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This week we’re hoping to keep you warm with hot reads. Our hosts discuss hot books coming out soon that we’re excited for as well as newish books that are a little (or a lot!) steamy. Some major authors have new books coming out and there’s even a new collaborative book featuring major authors. Tune in to also hear about books that may not be on your sizzle radar.

Books we discussed in this episode

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What’s Next?

The next episode of The Bookmark drops January 29, 2024!

Previous Episodes

• The Bookmark S5E17: Local 2023 book picks
• The Bookmark S5E16: Best books of 2023
• The Bookmark S5E15: Winter reading plans
• The Bookmark S5E14: Unboxing More ARCs
• The Bookmark S5E13: Unboxing advance reader copies

Meet your Hosts

Autumn Friedli, Chris Blocker and Miranda Ericsson relish talking books with recurring readers and special guests from the library and community in The Bookmark.

Thanks for listening! We love to hear from listeners.

The post The Bookmark S5 E18: Hot reads for cold weather appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

High Five written by Anna Rubi & illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Get ready for the high five contest! Stretch those fingers and learn hand slapping with style. This is a hilarious, interactive book that begs to be read again. And again.

Something Stinks! by Jonathan Fenske

Eww! What is that smell? Readers are encouraged to help skunk locate the disgusting smell with laughs along the way!

Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance! by Herve Tullet​

​​Kids bursting with energy? Here’s the perfect book for them! The book is a ​dance floor and hands are the dancers. Bold colors, shapes and motion encourage active participation.

How to Talk Like a Bear written by Charlie Grandy & illusrated by Zlex G. Griffiths

Follow this funny how-to-guide on bear speak. You’ll be fluent in no time!

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The post Great Read Alouds: Can’t sit still appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

My taste in music is all over the place, but some of my favorites are songs I can “dance” to while driving, cooking or cleaning. Here’s a look into some of the albums I’ve been listening to in the car and at home, while I am dance-cleaning (or cooking or driving) like no one is watching. 

Use Me by Pvris Hoopla / CD 

Pvris is a new-to-me find. I still have only listened to their third album, released August 2020, simply because I have not tired of these songs yet, especially the first half of the album.

The opening track “Gimme a Minute” starts slow but builds to a fun beat and a very dance-able chorus. The lyrics are easy to really belt out in the car. Where the second track gives me hints of early Tegan and Sara and a heavier alt-pop lean. The song “Stay Gold” is a pop-y, groovy bop reminding me of Rilo Kiley circa Under the Blacklight. ”Good to Be Alive” is more reflective, less dance party, with lyrics that really hit some days:  

Lost big dreams that I really don’t need
Everything I love’s gonna find a way to leave
Got good friends that I never can see
Always on the run when their plans are free 

We get a couple more fun dance tracks before the album takes a quieter turn, with dreamier tones, more wistful lyrics and acoustic guitar. The album ends with the sultry “Use Me” and the dance-beat track “Wish you Well.” 

Free Love by Sylvan Esso Hoopla 

Free Love is the third album from Sylvan Esso, an electro-pop duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn from North Carolina. Meath is part of the folk trio Mountain Man. Sanborn is the producer and bassist of Megafaun. Sylvan Esso has become one of my favorite listens, and Free Love exemplifies their unique sound. 

The album opens with one of their most minimalistic tracks with dreamy lyrics and looping that kicks off a slew of bouncy, synthy songs. This is where I recommend turning up the bass and the volume. “Ferris Wheel” is a super fun bop, recalling the carefree fun of summers when we were young. The energy of “Train” is infectious, filled with hand claps and clever wordplay. Sylvan Esso changes the vibe for slower, synth-heavy “Numb,” but still makes it a track I can’t help but dance to. The calmer vibes continue into “Free and Frequency,” which highlights Meath’s beautiful, dreamy vocals. 

The album is short, with the 10 tracks coming in at 30 minutes, but it manages to tackle a range of emotions and topics. ”Runaway” sounds like another synth-heavy, catchy dance song. However, the duo wrote it in response to their anxiety around gun violence at concerts. “Rooftop Dancing” has a sweet and simple sound, despite the samples, drum machine and vocal layers. “Make It Easy” ends the album, working like a bookend with the first song What If – minimalistic and slow-building.  Sylvan Esso continues to explore their unique sound in their most recent album No Rules Sandy.  

Vagabon by Vagabon Hoopla 

When I need a different vibe, self-titled album Vagabon is the answer. It’s a great choice for an easy drive with the windows down. This is the second album from Laetitia Tamko (stage name Vagabon) who wrote and produced the album. I found Vagabon by way of Courtney Barnett (whose first album is one of my all time favorites) because they toured together in 2018. 

Where her first release was a more guitar driven indie-rock album, this second album leans electro-pop – like Sylvan Esso, however, Vagabon is not filled with dance tracks. Vagabon begins and ends with the same song “Full Moon in Gemini.” The first track opens with Vagabon’s beautiful vocals as well as strings and synth beats. The last track is the same song minus the dream-pop sound performed primarily by indie band Monako.  

In the song “Flood” Vagabon’s deep voice drips over the synth sounds and beats. It reminds me of the moody mid-2000’s vibes of Imogen Heap/Frou Frou. “In a Bind” sits in the middle of the album, and the acoustic guitar, simple vocals and backing chorus act as a bit of an intermission from the more synthesized sound of tracks like “Secret Machine,” “Water Me Down,” and “Wits About You.”

“Please Don’t Leave the Table” and “Home Soon” are layered, ethereal and orchestral. Vagabon’s unique voice and delivery gives us songs full of emotion without being lyric heavy. 

Vagabon has called “Every Woman“ the thesis of her album. She said, “It’s an ode to all those who feel different and who actively search and fight for space.” Even though the song is soft and slow, it feels powerful and affirming. It’s the perfect ode for the women I know. 

Evening starts when I’m done
It won’t be long before
All the women I meet are tired
They just kick up prior
‘Cause we’re not afraid of the war we brought on
And we’re steady while holding on 

The post Music that makes you dance appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

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This episode we discuss the books our staff picked as the best books they read in 2023 and those books you, the community, picked as favorites in 2023. Looking over the lists, we’ve determined books by authors we have hosted usually take the top spots. Both lists are quite eclectic.

Autumn thinks of these books as the ones she keeps meaning to read and hasn’t gotten to yet. In addition to these books, her reading plans for the future include reading one book a month with the word “Autumn” in it. She welcomes suggestions, so hit us up at podcast@tscpl.org if you’ve got any recommendations.

The Bookmark podcast hosts picks for favorite book read in 2023 are as follows:
Chris – The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
Miranda – The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Autumn – Do Nothing by Celeste Ann Headley

Books we discussed in this episode

View complete list

View complete list

View complete list

View complete list

What’s Next?

The next episode of The Bookmark drops January 22, 2024!

Previous Episodes

• The Bookmark S5E17: Local 2023 book picks
• The Bookmark S5E16: Best books of 2023
• The Bookmark S5E15: Winter reading plans
• The Bookmark S5E14: Unboxing More ARCs
• The Bookmark S5E13: Unboxing advance reader copies

Meet your Hosts

Autumn Friedli, Chris Blocker and Miranda Ericsson relish talking books with recurring readers and special guests from the library and community in The Bookmark.

Thanks for listening! We love to hear from listeners.

The post The Bookmark S5E17: Local 2023 book picks appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Past Lives (Korean, drama, 2023)

Director: Celine Song
Stars: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro

Synopsis:  Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week. They confront notions of destiny, love and the choices that make a life in this heartrending modern romance.

Awards: 50 wins and 153 nominees, including nomination for Golden Globes Best Motion Picture Non-English Language
$21 million Box Office Sales (world)

Four Daughters (Arabic Documentary 2023)

Director:  Kaouther Ben Hania
Stars: Olfa Hamrouni, Eya Chikhaoui & Nour Karoui

Synopsis:  This riveting exploration of rebellion, memory and sisterhood reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters. The film unpacks a complex family history through intimate interviews and artful reenactments to examine how the Tunisian woman’s two eldest were radicalized by Islamic extremists. Casting professional actresses as the missing daughters, along with acclaimed Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabri as Olfa, award-winning director Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin) restages pivotal moments in the family’s life. These scenes are interwoven with confessions and reflections from Olfa and her younger daughters.

The film offers the women agency to tell their own stories and captures moments of joy, loss, violence and heartache. Four Daughters is a compelling portrait of five women and a unique and ambitious work of nonfiction cinema that explores the nature of memory, the weight of inherited trauma, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

Awards: 9 wins & 22 nominations including Best Documentary and Best Writing
1.5 million Box Office Sales (world)

Godland (Icelandic drama 2023)

Director: Hlynur Palmason
Stars: Elliott Hove, Ingvar Sigurosson & Vic Sonne

Synopsis: The struggle between the strictures of religion and humankind’s brute animal nature plays out amid the beautifully forbidding landscapes of remote Iceland. This is a stunning psychological epic from director Hlynur Pálmason. In the late 19th century, Danish priest Lucas made the perilous trek to Iceland’s southeastern coast to establish a church. There the arrogant man of God finds his resolve tested as he confronts the harsh terrain, temptations of the flesh, and being an intruder in an unforgiving land. What unfolds is a transfixing journey into the heart of colonial darkness that’s attuned to both the majesty and the terrifying power of the natural world.

Awards: 18 wins and 38 nominations including Best International Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematography
1.5 million Box Office Sales (world)

Reveries of a Solitary Stroller (Italian mystery animation 2014, released to DVD in 2023)

Director:  Paolo Gaudio
Stars: Luca Lionello, Lorenzo Monaco & Nicoletta Cefaly

Synopsis: When a young student discovers a fascinating and unfinished manuscript about a child lost in the woods, he finds himself on a unexpected dark journey that will change not only him but the past itself.

Three characters in three different ages are united by a dream of freedom and a small masterpiece of literature. A journey through the mysterious and timeless aspirations, sufferings and “reveries” of a poet, of a young student and a child lost in the woods.

Awards:  5 wins and 23 nominations – Best Animation

Blue Moon (Romanian drama 2022)

Director: Alina Grigore

Stars: Ioana Chitu, Mircea Postelnicu, Mircea Silaghi and Vlad Ivanov

Synopsis:  While struggling to achieve higher education Irina metamorphoses from the victim into the abuser. Irina is struggling to escape the violence of her extended dysfunctional family. She’s working to achieve higher education in Bucharest, far away from her mountain village.

Awards:  4 wins and 10 nominations including Best Debut Film, Best Feature Film, Best Actor

The post The Reel World: Fresh award-winning international films appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

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We’re reviewing the best books from last year by going through the Goodreads Best Books of 2023. Our hosts look category by category, enthusiastically discussing the books we’ve read and those we can’t wait to read. We found several surprises in the rankings and there are changes in Goodreads Best Books categories this year as well. Which are your favorites and which are you adding to your to be read list?

Books we discussed in this episode

View complete list

What’s Next?

The next episode of The Bookmark drops January 15, 2024!

Previous Episodes

• The Bookmark S5E17: Local 2023 book picks
• The Bookmark S5E16: Best books of 2023
• The Bookmark S5E15: Winter reading plans
• The Bookmark S5E14: Unboxing More ARCs
• The Bookmark S5E13: Unboxing advance reader copies

Meet your Hosts

Autumn Friedli, Chris Blocker and Miranda Ericsson relish talking books with recurring readers and special guests from the library and community in The Bookmark.

Thanks for listening! We love to hear from listeners.

The post The Bookmark S5E16: Best books of 2023 appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

A hobby is “an activity done regularly in one’s leisure for pleasure.” Find what you enjoy doing and get good at it! Pick up tips and tricks, discover new approaches, and practice, practice, practice! The library has resources to inspire and coach as you develop your interests. If it’s something you enjoy, it will be fulfilling and rewarding!

Read on for great books to read as you consider your hobby options.

Dynamite Kids Cooking School by Dana Bowen

This cookbook serves up great skills for chefs of all ages. It includes 45 pages of cooking skills and tips, a glossary of terms for learners, and of course, delicious kid-tested recipes that teach culinary skills while allowing creativity to please every palate.

Candlekeep Mysteries

Find 17 unique Dungeons and Dragons campaigns that include all of the content you’ll need to run a single two-to-four hour game with your friends. This is a book to help you perfect existing Dungeon Master skills. Use it in conjunction with the D&D Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s Guide to develop and run your own exciting campaigns. It’ll be like throwing a natural 20!

The Kids’ Guide to Digital Photography by Jenni Bidner

Digital cameras are easy to use but taking a great photograph is much more than simple point and shoot. The Kids Guide is the best how-to book on digital imaging for for kids, It it uses energetic photos and easy-to-follow steps that show kids how to frame, focus on and use flash to capture an image. Then it teaches how to crop, manipulate and download pictures. You’ll find 15 hands-on projects, like turning snapshots into puzzles, photo magnets, and digital scrapbooks, that will bring any budding photographer into sharp focus.

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The post Kid Tested, Librarian Approved: Discover a new hobby appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Before she was America’s Child she was simply Polly; delighted as any 12-year-old would to be having a sleepover with her friends. Polly, Kate and Gillian would experiment with makeup, giggle, eat pizza and ice cream, and stay up late. But their innocent fun was shattered when a stranger with a knife broke into the Klaas home in Petaluma, California, and abducted Polly. 

The kidnapping of Polly Klaas on October 1, 1993, in her own home, by a stranger, shocked not only Petaluma, but all of America. Her story was everywhere: America’s Most Wanted, backs of milk cartons, People magazine, an MTV video. Celebrities, including former Petaluma resident Winona Ryder, donated money and time to help find Polly. The pressure was on the local police partnering with the FBI to bring Polly home before it was too late. 

The Polly Klaas investigation was unique and pioneering in many ways. It was the first time a missing person flyer was transmitted digitally. It was the first time fluorescent powder and an alternate light source were used at an FBI crime scene. The investigation also offered lessons in how not to do things. The harmful way Kate and Gillian were subjected to polygraphs and harsh interrogation changed how child witnesses were questioned. 

In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross is the definitive history of the Polly Klaas kidnapping. With unprecedented access to files and interviews – Cross is the daughter-in-law of the FBI agent in charge of the investigation – she meticulously reconstructs an investigation that is still used as a case study today. But Cross does much more than relay the nuts and bolts of an investigation, she sensitively and respectfully tells Polly’s story and how her abduction affected her family and friends, the investigators, and all of America.   

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The post Lost in the Stacks: In Light of All Darkness appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Recently, I cheered for her as she brought her family to court to speak her truth and take back control of her life. Honestly, I thought I would be content to hear about this book from others and read some excerpts. However, I heard so many good reviews from other readers that I decided to check it out.

Connecting with Britney

I was surprised by how hard Spears’s story hit me, right from the first chapter. She started out as a little girl in Louisiana who loved to be outside and loved to sing. Spears was talented in music and dance. From a young age she took classes several times a week to improve. She grew up with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty at home. Early on she learned performing for others brought her positive attention. Spears remembers wanting people to look at her, and love her, and also wanting to hide away and be alone. She has continued to struggle with those opposing wishes throughout her life.  

Britney Spears the pop star is a character in a 24/7 performance. However, Britney Spears the daughter, sister, friend and mother is a real person who has been through the wringer. I really related to passages where she described the joy and exhaustion of young motherhood, or the gut-wrenching pain of being betrayed by people she trusted. There were times I felt like I was having a good cry with a friend who just needed to let it out. Verdict: if you enjoy personal stories of triumph over challenges, you’ll find plenty to admire in The Woman in Me. 

Celebrity memoirs are incredibly popular right now, so you have a lot to choose from if you want to read more true stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Here are some top picks recommended by our staff and community of readers over and over again.  

Going There by Katie Couric

In this memoir, the iconic media star discusses her professional and personal life. Couric discusses losing her husband at a young age, her historic turn as anchor of the CBS Evening News and experiences dealing with gender inequality. For more than 40 years Couric has been an iconic presence in the media world. In her brutally honest memoir, she reveals how she has balanced her professional and personal challenges. At work she was a media personality with intellectual curiosity and a desire to be taken seriously.  She had a lot to deal with including an eating disorder, sexism, the perils of celebrity and rebuilding her life with two young daughters after her husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer. Couric writes about the culture at CBS that was rife with gender inequality and predatory behavior. She also talks about the downfall of Matt Lauer. Couric narrates the audiobook herself!

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

Jeanette McCurdy was a child actress in the late ’90s into the 2000s. Her memoir, published in 2022, continued to be one of the most talked about celebrity memoirs this year. McCurdy was 6 years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star.

McCurdy would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what her mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. Her mom even showered her until McCurdy was 16. McCurdy shared everything with her mom – her diaries, email and all her income. In I’m Glad My Mom Died McCurdy recounts all this in unflinching detail. She also chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true.

When McCurdy was cast in a new Nickelodeon series iCarly, she was thrust into fame. Though her mom was ecstatic, McCurdy was riddled with anxiety, shame and self-loathing. These emotions manifested into eating disorders, addiction and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only got worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother died of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, McCurdy embarked on recovery and decided for the first time in her life what she really wants. McCurdy narrates the audiobook herself.

Spare by Prince Harry

Prince Harry’s memoir begins with a reminder that “Spare” is actually what his family called him. Spare tells Prince Harry’s story from his perspective. It’s clear he’s been waiting to speak his truth for a very long time. Prince Harry shares about life in the spotlight and what it’s like to live by Royal rules. He also talks about his personal struggle to come to terms with the loss of his mother and to find a life of purpose and love. Prince Harry reads the audiobook himself, and his voice reminds me of English author Neil Gaiman, so I highly recommend listening if you can.

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham

If you’re looking for a lighter story, laugh a little with Lauren Graham. The star of the iconic early 2000s show Gilmore Girls shares essays about her childhood, experiences in Hollywood, and her time with Gilmore Girls. Graham reads the audiobook herself and she’s hilarious.

Graham said, “This book contains some stories from my life: the awkward growing-up years, the confusing dating years, the fulfilling work years, and what it was like to be asked to play one of my favorite characters again. Also included: tales of living on a houseboat, meeting guys at awards shows, and that time I was asked to be a butt model. A hint: all three made me seasick.”

Battle of Ink and Ice by Darrell Hartman

Sensationalism in the media is nothing new. For a different take on media frenzy, read about the 60-year saga of frostbite and fake news that followed the race to the North Pole. Newspapers of the time stopped at nothing to get and sell the story. In the fall of 1909, a pair of bitter contests captured the world’s attention. The American explorers Robert Peary and Frederick Cook both claimed to have discovered the North Pole. This sparked a vicious feud that was unprecedented in international scientific and geographic circles.

At the same time, the rivalry between two powerful New York City newspapers – the storied Herald and the ascendant Times – fanned the flames of the polar controversy. Each paper financially committed itself to an opposing explorer and fought desperately to defend him. The Herald was owned and edited by James Gordon Bennett, Jr. Bennett was an eccentric playboy whose nose for news was matched only by his appetite for debauchery and champagne. The Times was published by Adolph Ochs, son of Jewish immigrants. Ochs’s had improbably rescued the paper from extinction and turned it into an emerging powerhouse. The battle between Cook and Peary would have enormous consequences for both newspapers and the future of corporate media.

Battle of Ink and Ice presents a frank portrayal of Arctic explorers – brave men who both inspired and divided the public. It also sketches a vivid portrait of the newspapers that funded, promoted, narrated and often distorted their exploits. The book includes an unjustly overlooked chapter in the origin story of the modern New York Times. By turns tragic and absurd, the book brims with contemporary relevance. It touches on themes of class, celebrity, the ever-quickening news cycle, and the benefits and pitfalls of an increasingly interconnected world.

The post While you wait for The Woman In Me appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.