Quick Picks

**We apologize for the poor audio quality of this episode** So many of the books we've read all our lives were written in another language and translated into English. Tana and I talk about some of the ones we've read recently that we've enjoyed. Discussed: Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, (Japanese) by Toshikazu Kagawuchi Full Moon Coffee Shop series, (Japanese) by Mai Mochizuki Ol...

This episode I'm joined by my friend, Michelle Habrych, to talk about a wide variety of moms, as depicted in books. Discussed: Darling Girls, by Sally Hepworth The Mother-In-Law, by Sally Hepworth Becoming Madam Secretary, by Stephanie Dray The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?, by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett Class...

Though there are so many sub-genres of fantasy and science fiction, and so many formats to enjoy, Nick joins me to talk about some of our favorite books, movies, and video games. Discussed: Song of Ice and Fire, by George RR Martin Roadside Picnic, by Arkady Strugatsky Pacific Drive (video game) Dead Silence, by SA Barnes Circe, by Madeline Miller Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller God of War (v...

Tana saves the day with her vast knowledge of all the Oscar nominations for Best Motion Picture and shares her predictions and favorites. Discussed: American Fiction Anatomy of a Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer Past Lives Poor Things Zone of Interest

The surest way to give books free publicity and promotion is to point fingers at them and attempt to ban them. Often those books are so valuable, enlightening, and great for forging connections, that depriving certain people of the ability to experience them is a hot topic. Nick Rodriguez, our Teen Librarian, is starting a Banned Book Club at our local high school and he joins me to talk about pot...

Every episode of Quick Picks is essentially a list of stuff we recommend, but the list of our favorite books at the end of the year is the episode Tana and I look forward to the most. Below are the books we discussed and a list of the books others at the library thought were the best. Discussed: Calling for a Blanket Dance, by Oscar Hokeah Horse, by Geraldine Brooks All the Sinners Bleed, by S.A....

Not all holiday movies need to be squeaky clean kids' stuff. There's a lot out there for adults as well and Nick Rodriguez joins me to discuss some of our favorite off-beat holiday favorites. Discussed: Elf Nightmare Before Christmas Christmas Story Bad Santa Krampus Black Christmas The Ref Home Alone Bad Moms Christmas A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas Christmas With the Kranks Love Actua...

Despite the strikes in the entertainment industry, there are still a lot of great shows to watch on TV this fall, and Tana has joined me to talk about some of our favorites that might become yours as well. Discussed: After Party Shrinking Lincoln Lawyer The Diplomat Loki Successor Righteous Gemstones Discovery of Witches Only Murders in the Building Three Pines Jack Ryan Reacher Good Omens All the...

Tana and I have some spooky, creepy, gory, and frightening books for this spooky season for you, almost all of them new releases. The Vampires of El Norte, by Isabel Cañas The Hacienda, by Isabel Cañas Murder Road, by Simone St. James Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, by Grady Hendrix How to Sell a Haunted House, by Grady Hendrix Spite House, by Johnny Compton My Heart is a Chain...

Loss and dealing with it is a life lesson we learn early on, and it can come up in so many different ways, with us all dealing with it in different ways. Michelle joins me today to talk about some books that were meaningful to us and imparted empathy for characters going through losing someone they love. These are not just books that address grief. There are so many stories and so many characters,...

Tana is back and we share our favorites from this summer Books: Hello Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano The Bookbinder, by Pip Williams The Celebrants, by Steven Rowley Queen Hereafter, by Isobel Schuler Monstrilio, by Gerardo Sámano Córdova The Anomaly, by Hervé Le Tellier TV: The Lincoln Lawyer Movies: Oppenheimer Mission Impossible

Summer reads are a favorite theme of mine and I am always looking for fun books that fall into this category, so I'm sharing my recommendations with you with the hopes that you might also find some good ones. Literary Fiction: Keeper of Lost Things, by Ruth Hogan Return to Valleto, by Dominic Smith The Librarianist, by Patrick deWitt The Guncle, by Steven Rowley Cozies: The Little Old Lady Who...

Nick joins us again this time to talk about the three most recent books he's discussed with his book club from March to May, and a sneak preview of upcoming books to be read and discussed over the summer. Discussed: You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty , by Akwaeke Emez The Lost Apothecary , by Sarah Penner Once There Were Wolves , by Charlotte McConaghy Upcoming: Pineapple Street, by Jen...

Tana is back to discuss some of our favorite memoirs by folks who are not celebrities, who have, arguably better stories to tell. Discussed: The Girl Who Smiled Beads, by Clemantine Wamariya I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet, by Shauna Niequist Almost American Girl, by Robin Ha We Ate Wonder Bread, by Nicole Hollander I'm Still Alive, by Roberto Saviano Poppies of Iraq, by Bridgitte Finda...

Discussed: Movies One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Rainman What's Eating Gilbert Grape? Forrest Gump Girl, Interrupted The Other Sister Snow Cake Silver Linings Playbook Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Still Alice Please Stand By The Accountant Perks of Being a Wallflower TV Shows Big Bang Theory The Good Doctor As We See It Nanette Books 10 Steps to Nanette, by Hannah Gadsby The Reason I Jump,...

Unlike me, Tana is a big movie-watcher and she's joining me this episode to discuss all the movies nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, and we'll also discuss a few others in other categories or nominees for other major awards. Oscar: Best Picture All Quiet on the Western Front Avatar: The Way of Water The Banshees of Inisherin Elvis Everything Everywhere All at Once The Fabelmans Top...

For Valentine's Day, Tana and I are happily talking about some of our favorite books with our favorite dogs, because the love of a dog is the purest love there is. We focus on modern books but pull from fiction, nonfiction, romance, memoirs, and children's books, and we will let you know if the dog dies. If ever in question and you need to know before committing to something, you can check www.doe...

With the end of the year, in every area of entertainment, you can find lists of the best, and between reading everyone else's lists, Tana and I compiled our own book lists and we're happy to share with the hopes you might also find something to love. Tana's List: The Winners, Fredrik Backman Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus Cover Story, Susan Rigetti...

At my library, Nick has an Adult Popular Fiction book discussion group and he joins me today to discuss the more recent books they've read. I'd like to apologize for some of the audio glitches that occurred while Nick spoke -- we had hours of technical difficulties and at the end, I accepted whatever I could get. Discussed: Joan is Okay, by Weike Wang Last Night at the Lobster, by Stewart O'Nan Se...

A lot of popular series have a new book that either just came out or is coming soon and Tana joins me to discuss our recent favorites. Discussed: The Mason Series: The Confession Club, by Elizabeth Berg The Jaipur Trilogy: The Perfumist of Paris, by Alka Joshi Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series: Before Your Memory Fades, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Finlay Donovan Series: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, b...

When I was thinking of an episode that I could do about scary material, I didn't want to repeat last year so I thought, what scares me most? And to that, it's always been human monsters, the ones who kill other humans. So for October, I have a list of shows, podcasts, and books for all of you interested in... MURDER! Discussed: Streaming Mindhunter (Netflix) Unbelievable (Netflix) Under the Benner...

The phrase "of a certain age" is so emblematic of the vague way we describe women in midlife and beyond because they seem to become more and more invisible as they age, and as I'm venturing through this precarious stage in life, I'm looking for more female characters I can relate to, who are not tied to hearth and home as their identity. I've had a few in my head for this episode for a while, but...

I don't know what it is about summer that makes me want to read only fun books but I know I'm not alone. Whether it's a good thriller, a visit to a French graveyard, a safari, or a humorous letter to a man's son about life, we have a bunch of books that you can devour in a warm afternoon by the pool or on a road trip while there's still time. Buckle up, we've got some doozies. Discussed:  The...

What better time to talk about patriotism and what it's like to be an American than Independence Day? And no matter how you feel about events going on in the country right now, you know deep down you have love and a pride in the idea of America, what it is, and what it could be with some work. Here are books that epitomize American life throughout history, the good and the bad. Discussed: Killers...

Happy Pride Month! We have a number of Pride-related programs going on at our library this month and in addition, Tana and I have lots of books to recommend from authors who identify as LGBTQ+ or have main characters who do. We hope there is something for everyone on our list.  Discussed: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, by Mariko Tamaki Check, Please! (series), by Ngozi Ukazu The Prince...