Book Lounge by Libby

Latest Episodes:

Getting educated on The Teachers with Alexandra Robbins Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

On today's episode, Jill is joined by investigative journalist Alexandra Robbins to discuss her new book The Teachers. Told over the course of one school year, The Teachers follows three teachers from across the United States as they navigate the classroom. Alexandra discusses the challenges face in the classroom -- and speaks from her own experience as a substitute.

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Greek Myth Retellings Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Looking for ideas for the "Greek Myth Retellings" category of the Professional Book Nerds 2023 Reading Challenge? Emma, Joe, and Jill share their recommendations if you're in the mood for a classic Greek myth with a twist. They also chat about Sailor Moon, Hadestown, the influence of BookTok, the Clytemnestra fire, and more.

Emma’s Picks:

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Hollywood
Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson
We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley

Joe’s Picks:

Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Jill’s Picks:

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Dark Olympus series by Katee Roberts
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Circe by Madeline Miller
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Blood of Troy by Claire Andrews
Storm of Olympus by Claire Andrews

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace here.

We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com.

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GUESS THAT CLASSIC Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

On today's episode, we're trying something new. Join us for everyone's favorite game, GUESS THAT CLASSIC! We wrote up descriptions of classic literature in modern day gossip, and then we quizzed each other. Guess along with us or sit back and enjoy the hot tea!

(To avoid spoilers, titles are not included in the episode description)

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.

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Craft and Complex Characters with Samantha Shannon Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Emma chats with returning guest, Samantha Shannon, to talk about A Day of Fallen Night, returning to the Roots of Chaos world, crafting complex female characters, immortality, dragons, and Katniss Everdeen.

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon

Inferno by Catherine Cho

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace here.

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March's Biggest Books Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Joe, Emma, and Jill are back to share the books they're most looking forward to in March 2023. They chat about witch trials, séances, and of course, quote Twilight. Come for the books, stay for the silly goofy moods.

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Emma’s Picks:

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Paris by Paris Hilton
Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai
Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas
The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland

Jill’s Picks:

Weyward by Emilia Hart
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Flux by Jinwoo Chong
Woman of the Year by Darcey Bell
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
The Teachers by Alexandra Robbins
Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls

Joe’s Picks:

Community Board by Tara Conklin
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
The Jump by Brittney Morris
The Memory Eater by Rebecca Mahoney
The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores
In Nightfall by Suzanne Young
Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.

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Final Girls, Sequels, and Slasher Films with Stephen Graham Jones Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

On today's episode, horror writer Stephen Graham Jones comes on to discuss his latest book Don't Fear the Reaper, the sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw. Stephen and Jill discuss the important role sequels play in a trilogy, the SCREAM film franchise, final girls, and, of course, his iconic character Jade Daniels.

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Books We Can't Stop Recommending Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

When you think about it, we all have a list of books at the ready to recommend. Very often, these are the same books to new people. Today, we've checked our Goodreads lists, Libby Borrowed Smart Tag, and most recent texts with book buds, and we’re ready to share the books we ALWAYS share when someone asks what they should read next.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Marissa’s Titles:

The Transall Saga by Gary Paulson
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden

Joe’s Titles:

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (and From Here to Eternity) by Caitlin Doughty
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
The Diviners by Libba Bray

Jill’s Titles:

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Emma’s Titles:

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Sadie by Courtney Summers
You series by Caroline Kepnes
Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace here.

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Hot Girl Con Artists with Rachel Koller Croft Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Emma is joined by Rachel Koller Croft to discuss her debut novel, Stone Cold Fox! They also chat about villains as main characters, the 1%, found family, and the difference between writing for the screen and writing for the page.

SPOILER NOTE: Emma does ask Rachel a MAJOR spoiler at the 20 minute mark. If you haven't read the book yet and don't want to know, skip ahead to 22:35!

Books mentioned in this episode:

Mean Baby by Selma Blair
The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Spare by Prince Harry
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace here.

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Diving Into Dystopian Reads Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Today on the pod, the Nerds are offering up some Dystopian Reads to tickle your fancy. Whether you're brand new to the genre or you've already survived a Hunger Games (or two), there are picks here for everyone!

Titles Mentioned in this Episode:

Joe’s Titles:

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn
Want by Cindy Pon
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Jill’s Titles:

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood

Emma’s Titles:

The Selection series by Kiera Cass
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Here are some foundational/classic dystopian titles and twenty-tens heyday titles mentioned, but not discussed in this episode:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
1984 by George Orwell
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Legend by Marie Lu
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace here.

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The Hunger Games Retrospective (Part 1) Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

New year, new retrospective! We are back with another deep-dive into a favorite series of the past, starting with Book 1 of the Hunger Games trilogy. Joe, Emma, and Jill answer important questions such as Where would Cleveland be located in Panem? and, of course, Who would you choose: Gale versus Peeta? They discuss differences between the book and movie, favorite scenes, and more.

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