Librarians Carrie Anderson and Sarah Lane join the podcast today to discuss their favorite books of 2019.
Carrie's Books
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, by Casey Cep
Carrie's review: Harper Lee fans will love how it delves into her psyche and the history of her writing life. There's a lot of interesting history here too, such as politics of the time in Alabama, and the history of life insurance. Cep tells all of this in a very engaging way.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, by H.G. Parry
Carrie's review: This novel takes place in a world a lot like ours, except for one thing - certain people can bring characters out from books out into the real world. The result is a wonderful book that I recommend for bibliophiles of all types. It's full of wit and swashbuckling adventure, and it has real heart.
Twenty-One Truths about Love, by Matthew Dicks
Carrie's review: This book follows Daniel and Jill Mayrock. Daniel has just quit his job to open up a bookshop when they find out his wife Jill is pregnant. The book has a unique format - it's written from Dan's perspective through his lists. I loved this book. Books written in unusual formats can be gimmicky, but this one is not. It works really well for the story and it holds its own.
Sarah's Books
Bromance Book Club, by Lyssa Kay Adams
Sarah's review: This was my favorite romance book of the year. It turns the romance genre on its head without talking away any of the heartfelt sentiment you want in a romance book. This book hits you in all the feels while still being realistic and down to earth. I loved hearing men talk about wooing one's wife through communication and emotional depth.
Circe, by Madeline Miller
Sarah's review: Technically this book was published in 2018, but Madeline Miller came to Des Moines as part of AViD in 2019, so I'm counting it. I listened to the audiobook; it is riveting and beautifully narrated.
Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts
Sarah's review: This book tells of the story of Maude Gage Baum, the real-life wife of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum. Though the book is fiction, Letts weaves nonfiction elements into her writing, creating a truly unique narrative. Finding Dorothy is an engrossing narrative about a little-known woman in history.
Beyond the Shelves Episode 3: Cross-Genre Picks
DMPL Podcast: AViD Author Sarah Penner
Beyond the Shelves E2: AViD and Favorite Book-to-Film Adaptations
Sara Broers, author of '100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die'
Beyond the Shelves E1: Reading Resolutions
Sean Adams, Author of 'The Thing in the Snow' and Moderator for Author Spotlight: Stephen Markley
Iowa Children's Author Victor D.O. Santos
Atmospheric Book Picks with Rebecca
Iowa Author Award Honoree Heather Gudenkauf
Banned Books Week with the ACLU of Iowa
2022 All-Iowa Reads Author Rachel Mans McKenny
AViD Author Karin Slaughter
Spark Stories: Dr. Richard L. Deming
'Baking Blue Ribbons' with Kay Fenton Smith
Series Starters with Haley
Chuy Renteria, author of 'We Heard It When We Were Young'
Romance Read Recs from Book Chat
DMPL Podcast: AViD Author Jason Mott
Beth Hoffman, Author of 'Bet the Farm'
AViD Author Amanda Montell
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