Professional Book Nerds

Today’s episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. To get a free month of access to their incredible online courses just visit:  https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/probooknerds   On this episode, Adam sits down in New York with Danika Stone, author of Switchback, a wonderful human vs. nature story of two teens who get lost in the mountains during a class trip and struggle to survive. They also discuss how Danika remains positive on the internet, her writing process as a "plantzer", and the hectic nature walks she took as a kid with her dad that helped inspire this book.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Jill is joined by Sydney to talk all about her new prison librarian memoir Reading Behind Bars. Thanks to all of the listeners who sent in questions. The pair discuss some of Jill's experiences and her writing process.   Music: Provided royalty free from www.bensound.com Podcast Overview: We're not just book nerds: we're professional book nerds and the staff librarians who work at OverDrive, the leading app for eBooks and audiobooks available through public libraries and schools. Hear about the best books we've read, get personalized recommendations, and learn about the hottest books coming out that we can't wait to dive into. For more great reads, find OverDrive on Facebook and Twitter. We are proud to be an Evergreen Podcast Signature Program. For more information visit www.evergreenpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's almost July, which means it's time for Jill and Adam to discuss the books coming out next month they can't wait to read! Books mentioned in today's episode: Reading Behind Bars by Jill Grunenwald Pan's Labyrinth by Guillermo Del Toro Three Women by Lisa Taddeo The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Dark Age by Pierce Brown Lock Every Door by Riley Sager Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen The Paper Wasp by Lauren Acampora Wanderers by Chuck Wendig Beneath the Tamarind Tree by Isha Sesay Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber A Prayer for Travelers by Ruchika Tomar Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim Semicolon by Cecaelia Watson The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisle   Other books coming out in July Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Need by Helen Phillips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam sat down with Christine Riccio, debut author of Again, but Better and created of the immensely popular PolandBananasBooks YouTube channel. They discuss her travels abroad, writing as catharsis, and how Christine realized her feelings of isolation and loneliness are shared by countless other people around the world.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. To get a free month of access to their incredible online courses just visit:  https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/probooknerds   Get your headphones ready because today Jill and I are offering up a big pile of audiobook recommendations! A cool new update in Libby that just came out lets you enjoy your audiobooks through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so it's perfect timing!  Enjoy!       Books mentioned in this episode La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust) by Philip Pullman Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey (Narrated by Xe Sands) Seafire by Natalie C. Parker (Narrated by Rebecca Soler) House of Furies by Madeleine Roux  Internment by Samira Ahmed (Narrated by  Soneela Nankani) Believe Me by Eddie Izzard Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi We are never meeting in real life by Samantha Irby Ready Player One by Ernest Cline   Recommended by listeners: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Cha

On today's episode, Adam chats with Cadwell Turnbull about his novel The Lesson, which comes out June 18th. This story about an advanced race of aliens coming to The U.S. Virgin Islands explore colonialism and the history of an oft-overlooked part of the world.  Today's episode is sponsored by Blackstone Publishing. In addition to The Lesson, here are two more great books to check out from Blackstone: -ANOTHER LIFE by Robert Haller (June 4, 2019) Description: Set during one summer in a small town in upstate New York, Robert Haller’s debut novel, Another Life, is a modern comedy with a dark edge, centered around an evangelical church. Christopher Castellani, author of Leading Men, praised the novel, saying: “A fresh voice meets an old soul in Robert Haller, whose Another Life won me over completely with its dark humor, refined earnestness, and uncommon wisdom.” Another Life releases from Blackstone Publishing, on June 4th in hardcover, e-book, and audio.   -BLACKBERRY AND WILD ROSE by Sonia Velton (May 7,

On today's episode, Adam chats with LP Fergusson, author of A Dangerous Act of Kindness, which was selected as the latest Big Library Read global ebook club title. They discuss her upbringing as a child with two parents who fought in WWII, how her childhood and her local libraries inspired this historical fiction, and not judging individuals for the acts of the many.    About the Big Library Read Big Library Read (BLR), facilitated by OverDrive, is a reading program through your library that connects readers around the world with the same ebook at the same time without any wait lists of holds.  It’s a worldwide digital version of a local book club, the program is free through your local library or school library and all you need to get started reading is a library card or student ID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam and Jill are back in the same room finally and are handing out some wonderful LGBTQIA book recommendations for PRIDE month and beyond!   Books mentioned in this episode Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian Gentleman Jack by Anne Chrome Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu The Stonewall Reader, edited by NYPL Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden Unbroken edited by Marieke Nijkamp Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta Birthday by Meredith Russo   Also here is a great collection of LGBT books written so far this year:  2019 PRIDE month collection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is an interview Jill did with bestselling author Blake Crouch about his new book Recursion. They discuss false memories, the reality of time, and even the Berenstain Bears.  Interview was recorded live at ALA Midwinter 2019.  Music: Provided royalty free from www.bensound.com Podcast Overview: We're not just book nerds: we're professional book nerds and the staff librarians who work at OverDrive, the leading app for eBooks and audiobooks available through public libraries and schools. Hear about the best books we've read, get personalized recommendations, and learn about the hottest books coming out that we can't wait to dive into. For more great reads, find OverDrive on Facebook and Twitter. We are proud to be an Evergreen Podcast Signature Program. For more information visit www.evergreenpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam interviews Sarah Enni in New York City about her debut novel Tell Me Everything! Sarah also hosts the wonderful First Draft podcast where she interview authors and they discuss how this experience has affected her writing and her publishing life. They also get into their shared appreciation for creating stories through human connections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's interview is one Jill did with the immensely popular author, Jennifer Weiner about her new book MRS EVERYTHING. The book covers multiple decades and the pair discuss Jennifer's research process, the idea of "chick lit" and how Jennifer's mom inspired this book.  Music: Provided royalty free from www.bensound.com   Podcast Overview: We're not just book nerds: we're professional book nerds and the staff librarians who work at OverDrive, the leading app for eBooks and audiobooks available through public libraries and schools. Hear about the best books we've read, get personalized recommendations, and learn about the hottest books coming out that we can't wait to dive into. For more great reads, find OverDrive on Facebook and Twitter.   We are proud to be an Evergreen Podcast Signature Program. For more information visit www.evergreenpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's almost June which means it's time for Adam and Jill's monthly roundup of books to read this month. Books Mentioned In This Episode: Mrs Everything by Jennifer Weiner The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo Recursion by Blake Crouch Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey The Girl In Red by Christina Henry Her Daughter's Mother by Daniele Petrova The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter The Van Apfel Girls are Gone by Felicity McLean The Last Pirate of New York by Rich Cohen       Music: Provided royalty free from www.bensound.com   Podcast Overview: We're not just book nerds: we're professional book nerds and the staff librarians who work at OverDrive, the leading app for eBooks and audiobooks available through public libraries and schools. Hear about the best books we've read, get personalize

On today's episode, Adam chats with Ali Benjamin about her latest novel, The Next Great Paulie Fink. The book is all about how storytelling can shape an individual, how we experience stories, and how we relate them to others. Adam and Ali discuss finding oneself in stories, and the various forms of storytelling throughout history.  Today’s episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. Visit https://thegreatcoursesplus.com/probooknerds to unlock a free month of unlimited access to their entire library of lectures from professors and experts! No matter your interest, they have something incredible for you to discover and learn! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam sits down with Brian Jay Jones, the award-winning biographer whose latest book Becoming Dr. Seuss is now available. They discuss the life of Theodore Geisel both before and after becoming the cultural phenomenon that is Dr. Seuss. They also discuss Jim Henson, George Lucas, and the monumental content they've created for generations of fans.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam and Jill share the books they've enjoyed recently before getting into their big thoughts after watching the Game of Thrones finale. What they think might surprise you!   Today’s episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. Visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/probooknerds to unlock a free month of unlimited access to their entire library of lectures from professors and experts! No matter your interest, they have something incredible for you to discover and learn!   Books mentioned in this episode Believe Me by JP Delaney Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry Andy Catlett by Wendell Berry Remembering by Wendell Berry The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jill has a new memoir coming out on July 2 called Reading Behind Bars which is all about her experiences as a prison librarian. In today's episode, along with talking about her book she also discusses some other books set in prison. Her list includes fiction, nonfiction, and titles written from prison. To get a sneak peek of Jill's book Reading Behind Bars, visit her website at https://www.jillgrunenwald.com/sneak-peek   Books Mentioned In This Episode: Reading Behind Bars by Jill Grunenwald Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman Out of Orange by Cleary Wolters Shakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates American Prison by Shane Bauer Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult Affinity by Sarah Waters Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King Green Mile by Stephen King Cherry by Nico Walker Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts   Music: Provided royalty free from www.bensound.com Podcast

In today's episode, Jill interviews author Karen Russell about her new short story collection Orange World and Other Stories. They discuss the differences in writing short fiction v. a novel and how she organized the collection. Interview was recorded at ALA Midwinter 2019 in Seattle, WA. Today's episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. Visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/probooknerds to unlock a free month of unlimited access to their entire library of lectures from professors and experts! No matter your interest, they have something incredible for you to discover and learn!    Music: Provided royalty free from www.bensound.com Podcast Overview: We're not just book nerds: we're professional book nerds and the staff librarians who work at OverDrive, the leading app for eBooks and audiobooks available through public libraries and schools. Hear about the best books we've read, get personalized recommendations, and learn about the hottest books coming out that we can't wait to dive into. For more great

On today's episode, Adam chats about his recent book festival travels before discussing the books he's enjoyed recently. Then, he gets into how he overcame depression last year by focusing on stories in the books he was reading.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is an interview Jill did with Kim Michele Richardson about her new book The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Inspired by the true story of the Blue People of Kentucky, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek looks at the fierce pack horse librarians and the impact they had on a isolated community.  Interview was recorded live at ALA Midwinter 2019 in Seattle.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam chats with Alafair Burke who was in town for a library event! They discuss her latest thriller The Better Sister, how she uses tension from the criminal justice system to up the stakes for family dramas, and what it's like getting to work with Mary Higgins Clark.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices