Book Lounge by Libby

On today's episode, Jill and Adam dish out some recommendations for the first of the Professional Book Nerds 2020 Reading Challenge... Microhistories! Books mentioned in this episode: Timekeepers by Simon Garfield The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck Tree by David Suzuki & Wayne Grady Bourbon Empire by Reid Mitenbuler Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson Drink by Iain G...

On today's episode, Adam interviews Layla Saad, bestselling author, podcaster, and influencer in the world of social change, race, identity, and leadership. Layla's Instagram challenge #MeAndWhiteSupremacy became a global phenomenon and then a workbook before becoming an instant New York Times bestseller. They dive into how this novel came to be, communicating about race and so much more. Books me...

On today's episode, Adam interviews Pat Simmons, the Together We Read digital book club selected author about her latest novel, Lean on Me. Pat has written 30+ novels and her latest is available to U.S. library cardholders with no waitlists or holds on Libby.  Adam and Pat talk about the life of a caregiver, trying to care for parents who are sick, and take a deep dive into genealogy! Learn more a...

On today's episode, Adam chats with debut YA author Phil Stamper! They discuss his brand new novel, The Gravity of Us, writing aspects of himself into his characters, his Twitter friendship with other YA authors, working in publishing, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Without Clementine Churchill the history of Winston Churchill and the history of the world would have been a very different story." We've lost count of how many times we've nerded out with Marie Benedict but it doesn't matter because each time is something new and amazing. Today, we're discussing her latest work, Lady Clementine!    Books mentioned in this episode Lady Clementine by Marie Benedic...

On today's episode, Adam interviews debut author Adalyn Grace! They discuss her amazing young adult fantasy, All the Stars and Teeth, how she wrote this story so quickly, her internship at Nickelodeon, and so much more. Before the interview, Adam is joined by Andrea to offer up some additional reading recommendations.  Books mentioned in this episode All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace Save th...

February is almost here, which means it's time for Jill and Adam to share the books they are most looking forward to this month. (BONUS it's a Leap Year which means you have an entire extra day to read!) Books mentioned in this episode: Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah The Resisters by Gish Jen Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel Mallory Ortberg Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin...

On today's episode, Adam sits down with Ryan La Sala in Philadelphia to discuss his sprawling fantasy novel Reverie, the vividness of his dreams, and how Ryan became the best person on Twitter. This was a BLAST. Today's episode is sponsored by INDEED.COM. Post your job today at Indeed.com slash BOOKNERDS and get a free sponsored job upgrade on your first posting. Learn more about your ad choices....

Have you ever had a moment in time that felt like a dream even while it was happening? That's how we felt getting to interview Lois Lowry for a full hour. We chat AT LENGTH about the stories behind The Giver, Number the Stars, and her stunning upcoming book On the Horizon as well as several of her favorite stories from a lifetime of literature. I don't know what else to say... she's a living legen...

On today's episode, Adam interviews legendary journalist and author Scott Simon about his new books Sunnyside Plaza. The book is all about his time working with people who had developmental disabilities and how seeing the world through a different lens. They also discuss baseball, writing for children, and much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, we're joined by author Joseph Sieracki (and his wife Andrea whose voice you may recognize!)  Joseph has written a stunning graphic novel titled A Letter to Jo based on his grandfather's experience in World War II. The story itself is heartwrenching and this conversation is loaded with not only the research Joseph did but also incredible detail about how much goes into creating...

On today's episode, Jill and Adam interview Andrea Barber, who is best known for her iconic character Kimmy Gibbler on Full House and Fuller House. Andrea has written a memoir titled Full Circle all about her life in between her time in Hollywood. She discusses her struggle to keep her mental health balanced, how running helped, and shares some wonderful insight into the shows we've literally grow...

We've entered the 2020s so we thought it'd be fun to take a look at some wonderful books set a hundred years ago in the famed Roaring 20s. We're talking flapper girls, prohibition New York, Old Hollywood, lost libraries, and so much more! Books mentioned in this episode The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susan...

Hey Nerds! On today's wide-ranging episode, Penny Reid returns to tell us what she's been up to and it turns out... it's a lot! We discuss the multiple books she released in 2019, the exciting new projects she has coming in 2020, and her experiences making cheese, hanging out with wolves, and doing yoga with goats. We also chat about prison libraries, Adam running a half marathon with his Pops, an...

It's a new month, a new year, and a new decade! The passage of time doesn't stop and so neither will our book recommendations. Check out the books we're most excited about that are coming out in January. Books mentioned in this episode American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict The Truants b...

On today's episode, Adam interviews Jon Scieszka and Steven-Weinberg about their new children's book series ASTRONUTS! They chat about creating this unique and incredible story together while Adam asks about working with family (Jon is Steven's father-in-law). Adam then has to ask about The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

The end of the year means it's time to look back on the best books of 2019! As a bonus, we also share our selections for the best books of the entire decade!   Books mentioned in this episode:   The 10 Best Books of 2019 The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner The World That We Knew by Alic...

We're excited to share our brand new 2020 reading challenge! In this episode, we explain each of the following challenges in depth. Be sure to subscribe to hear upcoming episodes loaded with recommendations.  You can find the form to fill out at professionalbooknerds.com or on our pinned tweet over at @ProBookNerds on Twitter. Be sure to share your progress using the hashtag #PBNread2020 The Profe...

We brought our good friend Robin Whitten from Audiofile Magazine on to run through their (and our) selections for the best audiobooks of 2019. Take a listen! The Best Audiobooks of 2019 Akin by Emma Donoghue, narrated by Jason Culp   Full Throttle by Joe Hill, narrated by Zachary Quinto, Wil Wheaton, Kate Mulgrew, Neil Gaiman, Ashleigh Cummings, Joe Hill, Laysla De Oliveira, Nate Corddry, Connor J...

On today's episode, Adam is joined by bestselling author Katharine McGee! They chat about her transitioning from Science Fiction to writing romantic comedies with her new, phenomenal book American Royals. They also discuss Katharine's love of intricate period piece shows, share thoughts on His Dark Materials, and, of course, chat about Les Mis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

It is not an understatement to say that Steve Potash is the reason we are able to do this podcast. Steve is the founder and creator of Rakuten OverDrive as well as one of the main reasons digital library reading is such a prevalent part of our lives. Each day, we come to work at the OverDrive office excitement to help create a world enlightened by reading and it all starts with Steve's energy and...

On today's episode, Adam interviews Maaza Mengiste about her new novel, The Shadow King. This book tells the story of Mussolini's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia and how it changed lives forever on both sides. Maaza shares the incredible true story of her ancestor who fought for her right to join the Ethiopian army to defend her home, the paths her research led her down, and so much more.    This episod...

On today's episode, Adam interviews Kate Racculia, author of the award-winning Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts. They chat about Edgar Allan Poe, Kate's many exceptional past jobs, her experience working in a library and so much more wonderful nerdery. Take a listen!   This episode is sponsored by https://literatibooks.com/. Use our promo code PROBOOKNERDS for $20 off your first box of teacher-curat...

On today's episode, Adam and Jill sit down with local authors Barbara and Teeba Furat Marlowe. Their book, A Brave Face, tells the incredible true story of how two families from halfway around the world became forever connected, turning a tragedy into a heartwarming story of perseverance, faith, and hope.  This episode is sponsored by https://scandigital.com/. Use our promo code BOOKNERDS for 50%...

Jill is here with the biggest books of December the Professional Book Nerds can't wait to read! Children of Virtue and Vengence by Tomi Adeyemi Good Girls Lie by JT Ellison Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeer Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra Disney's Land by Richard Snow The Dead Girl's Club by Damien Angelica Walters The Book of Science and Antiquities by Thomas Keneally The Sacrament by Olaf Olaffson...