The Books We Loved

Looking for some great gift ideas? You've come to the right place! The girls share ideas for all ages, babies to adults. In case you were walking/driving/jogging and couldn't write down the titles, the gals discussed:  When Pigs Fly: a song for dreamers, Sandra Boynton The Book of Candles: eight poems for Hanukkah Laurel Snyder, illus. by Leanne Hatch The 13th Day of Christmas, Adam Rex Once Upon a Kwanzaa, Nyasha Williams The Amazing Generation, Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price The Stolen Songbird Judith Eagle Brownstone, Samuel Teer and Mar Julia This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir, Zarna Garg The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, Emma Knight  Turning to Birds: the power and beauty of noticing, Lili Taylor Lifeform, Jenny Slate The Third Gilmore Girl: a memoir, Kelly Bishop

Today the gals dig into Agatha Christie's novel, The Body in the Library--the second book to feature beloved sleuth extraordinaire, Ms. Marple! 

Today's quick episode is in response to a request from our listener, Eliza. Don't forget, if you would like us to give you recommendations, shoot us an email at: podcast@troypl.org If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving, by Chris Newell, illustrated by Winona Nelson Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story, written by indigenous authors: Danielle Greendeer (Mashpee Wampanoag), Anthony Perry (Chickasaw), Alexis Bunten (Unangan/Yup'ik), and illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe) Thank You, Sarah: the woman who saved Thanksgiving, by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner Balloons over Broadway: the inspiring true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, written and illustrated by Melissa Stewart Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, by Chris Barton, illustrated by Don Tate Dancing Through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison soars to new heights, by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud Saving American Beach: the biography of African American environmentalist MaVynee Betsch, by Heidi Tyline King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa, by Caroline McAllister illustrated by Jamie Green Kahoʻolawe : the true story of an island and her people, by Kamalani Hurley, illustrated by Harinani Orme Fairytales/Folktales native to a culture!

Fellow TPL staffer, Kit, will be joining the girls today to discuss Alison Bechdel's, Fun Home: a family tragicomic, a graphic memoir. 

In honor of Halloween, the gals are joined by Director, Emily Dumas, to discuss 1999's The Mummy starring Brendan Frasier and Rachel Weiss. Enjoy this spoooooky episode!

Whether you're a Swiftie or not, Olivia and Manda will provide you with loads of great book recommendations inspired by each of Taylor Swift's albums. So get your Swiftie swag on, and hunker down for an episode that will give you all the good vibes. 

Be prerpared to learn about beauty standards, Adirondak chairs, and more, as the gals discuss John Green's newest nonfic title, Everything is Tuberculosis, with Keegan from Youth Services.

Join Olivia and Manda as they go through some of their fall favorites, titles that will get you ready for shorter days and longer nights! 

A cozy mystery, safe enough for your Gran;  WWII-era Alan Gratz; Kate Beaton for all ages--today's show has something for everybody! Buckle up Buttercups, because the gals are here to share loads of book recs! 

Today Olivia and Manda tackle Willa Cather's, My Antonia, a story set in the American Midwest during the late 19th/early 20th century. This book was the final installment of our summer 2025 book club; if you missed the other books covered, go back and listen to: Summer Book Club: The Joy Luck Club Summer Book Club: The Color Purple   

Cassie (from the Adult Dept.) joins Olivia and Manda today for a discussion of books that take place at boarding schools. Many of the books discussed appear on this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/boarding-school 

The ladies are joined by TPL Director, Emily Dumas, to share some great back-to-school picture books. As promised in the episode: Chrysanthemum, Kevin Henkes Wemberly Worried, Kevin Henkes The Invisible Boy, Ludwig Each Kindness, Woodson On the Day You Begin, Woodson The Pigeon Must Go to School, Mo Willems Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, Vernick We Don't Eat our Classmates, Higgins If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School — DON'T!, Parsley Fish Don't Go to School, Pilutti Yeti is Not Ready for School, Carter Kitty vs. Kindergarten, Freeman

Today Olivia and Manda tackle Amy Tan's, The Joy Luck Club, a story focusing on themes of mothers and daughters, the immigrant experience, and hope. Don't forget to read Willa Cather's, My Antonia, in preparation for next month's final installment of TBWL's Summer Reading series! 

Olivia and Manda are joined by Hannah (from Community Engagement), for a rousing conversation about nonfiction books that are so fascinating that they read like fiction. Books chatted about today include: Stiff: the Curious Life of Human Cadavers, Mary Roach Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist, Jasmin Graham Soul of an Octopus, Sy Montgomery Unbroken: a World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption, Laura Hillenbrand Nobody Will Tell You This But Me, Bess Kalb Lab Girl, Hope Jahren Good Talk, Mira Jacob Fun Home, Alison Bechdel  Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi The Devil in the White City, Eric Larson The Poisoner's Handbook, Deborah Blum The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot

Today Manda and Karen (from Adult Services) discuss Lois Duncan's 1970s teen thriller, and the 1997 movie adaptation, of I Know What You Did Last Summer. This episode might have you looking over your shoulder, or into the trunk of your car...

Join Olivia and Manda as they celebrate the beloved classic movie, Back to the Future, in honor of it's 40th anniversary this summer. 

Today Olivia and Manda share their favorite books featuring exotic (or not too far flung) locales. We'll spin the globe, and where it stops, nobody knows!

Olivia and Manda are joined by repeat guest, Angie, for a robust discussion of Alice Walker's The Color Purple, as part of the podcast's Summer Reading series. Be sure to read or listen to, The Joy Luck Club, in preparation for July's Summer Reading title! 

We sit down with author Kayla Ancrum to ask her about her writing, her life, and her writing life.  Learn more about Kayla and her most recent book, The Corruption of Hollis Brown, by visiting her website.    K. Ancrum, is an author of award winning contemporary YA notably THE WICKER KING, DARLING and the critically acclaimed ICARUS. K. is a Chicago native passionate about diversity and representation in young adult fiction. She currently writes most of her work in the lush gardens of the Chicago Art Institute.

Today the ladies talk about beloved author, and honorary Midwesterner, John Green! They'll discuss his books, especially Looking for Alaska (no spoilers!)--as it turns 20 y.o.--and his cultural impact.