Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast

This week Jenny recommends Ashley Elston's Anatomy of an Alibi , a precisely written thriller told from the perspective of two women entangled in the fallout of a murder. Check out Ashley Elston's Anatomy of an Alibi  from the Library. Additional titles mentioned in this episode: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera The Night Shift by Alex Finlay The Last Mrs. Parrish...

This week Marianne recommends Ashley Winstead's The Future Saints , a novel following Hannah Cortland and her band The Future Saints after the sudden passing of her sister and band manager, Ginny. Check out  Ashley Winstead's The Future Saints  from the Library. Additional titles mentioned in this episode: Daisy Jones & the Six  by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer...

This week Hannah recommends Emily Austin's Is This A Cry For Help? , a novel following Darcy, a rule-bound librarian who returns to work after a mental breakdown. Check out Emily Austin's Is This A Cry For Help?  from the Library. Additional titles mentioned in this episode: Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly Getting Clean with Stevie Green by Swan Huntley

In this episode of the "Local Genealogists Speak" podcast series, George, a local genealogist, shares about ancestral travel, archival research, genealogy books, and more. He also shares about his favorite part of U.S. history in honor of America250, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of Declaration of Independence. The "Local Genealogists Speak" podcast series is an opportunity...

This week Hannah recommends Olivia Laing's The Silver Book , a gripping love story and thriller steeped in the vibrant world of 1970s Italian cinema. Check out Olivia Laing's The Silver Book from the Library.

Readers' Advisor Hannah shares three 2025 titles to enjoy during the holidays. Titles mentioned in this episode: The Gingerbread Bakery (Dream Harbor, #5)   by Laurie Gilmore A Case of Life and Limb: The Trials of Gabriel Ward by Sally Smith Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

This week Hannah recommends Bryan Washington's Palaver , the story of an expat who faces a surprise visit from his estranged mother. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Tokyo during the holiday season, this tender novel explores fractured family ties, found connections, and the quiet longing to be known and loved. Check out Bryan Washington's "Palaver" from the Library.

How might our ancestors have connected with their ancestors? Join Daniel Smith as he explores the possibilities and their connections to genealogy! In the middle of the nineteenth century, a movement known as Spiritualism captured the attention of millions, with large groupings in the Northeast and Midwest. This movement was predominantly led by women, and it gave them a voice to fight for progres...

Join Daniel Smith, Genealogy Librarian, as he explores the connections between seeds and our immigrant ancestors. You may be surprised to learn that many immigrants brought seeds with them to America. These seeds were so valuable that they sometimes went to great lengths to hide them. They were then able to grow these seeds once they settled, and they used what they grew to recreate foods from the...

Join Daniel Smith, Genealogy Librarian, as he explores the connections between seeds and genealogy. You may be surprised what you can learn about your family's history from seeds! During the episode, Daniel shares what he has learned about his ancestors from the seeds his family kept, the records available, and the food prepared. He also gives a sneak peek at the next episode. 

Becky and Nate are back for the 10th year in a row to discuss this Sunday's 97th Academy Awards cermony. Listen and discover the films of 2024 - the movies getting all the buzz, must-see performances, filmmakers to know, overrated disappointments, and the overlooked films that you don't want to miss. Remember, if you add a lot of movies to your watchlist the Library is here to help you find them!

Meet Allie, the newest Reference Librarian at Cook Memorial Public Library District! She and Hannah discuss recent reads, the neverending debate between hardcover versus paperback, and how Allie got into the library business.  Titles Referenced:  Martina Calvi's The Art of Memory Collecting ;  Molly Baz's More is More ;  Franz Kafka's The Trial ;  Helen MacDonald and Sin Blanché's Prophet ;  Isabe...

In this episode, Amy and Leah talk about authors who cross genres, topics, and age groups -- and why the change can be great for readers. Authors mentioned in this episode:  Madeleine L'Engle Judy Blume Holly Black Brandon Sanderson Elizabeth Acevedo Leigh Bardugo Nicola Yoon Ali Hazelwood Click here to register for the Fall Book Buzz. Click here to learn more about our new Silent Book Club. For a...

Readers' Advisors Hannah and Marianne share their thoughts about all things historical fiction. Titles mentioned in this episode: George Orwell - 1984 Isabel Banta - Honey The Sicilian Inheritance - Jo Piazza All the Colors of the Dark - Chris Whitaker Wild and Distant Seas - Tara Karr Roberts The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang James - Percival Everett Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain Th...

Book Club Associate Amy and Readers' Advisor Marianne share titles guaranteed to get your book club talking. Titles mentioned in this episode:   T h i s T e n d e r L a n d , William Kent Krueger   James , Percival Everett The  Lincoln Highwa y and T a ble for Two , Amor Towles Hamnet , Maggie O'Farrell The Diamond Eye , Kate Quinn Solito , Javier Zamora Chain - Gang All-Stars , Nana Kwame Adjei-...

Erica and Brooke, one of the Library's Maintenance staff, talk about two new historical fiction titles and what we can learn from them. Titles and authors mentioned in this episode: The Women by Kristen Hannah Cahokia Jazz   by Francis Spufford China Beach (TV Series) Lou Berney S.A. Cosby Dwyer Murphy The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon For a personalized list of reading suggestions,...

Erica and Bronwyn, the Library's Communications Coordinator, talk about the romantasy series that has taken over the internet: Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses , the RenFaire, and how books are better with friends. Titles mentioned in this episode: A Court of Thorns and Roses  by Sarah J. Maas The Crescent City Series  by Sarah J. Maas Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo A Game of Thrones...

For the 9th year in a row librarians Becky and Nate discuss last night's Academy Awards ceremony and celebrate the year in film. Listen and discover the highlights - the movies recognized by the Academy and the movies that were overlooked but not to be missed. Then find out how your library card is the ultimate ticket to the movies.

Readers' Advisors Erica and Amy share three recent books that bring their worlds -- a tense near-future, a legendary past, and present-day America - to life in vivid and unexpected ways. Books featured in this episode: Prophet Song by Paul Lynch The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris Click here to register for th...

Erica and Marianne are sticking to their reading resolutions by digging into great historical fiction featuring real-life banditos and midwives. Then, Marianne gives us the inside scoop on this year's One Book, One Community series. Titles discussed in this episode: The Bullet Swallower , by Elizabeth Gonzalez James The Frozen River , by Ariel Lawhon The Violin Conspiracy , by Brendan Slocumb For...

Erica and Hannah talk about the top titles of the year, our annual Staff Favorites booklets, and the books they can't wait to read in 2024. Thanks for a great year of reading and listening! For a copy of our Favorite Fiction and Nonfiction booklets, stop by Cook Park or Aspen Drive Library, or visit our website . Titles discussed in this episode: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride I...

Enjoy part two of Celebrity Spotting, where local history librarian Jenny Barry guides us through a few notable people who made historical appearances in Libertyville. We pick up right where  part one left off! Mentioned in the Podcast Watch John F. Kennedy's 1960 Cook Park speech John F. Kennedy's Libertyville campaign stop in the Illinois Digital Archives Local History page  

Erica and Amy, our new book club associate, share the titles they've been enjoying lately, ranging from a suspenseful family drama to a sublimely ridiculous charmer (and the best cover of 2023). Books discussed in this episode: The Leftover Woman , Jean Kwok Night Watch , Jayne Anne Phillips The Dictionary People , Sarah Ogilvie The Wishing Game , Meg Shaffer Starter Villain , John Scalzi For more...

Say hello (again) to the latest addition to our Popular Services staff, Mary! Hannah and Mary discuss Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the best parts of gothic literature (spoiler: it's the house) and what makes a good book good. Check out the books mentioned in this podcast episode: Jane Eyre  / Charlotte Brontë. Mexican Gothic /  Silvia Moreno-Garcia . Silver Nitrate / Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The Devil's Pla...

Erica and Zach, one of our Outreach Associates, talk about home delivery, great characters, graphic novels, and a suprisingly cozy spot.  For more information about our Outreach services, including Home Delivery, visit https://www.cooklib.org/bookmobile-outreach/ For the Fall Book Buzz, click here . Books discussed in this episode: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell Mortal Follies by Alexis...