Beyond the Desk

Are you in the mood for a summer read, narrative nonfiction book, mystery or thriller? WAPL staffers Sarah, Desirae and Beth P. talk about their recent reads plus what they’re looking forward to reading next.

Titles and authors discussed in this episode include: Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny, The Café by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan, The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell, An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, The Shadows of Men by Abir Mukherjee, and The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra.

Also mentioned: Evicted by Matthew Desmond, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier, Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, the Supernatural TV series and books, Concrete Rose and On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki, Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia, and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

Check out books and DVDs at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Molly Shannon, Viola Davis, Matthew McConaughey, Colin Jost—many stars are writing their stories. Librarians Katie and Sarah talk about celebrity memoirs they’ve enjoyed in this episode. These books vary in style, so you’re bound to find one you’ll enjoy.

Titles and authors discussed in this episode include: Bossypants by Tina Fey; Open Book by Jessica Simpson; This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps; Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley; Yearbook by Seth Rogen; Dear Girls by Ali Wong; Hello, Molly by Molly Shannon; Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey; the TV series True Detective; A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost; Mindy Kaling; Finding Me by Viola Davis; the TV series How to Get Away With Murder; Becoming by Michelle Obama; and We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union.

Check out books and DVDs at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

This month librarians Desirae, Sarah and Katie discuss the romantic thriller Verity, which follows a struggling writer who accepts an offer to finish a series by an injured bestselling author. If you like plot twists, this one’s for you! Plus, we consider who should be cast in the main roles in a movie adaptation.

Also mentioned: Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, Linda Howard, Harlan Coben, the TV series The Fall, the movie Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar, Firestarter by Stephen King, Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell and the movie The Gift.

Check out books and DVDs at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

This month librarians Elizabeth, Sarah and Desirae discuss the bestselling mystery The Maid by Nita Prose. It follows a hotel maid whose tidy life is turned upside down when she becomes a murder suspect. We fell in love with Molly the Maid, and we think you will, too!

Also mentioned: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, the Shady Hollow mystery series by Juneau Black, and Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries by Agatha Christie.

Check out books at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Mystery fans, take note! WAPL librarian Sarah chats with local writers Erica Ruth Neubauer, author of the Jane Wunderly mysteries, and Sharon Nagel, co-author of the Shady Hollow mysteries. They cover the influence of Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew as well as the process of writing and getting published.

Titles and authors discussed in this episode include: Murder at the Mena House, Murder at Wedgefield Manor and Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer, and Shady Hollow, Cold Clay and Mirror Lake by Juneau Black.

Also mentioned: Elizabeth Peters; Miracle Creek by Angie Kim; Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver; Sue Grafton; Elizabeth Cole; Louise Penny; Countess of Harleigh mysteries by Dianne Freeman; Jasmine Guillory; Tessa Dare; Sarah MacLean; Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano; and Murder at the Mansions by Sara Rosett.

Check out books at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Librarians Sarah and Katie chat about what they’re currently reading and new books on their to-read list. They riff on short stories, memoirs, mysteries, family reads, the ’90s and more. Plus, they talk about novels versus short stories and what BookTok offers readers.

Titles and authors discussed in this episode include: These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card, The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey Wilson, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk, Starfish by Lisa Fipps, and Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston.

Also mentioned: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi; A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan; Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips; The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman; Jackson Brodie mysteries by Kate Atkinson; Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan; The Shadows of Men by Abir Mukherjee; Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang; The Nineties, Killing Yourself to Live, and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman; I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg; It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey; Best Wishes, Warmest Regards by Daniel Levy and Eugene Levy.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

WAPL librarians Sarah and Desirae discuss fabulous fiction by Black authors for Black History Month. They chat about Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half, as well as other novels they recommend. Plus, they talk about why some audiobooks delight them and others annoy them, as well as why they aren’t put off by unlikable characters.

Titles and authors discussed in this episode include: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton, These Toxic Things and Land of Shadows by Rachel Howzell Hall, and Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Also mentioned: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and the films Passing and Imitation of Life.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Join librarians Sarah and Katie for a conversation about Firekeeper’s Daughter, as well as other great YA books you’ll love—no matter what your age happens to be.

Titles and authors discussed in this episode include: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley; Time Will Tell by Barry Lyga; In the Wild Light and The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner; The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater; Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein; Angie Thomas; Long Way Down, Ghost and Miles Morales: Spider-man by Jason Reynolds; and Tiffany D. Jackson.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Join us for the second half of our conversation about the best books we read this year! Librarians Sarah and Desirae, along with WAPL book club members Michele and Heather, chat about food, paranormal romance and reimagining Greek myths. Part 2 of 2.

Titles discussed in this episode include: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, Eight Ways to Tequila (An Althea Rose Mystery) by Tricia O'Malley, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, and Neon Gods by Katee Robert.

Also mentioned: The Siren Island series and the Mystic Cove series by Tricia O'Malley; The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich; the TV series Only Murders in the Building; The Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller; Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann; Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood; Lore Olympus, Volume 1 by Rachel Smythe; Millennial Nuns by Daughters of St. Paul; Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart; One Day in December by Josie Silver; Middlegame and the InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire; State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny; and Louise Penny’s Three Pines mysteries.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Librarians Sarah and Desirae welcome WAPL book club members Michele and Heather for a conversation about the best books we read this year. We talk about inspiring characters who overcame obstacles, stories that delve into parent-child dynamics, and the impact of social media—and how the future might look. Part 1 of 2.

Titles discussed in this episode include: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab, Educated by Tara Westover, The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker, Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage, Followers by Megan Angelo, and the “Nosedive” episode of Black Mirror from Season 3.

Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay