Have the traditional romance tropes started to feel a little stale to you? Are you looking for an escape from societal beauty standards and traditional relationship pressures? If so, monster romance might be the new genre for you! In today's conversation, Shan will chat with Briana, Kim, and Stephanie about their favorite titles. This romance subgenre connects humans and non-humans; love interests range from aliens, demons, and shifters to cryptids, tentacles, and mythological creatures. These unconventional pairings explore themes of acceptance, overcoming prejudice, and forbidden love. And if you're interested in a steamy story, look no further, this subgenre regularly includes some extra spice!

Book Recommendations

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich

Suitor Armor by Purpah

Intro Music by nikitsan

For many of us, modern life continues to feel increasingly complicated. It seems nearly impossible to stay updated on the ever-changing world of current events, technology, science, and economics. The complications of contemporary existence leaves one with a longing for simpler, more comforting times. This may be the reason why cozy fantasy is currently hitting the spot for so many readers. In today's episode, Shan chats with Briana, Cate, and Dillon about why cozy fantasy books have found a place on their shelves. If you're looking for a low-stakes read full of hope, kindness, community, charm, and found family, with a heaping plate of comfort food and a sprinkle of magic, you won't want to miss this delightful genre. Cozy fantasy is inclusive and comforting in all the best ways; your nervous system will breathe a sigh of relief with each turn of the page. So grab a steaming mug of tea and a toasty blanket, your next cozy read is waiting for you! 

Book Recommendations

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

A Tale of Mirth & Magic by Kristen Vale

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

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It's that time of year again! The holidays bring abundant joy and merriment, but they can also bring unnecessary stress when it comes to gift-giving. If you already find yourself dreading the shopping season, fear not, Russell Library has you covered. In today's chat, Briana talks with Kim, Christy, and Stephanie about their favorite books to gift. Not a reader? Not a problem! With a donation to the Library, we'll give back one of our coveted I Love Russell Library mugs, travel tumblers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or car magnets. These carefully curated items make wonderful gifts, even for the loved one that seems to have everything. And if all else fails, Kim has an excellent suggestion for the snack lovers out there. Finger chopsticks, anyone? This episode will surely inspire an easeful shopping experience this year. Happy Holidays!

Recommendations

The 99% Invisible City : A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

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November is National Native American Heritage Month. It's a time to celebrate the rich traditions and tales of Native American communities. While some stories have been lost to time, many continue to endure through current literature. In today's conversation, Christy will speak with Briana, Stephanie, and Shan to discuss the works of their favorite Indigenous authors. They'll share how these stories have impacted their understanding of the past and the present. As an added bonus, you'll also hear from Kaitlin Dattilo, the playwright of A Christmas Carol, which will be performed here at Russell Library. Buy your tickets today! 

https://russelllibrary.librarycalendar.com/event/christmas-caaol-7065

Book Recommendations

There There by Tommy Orange

Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III

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Spooky Season is officially here! For many readers, this is the perfect time to pick up a heart-pumping thriller. In today's episode, Cate sits down with Kim, Briana, and Stephanie to explore their favorite page-turners. Whether you're drawn to psychological suspense, horror, or paranormal thrills, this episode has something for you. To make things even more exciting, we've chosen titles with an added twist! These books all contain a significant plot twist that fundamentally changes the reader's understanding of the characters, events, and motivations. Be warned, you may need an extra nightlight nearby, because these chilling reads will surely keep you up at night! 

Book Recommendations

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Bunny by Mona Awad

Hidden Picturesby Jason Rekulak

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Diving into a novel usually involves a level of trust. We assume that the characters on the page are telling the truth, or at the very least, we trust that the narrator will inform us when someone is spinning a web of lies. But what happens when the narrator is the deceiver? Unreliable narrators may lead us astray due to a variety of reasons; deliberate deception, mental illness, flawed memory, bias, or a limited or skewed perspective. Sometimes the reader finds themself deep into a story before realizing that they've been lied to all along, forcing them to rethink every single page! In today's episode, Briana speaks with Kim, Shannon, and Christy about the novels and narrators that left them questioning everything they thought they knew. These books will keep you guessing long after the last page has been read. 

Book Recommendations

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Atonement by Ian McEwan 

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

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The Russell Library is full of Halloween loving librarians, so we jumped on the chance to celebrate early! If you, too, enjoy the spooky season, you'll love our Summerween conversation. The term “Summerween” comes from the animated mystery TV series "Gravity Falls". The show has inspired fans of the macabre to celebrate this holiday anytime from June through August. Whether you're carving a jack-o-lantern out of a watermelon or throwing a pool party with inflatable skeletons, Summerween reminds us that cooler days and darker nights are right around the corner. So grab your iced pumpkin spice latte and settle in for a spooky chat full of spine-chilling reads!

Book Recommendations

The Clackity by Lora Senf, illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres

Cackle by Rachel Harrison 

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.

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What makes a perfect beach read? Is it the same for everyone or is there room for interpretation? Merriam Webster defines a beach read as, a usually light work of escapist fiction (such as a thriller or romance). While this may be true for many, on Top Shelf we've decided to dive a little deeper into the subject. In today's episode, Briana, Shannon, and Cate share their perspectives on what criteria must be met for the ultimate beach read experience. Our librarians will also explore the wide world of library museum passes here at Russell Library. Enrich your summer with one of our passes today!

Book Recommendations

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

The Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer

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Welcome to Episode 1 of Top Shelf with Russell Library! This show is brought to you by the same team behind Middletown Strong: Looking up With Russell Library. After four wonderful community-focused seasons of Middletown Strong, the team has chosen to focus on one of our other great loves... books! Our librarians will share titles that connect to a unique theme each episode. In today's conversation, Briana, Kim, Christy, and Stephanie will explore some of their favorite banned and challenged books. They'll give you honest recommendations, so you can confidently step into your next read. Thankfully, Russell Library makes it easy to access all of your favorite titles, we'll talk about that, too! Ready to see what's on the top shelf? Come along, we'll turn the page together!

Book Recommendations

Gender Queer : a memoir / by Maia Kobabe ; colors by Phoebe Kobabe

The Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky

Bridge to Terabithia / Katherine Paterson ; illustrated by Donna Diamond

The Library Vault Blog

https://thelibraryvault.com/2025/06/02/researching-a-middletown-pride-pioneer/

Bklyn Public Library: Interview with Maia Kobabe 

https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/interview-maia-kobabe

MSNBC: Interview w/ Stephen Chbosky
https://www.msnbc.com/ali-velshi/watch/-velshibannedbookclub-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-by-stephen-chbosky-199844421994

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In honor of Women’s History Month, we are delighted to share this exciting conversation with you. Christy and Briana sit down with a very special woman in our community, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz! In this chat, you'll learn about the many roles fulfilled by the lieutenant governor; including, serving as Acting Governor when Governor Lamont is out of state, presiding over the State Senate, and serving as Chair of the Governor's Council on Women and Girls. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz shares why Connecticut is among the best places for women and girls and for raising a family. We'll discuss exciting initiatives happening within the state and important ways to get involved. We'll even dive into CT's status as the Pizza Capital of the U.S. Starting March 14, you can cast your vote for the best pizzerias in CT, the top 100 will appear on the Pizza Capital Pizza Trail. Join us to celebrate women and girls, Connecticut, public libraries, and, of course, pizza! 

Helpful Links:

https://portal.ct.gov/governor/working-groups/governors-council-on-women-and-girls?language=en_US

https://irisct.org/

https://ctvisit.com/pizzatrailvote

Book & Film Recommendations

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

The Womenby Kristin Hannah

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The Six Triple Eight PG-13 2024 ‧ War/Drama 

This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
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Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US