Drinks in the Library Turns One Year Old!
Happy One Year Anniversary, Libration Nation! 🥳 One year ago, February 20, 2024 the very first episode of Drinks of the Library came into this world. I have so many thoughts on what this year has been like, but today I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.
To celebrate I’ve put together a “clip” episode 🎬, on sitcoms they would call it a “flashback” episode which sounds much more mysterious than clip, but makes far less sense for a podcast, so here we are.
I wish I could have gotten a part of every single episode because I’ve loved them all in different ways, but my apologies this was not possible (also clips from 50 episodes would have been like 3 hours long and none of y’all are listening to that).
I love you so much, thank you for supporting your local library, & me ❤️ Gigi
In this Episode
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger with James Hudson
Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel with Valerie Adachi
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros with Hannah Hauck
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl Gonzalez with Stephanie Lau
Four Thousand weeks by Oliver Burkeman with Rebecca Schinsky
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume with Jess Harshbarger
Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas with Joyce Miller
A Doubter’s Almanac by Ethan Canin with Marty Mooradian
Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! By Kate Bowler with Lisa Varga
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson with Beka Castagna
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara with Allison Schwalm
The Friday Night Club by Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and MJ Rose with Izzie Call
Dog Songs by Mary Oliver with Amanda Sue Creasey
Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang with Mary Jane French
Generation X by Douglas Coupland with David How
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Chronicles of Narnia Series by CS Lewis with Erin Surber
The Detective Josie Quinn Series by Lisa Regan with Kristin Miller
This week’s episode covers the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, a police procedural in a small town in Pennsylvania, and my guest this week is Kristin Miller. Kristin is an 80s baby who is an explorer at heart. She is a lifelong reader who recently returned to the US after living abroad in five different countries over nine years. She is now an elementary ESL teacher here in Virginia
Josie Quinn is a coffee fanatic getting drinks at her local coffee shop, so Kristin and I grabbed coffees from one of my favorite local coffee shops: Coco And Hazel!
In this Episode
The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan with Madison Schmidt
When I was a baby librarian there was not a book requested more than The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, and all the books that came after it in the series. I was so excited when this week’s guest wanted to talk about it!
Madison is a lover of history that hosts the history podcast It's a History Podcast that covers all things history. When she is not working on researching, recording, or editing, she has her nose in a book. While currently immersed in the “Romantasy” series of ACOTAR and Fourth Wing, Madison's love for fantasy started with the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series.
Having read the series all in one go, Madison has reread these books a number of times. They were an important part of her finding her love for fantasy, as well as furthering her love for reading.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks with Nancy Houser-Bluhm
This week we are discussing The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and take life to the next level level by Gay Hendricks. This book encourages readers to go beyond their internal limits, release outdated fears and learn a whole new set of powerful skills and habits to liberate authentic greatness. I am joined this week with author Nancy Houser-Bluhm.
Nancy Houser-Bluhm lived in the foothills west of Denver, Colorado for over 25 years with her husband and menagerie of pets. She hailed from Michigan but growing up watching Bonanza, led to a longing to go west.. They have journeyed back to Michigan and are creating a new “Bluhmerosa”. Years of rock climbing and skiing shifted to biking, skiing, yoga, breathing in nature; and daily doses of writing with a variety of groups. Her most recent novel, The Nickel Loop was released July 22, 2024
Drink
In Nancy’s latest book the character enjoys the classic Four Roses Bourbon so Nancy and I sipped on that as we talked!
In this Episode
Dramione Fanfiction with Jaclyn Wilkins
’m so excited to bring you something a little different—not a book, but a genre that’s new to me: FanFiction. Specifically, Dramione Fanfiction, which features stories pairing Harry Potter villain Draco Malfoy with Hermione Granger, the series’ female lead, heroine, and Harry’s BFF. In this episode, I’m joined by a fellow RVA book-lover, Jaclyn Wilkins, who explains to me (and you!) the ins and outs of the Dramione Fanfiction world.
Jaclyn is the owner of The Bookmark, RVA's online mobile bookstore! She’s a stay-at-home mom whose favorite hobby—reading—turned into her dream job. She loves fantasy and world-building books the most and is always happy to recommend them to her customers. In her store, you’ll find new releases, pre-loved books, and bookish merchandise, all available at local markets in Richmond, VA. You can find details about her next stop on her Instagram, @thebookmarkbox. She’s eager to meet more book besties, so be sure to stop by and chat with her about your favorite books!
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut with Kat McCleese
Today we’re stepping into the surreal, tragic, and darkly comedic world of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five—a story about war, time travel, and what it means to say, 'So it goes.'
My guest this week is Kat McClesse. Kat is an Archaeologist with her M.A. in Bioarchaeology and an amateur photographer. Slaughterhouse Five has been one of her favorite books since childhood and sparked a lifelong interest in activism and human rights. She's has a passion for horror and has driven her fiance insane with "too many books" (his words). They live in Tuckahoe, Virginia with their 2 cats.
The protagonist of this story is Billy Pilgrim, a veteran of WWII who becomes unstuck in time. An important moment in the story is where time is explained as a bug caught in amber, so we paired it with an “Amber Old Fashioned”
Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finley with Julia Marshel
Artist and author Julia Marshel is someone who sees the world through a lens of wonder and joy. From a young age, Julia discovered that if you look closely, the world reveals an infinite variety of amazing things. That same sense of discovery became a gift she and her wife, Claudia, shared with their three daughters, raising them to see and celebrate the beauty in nature. Her books How Many Will We Find? and My Friend the Maple Tree illustrate this love and her desire to pass it on to others.
Our drink this week is a Boulevardier, which I chose because of its beautiful red color. Interestingly enough, the red in Campari originally came from Carmine, which is one of the colors Julia talks about in the episode, yes - bug blood!
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown with Sonya Durney
Join us on this week’s library advocacy podcast as we discuss Daring Greatly by Brené Brown with Sonya Durney, librarian and champion for open educational resources. We explore the challenges in libraries today, from combating book bans to equitable access, and draw Brené Brown library inspiration from Sonya’s journey. Support local libraries at UniteAgainstBookBans.org.
Animorphs by KA Applegate with Fiona Fenn
Hello Libration Nation! This week we are discussing the classic series Animorphs by K.A. Applegate. Animorphs is a collection of 54 middle-grade books in which five young adults are gifted the power to morph into animals. It was a bit of a cult phenomenon when it was originally published in the late '90s and has recently seen a resurgence online.
My guest is Fiona Fenn. Fiona is an author of fantasy novels that put complicated “heroes” front and center. A fan of villains, redemption arcs, and intense explorations of healing in all its forms, her debut novel, The Crack at the Heart of Everything, is a love letter to every villain who wanted to do better but never got the chance.
I so enjoyed this conversation with Fiona, talking about the Animorphs series and her love for it, as well as her experience writing and publishing her first novel and everything that goes into this process.
Our drink this week is a Flying Saucer, as the Animorphs series begins with the kids meeting an alien who has flown to Earth.
The Good Life by Robert J. Waldinger and Marc S. Schulz with David Crowley
Hello Libration Nation! In this week’s episode I’m chatting with David Crowley, nonprofit leader and podcaster, about The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Mark Schultz. Over a glass of Longevity Cabernet Sauvignon, we explored the Harvard study’s core finding: strong, meaningful relationships are key to happiness and health. David shared insights from his work with Social Capital Inc., which combats social isolation, and his personal journey maintaining relationships throughout various phases of life. Together, we reflected on building deeper connections in a digital age.
David Crowley founded Social Capital Inc. (SCI) over 20 years ago in his hometown of Woburn, Massachusetts. Under his leadership, SCI has grown to serve communities across the region while continuing to make a difference in Woburn. Prior to SCI, David was the Executive Director of Boston-based Generations Inc. (now Literations). He has been involved in AmeriCorps since the program began in 1993, and served as the founding Director of the Kentucky Community Service Commission, which oversees the program for the state. David graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government. Unsure of his long term plans, and after many service activities in college, David set out to do a year of service in rural Kentucky, which began his career serving his community! In his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family, reading and walking nearby Horn Pond. He also shares his kitchen creations on his food & wine blog, Cooking Chat. He also hosts two podcasts: Cook Local, Eat Local and SCI's Cultivating Connections podcasts.
Drink
In this Episode
Cooking Chat (David’s Food & Wine Blog)
SCI’s Cultivating Connections Podcast
Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam
Recent NYT interview with Robert Putnam (not mentioned in the episode but really interesting read on loneliness)
Bird by Bird By Anne Lamott with Gigi Howard (Re-Release)
Librarian Gigi Howard gives her book recommendation of Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott’s book on writing.
Dog Songs by Mary Oliver with Amanda Sue Creasey
Dive into this week's Drinks in the Library as we explore Dog Songs by Mary Oliver with Amanda Sue Creasey, author, poet, and outdoor writer. Discover the meditative beauty of dogs, nature, and poetry, paired with Choice Organics Peppermint Tea—a soothing sip for a reflective journey. Perfect for dog lovers, poetry enthusiasts, and those seeking heartfelt inspiration. #BookPodcast
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy with Laura (LM) Elliott
Welcome back, Libration Nation! This week, join us as we dive into The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy, featuring award-winning author Laura Elliott, who shares insights from her historical novel Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves. Recorded at the Virginia Library Association Conference, Laura discusses Conroy's impact on her writing, and even shares his Iced Fruit Tea recipe! Tune in for a rich conversation on Southern storytelling, healing narratives, and Laura's latest work, Truth, Lies, and Questions in Between. If you loved this episode, please share, subscribe, and join us again!
Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn with Mary Jane French
Hello, Libration Nation! This week, we're diving into the vibrant world of "Paper Girls," an imaginative comic series by Brian K. Vaughn with artwork by Cliff Chiang. This series, which intertwines coming-of-age narratives with sci-fi elements, is a thrilling ride that takes us through time travel and interwoven destinies.
Joining me this week is comedian and bookseller Mary Jane French. Mary Jane has been performing Stand-up since she was 18-years-old. After starting her gender transition, she began cultivating material that captured her early experiences with transition and recorded it in a home-made special entitled Mary Jane French: Bearded Woman. Currently Mary Jane is producing comedy shows in Richmond, VA with Traverse Comedy.
This week, we indulged in a delightful drink choice: a warm, soothing apple cider, which is perfect as we slip further in our fall season, it’s a bit of a play on words, as Mary Jane explains, Apple products play a quirky role in the series. While ours was the classic non-alcoholic version, we can't forget to mention that apple ciders can be easily personalized with a splash of your favorite spirit, or simply enjoyed with a cinnamon stick for a spicy twist.
As always, if you enjoyed our lively discussion and want to help us grow our community, please share, like, review, and subscribe wherever you tune into our episodes. We appreciate your support and look forward to bringing more exciting conversations your way!
In this Episode
Garden Grove Brewing in Carytown
Bottoms Up Pizza in Shockoe Bottom
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series
Saga Series by Brian K Vaughn
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson with Grace Todd
Join us this Spooky Season on Libration Nation! In this chilling episode, host Grace Todd and I explore Shirley Jackson's classic, The Haunting of Hill House. Over Dark Manhattans, we dive into its eerie atmosphere, unsettling characters, and ghostly legacies. Perfect for horror fans, we blend humor with deep insights on female empowerment and family dynamics. Cheers to a frightfully good time!
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn with Christine O’Brien
Join us on "Drinks at the Library" as we dive into The Rose Code by Kate Quinn with special guest Christine O'Brien, a nurse and avid reader. Explore WWII codebreakers, their friendships, struggles, and historical significance. Paired with a rosé from Armitage, it's a perfect episode for book lovers and wine enthusiasts alike! Cheers!
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson with Helen Gabay
Join us this week on "V for Victory" Libration Nation as we dive into Erik Larson's gripping narrative, The Splendid and the Vile, exploring Winston Churchill’s pivotal first year as Prime Minister during dark times for the UK. Our guest, Helen Gabay from Richmond, Virginia, shares her passion for history, travel, and literature. With her unique insights and experiences, including her family's adventures to Winston Churchill's historic sites, Helen adds depth to our discussion. Plus, we’ll toast to history with a classic Gin Gimlet, made with Plymouth Gin—Churchill’s favorite! Don’t miss this engaging episode filled with history, drinks, and inspiration!
Generation X by Douglas Coupland with David How
Hello Libration Nation! Get ready for a 90s throwback as we dive into Generation X by Douglas Coupland. Joined by David How, a proud Canadian, father, and music lover, we explore how this book shaped his life. Plus, we’re sipping on a classic Canadian beer and clam. Grab your drink, settle in, and join us for a nostalgic chat on storytelling, music, and memories!
The Midwife by Jennifer Worth with Katie Dolan
Join me for a captivating chat with Katie Dolan as we explore “The Midwife” by Jennifer Worth, the inspiration for “Call the Midwife.” We discuss birthing, motherhood, and community’s vital role, enriched by Katie’s personal experiences and insights. Plus, enjoy our favorite drinks from Bon Air's Perk! Coffee. Tune in for a heartfelt journey through history and connection!