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On this episode we hear answer questions about summer reading and JMRL’s Summer Challenge. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read Lost and Wanted by Nell Freudenberger
• Abby read Shout By Laurie Halse Anderson (and mentioned her debut novel, Speak.)

Next, we sit down with Young Adult Services Manager, Tim Carrier, to talk about JMRL’s summer challenge.

• You can read more about the Summer Challenge here. You can download the first summer challenge sheet in English, Spanish, or Farsi.
• Tim also talked to us about a book he enjoyed – Lovely War by Julie Berry.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of an event at the Northside library featuring local singer-songwriter Devon Sproule and poet Laura Eve Engel. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read The Falconer by Dana Czapnik
• Abby read Dream Country by Shannon Gibney

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Tuesday, March 19th. Local acclaimed singer-songwriter Devon Sproule and poet Laura Eve Engel performed their work.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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*CONTENT WARNING* This episode contains descriptions of thoughts of self-harm.

On this episode we hear a recording of a panel of local veterans from various wars, moderated by Captain Bob Abbott, host of WINA’s Coming Home Well. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig (a follow-up to his memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive)
• Abby read The Sisterhood by A.J. Grainger.

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Thursday, November 8th. Captain Bob Abbott, the host of WINA’s Coming Home Well, moderated a panel discussion with local veterans from various wars over the past 60 years who shared their stories of the challenges of war the trials of returning home. We are sharing it now due to the upcoming re-dedication of the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial during the Dogwood Festival.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording soul singer and songwriter Nathaniel Star discussing the rich history of African-American music and performing his original songs. We also talk about what we’re reading.

Katie read Vox by Christina Dalcher ( we mentioned the VA Festival of the Book event featuring Christina Dalcher)

Abby listened to A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Tuesday, February 19. Nathaniel Star, a soul singer and songwriter discusses the rich history of African-American music and the artists who influenced his own unique sound. He also performs some of his original songs.

Find out more about Nathaniel Star:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Bandcamp

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a lecture by UVa’s Dr. John Edwin Mason, discussing the social, political, and artistic impact of acclaimed African-American photographer, writer, and filmmaker, Gordon Parks. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
• Abby read The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz (and mentioned his earlier young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Thursday, February 21. Dr. John Edwin Mason, an associate professor with UVa’s Department of History, discusses the social, political, and artistic impact of acclaimed African-American photographer, writer, and filmmaker, Gordon Parks.

Dr. Mason mentions

• Family Photo Day at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
  • Images and information about the photos
• Upcoming event at the Virginia Festival of the Book
• Rufus Holsinger’s photography
• Books by Gordon Parks
• Gordon Parks’ interpretation of Ellison’s Invisible Man for Life Magazine

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a discussion about the philosophical and scientific consequences of artificial intelligence and their effects on society. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read The Incomplete Book of Running by Peter Sagal
• Abby read Check Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Next, we hear a recording of two UVA professors discussing the philosophical and scientific consequences of artificial intelligence and their effects on society. This event took place  at the Northside Library on Oct 6. In it you’ll hear Paul Humphreys, UVa Commonwealth Professor of Philosophy, and Worthy Martin, UVa Associate Professor of Computer Science.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a discussion and performance led by Emily Morrison, the founder Charlottesville’s roots music school, The Front Porch. We also talk about what we’re reading.

What we read:

• Katie read The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
• Abby read Lost Soul, Be at Peace by Maggie Thrash. She also mentioned Maggie Thrash’s debut, Honor Girl.

Next, we hear recording of a program that took place at the Northside Library on September 20th. It features a discussion performance led by Emily Morrison, the founder Charlottesville’s roots music school, The Front Porch. She is joined by guest musicians to describe and play a selection of folk music.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording from child psychologists Dr. Marianne Celano and Dr. Marietta Collins as they read and discuss their book Something Happened In Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice. The visited the Central library on Tuesday, January 22, the National Day of Racila Healing. They offer techniques for talking about difficult racial issues with children and answered questions from the audience.

What we read:

Katie read Tangerine by Christine Mangan, which she discovered through Indiebound’s Indie Next newsletter, and Melmoth by Sarah Perry, who has also written Essex Serpent.

Abby read Art Matters by Neil Gaiman.

Next, we hear a recording from child psychologists Dr. Marianne Celano and Dr. Marietta Collins as they read and discuss their book Something Happened In Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice.

• Anastasia Higginbotham’s books
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum
• EmbraceRace
• RaceConscious.org
• Magination Press – Additional resources related to the book

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording from the December meeting of Books Sandwiched in at the Northside Library. Virginia Humanities’ Director of African American Programs, Justin Reid, discusses Kristen Green’s Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County. We also talk about books.

Katie explains that she likes to read historical fiction and, as an example of an author she likes, mentioned Kate Atkinson Transcription (Life After Life, Detective Series). She also likes to read magical realism, like Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s Shadow of the Wind and Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and Sourdough.

Abby likes to read things set a little more in the future, like the speculative series Earthseed by Octavia Butler (which reminded Katie of Karen Thompson Walker’s The Age of Miracles) and Margaret Atwood’s Maddaddam Trilogy.

Next, we hear Justin Reid, the Director of African-American Programs at Virginia Humanities discussing Kristen Green’s 2015 release, Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County. This recording was part of an ongoing series at the Northside Library called Books Sandwiched In.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of the launch party for Crozet Teen Librarian MK England’s debut novel, The Disasters. We also talk about what we’re reading.

Erica mentioned reading The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya, which reminded her of some aspects of How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana, and Abby discussed Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

Next, we hear the launch party for The Disasters (also available as an audiobook), the debut novel from young adult author and Crozet Teen Librarian MK England. Joining the launch party is peer, friend, and mentor, Sarah Glenn Marsh, the author of Reign of the Fallen and Fear the Drowning Deep.

During their discussion they mentioned finding inspiration in the following books and movies:

• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Firefly
• Babylon Five
• Stargate SG-1
• Dark Matter
• Killjoys
• Battlestar Galactica
• Star Wars books
• Star Wars movies
• Leigh Bardugo’s books

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.