AViD author Robert Kolker joins us on the DMPL Podcast! We talk about how he came to know the Galvin family, the subject of his newest, critically acclaimed book Hidden Valley Road. Kolker also discusses the challenges of structuring of narrative nonfiction books and reveals which classic novel he just completed and loved. Show Notes Kolker's Books Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family (2020) Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery (2013) Books Mentioned by Kolker Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx, by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc These Truths, by Jill Lepore War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky Mike Nichols: A Life, by Mark Harris Kolker's Favorite Self-Authored Pieces "The World’s Smallest Ukulele," Bloomberg Businessweek, May 12, 2016 "Nine Blocks from Home," New York Magazine, July 7, 2006 

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7 Questions with Robert Kolker

 Iowa author Darcy Maulsby is the guest on the latest DMPL Podcast! Her newest book, Classic Restaurants of Des Moines and Their Recipes, is a culinary history of Des Moines restaurants During the podcast, Maulsby and host Aaron Gernes discuss restaurants of days' past, including Babe's, Johnny & Kay's, King Ying Low, and more. It's a must-read for anyone who want's to feel nostalgia as well as those who are interested in Des Moines history. The Italian influences of Des Moines Famous Des Moines figures such as Babe Bisignano and Edna Griffin The fall and rise of downtown through the restaurants What Des Moines' culinary future holds and much more! Show Notes Classic Restaurants of Des Moines and Their Recipes on our shelves Other Darcy Maulsby books on our shelves Darcy Maulsby | website Darcy Maulsby | Facebook Darcy Maulsby | Instagram Darcy Maulsby | Twitter 

Darcy Maulsby, author of 'Classic Restaurants of Des Moines and Their Recipes'

Theresa and Lynn join us today on the DMPL Podcast! The two Library Assistants love the DMPL Reading Challenge, and they've picked three books each to discuss - one in each of three different categories. Show Notes Theresa's Books Educated, by Tara Westover - A book based on its cover My Antonia, by Willa Cather - A book she enjoyed in school One Summer: America, 1927, by Bill Bryson - A book about a significant historical event Lynn's Books Vesper Flights, by Helen Macdonald - A book of essays or short stories The Widows of Malabar Hill, by Sujata Massey - A book recommended by a Book Chat librarian Perestroika in Paris, by Jane Smiley - A book with a non-human main character(s) Other Related Links DMPL Reading Challenge DMPL Express Book Chat 

DMPL Podcast: Reading Challenge Book Picks

Show Notes Adam Higginbotham | Website Adam Higginbotham | Twitter Midnight in Chernobyl Books and stories discussed: M.R. James: Collected Ghost Stories and Ghost Stories of an Antiquary "Life at the Top," by Adam Higginbotham (The New Yorker, February 4, 2013) Naples '44, by Norman Lewis (GoodReads link) The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, by Robert Caro How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, by Clint Smith 

DMPL Podcast: AViD Author Adam Higginbotham

Janeé and Rebecca, with the Book Chat team, join host Aaron to chat about their favorite books this year. What made them laugh? What made them cry? What made 2020 a great year for reading? Listen to the podcast to find out, and be sure to check out the show notes to see other books they loved that they didn't discuss. Show Notes Book Chat Janeé's Books Picture Books I Am Every Good Thing, by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James Anti-Racist Baby, by Ibram X. Kandi We Will Rock Our Classmates, by Ryan T. Higgins Middle Grade Class Act, by Jerry Craft Twins, by Varian Johnson The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love, and Truth, by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson Teen Fiction Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel, by Jason Reynolds The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen Rebecca's Books This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T.J. Klune The Only Good Indians, by Stephen Graham Jones Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Are You Listening?, by Tillie Walden One to Watch, by Kate Stayman-London Frogcatchers, by Jeff Lemire Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas All My Mother’s Lovers, by Ilana Masad 

Book Chat's Favorite Books of 2020

It's the first episode in our latest AViD Podcast Series! Kate Quinn in answering seven questions about her books, what she reads, how she writes, and more. After you're done listening to the podcast, be sure to register for her AViD event next Wednesday, December 9, at 7:00 PM! You can do so at the AViD Page below. Show Notes AViD Page Kate's Info Kate Quinn | Website Kate Quinn | Facebook Kate Quinn | Instagram Kate Quinn | Twitter Kate's Books The Huntress (2019) Ribbons of Scarlet (2019) The Alice Network (2017) The Empress of Rome Saga Lady of the Eternal City (#4) (2015) Empress of the Seven Hills (#3) (2012) Mistress of Rome (#2) (2011) Daughters of Rome (#1) (2010) The Borgia Chronicles The Lion and the Rose (#2) (2014) The Serpent and the Pearl (#1) (2014) Kate's Recommendations Empire of Gold, by S.A. Chakraborty In This House of Brede, by Rumer Godden Conclave, by Robert Harris Munich, by Robert Harris Island Queen, by Vanessa Riley (to be released July 2021) Half Sick of Shadows, by Laura Sebastian  

DMPL AViD Podcast: 7 Questions with Kate Quinn

Eisner-nominated artist Scott Chantler joins us on the DMPL Podcast today to discuss his newest graphic novel Bix. It's a biography of Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke, a Davenport native and a revered member of the Golden Age of Jazz in the 1920s and 1930s.  Chantler and host Aaron Gernes talk about Chatler's creative process in writing graphic novels and about the trials and tribulations of Bix's life that lead to his tragic death at an early age. Show Notes Bix on library shelves Other Scott Chantler books at DMPL Scott Chantler | Website Scott Chantler | Instagram Scott Chantler | Facebook Scott Chantler | YouTube 

DMPL Podcast: Scott Chantler, Author of 'Bix'

Gen and Katie from the Book Chat team join the podcast today to talk about books that give them "all the feels." They both picked one "swoony" book, one "scary" book, and one "funny" book to share. Book Picks The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, by Abbi Waxman The Only Good Indians, by Stephen Graham Jones The New One, by Mike Birbiglia A Duke in Shining Armor, by Loretta Chase Sequel: Ten Things I Hate About the Duke The Murders of Molly Southbourne, by Tade Thompson Sequel: The Survival of Molly Southbourne S***, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema, by Lindy West 

Book Picks: All the Feels

On today's podcast, host Aaron Gernes talks with Iowa author Debra Landwehr Engle, whose novel Twenty came out this past spring. It follows an Iowa woman who makes an important decision about her life after grieving the losses of her daughter, mother, and marriage. Show Notes Twenty in the catalog Other books by Debra Landwehr Engle Debra Landwehr Engle | Website | Facebook | Twitter 

DMPL Podcast: Debra Landwehr Engle, author of 'Twenty'

On today's DMPL Podcast, Janeé with the Book Chat team is here to discuss her favorite genre, horror. She's picked out six books - two children's, two YA/Teen, and two adult titles - to chat with us about today. Show Notes Book Chat DMPL Express Janeé's Picks Clown in a Cornfield, by Adam Ceasar Harrow Lake, by Kat Ellis Hide and Seeker, by Daka Hermon The Puppet's Payback and Other Chilling Tales, by Mary Downing Hahn The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, by Grady Hendrix Killadelphia Vol. 1: Sins of the Father, written by Rodney Barnes 

DMPL Podcast: Scary Stories with Janeé

On today's podcast, host Aaron Gernes is joined by Iowa author S.C. Sherman. Earlier this year Sherman released Beer Money: A Tale of the Iowa City Beer Mafia, a historical fiction novel about the events that led up to the real-life Iowa City Beer Riots. Show Notes Borrow Beer Money from the library S.C. Sherman's Website S.C. Sherman | Facebook S.C. Sherman | Twitter 

S.C. Sherman, author of 'Beer Money: A Tale of the Iowa City Beer Mafia'

On the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with some great books by Latinx authors. Janeé is up first to talk about kid's books, and then we're joined by Elizabeth, who gives us some adult book selections: Show Notes Book Links Vamos! Let's Go Eat, by Raul the Third; illustrations by Elaine Bay We Are Not From Here, by Jenny Torres Sanchez Merci Suárez Changes Gears, by Meg Medina Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Undocumented Americans, by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Elizabeth's Other Book Picks: The Last Great Road Bum: A Novel by Héctor Tobar #ownvoices Fiction The Taste of Sugar by Marisel Vera Afterlife by Julia Alvarez A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia #ownvoices Nonfiction Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America by Maria Hinojosa More Than Ready: Be Strong and Be You... and Other Lessons for Women of Color on the Rise by Cecilia Muñoz Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration, Gangs, and Revolution in the Americas by Roberto Lovato Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo  Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America's Stolen Land by Noe Alvarez Upcoming Programs Calle Sur: Music and Bilingual Virtual Storytime/Calle Sur: Música, y Cuentos y Canciones Bilingües | September 24 | 4:00 PM Voting Rights in Iowa: Don't Be Intimidated, Vote | September 24 | 7:00 PM Flu Shot Clinic with Polk County Health | September 28 | 5:00 PM Teen Chefs: Homemade Tortillas with Marianela Blanco | September 30 | 5:30 PM Fall Book Bites | October 1 | 6:30 PM  

Book Picks: Latinx Heritage Month

Today on the podcast, Carrie recommends some books that are in non-traditional formats. This is one of the twelve categories in this year's ongoing DMPL Reading Challenge. Don't forget - it's not too late to sign up and take part in the Reading Challenge! Carrie's Picks Loving Vs. Virginia, by Patricia Hruby Powell They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei Dear Committee Members, by Julie Schumacker The Boy Next Door, by Meg Cabot Belonging, by Nora Krug The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo Events and Programs Mentioned: 2020 DMPL Reading Challenge Library Learning Bag Upcoming Program: Don't Be Intimidated, Vote 

Book Picks: Non-Traditional Formats

 Iowa author Kali White joins us on the newest edition of the DMPL Podcast. White's newest novel, The Monsters We Make, was released last month. It is set in Des Moines in the mid 1980s and is partially based on the real-life Des Moines Register paperboy disappearances of that time. You may know her from her previous works The Space Between and The Good Divide, which she wrote under the name Kali VanBaale. White and host Aaron Gernes talk about the intense research White did for the novel to ensure its accuracy, as well as why she decided to write under a new pen name.  NOTE: Spoilers for The Monsters We Make are discussed from 9:45-25:30. Show Notes Kali's Books The Monsters We Make (2020) - Borrow from the library The Good Divide (2016) - Borrow from the library The Space Between (2006) - Borrow from the library Kali Online Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Upcoming Events Upcoming Book Discussions Reid Forgrave Virtual Q & A 

DMPL Podcast: Kali White, author of 'The Monsters We Make'

On the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, Book Chat's Alissa joins us to discuss Magical Realism books. As Alissa says in the podcast, magical realism is "a realist fiction that blends magic into the everyday world," with deep roots Latin American literary traditions. Books Discussed on the Podcast The Astonishing Color of After, by Emily X.R. Pan When the Moon Was Ours, by Anna-Marie McLemore American Street, by Ibi Aanu Zoboi Alissa's Other Recommendations  The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern Don't Date Rosa Santos, by Nina Moreno With the Fire on High, by Elizabeth Acevedo The Night Tiger, by Yangsze Choo Bone Gap, by Laura Ruby Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie Summer of Salt, by Katrina Leno The Weight of Feathers, by Anna-Marie McLemore The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia 

Book Picks Podcast: Magical Realism

The official podcast of the Des Moines Public Library. Featuring interviews with authors, special guests to the library, your favorite library staff, and more!

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