Stacks and Stories

Intro Join Alex, Megan, Maddie, and Charlie for a game of trivia to bring in the new year! Do you think you're smarter than a librarian? Tune in to find out!

Intro Join Alex, Megan, Maddie, and Charlie for a game of trivia to bring in the new year! Do you think you're smarter than a librarian? Tune in to find out!

Intro Welcome to this episode of Stacks and Stories, the podcast of the Mississippi Library Commission. Join Alex, Megan, and Maddie, for a year-end wrap-up as they discuss their favorite reads from this year before we move into the new year. Enjoy! Books / Adaptations Mentioned: My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary Bad Days in History by Michael Farquhar The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan Illuminae by Amy Kaufman & Jay Kristoff None of This is True by Lisa Jewel Tasting History by Max Miller Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Grace Year by Kim Liggett Murder You Employer by Rupert Holmes London by Edward Rutherfurd

Welcome to this episode of Stacks and Stories, the podcast of the Mississippi Library Commission. Join J.D., Elisabeth, and Maddie, as they discuss their reads for this month's MLC Reading challenge. This month readers were encouraged to read a book adapted into a movie or television series, and then watch the adaptation. Enjoy!   Books / Adaptations Mentioned: The Muppets Christmas Carrol Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Apocalypse Now The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Justified Elmore Leonard Novels A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey The Shinning by Stephen King The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Join Jeremy, Elisabeth, and myself, Zach, as we discuss the world of tabletop role-playing games! We get into what classifies a game as a tabletop role-playing game, what it's like to play them, and how you could get involved with local groups. Enjoy!

Join Charlie and myself, Zach, as we discuss the Veterans History Project, an archival project for preserving the stories of American Military Veterans. We discuss what the project is, our experience with it so far, and how others can get involved. Enjoy!  

Join Lacy, Sharon, and Alex as they discuss Lib 101, a professional development program for librarians in Mississippi. They discuss what participants can expect, their past experiences, and how it has benefited them the most in their professional careers. Enjoy!  

Join J.D., Kristina, Charlie, and Zach as they discuss some of their favorite spooky reads as we head into this Halloween season. Books Mentioned: Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson   Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson   We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson   If it Bleeds by Stephen King   Salem's Lot by Stephen King   The Shinning by Stephen King   One Second After by William R. Forstchen   Frankenstein by Mary Shelley   Cirque Du Freak Series by Darren Shan   I Am Legend by Richard Matheson   Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz   Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury   Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine

Join Charlie, Maddie, Megan, and Zach as they discuss their favorite and least favorite reads from our many, varying required reading lists from high school and college. Books Mentioned: The Testament by John Grisham The Crucible by Arthur Miller Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley King Leer by Shakespeare I Heard the Owl Call my Name by Margaret Craven Les Jeux Sont Faits by Jean-Paul Sarte Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Join Zach, Alex, and Elisabeth as they discuss the upcoming Mississippi Book Festival. If you're interested in what to expect from this year's book festival, or you're curious to know about years past, stay tuned to find out!    

Join Charlie, Zach, J.D., and Russel as they play a little game of Would You Rather, with book and reading preferences! Would you rather secretly love a book everyone else hates, or secretly hate a book everyone else loves? Stay tuned to find out!

Join Charlie, Alex, Megan, and Maddie as they play a little game of Would You Rather, with book and reading preferences! Would you rather secretly love a book everyone else hates, or secretly have a book everyone else loves? Stay tuned to find out!

This year's collaborative summer library program theme is "Adventure Begins at the Library". These themes focus on personal growth, heroism, action, adventure, and the hero's journey. We've asked various MLC Staff to give a quick overview of a book that fits the theme. Want to hear our staff's recommendations? Then stay tuned! Books mentioned: Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas Fear is the Mind Killer by Kaja Sadowski The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Watership Down by Richard Adams Touching the Void by Joe Simpson The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Join Alex, Elisabeth, and Charlie as they discuss some of their favorite young adult novels and how to define a novel as a young adult novel in contrast to an adult novel. Enjoy! Books Mentioned: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Divergent by Veronica Roth Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson The Companion by Katie Alender The Charlotte Holmes Series by Brittany Cavallaro Cinder by Marissa Meyer Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky NOTE: Please note that the proper pronunciation of the title Sheine Lende is “SHAY-neh LEN-day”— apologies for the mispronunciation of the title character's name.

Join Shellie, Riley, and Charlie as they discuss what exactly makes a book a good beach read. Is it the themes or locations of the book? Is it the genre of the book? Or, is it something else entirely? Tune in to find out! Books mentioned: Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh The Humans by Matt Haig One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware Piglet by Lottie Hazel The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis The Ruins by Scott Smith

Join Charlie and Tracy as they discuss the ins and outs of special collections and just what makes them so special. Listen as they talk about the various collections and kits that can be borrowed by patrons and libraries, including board games, costumes, hand puppets, story walks, and more! For more information regarding our special collections and kits, you can contact Charlie Simpkins at (601) 432-4498

Join Zach as he looks back at some of our recent MLC Moments which focus on our collection of WPA files.

Join Tracy and Shellie on this episode of Shelf Absorbed as they discuss what they've been reading and watching lately.   Books mentioned: The Impossible Life of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer Less by Andrew Sean Greer Foe by Iain Reed I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reed Stoner by John Williams Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera How Strange a Season by Megan Mayhew Bergman Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard Domestic Work by Natasha Tretheway The Teacher by Freida McFadden

Join Katie, Charlie, and Tracy as they discuss the ins and outs of podcast development. Listen as they talk about what you need to make a podcast, how to get started, and all the other behind the scenes magic.  

Join Alex, Elisabeth, and Charlie as they discuss Novels in Verse. Listen in while they talk about novels in verse as well as their favorite poems and verse novels!   Books and Poems mentioned: The Crossover – Kwame Alexander Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur The Night Library of Sternendach – Jessica Levai Dreaming of You – Melissa Lozada-Oliva Bull – David Elliot We Are All So Good at Smiling – Amber McBride Ain't Burned All the Bright – Jason Reynolds Chlorine Sky – Mahogany Browne Sharp Teeth – Toby Barlow

Join Tracy and Shellie as they talk about their favorite short stories! What makes a good short story? What makes them memorable? Learn all that and more on this episode!   Stories mentioned include: "Dear Sister" by Deesha Philyaw "The Field of Blue Children" by Tennessee Williams "The Man Who Loved Flowers" by Stephen King "Parker's Back" by Flannery O'Connor "Portrait of a Girl in Glass" by Tennessee Williams "Up in Michigan" by Ernest Hemingway Victory Over Japan by Ellen Gilchrist

Join Katie, Shellie, and Tracy as they discuss bookish podcast other than your favorite, Stacks and Stories. Listen as they talk about what makes a good podcast, how the length of a podcast episode affects the best time to listen, and more, so stay tuned. Podcasts Mentioned Celebrity Memoir Book Club If Books Could Kill Maintenance Phase Overdue Read with Jenna Reading Through Life Shonen Flop What Should I Read Next

This episode is all about Pride and Prejudice and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Join Tracy and Russell as they dive into regency romance and comedy horror, examining their own prides and prejudices along the way.   Books discussed: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith

Join Charlie and Elisabeth as they talk about their favorites in this year's crop of Magnolia Book Award nominations! Books discussed in this episode include: Alone written by Megan E. Freeman Four for the Road written by K.J. Reilly Fox and Chick: Up and Down and Other Stories written and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier I Must Betray You written by Ruta Sepetys Listen to the Language of the Trees written by Tera Kelley, illustrated by Marie Hermansson The Lucky Ones written by Linda Williams Jackson The Most Magnificent Idea written and illustrated by Ashley Spires Stella Keeps the Sun Up written by Clothilde Ewing, illustrated by Lynn Gaines

Join Tracy and Shellie on this newest episode of Shelf Absorbed as they talk about their favorite books of 2023 and the books they're looking forward to in 2024!   Books mentioned in the episode: The Anthropocene Review by John Green I Must Be Dreaming by Roz Chast Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object by Laurie Colwin My Murder by Kate Williams Chenneville by Paulette Jiles

Join Katie and Russell as they talk about long books, long book series, and everything big and chonky! Books mentioned in this episode: The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke The Stand by Stephen King The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel

Join Katie and Riley as they discuss memoirs and why they like them. Listen in as they talk about death, eels, families, ships, and more, so stay tuned. Books Mentioned The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah I'm A Terminal Cancer Patient, But I'm Fine by Hilnama I Want to Die, but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

Join Charlie and Elisabeth as they talk their favorite picture books: past classics, current faves, and new books they're looking forward to!   Titles discussed in this episode include: Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Genevieve Tucholke, illustrated by Khoa Le Doña Flor by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colón ¡Fiesta! A Festival of Colors by Duncan Tonatiuh Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex Hot Dog by Doug Salati Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain by Jonathan Graziano; illustrated by Dan Tavis Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen, illustrated by Minnie Phan The video of April Genevieve Tucholke reading Beatrice Likes the Dark can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIHB-LO2Wbg

Join Tracy and Zach as they discuss what kooky structures and narrations mean to them, why they like them, and some of their favorite examples, so stay tuned. Books Mentioned The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Wellness by Nathan Hill

Amanda's a fan of YA and hasn't read much horror. Riley's a fan of horror and hasn't read much YA. Join us at Amanda & Riley each read a recommended book from the other's favorite genre and discuss their forays into the wider world of reading!

Join Alex and Amanda as they talk all things book covers! From books that are better than their cover, covers that are better than their books, cover reprints that are just kind of bad, cover trends, and cover marketing, they cover (get it?) almost everything in the wide world of book design!   As a note, Alex mentions a book with an orange cover set on Jupiter that she can't remember the title of. This book is The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older.   Books mentioned in this episode If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy Happy Place by Emily Henry Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume The Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary American Gods by Neil Gaiman Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Anna & the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Old Enough by Haley Jacobson My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson The Wayfairer series by Becky Chambers The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer The Stolen Heir by Holly Black Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt The Tia Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries series by Mia P. Manansala. The Donut Legion by Joe R. Lansdale.

Join Riley, Shellie, and Tracy as they discuss dark academia, why they enjoy it, and if not, what they do enjoy that's adjacent. Books Mentioned Blue Angel by Francine Prose Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman The Maidens by Alex Michaelides Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth Possession by A.S. Byatt The Secret History by Donna Tartt A Separate Peace by John Knowles Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessel Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon

Join Alex and Tracy as they discuss the influential children's book writer Beverly Cleary. Listen as they talk about their favorite books by her, toothpaste, wigs, and bad accents.

Join Katie and Natalie as they discuss why they prefer nonfiction to fiction, what their favorite nonfiction reads are, and more. Books Mentioned 1776 by David McCullough A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy by Joyce Kaufman Educated by Tara Westover The Encyclopedia of the Cat edited by Bruce Fogle The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values by Sam Harris Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi A Promise Land by Barack Obama Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Join Shellie and Tracy as they talk about authors and panels they're looking forward to at this year's Mississippi Book Festival!

This year's collaborative summer library program theme is ‘All Together Now'. The theme focuses on friendship, unity, kindness, and togetherness. We've asked various MLC staff to give a quick overview of a book or movie they love that they feel fits the theme. Want to hear seven different recommendations? Then stay tuned!   Books and films mentioned in the episode: Calendar Girls, directed by Maria Loohufvud & Love Martinsen. Dress-Up Day by Blanca Gómez. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Hello Bookstore, directed by A.B. Zax. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. Lala's Words by Gracey Zhang. Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton. Still Life by Sarah Winman. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.

Join Shellie and Tracy on this installment of Shelf Absorbed as they discuss what they've recently read and if one of them has started appreciating rereads. So, stay tuned. Books Mentioned Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff Fifteen by Beverly Cleary Gigi, Listening by Chantel Guertin “Good Bones” by Maggie Smith The Spectacular by Fiona Davis The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Trust by Hernan Diaz The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett The Weeds by Katy Simpson Smith You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Join Katie and Lacy as they talk about adaptations and reworkings of books! They talk Mississippi movies, Mississippi musicals, and Mississippi books based off of previously existing books in three, quick, five minute MLC Moment snippets.

If you turn on the Mississippi Public Broadcasting radio station on Saturdays at 11 am, you'll hear a short, five minute little MLC Moment from us. These are quick tidbits of information, all drawn from what you can find at your local public library. Because they're so short, we're combining some of them into a longer episode for our regular podcast feed. This episode is all things historical. Join Tracy as she talks about microhistories and a famous murder case, while Alex takes you deep into the WPA files created in the 1930s.

What's 'middle grade' mean to begin with? Join Charlie and Elisabeth as they talk all things middle grade, from past to present to future!   Books mentioned in the episode: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine The Birchbark House series by Louise Erdrich The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare Hatchet by Gary Paulson Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson Lily's Promise by Kathryn Erskine J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Munoz Ryan Gussy by Jimmy Cajoleas Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout   Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas The Secret Battle of Evan Po by Wendy Wan-Long Shang The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

Join Tracy and Elisabeth as they talk about their favorite modern Mississippi authors!   Authors mentioned: Angie Thomas Brad Watson Beth Ann Fennelly Kiese Laymon Natasha Tretheway

Join Tracy as she chats with Akeylah, Amanda, and Colleen about the mystery genre. Listen as they discuss what they like about this series, and what mystery novels and shows they enjoy.  Books Mentioned: All of Us by N.F. Carter The Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by George Gould and Walter Pyle  A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia Diagnosis: Solving the Most Baffling Medical Mysteries by Lisa Sanders  The Dresden Files Series by Jim Butcher The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold The Hardy Boys Series by Frank W. Dixon It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth and Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine by Thomas Morris  The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco Nemesis by Agatha Christie The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith Perry Mason by Earle Stanley Gardner Possession by AS Byatt Promise Boys by Nick Brooks The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery Series by Mia P. Manansala The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Join Charlie and Lawrence as they dive into the wide world of patents and trademarks! Learn about plant patents, the Batmobile, and monkeys taking selfies. Relevant links: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/ppubsbasic.html (patent number 3216423) https://patents.google.com/patent/USD205998S/en  

Join Colleen, Katie, and Russell as they talk all things long book series! They talk both series involving long books as well as series that consist of ten or more books. They talk about what draws them to these long series, what types of series they enjoy, and provide recommendations for readers and each other.   Books mentioned: The Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher The Nightlord series by Garon Whited The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith Discworld by Terry Pratchett The Baby-Sitter's Club series by Ann M. Martin Hank the Cowdog by Gerald L. Holmes Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park How To Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori Bleach by Tite Kubo Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto Deadpool, various writers, Marvel Comics

Shelf Absorbed, a YouTube series started by the Mississippi Library Commission during the pandemic, returns as a regular podcast feature with Tracy and Shellie! Join them as they discuss books about friendships and how even adults struggle to navigate these relationships on this episode of Stacks and Stories. Books Mentioned 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff The Friend Who Got Away: Twenty Women's True-Life Tales of Friendships that Blew Up, Burned Out or Faded Away edited by Jenny Offill and Elissa Schappell Just Kids by Patti Smith Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan Love and Saffron by Kim Fay The River by Peter Heller The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

2023 is almost here! Join Tracy and Shellie as they discuss their favorite books (and a few they did not even finish) in 2022. They will also discuss a few of their reading goals for 2023. We hope you enjoy this look back at reading during 2022 on this episode of Stacks and Stories. Books, Authors, and Podcast Mentioned Barbara Pym Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham The Candy House by Jennifer Egon Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen Dead Eyes (podcast) An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang French Braid by Anne Tyler Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce March by Virginia Feito Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson Recitatif by Toni Morrison Scarecrow Has a Gun by Michael Kozlowsky The Trees by Percival Everitt

Join Charlie and Elisabeth as they talk all things picture books! From old classics to newer titles, they've got recommendations for actual children as well as your own inner child. Books mentioned in this episode: Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Berry Song by Michaela Goade The Food Group series by Jory John Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

You got game? We sure do! Join Alex, Elisabeth, and Katie as they talk about gaming in the library, from Dungeons and Dragons to Dutch Blitz. Stay tuned!

Readers' advisory? What is it? How do librarians do it? Do all librarians do it the same way? Join Katie as she chats with Akeylah, Elisabeth, and JD about their takes on readers' advisory.

Required reading. Those books that teachers forced you to read in school. No matter how long it's been since you were in school, there probably was that one book you loathed and that one book you loved. Join Amy, Elisabeth, Mary Rodgers, Shellie, and Tracy as they talk all things required reading—with a bonus round of other books they dislike. Titles mentioned in this episode: Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Animal Farm by George Orwell A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy by Laurence Sterne The Man of Feeling by Henry Mackenzie The Old Man & the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware Bless the Beasts and the Children by Glendon Swarthout A Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody The Novel of the White Powder by Arthur Machen A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsem

Join Katie as she chats with Emily Bandy of the University Press of Mississippi. They talk about the process of making an academic book, from an idea in the author's head to a fully finished copy.