on Hoopla.

Book NotesMichael recommends: In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy The Thicket by Joe R. Landsdale Carrie recommends: Outlawed by Anna North True Grit by Charles Portis News of the World by Paulette Giles Hearts of Horses by Molly Glass The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America's Urban Heartland by Walter Thompson-Hernandez Adam recommends: The Lone Ranger: The Devil's Rope written by Mark Russell and illustrated by Bob Q.Adam does not think Cowboy Ninja Viking (written by A.J. Lieberman and illustrated by Riley Rossmo) has broad appeal.Bite Notes If you have insomnia like the Kid in Outlawed or just find yourself staying up too late reading, try brewing some lemon balm tea. To quench your thirst after visiting the desert of West Texas, mix yourself up a Corvette Summer. Mosey through Cowboy Ninja Viking with a fresh jar of Pickled Mixed Vegetables from The Cowboy's Cookbook by Beverly LeBlanc. Like the triplets of CNV, Each bite brings a different flavor to the salty, sweet, sour, and spicy mix.

Book NotesAdam Recommends Flamer by Mike Curato Ever After by Olivia Vieweg Michael Recommends The Troop by Nick Cutter The Night Will Find Us by Matthew Lyons Carrie Recommends The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss by Rajeev Balasubramanyam Bite Notes Tasty Campfire Apples in Tinfoil contain the best parts of a flame. Find the recipe in Camp Cooking by the National Museum of Forest Service History. Next time you're in the backyard around a campfire, enjoy a twist on an all-time favorite, a S'more's Milk Shake, a recipe from tasteofhome.com. If, like Andrew Wang, eating fried rice is one of your favorite pastimes, try the recipe in Chinese Soul Food by Hsiao-Ching Chou.

Book Notes Carrie recommends the first issue of DC Comics' digital series, Represent!: It's a Bird by Christian Cooper and Alitha Martinez. Carrie also recommends The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. Michael sleuthed out American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan. Michael also recommends Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark. Adam shares YA nonfiction, Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer. Adam also recommends JCPL's Story Phone. Dial up a story anytime with the JCPL Story Phone. Simply call the Story Phone line, 859-885-7234, and choose from a selection of stories to listen to. New stories are added each week. Bite Notes The next time you go birdwatching, pack an easy travel snack to keep you fortified. Jenné Claiborne, author of the cookbook Sweet Potato Soul, offers several vegan travel snacks on her website. Get cozy with a warm bowl of wild rice pudding from The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley. Pair American Predator with Maudite, a beer brewed by Unibroue.

Michael Recommends The Apocalyptic Mannequin by Stephanie M. Wytovitch WWJD and Other Poems by Savannah Sipple Light for the World to See: A Thousand Words of Race and Hope by Kwame Alexander Carrie Recommends Monument by Natasha Trethewey Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay Fanny Says by Nickole Brown Adam Recommends The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One by Amanda Lovelace Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo Cast Away by Naomi Shihab Nye