The Books We Loved

Today Olivia and Manda tackle Willa Cather's, My Antonia, a story set in the American Midwest during the late 19th/early 20th century. This book was the final installment of our summer 2025 book club; if you missed the other books covered, go back and listen to:
Summer Book Club: The Joy Luck Club
Summer Book Club: The Color Purple 
 

Cassie (from the Adult Dept.) joins Olivia and Manda today for a discussion of books that take place at boarding schools. Many of the books discussed appear on this list:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/boarding-school 

The ladies are joined by TPL Director, Emily Dumas, to share some great back-to-school picture books. As promised in the episode:
Chrysanthemum, Kevin Henkes
Wemberly Worried, Kevin Henkes
The Invisible Boy, Ludwig
Each Kindness, Woodson
On the Day You Begin, Woodson
The Pigeon Must Go to School, Mo Willems
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, Vernick
We Don't Eat our Classmates, Higgins
If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School — DON'T!, Parsley
Fish Don't Go to School, Pilutti
Yeti is Not Ready for School, Carter
Kitty vs. Kindergarten, Freeman

Today Olivia and Manda tackle Amy Tan's, The Joy Luck Club, a story focusing on themes of mothers and daughters, the immigrant experience, and hope. Don't forget to read Willa Cather's, My Antonia, in preparation for next month's final installment of TBWL's Summer Reading series! 

Olivia and Manda are joined by Hannah (from Community Engagement), for a rousing conversation about nonfiction books that are so fascinating that they read like fiction. Books chatted about today include:
Stiff: the Curious Life of Human Cadavers, Mary Roach
Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist, Jasmin Graham
Soul of an Octopus, Sy Montgomery
Unbroken: a World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption, Laura Hillenbrand
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me, Bess Kalb
Lab Girl, Hope Jahren
Good Talk, Mira Jacob
Fun Home, Alison Bechdel 
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
The Devil in the White City, Eric Larson
The Poisoner's Handbook, Deborah Blum
The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot

Today Manda and Karen (from Adult Services) discuss Lois Duncan's 1970s teen thriller, and the 1997 movie adaptation, of I Know What You Did Last Summer. This episode might have you looking over your shoulder, or into the trunk of your car...

Join Olivia and Manda as they celebrate the beloved classic movie, Back to the Future, in honor of it's 40th anniversary this summer. 

Today Olivia and Manda share their favorite books featuring exotic (or not too far flung) locales. We'll spin the globe, and where it stops, nobody knows!

Olivia and Manda are joined by repeat guest, Angie, for a robust discussion of Alice Walker's The Color Purple, as part of the podcast's Summer Reading series. Be sure to read or listen to, The Joy Luck Club, in preparation for July's Summer Reading title! 

We sit down with author Kayla Ancrum to ask her about her writing, her life, and her writing life. 
Learn more about Kayla and her most recent book, The Corruption of Hollis Brown, by visiting her website. 
 
K. Ancrum, is an author of award winning contemporary YA notably THE WICKER KING, DARLING and the critically acclaimed ICARUS. K. is a Chicago native passionate about diversity and representation in young adult fiction. She currently writes most of her work in the lush gardens of the Chicago Art Institute.