Books and Bites

 On this episode, we discuss books by LGBTQIA+ authors, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. We've got a diverse group of characters and settings for you, including a Splatterpunk novel set in 1990s New Orleans, a Booker Prize-winning novel set in the United Kingdom, and a YA novel set in 1987 El Paso, Texas.

Michael's Pick

Michael read Exquisite Corpse by Billy Martin (formerly Poppy Z. Brite). This Splatterpunk novel about a pair of gay, necrophiliac serial killers in New Orleans is not for everyone--even Michael admits he had to put it down at times. But the lyrical writing and focus on the AIDS epidemic kept him reading. 

Pairing: Immerse yourself in the New Orleans setting with a bowl of Duck and Andouille Gumbo, a recipe that be found in Justin Devillier’s The New Orleans Kitchen

Carrie's Pick

Carrie recommends the Booker Prize-winning Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, an Anglo-Nigerian writer. Each chapter is told from the third-person point of view of eleven different British women and girls and one nonbinary person, ranging in age from their teens to their nineties. Their different classes, races, and sexualities highlight the diversity of the United Kingdom. The book's power grows as you see the characters' lives intersect.

Pairing: This book is full of delicious sounding Caribbean and West African dishes, but the description of a character making Thai Chicken Coconut Curry is especially mouth-watering. Lemongrass and Coconut Curry with Summer Vegetables has similar ingredients and would be a great way to use up some summer squash.

Jacqueline's Pick

Jacqueline enjoyed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Pen Faulkner Award-winning author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This YA novel is a coming-of-age, LGBTQIA+ story set in the summer of 1987 in El Paso, Texas. It tells a story of a friendship between two boys on the cusp of manhood. The author uses the boys' friendship to explore issues of family, ethnicity, and sexuality.

Pairing: An Edible Mosaic's brisket recipe would make a good choice for a summer picnic under the stars.

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about a place you want to visit, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Join us as we travel to Mexico City, Paris, and the English countryside--all with the help of some good books!

Jacqueline's Pick

If you dream of the City of Light, Jacqueline recommends The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor. The book has two strong female characters whose stories are set seventy years apart. Alice's story is set in modern-day France, while Adalynn's story takes place in 1940s, occupied France.
 

Pairing: Croissants with chocolate and coffee. Find a recipe for croissants, traditional and pain au chocolat, on The Simply Luxurious Life.

Michael's Pick

Michael's pick, Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is a tense noir set during the turbulent 1970’s in Mexico City. We follow a bored and lonely secretary named Maite who lives in her own little world, obsessing over music and romance comics. When her neighbor, Leonora, a local student, asks her to watch her cat for a few days and never returns, Maite decides to track down her whereabouts. 

Pairing: A hot bowl of Huevos a la Mexicana from Gabriela Cámara's My Mexico City Kitchen.

Carrie's Pick

Carrie enjoyed Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield, a book set along the western portion of the Thames River in nineteenth-century England. A gravely injured man appears at an old inn carrying a small child who is not breathing. But when the girl appears to wake up a few hours later, the community must try to uncover who she is. To which of the three families claiming her does she belong?

Pairing: Dippy eggs with toast soldiers, a popular breakfast for British children.

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about Appalachia, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Collection Access Associate John David Hurley, who is from Mount Vernon, Kentucky, joins Michael, Carrie, and Jacqueline to share some favorite books about Appalachia.

John David recommends a Books & Bites favorite, Elizabeth Catte’s What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia. He says it’s a good primer on the history of Appalachia, and it responds to JD Vance’s book, Hillbilly Elegy. John David also discusses Belonging: A Culture of Place by bell hooks, which explores identity and what it means to belong to Appalachia. Finally, he recommends All This Marvelous Potential: Robert Kennedy’s 1968 Tour of Appalachia by Matthew Algeo.

Michael recommends Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murder and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America by Mark A. Bradley. Taking place mostly in central Appalachia during the late 60’s and early 70’s, this book looks at Joseph “Jock” Yablonski and his insurgent presidential campaign to clean up the rampant corruption of the United Mine Workers of America, as well as his subsequent murder and the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators and conspirators.   

Pairing: A One-Eyed Jack, an Appalachian breakfast dish from Ronni Lundy’s Victuals: An Appalachian Journey with Recipes. 

Carrie enjoyed Trampoline by Robert Gipe. It’s the coming-of-age story of 15 year-old Dawn Jewell, who lost her father in a mining accident when she was younger. Dawn joins her grandmother in fighting a coal company’s plans to strip mine Big Bear Mountain. Her life is chaotic, and she makes a lot of mistakes, but you’ll root for her along the way. Carrie also recommends Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith, an epistolary novel set in southwest Virginia. 

Pairing: A Slaw Dog, also from Ronni Lundy’s Victuals.

Jacqueline read The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Set in 1937, it’s a fictional account of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. The main character is a young English woman named Alice Wright who moves to Kentucky with her new husband. Unhappy with her situation, Alice sees a chance to do something meaningful when she learns about the President and Mrs. Roosevelt’s efforts to restore attention to literacy and learning with a mobile library program.

Pairing: A mint julep made with Mint Simple Syrup.

On this episode, we discuss epistolary books, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Epistolary novels are told primarily through letters, but they can also include diaries, emails, instant messages, transcripts, and even post-it notes. 

Prefer to read nonfiction? Collections of letters count for this prompt, too. Carrie shares some of her favorites.

Our Picks

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey is an epistolary novel that combines some of Carrie’s favorite things: historical fiction, adventure, nature, romance, and a touch of magic. In 1885, U.S. Army Colonel Allen Forrester leads an expedition up the fictional Wolverine River in the Alaska Territory, leaving his pregnant wife Sophie behind in the Vancouver barracks. The book is written primarily in the form of Sophie’s and Allen’s diaries and letters.

Pairing: Allen and his expedition team are so malnourished, they get scurvy, a severe form of vitamin C deficiency. If only they’d had citrus and herb tonic to sustain them! This concentrated tea can be served warm or chilled over sparkling water or tonic.

Jacqueline chose the YA science fiction novel Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It’s the account of a Stellarcorp War in the year 2575 between two competing companies and the military. It has a little something for everyone, including horror and the romance between two high school students, Kady and Ezra. The story is told from the point of view of the survivors, military personnel, and the ship’s computer through hacked documents.

Pairing: Vegan Galaxy Cake from Vegan Doll House. 

Michael read Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie. It’s a haunted house story that involves ghost hunters, and the story is told in transcripts of raw video footage, webpages, journal entries, emails, and text messages. This book compiles these documents in an attempt to piece together what happened to the cast and crew of the paranormal investigation show, Fade to Black.

Pairing: Start off a night of paranormal investigation right with a hot, hearty bowl of bacon mac and cheese. 

This month, we discuss the Afrofuturism/Afrofantasy square from Books & Bites Bingo. As Michael pointed out on the podcast, “Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy are sub-genres of science fiction and fantasy that are rooted in African cultures, myth, folklore, and the overall Black experience.” 

Jacqueline enjoyed Raybearer by Jordon Ifeuko. This debut YA Afrofantasy novel was inspired by African folklore. Some of the issues this novel tackles are women’s struggles in patriarchal societies, the erasing of marginalized people in history, self discovery, and found families. Bite: Since author Jordon Ifueko grew up eating fried plantains, Jacqueline suggests trying them at the Hola Havana Cuban restaurant in Lexington or using the Fried Plantain Chips recipe from Serious Eats.

Michael recommends The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark. It’s a steampunk novella that fully immerses you in an alternate 1871 New Orleans. The U.S. Civil War is in an armistice, with New Orleans being a free and neutral city that’s enjoyed by both sides. The book’s protagonist is a thirteen-year-old girl named Jacqueline, who goes by the name of Creeper. Bite: If you can’t be in New Orleans in person, why not transport yourself there with a dish of Maque Choux from Gumbo Ya Ya?

Carrie’s pick is Redemption in Indigo by Barbadian author Karen Lord. It’s a brief Afrofantasy novel that revisits a Senegalese folktale. The main character, Paama, has left her gluttonous, spoiled husband Ansige and returned to her family in the village of Makendha. While there, magical, undying beings called the djombi give Paama the Chaos Stick, allowing her to change the course of human disasters. Bite: Experience the taste of Senegal with Peanut Stew from AtoZ World Food, a library database with recipes from all over the world.

We're starting the New Year with a new Books and Bites reading challenge, Books and Bites Bingo! You'll have more prompts to choose from, and more chances to win prizes. Plus, every time you get a bingo, you'll earn a fun, book-themed sticker. Complete a blackout of all the squares, and you'll earn your very own enamel Books and Bites pin!
 

We'll discuss a different bingo square on each episode of the podcast. This month, it's books about books!

Michael recommends Dark Archives: A Librarian’s Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom. It intersects quite nicely with the darker subjects he typically reads about. Listen to the podcast to find out why he suggests pairing the book with Skyline Chili, a staple restaurant of the Queen City.

Carrie enjoyed The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. It's a coming-of-age novel about many things, including books, libraries, grief, and consumerism. The characters eat a LOT of Chinese takeout, so order in or make your own with help from Diana Kuan's The Chinese Takeout Cookbook: Quick and Easy Dishes to Prepare at Home.

Jacqueline suggests The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser. As you jump along with Amy into different stories, try a jam tart inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

If you’re participating in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, it’s time to wrap up your reading! On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the books we read for the twelfth and final prompt, read whatever you want. 

If you’ve completed ten of the reading challenge prompts, turn your entry forms in at the library or online for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite or a $100 gift card to Joseph-Beth Booksellers.

Book & Bite Notes

Michael recommends She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper. As you accompany Nate and Polly through the streets of LA and the deserts of California, enjoy a street taco from Nicholasville’s own El Rancho Taqueria. 

Carrie’s pick is The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alammedine. Pair this novel with a cup of Cardamom Green Tea and a batch of Crunchy Sesame Cookies. Both recipes are from Rose Water & Orange Blossoms: Fresh and Classic Recipes from My Lebanese Kitchen by Maureen Abood.

Jacqueline enjoyed Veil of Winterby Melanie Dickerson. A warm cocoa drink with a hint of peppermint is the perfect companion for this book’s winter setting. Find the recipe for Vegan Peppermint Drinking Chocolate at Minimalist Baker.

 On this episode, we discuss the eleventh prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, a nonfiction book about something you’re curious about. We hope we can pique your interest with books about octopuses, Sherlock Holmes, and cults!

Book Notes

• Carrie recommends The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery.
• Jacqueline recommends Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the case of the Hound of the Baskerville by Pierre Bayard.
• Michael recommends Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell. 

Bite Notes

• Watching a cup of flowering or blooming tea steep is as relaxing as watching an octopus swim.
• Since most of Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong takes place on a windy moor, warm yourself up with the Best White Bean Soup.
• Pair Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism with a pint of Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale, a beer that has quite the following.

On this episode, we discuss the tenth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, read a manga! Manga are comics or graphic novels that began in Japan. Since you read them from right to left instead of left to right, they can be challenging at first. But thanks to the wide variety of subject matter, you should be able to find something you'll enjoy.

Book Notes

• Michael recommends Remina by Junji Ito.
• Carrie recommends She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai and Tsubasa Yamaguchi. 
• Carrie also seconds former Books and Bites co-host Adam's recommendation of Dragon Goes House-hunting by Kawo Tanuki and Choco Aya.
• Jacqueline recommends Fairytail Vol. 1 by Hiro Mashima.

Bite Notes

• A refreshing pint of Hitachino Nest White Ale nicely juxtaposes with the madness and chaos of Junji Ito’s Remina.
• Pair She and Her Cat with a big bowl of Sapporo Soup Curry from the book Japanese Soul Cooking by Tadashi Ono.
• A bowl of ramen would complement Fairytale, whose character Natsu has a hearty appetite. Try this Quick Homemade Ramen from Pinch of Yum.

 On this episode, we celebrate the freedom to read with the ninth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge, read a banned or challenged book. Dr. Ron Critchfield, JCPL's Executive Director,  joins us to discuss the importance of intellectual freedom, the role of parents in helping their children choose books, the problems with censorship, and more.

What's the Difference Between Banned and Challenged Books?

According to the American Library Association, book challenges are "documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries." A banned book is one that has been removed in response to a challenge.

Book Notes

• Jacqueline recommends The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• Michael recommends Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Carrie recommends Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
• Find more banned or challenged books on the ALA's Top 10 Most Challenged Books page or on their Frequently Challenged Books page. You can also stop by the library display in our adult section or ask a librarian for help.

Bite Notes

• Pair The Hate U Give with Red Velvet Cake with Ermine Frosting, a Southern specialty that Starr's neighbor has perfected.
• Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries is the perfect cheese to snack on while reading Animal Farm.
• Martha's American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation's Most Treasured Dishes, from Coast to Coast includes recipes for both Cedar-Plank Roasted Salmon and Pike Place Fish and Chips. Celebrate your freedom to read Lawn Boy with whichever sounds best to you.