Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast

Readers' Advisors Erica and Amy share three recent books that bring their worlds -- a tense near-future, a legendary past, and present-day America - to life in vivid and unexpected ways.

Books featured in this episode:

• Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
• The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
• Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris

Click here to register for the Spring Book Buzz.

For personalized book recommendations, visit www.cooklib.org/bookies.

For the library's blog, visit shelflife.cooklib.org.

Email us at [email protected].

Erica and Marianne are sticking to their reading resolutions by digging into great historical fiction featuring real-life banditos and midwives. Then, Marianne gives us the inside scoop on this year's One Book, One Community series.

Titles discussed in this episode:

The Bullet Swallower, by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon

The Violin Conspiracy, by Brendan Slocumb

For details on all of the One Book, One Community events, visit 1book.org.

For personalized book recommendations, visit www.cooklib.org/bookies.

For the library's blog, visit shelflife.cooklib.org.

Email us at [email protected].

Find out the who’s who of national celebrities and historical figures that have made appearances in Libertyville through the years. Enjoy part two of the series. Mentioned in the Podcast: Catch every episode! Subscribe to the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Erica and Hannah talk about the top titles of the year, our annual Staff Favorites booklets, and the books they can't wait to read in 2024. Thanks for a great year of reading and listening!

For a copy of our Favorite Fiction and Nonfiction booklets, stop by Cook Park or Aspen Drive Library, or visit our website.

Titles discussed in this episode:

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

I am Homeless if This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford (February 2024)

The Extinction of Irina Rey by Jennifer Croft (March 2024)

The Book of Love by Kelly Link (February 2024)

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (April 2024)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (September 2024)

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca (August 2024)

Please note some upcoming titles are not yet available in the catalog - we've linked to the authors so you can enjoy their backlist while you wait!

Enjoy part two of Celebrity Spotting, where local history librarian Jenny Barry guides us through a few notable people who made historical appearances in Libertyville. We pick up right where part one left off!

Mentioned in the Podcast

Watch John F. Kennedy's 1960 Cook Park speech

John F. Kennedy's Libertyville campaign stop in the Illinois Digital Archives

Local History page

Erica and Amy, our new book club associate, share the titles they've been enjoying lately, ranging from a suspenseful family drama to a sublimely ridiculous charmer (and the best cover of 2023).

Books discussed in this episode:

• The Leftover Woman, Jean Kwok
• Night Watch, Jayne Anne Phillips
• The Dictionary People, Sarah Ogilvie
• The Wishing Game, Meg Shaffer
• Starter Villain, John Scalzi

For more information about our book club services, including a list of titles, visit https://www.cooklib.org/book-clubs/ or email [email protected].

For more information about this year's One Book, One Community events, featuring The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, visit https://www.1book.org/.

Say hello (again) to the latest addition to our Popular Services staff, Mary! Hannah and Mary discuss Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the best parts of gothic literature (spoiler: it's the house) and what makes a good book good.

Check out the books mentioned in this podcast episode:

Jane Eyre / Charlotte Brontë.

Mexican Gothic / Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Silver Nitrate / Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

The Devil's Playground / Craig Russell.

The Guest / Emma Cline.

And as always, keep reading, keep watching, and keep listening!

Erica and Zach, one of our Outreach Associates, talk about home delivery, great characters, graphic novels, and a suprisingly cozy spot.

For more information about our Outreach services, including Home Delivery, visit https://www.cooklib.org/bookmobile-outreach/

For the Fall Book Buzz, click here.

Books discussed in this episode:

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story by Julia Wertz

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

In this episode, Becky and Erica share the small-town stories they've been enjoying as summer winds down.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Small Town Sins, Ken Jaworowski
• Save What's Left, Elizabeth Castellano
• An Honest Man, Michael Koryta
• Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Satoshi Yagisawa

Register for the Fall Book Buzz!

In this episode, Hannah and Erica share the titles that have suprised and delighted them as summer hits its midpoint.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Apology, Jimin Han
• The Infinite Miles, Hannah Fergesen
• Ace of Spades, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
• Same Time Next Summer, Annabel Monaghan
• The Book of Delights, Ross Gay

Sign up for the Fall Book Buzz!