Booked Solid Podcast

Booked Solid is on break until the fall… but before we go, our hosts have joined forces with New Canaan Library’s Adult Summer Reading program for our Summer Reading Roundup! In this episode, Kathleen, Kat, and James recommend books that are both great summer reads and can be used to complete this year’s Adult Summer Reading challenges. 

Kathleen, Kat, and James get wrapped up in the mystery of Liz Moore’s thrilling novel, The God of the Woods. Join our hosts for a discussion on how they approach mystery fiction, narrative structure, and the importance of a good reveal.

Kathleen, Kat, and James put their heads together and talk about the nonfiction book selection for the season, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The group discusses nature, science, the environment, and the ways in which we see and understand the world.

Kathleen, Kat, and James travel through time to discuss Kaliane Bradley’s science fiction romance book, The Ministry of Time. Our hosts talk about genre fiction, out-of-time romance stories, and all the questions they have about time travel ethics, shady government experiments, and the suspicious convenience of having an inadvisable roommate.

Kathleen, Kat, and James explore the endless halls of the House and attempt to unravel its secrets in Susanna Clarke’s intriguing fantasy novel, Piranesi. Join our hosts for a discussion on liminal spaces, dark academia, and the ways in which we connect to the world around us.

Kathleen, Kat, and James get a taste of Italy with Jhumpa Lahiri’s excellent collection of short fiction, Roman Stories. Join us as we celebrate the Library's Lit Lunch pick with a discussion about the unique strengths of short stories, connection and belonging, and a deeper dive on three of our hosts' favorite pieces from the collection.

Kathleen, Kat, and James start the new season with a turbulent journey down the Mississippi River in Percival Everett’s excellent historical fiction novel, James. The group discusses the book’s clever use of language, the bizarre and harrowing situations our heroes find themselves in, and the challenges in retelling an American classic.

With Season 5 of Booked Solid fading into the rearview mirror, hosts Kathleen, Kat, and James are on break until the fall… but not before they recommend some of the best books they’ve read this year and highlight the upcoming summer releases they can’t wait to get their hands on. If you’re looking for your next summer read, be sure to check out this episode of Booked Solid!

Kathleen, Kat, and James come face to face with unexpected horrors and unfriendly in-laws in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s book Mexican Gothic. Join our hosts as they discuss the Gothic novel, the strangling grasp of the patriarchy, and the terror of the fungi kingdom.

Kathleen, Kat, and James travel down the Silk Road and encounter con artists, storytellers, and danger around every corner in Daniel Nayeri’s book The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams. Join our hosts as they discuss unreliable narrators, historical jokes, and the joy of finding a book that works for all ages.

Kathleen, Kat, and James read N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season and discover a rich fantasy world full of dark secrets, unsolved mysteries, and the beginning of the end of the world. Kathleen shows off her detective skills by catching a twist before it is revealed, Kat looks at the systems at play, and James struggles with pronunciation. Join our hosts as they discuss fantasy, writing style, and more in this month’s episode of Booked Solid.

This month, Kat, Kathleen, and James read the first nonfiction book of the season, Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. The group discusses the horrific conspiracy that the book documents against members of the Osage Nation in the 1920s, the shocking systems of oppression and exploitation that enabled and outlived it, and the excellent writing and skill of the author in covering such a difficult topic.

This month, Kat, Kathleen, and James saddle up to explore a genre that they all rarely read: historical fiction, courtesy of Geraldine Brooks' award-winning novel Horse. Tune in for a discussion about history and commodification, and discover which of the hosts doesn't like horses.

This month, Kathleen, Kat, and James venture into the unexplored depths of Julia Armfield’s haunting book, Our Wives Under the Sea. Kat loves the characters, Kathleen is fascinated by the mystery, and James can’t stop thinking about a tragic fateful decision. Join our hosts as they discuss grief, relationships, and the terrible fear and pull of the unknown.

Season 4 of Booked Solid focused on YA books with all-ages appeal. Hosts: Kathleen, James

Kathleen, Kat, and James get together with special guest Sam to celebrate four successful seasons and 2,000 downloads of our humble little library podcast. The four hosts talk about books they’ve read and loved recently as well as the books they are excited to read in the fall. Expect great reads, laughs, and some dark secrets to come out in this very special episode of Booked Solid.

Kathleen and James channel their inner teen detectives and dive into Holly Jackson’s devious YA thriller, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. This month the discussion focuses on intrepid teen sleuths, the trouble with using homework as an excuse for investigating a murder, and fun with localization. Kathleen is in her element with this murder mystery, while James is lost in the woods. Will he piece together the clues, solve the mystery, and put this season’s final episode behind bars? Find out in this episode of Booked Solid.

This month, Kathleen and James travel to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children to discuss the fantasy novella (and murder mystery!) Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. Listen in as they discuss portal fantasies, found families, and where their magical doors would lead. Will this story steal their hearts? BE SURE to check out this episode to find out!

This month, Kathleen and James read the lush and lyrical novel in verse Me (Moth) by Amber McBride. Tune in for a discussion about identity, self-discovery, and spirituality, as seen through the lens of the life cycle of a moth. James and Kathleen love the language, but will the story haunt them just as much as the prose? Find out in this episode of Booked Solid—and stick around for bonus content James recorded against his will.

Kathleen and James welcome special guest Kat to the podcast to discuss R.F. Kuang’s historical fantasy epic, Babel. Tune in for a discussion on empire, colonialism, and revolution, as well as everyone’s favorite bad dad, Professor Lovell. Will James and Kat’s enthusiasm for the book win over fantasy skeptic Kathleen…or will it get lost in translation?

Kathleen and James join forces to pull off one last job… talking about Leigh Bardugo’s excellent fantasy heist, Six of Crows. James fails to keep his cool and cracks under the pressure. Kathleen discovers she enjoys fantasy heists and tries to reconcile this fact with the person she thought she was. The stakes are high, but the rewards are higher in this episode of Booked Solid.

Kathleen and James get together and explore an incredible retelling of a myth that fully realizes its characters in new and exciting ways. James reveals that he is a verifiable fanboy for Greek mythology while singing this novel’s praises. Kathleen welcomes James to the podcast and tries to keep things on track. They both agree that everything is better after Odysseus dies. Booked Solid reads Circe, by Madeline Miller.

Season 3 of Booked Solid focused on YA books with all-ages appeal. Hosts: Sam, Kathleen

Kathleen and Sam return to discuss powerful themes of friendship, family, and acceptance in Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. It's a bittersweet season finale that explores a beautifully rendered story about never giving up on those you love. Kathleen embraces hidden weirdness and family darkness while Sam shares big changes and gets weepy at poignant endings. Big changes are once again afoot for the podcast--we welcome a new friend and seal the deal with cookies.

Kathleen and Sam dive into Ain't Burned All The Bright by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin, a truly unique book--a mixed media, collage in verse that tackles both the Covid pandemic and being a black youth in today's America. Let's celebrate national poetry month with powerful words that create visceral responses. Kathleen frightens Sam while gesticulating with a knife and almost admits that she loves poetry. Sam shares her passion for altered books and struggles with heavy BIPOC informed reads. Listen in to tap into your inner creative spirit and to feel less alone when there's nothing but bad vibes in the headlines.

This month, we read the graphic memoir, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Join Kathleen and Sam as they grapple with Spivak pronouns while discussing this quietly brave story about life outside of binary privilege. Tune in to hear about love, support, and asexuality. Let's disturb the universe and embrace the many ways to self-identify. We will do hard things, quote poetry, and even admit to a crush.

Like in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Booked Solid was unable to tell our story, but Sam finally gets the tech issues sorted out while Kathleen warms up to magical realism. Loneliness and beauty abound in this tale about immortality and untethered humanity. Could you find solace in art? Is being a muse enough? Are ideas wild? Join us as Kathleen finds comfort in being forgotten while Sam gets uncomfortable with her inner cynic.

Kathleen finally convinces Sam to read Genuine Fraud, by E. Lockhart (one of her favorites), and redeems herself from a world of predictable happy endings. This is not a therapy session but is it a cry for help? Kathleen wonders if you have to be morally compromised to live the life that you think you should be living. Sam gives Kathleen the moniker "tiny steps toward darkness." Come learn how to trade a paperclip to eventually buy a house and stay tuned for literally, anything else.

Kathleen & Sam are back to discuss The Midnight Library--a book that tackles life choices and regrets in a quirky and philosophical thought exercise. Sam is not convinced that there is no place like home but embraces Stephen Hawking and string theory (and apparently double negatives). Kathleen confuses us with her post pandemic enjoyment of predictable endings. Listeners beware. Spoilers and surprises abound in every single spooky season of your multiverse.

Season 2 of Booked Solid focused on YA books with all-ages appeal. Hosts: Sam, Kathleen

Sam & Kathleen wrap up the season with great ideas for summer reads and ponder humanity, philosophy, and veganism while grappling with an endearing, warm fuzzy fantasy read. Booked Solid reads House In The Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune.

Celebrating our One Author New Canaan visit by reading Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson, and by embracing her unique voice in poetic prose. Kathleen and Sam consider unreliable memory and discomfort reads, upcoming poetry month and summer books.

Sam embraces a sequel and Kathleen ponders the Zombie Adjacent in a satirical alternate history of the Civil War with Justina Ireland's book Dread Nation. Let's get pumped for One Author New Canaan--Jacqueline Woodson!

A tiny town with super-sized hockey. A master of character study is the best cocktail party wingman. Speaking out and the fall out. Books in translation. Find out about the technicality that keeps New Canaan as the reigning Girls Ice Hockey Connecticut state champions for three years in a row. Booked Solid reads Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

"Don't believe the hype, it's a prequel." Kathleen and Sam revisit Panem during the pandemic. How did the Hunger Games prequel hold up? Did we grow up too much to go back? Kathleen shares some great read-alikes and villain origin titles and Stand-alone Sam rages against prequels, sequels, and same-plot-different-story approaches. Booked Solid reads The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins.

Our podcast glows up and embraces young adults, new adults, and the forever young adult at heart. Listen in as we discuss Alice Hoffman's latest installment--a prequel in the Owen's family of powerful witches. Let's get excited for Lit Lunch while Kathleen drops a bomb on us. Booked Solid reads Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman.

Season 1 of Booked Solid focused on YA books with all-ages appeal. Hosts: Sam, Kathleen

Kathleen and Sam are back to talk about With The Fire On High, by Elizabeth Acevedo. The hosts talk about Quiet YA and "This is why we can't read nice things."

Existentialism. Measured trauma and violence. One-ups-manship. We will burn the tape and keep the ashes. Booked Solid reads Nothing, by Janne Teller.

Murder. Trauma. Souffle. Abandoning Democracy. Join teen librarians Kathleen & Sam as they discuss Sadie, by Courtney Summers.

Join teen librarians Kathleen & Sam as they discuss Melissa Albert's The Hazel Wood.

Join teen librarians Kathleen & Sam as they discuss Jesse Andrews's Munmun.

Renaissance Paintings. Books in verse. Embrace Trauma. Be Judith. Booked Solid reads Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough.