Everyone Loved It But Me

In this podcast, Lisa offers an analysis of beloved books. In today’s Book Bits episode, Lisa discusses three celebrity memoirs: One she loved, one she chose not to read and one she’s looking forward to next year. Lisa listened to the Celebrity Memoir Book Club Podcast as research for this show.   Z-Library was shut down last week by the government and Lisa talks about why this is crushing college...

Lisa and Pam Bice discuss Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Pam is a middle school teacher in Central Ohio.  Gone Girl is a super popular book and received many accolades from The New York Times . It’s been ten years since the book was published and spawned the “Gone Girl Effect,” according to The Ringer .  Flynn also says it’s not a question of when but if regarding a sequel in a People Magazine .   Go...

During the pandemic, many book clubs struggled to get together and even today many book clubs have had challenges to meet up again. Lisa offers strategies for new book clubs, and existing clubs on how to meet consistently.   Some tips Lisa suggests are setting a specific date and time for the book club. Organizing the books ahead of time is also a huge help.    Books Mentioned:  Frankenstein by Ma...

Lisa and Tara Wine-Queen discuss The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The book was published in 1988 and has sold more than 150 million copies internationally and received hundreds of awards, and is considered a classic. Coelho has a very interesting biography where he walked hundreds of miles. This article delves into the symbolism , and its’ quotes are heavily used as inspirational.     Tara Wine-Quee...

Bookstore owner Laura Larson talks with Lisa about what it was like opening her bookstore amid the pandemic in March 2020. Laura officially opened the doors to the public of Odyssey Bookstore in the summer of 2020. The store focuses on sustainability and is nestled in a darling spot in Ithaca, New York. You can follow the bookstore on Facebook or Instagram .  Books Discussed on the show:  ·     · ...

Lisa and bookstore owner Laura Larson discuss The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. This is a book that addresses suicide and mental health issues. NPR wrote this article tiled “It’s Not Quite Dark Enough in the Midnight Library.”   Laura opened Odyssey Bookstore in March 2020. The store focuses on sustainability and is nestled in a darling spot in Ithaca, New York. You can follow the bookstore on Fa...

This is the 2022 fall preview for Everyone Loved It But Me. Lisa discusses books she’ll be talking about this fall and she also shares some books that are on her wish list to discuss.    Midnight Library by Matt Haig The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn The Help by Kathryn Stockett  Also Discussed:  Verity by Colleen Hoover The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune The Goldfinc...

 Banned Books Week starts Sept. 18, to Sept. 24 Publisher's Weekly describes how more books than in recent years are being banned and contested now. Banned Books Week was first launched 40 years ago. In 2021, it was the highest number of books challenged since the American Library Association began tracking books challenged. This article highlights how schools are under pressure.    This CNN...

Lisa talks about her book blunder with The Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, a book she read without knowing it’s considered a sequel to The Glass Hotel .  Some reviewers say it’s not a full sequel and others say readers will have a better experience reading The Glass Hotel first. Readers should consider reading Station Eleven .  This article from Wired delves into similar themes of Sea...

Lisa discusses a new release and very popular book, This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. This episode is spoiler free. She shares three things she likes about the book and three things she doesn’t like.  The Wall Street Journal calls the novel “wonderfully observed” and highlights the father and daughter relationship. The Boston Globe writes about how the book allows you to think about what it would...

This week, Lisa discusses, The Lost Apothecary a debut novel by Sarah Penner.  This episode is spoiler free. This is Penner's debut novel.   The book is about an 18th Century Apothecary, Nella, who sells poisons to women seeking to kill men. She has two rules: The poison must never be used to harm another woman and the names of the murderer, and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s...

 This is a podcast where Lisa analyzes literature and discusses several bookish topics. This week, Lisa released a Book Bits episode about Barnes & Noble's new policy regarding its effort to reduce the types of new books they’re selling.   Authors have posted online, including Kelly Yang , author of the Front Porch Desk series, along with author Kalynn Bayron who is releasing a new book t...

  This podcast provides analysis on books and bookish news, and today Lisa discusses her visit to the main New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.    The public library was opened on May 23, 1911, and is an impressive building and worth a visit. When you first walk up to the library, you’ll see the two iconic lions and can read a few fantastic stories about them.   Lisa also had...

This podcast provides analysis on books and bookish news and today, Lisa discusses the antitrust trial happening in August 2022 with the U.S. Government against Penguin Random House. This is part two of the discussion of this high-stakes publishing trial.   In the fall of 2020, Penguin Random House announced it was spending $2.18 billion to purchase competitor Simon & Schuster. The U.S. govern...

This podcast provides analysis on books and bookish news, and today Lisa discusses the antitrust trial happening in August 2022 with the U.S. Government against Penguin Random House.   In the fall of 2022, Penguin Random House announced it was spending $2.18 billion to purchase competitor Simon & Schuster. The U.S. government has sued Penguin Random House, arguing that this deal means fewer au...

Lisa highlights her favorite books so far that she has read in 2022 and the books that have disappointed her this year. Some of these books were published in 2022 and some were published earlier.  ·      The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka: this was written in 2022  ·      The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan    ·    Yinka, Where is your Huzband? By Lizzie Damilola Blackburn  ·      In Pursuit o...

In this episode, Lisa shares her own “Everyone Loved It But Me” book. She discusses her challenges reading the popular book, The Christie Affair by Nina De Gramont.   This book, just released in 2022, has been extremely popular because it tries to solve the only Agatha Christie mystery that remains unsolved. For 11 days, in December 1926, Christie was missing and her car was found abandoned miles...

 In this Part 2 episode of Where The Crawdads Sing , Lisa, and her guest Jennifer Byrd have an insightful conversation delving into the book's second part. There will be significant spoilers for the book.  Lisa is releasing this revisited episode on July 13, 2022 - the day the movie of Where the Crawdads Sing will be released.  Lisa and Jennifer discussed 2019 piece in Slate , titled “The Dar...

  In this revisited episode Part 1 episode of Where The Crawdads Sing Lisa and her guest Jennifer Byrd have an insightful conversation about social isolation and abandonment. There will be spoilers for the book. The discussion delves into the beautiful lyrical writing about the swamp but also contrasts the limited descriptions of the characters.  During the discussion, they mention, The Boy Who Wa...

In this Book Bits Episode, Lisa discusses the ways libraries have been attacked during Pride Month. Libraries’ funding has been threatened and libraries have been victims of hate crimes.    Book Riot addresses a wide range of attacks on libraries during Pride month.   ·      A Maryland Librarian arrested for spray-painting groomer on two libraries, according to numerous publications including nume...

 Lisa discusses some of the library books that have been out for the longest amount of time and were returned dozens or even hundreds of years later.   Here’s an article listing many over-due books returned dozens of years late.  The New York Times writes that the New York Public Library has gotten more than 21,000 lost books have been returned to Manhattan and the Bronx.   1.     George Washingto...

  Lisa and Todd McElwee, associate publisher of the USAE, a newspaper of record for meetings and associations industry, talk about his new book.  Todd recently published a children’s book about when he became suddenly ill and how it impacted his family. The book delves into the journey his family went through to help him get better. It is narrated by his daughter: Mission: Get Daddy Better .  Book...

 Lisa offers up a Book Bits episode focused on controversy surrounding Pizza Hut’s popular reading program. She also discusses a new app that is designed to help you discover an array of books you might enjoy.     CAMP BOOK IT! Is the longstanding reading program through Pizza Hut, which launched in 1984. When a child reaches their goal, they’ll get a coupon for a Personal Pan Pizza in the mail. ...

 Lisa and Todd McElwee, associate publisher of the USAE, a newspaper of record for meetings and associations industry, discuss The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. This is a dark book and spoilers are included in this discussion. It’s a mature discussion that delves into rape and murder.   Todd recently published a children’s book based on his personal story narrated by his daughter:...

 Lisa offers up a Book Bits episode about unique summer reading programs. An article from  Book Riot highlights programs.  Reading programs to consider: ·       Your Library ·      CAMP BOOK IT! When a child reaches their goal, they’ll get a coupon for a Personal Pan Pizza. ·          Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program . ·      Applebee's Bookworm Reading Challenge   ·      Scholastic Su...