JAM Podcasts & Audiobooks

We are back from our summer recess with a list of books to enjoy as summer wanes. Specifically, we answer a question from Sarah on Instagram, “Looking for a light summer read this is well written, but is not a romance or set on a beach”. Luckily, even though we proved a bit rusty on our recording abilities, the ability of Sam, Emma, Kari and Allie to recommend good books did not wane during our recess. We are pretty confident the books discussed in this episode will help you end summer on a high note.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

The booksellers tackle a question about great books for younger readers when the instagram handle courtpilling asked for “Middle Grade historical fiction set in 1700s-1800s”.  Kari started us off with The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, Allie wants everyone to read Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Lisa remembered two classics by Robert Lawson – Mr. Revere and I and Ben and Me. Emma brought us to Philadelphia with Fever 1793 by Laurie Anderson and Sam finished the list with Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Tom uses FB to ask the longest question we have received thus far, “So I could use some advice! I sorta fell out of reading regularly for fun. Due to the events of the world, I’ve focused more on reading educational topics. I used to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy. Some of my favorite novels are the Dune series (and prequels), and growing up I LOVED the Lost Years of Merlin. I got the book series for The Magicians a few years ago and worked through that and really liked it. I’d like to get back into reading for pleasure again, but nothing has really gotten me super excited. Unfortunately, with the rise of streaming on TV it can be hard to get motivated to sit down and read. I’m trying to re-ignite my love of reading. Can you help?”  Of course we can help.  Discussed selections include: The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K.Jemisin, The Expanse Series by James SA Corey, Annihilation (or the entire Area X trilogy) by Jeff Vandermeer, Wizard of Earthsea (or the series) by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Booksellers answer an anonymous question from instagram in which one desperate listener asks for the “best ways to get out of a reading slump”. For this question, Lisa adds an idea for the first time – Hunting and Gathering, a “fun to read” gem by France’s best-selling author Ana Gavalda. Kari suggests reading short stories as a great way to get reading again; she singles out St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised By Wolves by Karen Russell, and then changes things up by also recommending a memoir, The Electric Woman by Tessa Fontaine. Allie believes that Sisters by Daisy Johnson will help anyone stuck in a slump. These and the other selections included in this show will help anyone who feels stuck trying to find the next great book to read.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

The bookstore owners attempt to answer our good friend Shari Altman’s (from a great book resource Literary North) question: “I am looking for strange and beautiful novels about middle age.” We note that Shari is nowhere near approaching middle age; we then debate what defines middle age. Allie, Sam, Emma, and Kari recommend a few books in response to her query, including House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune; Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette; So Lucky by Nicola Griffith; One DOA, One on the Way by Mary Robison; and The Swimmers by Julia Otsuka.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Episode 9 originates with an email from Cindy, “I am a first grade teacher and want to teach a unit on graphic novels. I have some graphic novels, but it is hard to find ones that are appropriate for little ones and that the reading level is not too challenging. Help!!” Each bookseller discusses one book, ok maybe two or three. And, we have an opportunity to shout out the Center for Cartoon Studies located within a baseball throw of where we record.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

We appeal to the inner Sam as we discuss a question left for us on Instagram: please discuss “Ottessa Moshfegh-ish literary fiction. Something grotesque and damaged but beautiful.”

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Each bookseller describes one book that is either funny and/or combines a superb balance between fun and thought based on an instagram question from Karen.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Each bookseller reviews a short book for those phases when you have a limited amount of time, or when your book club just needs something quick.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

 May’s Mental Health Awareness Month provides the inspiration for Episode 5. We promise it is not depressing, but instead filled with hope, help, and healing.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.