Podcasts about happy reading

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 7 & 8! This week we get our first exposure to Padme in the Senate—and it doesn't go at all how she anticipated. She's overwhelmed and incredibly human. We also get to see Sabe take on slavery on Tatooine—and again, it doesn't go as smoothly as our heroes hoped. But she's putting in the work, and we love her. Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 9 - 11! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 236, where we are both back at Book Cougars HQ and happy to be sitting across the table from one another again. We did some Biblio Adventuring since the last episode! Emily joined the Pride celebration in Middletown, CT which kicked off with Drag Storytime at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore. She also had a lovely visit to Big Red Books in Nyack, NY. Chris was back in the Midwest where she visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home in Abilene, Kansas before heading to Red Cloud, Nebraska for the 70th Annual Willa Cather Spring Conference. We managed to read a few books between/during our adventures (love those audiobooks on road trips!): FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild (release date 7/8/2025) THE PROFESSOR'S HOUSE by Willa Cather THE BOOKSTORE FAMILY by Alice Hoffman 
STILL WRITING by Dani Shapiro THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS by Ocean Vuong THE GOOD HOUSE by Tananarive Due, our second quarter readalong pick Thanks to the sponsors of this episode: Deb Miller, author of FORGET THE FAIRY TALE AND FIND YOUR HAPPINESS, and Jen Michalski, author of ALL THIS CAN BE TRUE. Continuing our year of reading Ghost Stories, we are excited to announce the third quarter readalong pick. Because we chose a shorter novel this time, we decided to include the story that inspired it as a companion read for Q3: “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The novel that is the official pick is another one with the word “House” in the title. You'll have to listen to find out or peek at the show notes. As always, thank you so much for listening and we wish you lots of Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode236

We have opened the archives and are going to repost our Author Highlight Series. Shonda has talked with many wonderful writers and in the course of the next several months we will be posting these every Thursday for your listening pleasure. Here is the interview with author Sandeep Adnani from Feb. 27, 2023. Please check out Sandeep's books and keep an eye out for more Interviews coming. Happy Reading!!! The Old Man's Podcast   *Get everything you need to start your own successful podcast on Podbean here: https://www.podbean.com/tomspodcastPBFree *Visit our webpage where you can catch up on Current / Past Episodes: www.theoldmanspodcast.com     *Contact us at: theoldmanspodcast@gmail.com     Checkout and Follow the Writings of Shonda Sinclair here: Roaming the Road (of Life):https://www.shondasinclair.com/   *TOMPodcast Music Shows: https://www.mixcloud.com/TOMPodcast/

We have opened the archives and are going to repost our Author Highlight Series. Shonda has talked with many wonderful writers and in the course of the next several months we will be posting these every Thursday for your listening pleasure. Here is the interview with author Lon Varnadore from Feb. 24th, 2023.  Please check out Lon's books and keep an eye out for more Interviews coming. Happy Reading!!! The Old Man's Podcast   *Get everything you need to start your own successful podcast on Podbean here: https://www.podbean.com/tomspodcastPBFree *Visit our webpage where you can catch up on Current / Past Episodes: www.theoldmanspodcast.com     *Contact us at: theoldmanspodcast@gmail.com     Checkout and Follow the Writings of Shonda Sinclair here: Roaming the Road (of Life):https://www.shondasinclair.com/   *TOMPodcast Music Shows: https://www.mixcloud.com/TOMPodcast/

Today on the show, I share some of my favorite books of 2024!!! • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson • Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo • Serenity in the Storm by Kayleigh McEnany • The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt Listen as I break down each title! And...Happy Reading!

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 4 - 6! Well, it didn't take long for Padme's plans to be sidelined by a position in the Galactic Senate! We were surprised, but not in a bad way!  Also, malfunctioning droids leading to assassination attempts? Sounds like Star Wars to us! Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 7 & 8! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable  Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Chris and Emily recorded Episode 235 over Zoom. Emily was holding down the fort at Book Cougars HQ in Connecticut and Chris dialed in from Pittsburgh, PA. She was on the road back to Connecticut from Illinois and had some fun Biblio Adventures to share including a visit to Van Wert, Ohio where she visited The Brumback Library and had lunch with Linda, the BC's librarian. She also visited the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and got to browse Caliban Bookshop. Emily saved the day or at least story time at Wesleyan R.J. Julia. She was there with her daughter to share her granddaughter's first bookstore story time and ended up hosting said story time! Books we've read since the last episode and discuss include: — RENEGADE GIRLS: A QUEER TALE OF ROMANCE AND RABBLE-ROUSING by Nora Neus and illustrated by Julie Robine — THE GOOD HOUSE by Tananarive Due — A FEVER IN THE HEARTLAND: THE KU KLUX KLAN'S PLOT TO TAKE OVER AMERICA, AND THE WOMAN WHO STOPPED THEM byTimothy Egan — A DOG IN GEORGIA by Lauren Grodstein (forthcoming 8/5) — THE GREAT GATSBY AT 100 by Sheila Liming — THE WRITING LIFE by Annie Dillard This episode's ghost story is “The Ghost in the Cap'n Brown House” by Harriet Beecher Stowe from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES FROM ELIZABETH GASKELL TO AMBROSE BIERCE. We also talk about meeting up for coffee with Deanna (a listener from Virginia), our upcoming jaunts, and mention the books we've chosen to kick off the #BigBookSummer Reading Challenge. Many thanks to Shirley Russak Wachtel, author of THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES, for sponsoring this episode! We hope that if you go on a road trip this summer, you're able to drive at your preferred pace, on your preferred type of road, and listen to the audiobook of your choice. Happy Reading!

Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button.   This week we have Sam Miller, manager at Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, with us to chat about books readers might want to consider for their summer reading. It is always fun to hear what is new and notable from Sam.    This is our last episode of the season.  We will be back in July after our summer hiatus with all new episodes. Happy Reading!   Books Mentioned in this Episode:   1- The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebowitz   2- Northern Spy by Flynn Berry   3- Big Girl Small Town by Michelle Gallen   4- Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen   5- Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero   6- The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani   7- Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani   8- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid   9- Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter   10- So Far Gone by Jess Walter   11- A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle   12- A Lesser Light by Peter Geye   13- Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippmann   14- El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott   15- Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann   16- Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann   17- First Gentleman by Bill Clinton and James Patterson   18- King of Ashes by SA Cosby   19- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab   20- Katabasis by RF Kuang   21- Country Under Heaven by Frederic Durbin   22- A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna   23- Isabella Nag and the Pot of Basil by Oliver Darkshire   24- The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar   25- Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs   26- Plato and the Tyrant by James Romm   27- Turning to Birds by Lili Taylor   28- Is A River Alive? by Robert McFarlane   29- Mark Twain by Ron Chernow   30- Charlottesville by Deborah Baker   31- Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser   32- Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser   33- Fulfillment by Lee Cole   34- If You Love It, Let it Kill You by Hannah Pittard   35- The Fire Concerto by Sarah Landenwich   36- Black Cohosh by Eagle Valiant Brosi   37- Big Swiss by Jen Beagin   38- I Am the Arrow: The Life and Art of Sylvia Plath in Six Poems by Sarah Ruden   39- Red Comet by Heather Clark   40- Bad Badger : A Love Story by Maryrose Wood   Media mentioned--   1- Derry Girls (Netflix, 2018-2022)   2- Christoph Waltz on Jimmy Fallon --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0jr-HQeT74   3- Floyd Collins Broadway show--https://floydcollinsbroadway.com  

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters Prologue - 3! It feels appropriate to be starting a new Read Along in May with a Star Wars novel! There's been some exciting developments in the Star Wars universe, and it's fun to dip our toes into one of the newer novels as well. These first few chapters are really setting the stage for Padme's transition from Queen to Senator of Naboo—and we're excited to be along for the journey.  Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 4 - 6! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 234, featuring an Author Spotlight with memoirist Elissa Altman. We talk about her writing process, including the use of two particular desks that she sits at depending on the focus of her work. We also get into the specifics of journals vs. diaries and, of course, we asked her about writing implements! Her new book, PERMISSION: THE NEW MEMOIRIST AND THE COURAGE TO CREATE, is out now. In our Just Read segment we talk about books in several different genres. Emily finished a novel, Chris read a poetry collection and a work of literary criticism, and we did a joint read of a short story in our Penguin Classics collection of ghost stories: LEAVING by Roxana Robinson WHEN I WAS STRAIGHT by Julie Marie Wade JANE AUSTEN'S BOOKSHELF by Rebecca Romney “GREEN TEA” by Sheridan Le Fanu We recap an exciting joint jaunt to NYC to meet up with Aunt Ellen, where we saw the Belle de Costa Green exhibit at The Morgan Library & Museum and attended Selected Shorts: Classics with a Twist with Meg Wolitzer and Friends at Symphony Space. As always, there are more books and Biblio Adventures discussed than we mention in this blurb. Special thanks to Janet Clare author of TRUE HOME, for sponsoring this episode. Happy Listening and Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode234

Today the SibNerds are talking about chapters 24 – 26, and that brings us to the end of The Poppy War. In this final installment of this Read Along, we discuss the book's last few chapters and the conclusion of this part of Rin's story. This was a heavy read, one that we certainly would recommend to other readers, but with some trigger warnings attached. While we applaud Kuang's ability to pull on real history, it was a little too much reality in our escapism for our taste. (But we'll probably finish the series at some point.) Join us for our next Read Along by picking up Star Wars: Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston! Happy Reading! Twitter: @litround  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

On Episode 233, we are thrilled to welcome back, MATTHEW GOODMAN! We are so grateful that Zoom and, before them, Skype (remember them?) opened up the world to conversations with authors. That said, there's still nothing like sitting in the same room with other humans talking about books, ideas, and historic happenings. Matthew joined us at Book Cougars HQ here in Connecticut to discuss his new book, PARIS UNDERCOVER: A WARTIME STORY OF COURAGE, FRIENDSHIP, AND BETRAYAL, now available from Ballantine Books. The book is a narrative history about Etta Shiber and Kate Bonnefous, two middle-aged women who smuggled out British servicemen from behind enemy lines, their arrest, Etta's best-selling memoir about their efforts, and the price Kate paid for that book. Don't miss our conversation with Matthew at the end of this episode. Paris Undercover is about history, but it speaks to our current time. Some highlights in this episode: We both have started reading around in THE PORTABLE FEMINIST READER, edited by Roxane Gay, starting with “If Men Could Menstruate” by Gloria Steinem. Chris also read “Being Female” by Eileen Myles. Emily finished the novel FOOD PERSON by Adam Roberts, and Chris read the graphic memoir EPHEMERA by Briana Loewinsohn. It was also time for another ghost story from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce. We both thought “The Signal Man” by Charles Dickens was “meh,” although it had some good lines and moments. In Biblio Adventures, we recap seeing Maura Casey at Bank Square Books in Mystic, our Independent Bookstore Day jaunts to Breakwater Books in Guilford and R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT, and Emily's volunteer experience at Cherry Jubilee in NYC. We had such a fun time recording this episode and hope you enjoy it. Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode233

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 17-20! Well, there's a lot to say about this section, and boy, do we get into it. From the monster-chasing side adventure to the downright abuse from Altan towards Rin to the Woman in the spirit world—so much is happening. And we get into all of it! For next time, read Chapters 21-23! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

We were thrilled and a little nervous to sit down with Ruth Franklin to talk about her work and share our origin story. The Book Cougars may not have been born without Ruth Franklin. Or, come to think of it, Shirley Jackson. We were excited to talk with Ruth about her brilliant new work, THE MANY LIVES OF ANNE FRANK, and her previous biography, SHIRLEY JACKSON: A RATHER HAUNTED LIFE. You won't want to miss our conversation with Ruth. She is a fantastic writer and a great conversationalist. The interview begins at 01:13:25. In our Just Read segment, we discuss “The Cold Embrace” by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, the current story from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES. Note: we spoil some plot points so read this ten-page short story prior to listening (unless you don't care, then feel free to listen with abandon). Head to the shownotes, where you'll find a link to the story available to read online. Rejoice, for Chris has finally finished SWANN'S WAY by Marcel Proust! However, this won't be the last you hear about Proust. She has committed to reading the next book in his longer work, IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME, with Robin Gustafson's group in Feb/Mar 2026. After Proust, Chris found a delicious palate cleanser in THE STOLEN QUEEN by Fiona Davis. Emily finished CARE AND FEEDING: A Memoir by Laurie Woolever and THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan, which marks off another square on her Ghost Stories Bingo Card. She also attended the virtual ALL CT READS 2025 Adult Author Talk with Monica Wood who penned HOW TO READ A BOOK, which was one of her Top 10 Reads of last year. Thanks to our two sponsors this episode, authors Lise Mayne (TIME ENOUGH) and Aline Weiller (FUN: Essays on a Life Embraced). As always, we talk about more books and Biblio Adventures than we list here. We hope you enjoy listening and that your next book is a great read. Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode231

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 13-16! There's so much happening in this section! Rin is learning how to be a member of the Cike—with varying levels of success. We met a new cast of characters, and it's filling the found family trope that we love so much. Altan is back and in charge. His advice to Rin about how to use the Phoenix's fire is creating a lot of internal tension for Rin. Next time read Chapters 17-20! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 230 where we talk about some books. As this is another tenth episode, we are also hosting a giveaway! One lucky newsletter subscriber will win a paperback copy of our second quarter readalong pick, THE GOOD HOUSE by Tananarive Due. Newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win our recurring tenth episode giveaways. Chris unexpectedly read the surprise hot book of the season, CARELESS PEOPLE: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams, and is telling everyone to believe the hype. She also read THE EXTENDED MIND: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul, and devoured WOMAN, EATING: A Literary Vampire Novel by Claire Kohda. Emily read two novels that have an unexpected connection, MURDER UNDER HER SKIN: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery by Stephen Spotswood and THE GHOSTWRITER by Julia Clark. She also read two less murdery novels, TELL ME EVERYTHING by Elizabeth Strout and TILDA IS VISIBLE by Jane Tara. One of these she loved and the other was a bit of a departure for a well-loved writer. We discuss the third short ghost story – “The Haunted and the Haunters; Or, The House and the Brain by Edward Bulwer Lytton – in THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce. This one didn't grab us like the last one (pun intended) but we can see how it contributes to the haunted house tradition. In Biblio Adventures, Chris made a guest appearance on Shawn Breathes Books where they discussed FINGERSMITH by Sarah Waters; it is ready for viewing on his BookTube channel. Emily was in Colorado visiting new grandbaby #2, and got to visit two local bookstores: White River Books in Carbondale and Alpenglow Books and Gifts in Glenwood Springs. During a long layover in O'Hare, she also visited several Barbara's Bookstores in the airport. As always, there is more in this episode than we can highlight here, like upcoming reads and jaunts (e.g., THE CAT'S MEOW: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa by Jonathan Losos, All CT Reads with author Monica Wood, and the Willa Cather Spring Conference). We were so happy to be back together talking about books across the table! We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode230

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 10 - 12! It's not summer break anymore! Part 2 came in with quite the shift—and it brought war upon Sinegard, and our students are forced to be soldiers. There was some really powerful commentary on the cost of war. We're learning more and more about the gods and the way they can move in the world. We're excited to learn even more! Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 13 - 16! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 229! We kick off this episode with the announcement of our second quarter readalong pick for our year of reading Ghost Stories. We hope you'll read along with us! Speaking of which, we also have an in depth conversation about “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O'Brien, the second story in the PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES that we'll be buddy reading throughout the year. Join us on this, too! Emily checked off the Western square on her Ghost Stories Bingo Card by reading LONE WOMEN by Victor LaValle. She also read TWENTY-FOUR SECONDS FROM NOW…A Love Story by Jason Reynolds and SWEPT AWAY by Beth O'Leary, and two cookbooks: THE FISHWIFE COOKBOOK by Becca Millstein and Vilda Gonzalez and THE HEBRIDEAN BAKER by Coinneach Macleod. Chris had some concentration issues and found comfort reading two wonderful picture books: THE LEAF DETECTIVE: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang, illustrated by Jana Christy, and HOW BIRDS SLEEP by David Obuchowski, illustrated by Sarah Pedry. She also finished listening to the audio version of A WEB OF OBSIDIAN by Lydia M. Hawke. We recap some notable Biblio Adventures including a Buzz Books 2025 Horror panel and an event at Hickory Stick Bookshop, and of course we talk about a bunch more books and bookish things. We hope you enjoy this episode. Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode-229

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 8 & 9! This week we got to see how the other side lives when Rin visits Kitay's home while they're on break from the term. It was fun to see another side of the city—and to catch a glimpse of the Empress! And then the new term starts in a rush. Rin is learning how to meditate and use her powers. She's on her way to being a shaman! Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 10-12! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 228! 2025 is the year of the Ghost Story. We've created a tab on the website to keep you up-to-date on our quarterly readalongs, the schedule for the year-long buddy read of THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce, and there is a downloadable Ghost Story Bingo Card; we would love for you to play along. Be sure to bookmark the page and check back for updates. On this episode we do a deep dive on Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE which is our first quarter readalong. Chris has read the novel numerous times; this was Emily's first time, and she is now a Shirley Jackson devotee. During the conversation, they mention other complimentary readings, podcasts, and film adaptations, including the biography SHIRLEY JACKSON: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin. Chris and Emily both had #CouchBiblioAdventures. Emily watched the movie Lee starring Kate Winslet about photographer Lee Miller. It reminded her of Whitney Scharer's novel THE AGE OF LIGHT. Chris watched Season One, Episode Four of ROAR: The Woman Who Found Bite Marks on Her Skin based on the book of short stories by Cecelia Ahern. Emily also attended an in-person event via RJ Julia's Booksellers in Madison, CT with Kristan Higgins in conversation with Charmaine Wilkerson and her new novel GOOD DIRT. Of course, we also talk about what we're currently reading, hope to read, upcoming jaunts, and scary neighbors, after all it is the year of the ghost story. We wish you lots of Happy Reading! Show notes for the episode: https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode228

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 6 & 7! We're finally learning about the quirky lore master—and so is Rin! Good thing, too, because without his help she wouldn't have done nearly as well in the trials. Maybe we should all start carrying pigs up a mountain. Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 8 & 9! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 227, featuring an author spotlight with Megan Marshall discussing her new collection of essays, After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart. Megan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer who turns her writerly gaze and historical imagination on her own life, her family and friends, and the “after lives” of her biographical subjects. After Lives publishes the day this episode drops–purchase your copy post-haste or request it at your library. We have been enjoying a “real” New England winter this season, which has kept us hunkered down and reading on our respective couches. The books in our Just Read segment are: A New Home, Who Will Follow? by Caroline Kirkland The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spottswood How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith by Mariann Edgar Budde My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano (release date 3/4/25) The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson (release date 3/4/25) I'll Be Right Here by Amy Bloom (release date 6/24/25) In short stories, we discuss “The Old Nurse's Story” by Elizabeth Gaskell, the first story in The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce, which we will be reading throughout 2025 for our year of reading Ghost Stories. Chris also read the ghost story The Inn by Guy De Maupassant. We did get out and about for a Biblio Adventure to the New York Society Library to see a reading of Lord Byron's Manfred by The New Relic Theatre. While there we also watched a virtual event via the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism featuring Ruth Franklin in conversation about her new book The Many Lives of Anne Frank. And we had two couch biblio adventures. Emily watched the film The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse based on the book by Charlie Mackesy, and Chris participated in the Women's Prize Book Club with Sarah Waters in conversation with Simon Savidge about her novel Fingersmith. Of course, we also talk about what we're currently reading, hope to read, upcoming jaunts, Simon & Schuster's news about book blurbs, and more. There's a whole lot of yuck in the world now, and we are grateful for good books and bookish friends. Thank you, friends, for listening and connecting with us on social media, email, or Zoom. We wish you lots of Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode227

Lindsey and Tifani discuss their overall thoughts on the Bellatrist Book Club and talk about their hiatus plans. Happy Reading!

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 4 & 5! Rin is adjusting to being a student—and she's coming up against difficult classes, difficult social situations, and puberty. Our girl is determined, knows what she wants, and is willing to sacrifice to get it. Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 6 & 7! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Tifani attempts to help Lindsey find an ebook. Happy Reading!

Today the SibNerds are talking about Chapters 1 - 3! It's a new year and a new book! We're enthralled by the way that R.F. Kuang is pulling us into this story! We weren't quite expecting so much of an academy fantasy, but we're excited to see how it unfolds. Next time we'll be discussing Chapters 4 & 5! Happy Reading!   Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Welcome to Episode 225, featuring our Top Reads of 2024 with Russell from Ink and Paper Blog. This is an annual tradition, and we've been doing this long enough that we think we know that someone else will put a particular book on their list so that we can include some other book on our own list. It came down to the wire this year for one particular book that we all loved! As much as we try to “game the system,” we still manage to talk about over 40 books in this episode. Oh well. So it goes. #booksbooksbooks We would love to know your top ten reads of 2024. If you'd like to share them, please fill out this simple Google form, which asks only for the book title and author name. We will sort through the results and share our Listener's Top Ten Reads on the next episode. Thank you so much for listening. We wish you lots of Happy Reading in 2025! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode225

Tifani and Lindsey discuss their first 12 days of the new year. Happy Reading!

Cry Baby's Social Handles: @mandynonames Blu Zaas' Social Handles: @blutifulzaas Twitter Handle: @theghettz Instagram Handle: @2theghettzwego Tap in & reach out to them via email: 2theghettzwego@gmail.com Her Blutiful Mind Instagram Handle: @herblutifulmind Support Blu and purchase her FIRST book on shelves at Politics & Prose located at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20008. All copies are signed. Happy Reading

Lindsey and Tifani talk about books they received for Christmas. Happy Reading!

Happy New Year (and Happy Reading) from The Daily Poem!Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to academic Calvinist parents, poet, author, and Native American rights activist Helen Hunt Jackson (born Helen Maria Fiske) was orphaned as a child and raised by her aunt. Jackson was sent to private schools and formed a lasting childhood friendship with Emily Dickinson. At the age of 21, Jackson married Lieutenant Edward Bissell Hunt and together they had two sons. Jackson began writing poetry only after the early deaths of her husband and both sons.Jackson published five collections of poetry, including Verses (1870) and Easter Bells (1884), as well as children's literature and travel books, often using the pseudonyms “H.H.,” “Rip van Winkle,” or “Saxe Holm.” Frequently in poor health, she moved to Colorado on her physician's recommendation and married William Sharpless Jackson there in 1875.Moved by an 1879 speech given by Chief Standing Bear, Jackson wrote A Century of Dishonor (1881), an exposé of the rampant crimes against Native Americans, which led to the founding of the Indian Rights Association. In 1884 she published Ramona, a fictionalized account of the plight of Southern California's dispossessed Mission Indians, inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.Jackson was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1985.-bio via Poetry Foundation Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

2024 Recap Book Chat Awards…Please join Kate and Sheila to see if you agree or disagree with their choices : ) Most Whimsical - ? Grittiest - ? Most Unique Format - ? Best Opening Line - ? Most Unpredictable - ? Most Intense - ? Most Impactful in Society - ? Most Creative - ? Best Leading Lady - ? Best Leading Man - ? Best Ending - ? Changed Our Lives - ? Stands the Test of Time - ? Overall Best Book - ? Quotes from The Green Ember: “All of life is a battle against fear. We fight it on one front, and it sneaks around to our flank.” “Stay on the job, son. Do the next right thing.” Have a Happy New Year dear listeners! Happy Reading : )

We are thrilled to feature Dr. Pamela D. Toler who joined us to talk about her new book, THE DRAGON FROM CHICAGO: THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN AMERICAN REPORTER IN NAZI GERMANY. In a time when women were a rarity in the field, Sigrid Schultz was a print and broadcast journalist and the Chicago Tribune's Berlin office bureau chief. She covered news from Europe and Germany from WWI through WWII and post-war years. Toler's writing is accessible, and her subject's life & work are amazing. Having read every byline that Schultz wrote, Toler was able to offer insights about how totalitarian governments gain power making this history book a must-read for those concerned about our present political climate. Before we get into our regular segments, we recap our 2024 reading intentions and talk about reading intentions for 2025. We like “intention” because it implies a direction or focus rather than a specific goal. We do, however, mention some specific titles and authors, so perhaps those could be considered goals. Anyway, the point is we don't want to tie ourselves up in knots if our reading lives take unexpected but exciting twists and turns. What are your reading intentions for the New Year? Emily read two short stories from her Hingston and Olson Advent Calendar, “In the Stacks” by Robin Sloan and “The Hookup” by Katherine Heiny. She also discusses WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS by Catherine Newman, CHECK, PLEASE! BOOK 1: #HOCKEY by Ngozi Ukazu, and LITTLE GREAT ISLAND by Kate Woodworth (not out until May). Chris shares her newfound love for an 1848 classic of Victorian Literature, THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL by Anne Brontë. She also revisits an old favorite, FINGERSMITH by Sarah Waters, which she listened to on audio. We also share two exciting reading projects hosted by listeners, what we're currently reading, (couch) Biblio Adventures, and more. Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoy this episode and wish you lots of Happy Reading!

Lindsey and Tifani discuss Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler. Happy Reading!

SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/12/cheering-on-jewish-books-hanukkah-gift.html TRANSCRIPT:  https://otter.ai/u/o0Yx3uuZxPHcUStwWsJbUa7xkmY?utm_source=copy_url  HANDOUT: https://tinyURL.com/CheeringJewishBooks  VIDEO WITH SLIDES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSBTYGDhCl4&t=2s For Hanukkah 2024, I got you a Jewish Book Advocacy Kit! Let me explain. My local public library invited me to give an online talk in honor of Jewish Book Month. As I thought about what to say, I remembered great advice from my friend, author Liza Wiemer, about all the small simple things that anyone can do to support Jewish literature - and bingo, I had my topic. Here's an edited recording of that talk I gave, with practical, actionable tips, and suggestions for Jewish books you'll love. If you'd like to see my slideshow, you can watch the same talk on YouTube. And be sure to check out this very useful presentation handout. For even more books you'll love, check out my annual unofficial Sydney Taylor Book Award shortlist to see what I think is the best Jewish kidlit of 2024! Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and Happy Reading! CREDITS: Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

Lindsey and Tifani give some non-recommendations. Happy Reading!

Lindsey and Tifani discuss their winter plans. Happy Reading!

Send us a textPlay it Again with Valerie Ellis Full Transcript can be found at www.valeriefentress.com/blogJoin Valerie Fentress as she chats with author Valerie Ellis about her children's book Share the Joy.We talk about when the Christmas Tree goes up and how to communicate joy to our kids without all the stuff of the season.Find out more about Valerie Ellis, her book, and resources that go with the book at the links below.Happy Reading!Valerie Ellis – Delighting Kids, Serving ParentsAmazon.com: Share the Joy! A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book: Keep Jesus at the Center this Advent & Holiday Season with This Rhyming Storybook about the Nativity for Children Ages 0-4: 9781640608764: Ellis, Valerie, de Giorgi, Sergio: BooksLet's discover great books together!Follow for more:FB: @bookworthypodcastInstagram: @bookworthy_podcastYouTube: BookWorthy Podcast - YouTubetiktok: @valeriefentress

Tifani declares she won't be watching the new season of VPR. Happy Reading!

Tifani and Lindsey look over this year's Goodreads Choice Awards nominees. Happy Reading!

Today the SibNerds are talking about the end of the book! This week, we're along for the ride as Tress and her unlikely crew defeat the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea! We were glad that all of pirate friends were able to have their shining moment. We also had some really satisfying confirmations of our guesses—like the identity of Huck and the inspiration from The Princess Bride and Good Omens. What a joy this book was! Our Patrons have voted on our next read along! Join us Jan 2025 as we read The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang! Happy Reading!  Twitter: @litround Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/

Tifani guesses books based on one-star reviews. Happy Reading!

We had the good fortune to talk with Marcia Clark and John Valeri about TRIAL BY AMBUSH, Marcia's first foray into the true crime genre, for which John served as her researcher. TRIAL BY AMBUSH is an investigation into the 1953 trial of Barbara Graham, a petty criminal whose life took a hard turn the night of a home burglary that ended in murder. Graham's trial was sensational, and the press coverage was a circus. Who better than famed prosecutor Marcia Clark to be the first to dig into the records to find out what really happened during the trial? Should Graham have ended up on death row? During Clark's investigation, her prosecutorial hero, J. Miller Leavy, surprisingly ends up on trial himself. Neither Chris nor Emily is a true crime reader, but we were both riveted to the pages of TRIAL BY AMBUSH and think you will be, too! Emily has been carrying on with her short story project and discusses four stories: “The Statue and the Bust” from THE COLLECTED SHORT STORIES OF SHIRLEY HAZZARD edited by Brigitta Olubas “Let the Chips Fall” by Emily Ross from the collection DEVIL'S SNARE: Best New England Crime Stories by 2024 edited by Ang Pompano, Leslie Wheeler, and Susan Oleksiw “Debris” from the collection A KIND OF MADNESS by Uche Okonkwo “Good Enough” from the collection A SMALL THING TO WANT by Shuly Cawood Chris finally finished her #Victober book, ARMADALE by Wilkie Collins, and then read two picture books, WHAT FEELING DO WHEN NO ONE'S LOOKING by Tina Oziewicz, illustrated by Aleksandra Zajac and translated by Jennifer Croft and SOMETHING, SOMEDAY by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Christian Robinson. Some other books we discuss are: THIS CURSED HOUSE by Del Sandeen SHRED SISTERS by Betsy Lerner THE NEW MENOPAUSE by Mary Claire Haver, MD WHERE THEY LAST SAW HER by Marcie R. Rendon Chris also read A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY by Brian D. Kennedy. She loved it but doesn't discuss it in detail as it's our fourth quarter readalong. To join our Zoom discussion on December 8th at 7 pm ET, please email us (bookcougars@gmail.com). The conversation is free and open to all. As always, we discuss biblio adventures we've gone on and more books than we can include here. We hope you enjoy this episode. Happy Reading!

Lindsey and Tifani discuss Touch by Courtney Maum. Happy Reading!

Lindsey and Tifani discuss how terrifying audio books really can be. Happy Reading!

Welcome to Episode 220 – It's another 10th episode, which means it's giveaway time! One lucky newsletter subscriber will win copies of The Gardener's Plot: A Mystery by Deborah J. Benoit and The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. We send one newsletter per month, and it is free. Sign up on our website, and good luck! We also announce our Patreon giveaway for November: Eight Very Bad Nights: A Collection of Hanukkah Noir edited by Tod Goldberg. John Valeri, our Mystery Man, is back! He joins us to discuss Murder in the Smithsonian by Margaret Truman, which we buddy-read. John also shares some insider information that might shock Truman fans. Since the last episode, we've read several delightful romances, an eerie ghost story, a thought-provoking multigenerational novel, and a charming picture book: Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center “Afterward: A Ghost Story for Christmas” or from the collection Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton Real Americans by Rachel Khong What Feelings Do When No One's Looking by Tina Oziewicz, illustrated by Aleksandra Zajac and translated by Jennifer Croft We also had some wonderful Biblio Adventures, including stops at Breakwater Books and Bennett's Books and a great virtual event via the North Haven Memorial Library with Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. As always, this episode has more books and adventures than we can list in this blurb. If you don't catch something while you're listening, check out the show notes on our website, where you'll find all the books and places we talk about listed, usually with links. Thank you for listening, and we wish you lots of Happy Reading!

The first of three buddy reads featuring a Stephen King book! Up first: 'Salem's Lot. Happy Reading!

Welcome to Episode 218, featuring a Playwright Spotlight with Laura Thoma about her new Christmas play, MISS MARGARET'S BARTON COTTAGE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE, coming this December to Drama Works Theatre in Old Saybrook. We made up for lost time with a slew of Biblio Adventures, starting with a discussion with James R. Benn at the Mystic & Noank Library, after which we dashed over to see the new home of Bank Square Books in Stonington, who co-hosted the event. Next was the Windham-Campbell Literary Festival at Yale in New Haven, where we bought books curbside at the Possible Futures Bookmobile. Days later, we were thrilled to attend the grand opening of Montgomery & Taggert in Chester – Connecticut's first Romance Bookstore! Lastly, we saw DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at Legacy Theatre in Stony Creek. We did some reading, too, since our last episode. Short stories via the Decameron Project: “Clinical Notes” by Liz Moore “Recognition” by Victor LaValle Novels:

We are thrilled to welcome James R. Benn, author of the Billy Boyle World War II mystery series. The nineteenth book in the series, THE PHANTOM PATROL, is out today! It's Winter 1944, and Boyle is on a mission that takes him from the beleaguered art world of Paris to the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge. Some of the novels we discuss in this episode include THE MOST by Jessica Anthony, THE GATHERING by C.J. Tudor, DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver, OUT AT THE PLATE: The Dot Wilkinson Story by Lynn Ames, and the third quarter readalong in our Year of Reading Romance, ENVY by Sandra Brown. Emily took a couple of older literary journals off her shelf and read two short stories: “The Miracle Years of Little Fork” by Rebecca Makkai in Ploughshares (Summer 2015 edition) and “Why Were They Throwing Bricks?” by Jenny Zhang in n+1 (Spring 2017). We also talk about what we are #currentlyreading, including two that are out now: A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens and, perfect for Banned Books Week: THAT LIBRARIAN: THE FIGHT AGAINST BOOK BANNING IN AMERICA by Amanda Jones. And two that are forthcoming: THE MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich (out 10/1/2024 from Harper) and JANE AUSTEN'S BOOKSHELF: A Rare Bookseller's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney (2/18/2025 from Marysue Rucci Books/Simon & Schuster). In #BiblioAdventures, Emily had a lovely visit to the New Canaan Public Library, and Chris continues to rewatch the Harry Potter movies. As always, we talk about more books and adventures than we can squeeze into this quick preview. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you do, please leave a review on iTunes or wherever you listen or tell a friend about us. Happy Reading! Emily & Chris

Today's (frequently-paired) poems form an antiphonal song between Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes on the complicated ideal of “being American.” Happy Independence Day and Happy Reading! Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe