The Desk Set

The best books of the year have been chosen by KCLS Librarians. We share some favorites from the lists, talk about themes and trends, recommend our picks for gifting, and more! Read more on our website featuring KCLS's Best Books of 2018.

Cookbooks, food writing, and the art and science of taste.

We chat with author and chef Becky Selengut (How to Taste) about the art and science of taste. Then, we explore the relationship between pie and whiskey with authors, bakers, and cocktail makers Sam Ligon and Kate Lebo (Pie & Whiskey). Finally, we visit The Book Larder, a cookbook store in Seattle, to talk to store owner Lara Hamilton. We also share suggestions for other books about food that we think are worth checking out.

Marissa Meyer, banned books, and very graphic novels.

We chat with young adult author Marissa Meyer about her new series, Renegades, the power of fairytale retellings, and which Sailor Scout she wants to be. Then, we talk about banned books, including the most banned books of 2017, and why comic books and graphic novels so often top the list of most banned books. Plus we share our top picks for under-appreciated young adult books to try when you've finished all the best sellers.

Learn how Harry Potter gets translated for global audiences and hear interviews with Kristin Hannah and Megan McDowell.

We chat with Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone. We also talk to Megan McDowell, who was recently nominated for a Man Booker International Prize for her heart-stopping translation of Samanta Schweblin's Fever Dream. Then, hear about our favorite books set in places you might not have been. Plus, we explore the unique challenge of translating the magical world of Harry Potter for a global audience.

Jordan Peele brings Lovecraft Country to the screen, we chat about the best and worst book adaptations plus interviews with Matt Ruff and Kim Fu. Author Matt Ruff joins us to talk about his book Lovecraft Country. Inspired by mid-century African-American travel guides and classic sci-fi and horror, the book is being adapted in a miniseries for HBO. Then, we talk about book-to-screen adaptations: the ones we love, the ones we hate, and the ones we can't wait to see. Kim Fu, author of The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore, talks with us about her book, why children make interesting characters, and the difference between writing poetry and prose.

#MeToo, memoirs and interviews with authors Rebecca Roanhorse and Litsa Dremousis.

We chat with Hugo-Award winning author Rebecca Roanhorse about her Navajo-inspired urban fantasy Trail of Lightning and her award-winning short story, "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™". We also sit down with Seattleite and memoirist Litsa Dremousis to talk her about her memoir, Altitude Sickness, and her role in the #MeToo allegations surrounding Sherman Alexie. Plus, we recommend some memoirs we love.