Buzzy Books | Stephanie, Kate, Christy, & Kim

Are you first in line to pick up the latest "buzzy" book or do you steer clear of the hype? Buzzy books are the titles people simply can't stop talking about. These stories manage to spark widespread conversation, allowing readers to participate in a shared social experience. Some readers crave this social connection, while others prefer to keep their reading a solo experience. In today's conversation, Kim speaks with Kate, Christy, and Stephanie about the buzzy books they've recently read. They'll discuss their personal relationship with high-interest titles and introduce you to reads you won't want to miss! Whether you love the hype or avoid the fanfare, buzzy books are usually trending for a reason. Which one will grab your attention?

Book Recommendations

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Yesteryear by Carol Claire Burke

The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke & Tammi Hartung

Intro Music by nikitsan

Transcript

Buzzy Books

Kim: [00:00:00] Russell Library. I'm Kim, joined by Christy, Kate, and Stephanie. Hello. 

Kate: Hi. Hey. 

Kim: Thank you for joining us today. On Top Shelf, you'll hear about compelling reads from the people who know books best. Our librarians will share titles that connect to a unique theme each episode. This show will also invite you to learn about the many services offered here at Russell Library.

Kim: If you're not local, no worries, because chances are high that your local library will have similar gifts to offer. We're very excited to turn the page with you. So the focus of today's show is buzzy books. As librarians, we're often asked to find the latest book that everyone is talking about. These are books that suddenly seem to be everywhere at once, on [00:01:00] Instagram, bestseller lists, book clubs, holds lists, and patron requests.

Kim: There's no real formula for what creates buzz, but Reddit users credit clever marketing campaigns, celebrity book club endorsements, literary awards, and pure luck. So whether it's a book club favorite, like Remarkably Bright Creatures, or a social media selection by Colleen Hoover or Sarah J. Maas, librarians have heard what resonated with library users and what failed to live up to expectations.

Kim: Because we're all together, what is a buzzy book for you? Where do you look for them? Do you get excited by them? 'Cause I have to admit, sometimes I love a buzzy book- Mm-hmm ... but sometimes I also find it exhausting- 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm ... 

Kim: to try to keep up with everything. Mm-hmm. Like, I completely missed the, the Let Them theory book.

Kim: Mm-hmm. Came- Mm-hmm ... it hit like a tidal wave. 

Christy: Mel Robbins, yeah. 

Kim: Right. And I, you know, there were a lot of good ideas in it, but I just, I f- I, I let it pass over me. Mm-hmm. And I, I'm sorry, I did read, like, a, a synopsis, and I felt good. I felt 

Stephanie: good. Sometimes you have to read the [00:02:00] synopsis to, to move on. 

Kim: Exactly.

Kim: Exactly. To 

Christy: let it be, or 

Kim: let it 

Christy: go. 

Stephanie: Yeah, yeah. See, there you go. 

Kim: To let them. Yeah. To let 

Stephanie: them. 

Kim: Yeah. 

Stephanie: No, I think it's- That ... it's interesting though, because Christina and I talked a little bit about this off mic. We all tend to pick or not pick buzzy b- books for really different reasons- Yeah. Mm-hmm ... and they kind of are the...

Stephanie: It's a different vibe for all of us. Mm-hmm. Uh, like I know for me, I actually tend to avoid buzzy books, not because they're inherently buzzy, but because the ones that tend to be super popular and broad appeal just don't really match my taste. Mm. Well said. So when there is a budgy- Mm-hmm. .. a buzzy book, I'm like, "Okay, maybe I'll try it," but otherwise I'm kind of like, "Eh, it's fine."

Stephanie: I'm fine to let it pass me by, because I'm like, "I don't know if it's for me." 

Christy: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: And now, see, I have FOMO. I have- You're the opposite. I have buzzy book FOMO. 

Stephanie: Yes. Yes, you do. 

Christy: I, I absolutely admit it, and I love buzzy books- Mm ... because I love the, the community part, or the aspect- Mm-hmm ... of talking about books with people.

Christy: So I'm always on the hunt for a book that- [00:03:00] Yes ... will be something I can chat with with people. Yeah. 

Kate: Right, 

Christy: right. So more buzzy, the better, and the more, like, hype a book has had, I, I hate to say it, but I have to read it 'cause I, I have to be in the know. 

Kate: Yes. Power. Yes. And I think when you have those buzzy books, somebody's, like, excited about it, it draws you to it.

Christy: Mm-hmm. 

Kate: You know, especially when you're looking for something to read. Like, I'm not typically an adult- Like, I don't read adult books, but there was one that was, like, somebody was like, "This sound- this is so good," and so I read it, and it was- Yeah ... in fact- 

Christy: Was it the Finley Donovan series? 

Kate: No, it 

Christy: was like- 'Cause I was like, I was like, "Kate, you read those?"

Christy: Wait, 'cause you, you had told us about those. That, I don't know if that had a buzzy aspect, the Finley Donovan- They were buzzy when I first- 

Kate: Oh, the Finley Donovan ... 

Christy: picked them up. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. But you don't 

Kate: read a lot of adult books- 'Cause- ... but I remember you loved that series. Yeah. That was a really good one, and then- Yes

Kate: Kim started listening to it, right? I 

Kim: love, yeah, the audiobooks were fantastic. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Yeah. And I 

Kim: did, I took it... You, you created, like- ... some kind of around 

Christy: the library. You created a buzz. 

Stephanie: It was, 

Christy: it was. I created a buzz. 

Kim: It 

Christy: was. Yeah. The Russell [00:04:00] Library 

Stephanie: buzz. Yeah. I feel like we have our own little buzzy books within our little library microcosm.

Stephanie: 100%. Yeah. Yes. 100%. Be- like, one of us will start talking about it, and then we almost turn into, like, a buzzy book club. 

Christy: Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

Stephanie: It's really cool that way. 

Christy: And we know each other's tastes. 

Stephanie: Yes. Like- Exactly, right? It's like- 

Christy: Yeah ... "Oh, that book's not for you." 

Stephanie: Yeah. Stephanie's very much like that for me. Yeah.

Kate: She'll have a book, 

Stephanie: and I'll be like- Oh, yeah ... "Oh my 

God, 

Kate: the cover looks really good," and she's like, "No." 

Stephanie: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean- It's not a Kate book ... let me tell you. Y- well, yes. This happened with Grady Hendrix. You were like, "I think I'm gonna read The Haun- uh, How to Sell a Haunted House." Oh, yes. Yes. And I was like, "Mm, maybe not for you, Kate."

Stephanie: You'd read, you'd read a little, and I was like, "It's gonna get really gory." And you were like- Yeah ... "

Kate: Well, then recommend something." Yeah. I did end up reading something else that was really good. Yeah. Um, I forgot 

Stephanie: the name of it. Cackle? Was that when you went to Cackle? 

Kate: To where? 

Stephanie: Cackle. Cackle. Why do I remember this?

Stephanie: Oh, yes. Why do I remember the books that you read? 

Kate: Cackle, 

Stephanie: that's right. You read Cackle by Rachel Harris. That's right, that's right. I remember. Yes, that was really good. 

Christy: Yeah. Yeah. I quite often, Kim, the ones that you recommend, I, I have, you know, sought them out because- Oh ... you've made them seem very appealing or interesting.

Christy: Yeah. Yeah. So that's [00:05:00] really nice. 

Kim: Yeah. 

Christy: Yeah. But I think Instagram, uh, you see posts- Mm-hmm ... we hear people talking about books- Mm-hmm ... long before, like, they become real solid hits. Mm-hmm. Yes. 

Kim: Yes. 

Christy: You know, I'd gone into a bookstore to get a book last year that was not buzzy, and we're gonna talk about it on a future podcast- Mm-hmm

Christy: so I won't say what it was, but- Mm-hmm ... um, once I read it, it was, like, my top 10 for that year, and I, I told everyone to read it. But that's not always the case. No. Like, I feel like the buzzy books often are broad appeal and not- Yes. Yes ... necessarily for the niche reader. People that maybe don't necessarily like reading a lot of books in a year- 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Christy: The buzzy books appeal to- Good point ... because they're not going to read a lot, so they need a good one. And I think... Right, 

Stephanie: and I think that's why the bestseller list kind of comes into play here, because a lot of people use the bestseller list to look for their next read- Right, right ... which is absolutely a way to do it, especially if you aren't reading 100 books a year.

Stephanie: If you're reading, I don't know, five, 10 books a year, you're gonna turn- They gotta be good. You... Exactly. You're looking for books that people are talking about and for some reason are appealing. Yes. 

Kim: Yeah. Yeah. And I love mood- [00:06:00] movie adaptations- Yes ... which is another way that- Oh, yeah ... books that aren't necessarily b- on the bestseller list or new to releases- Yes

Kim: end up getting talked about. Yep. And I always love talking about what works in an adaptation- Mm-hmm ... and what doesn't. Mm-hmm. So, you know, when I heard that Emily Henry's books were being made into Netflix series and into movies, I was like, "Okay, I'm there." Yes. Because, you know... 

Christy: You could see it. You can see it.

Christy: Like, you've been, you've been... Like, okay, who's gonna be... Who's gonna star, and then there's that whole... There's a, it's a whole other level of buzz. Yeah. 

Kim: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. 

Stephanie: Well, when Project Hail Mary came out as a movie- Yes ... the hold lists for the book were so long. Skyrocketed. That book came out maybe four or five years ago, and it was pretty popular at the time.

Stephanie: Yes, yes. But when the movie started to get, um, get buzz, the books, you couldn't find them. You couldn't find that book. I actually, I own a copy, so I was just like, "I'm just gonna buy it." 

Christy: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Yeah. 

Christy: So interesting, and then the movie adaptation covers, you're like, oh, please, this is- Ugh ... you know, this is not actually the book.

Stephanie: Do not- Yes. Yeah ... put the movie characters- [00:07:00] I agree ... on the cover. 

Christy: It's like, 

Stephanie: no- Yeah. Hate that ... Emily didn't look like that at all. Thank you for saying that. She wasn't blonde. What is this? Yes. Or 

Christy: whatever. 

Stephanie: Thank you for saying that. Yes. Agree. Also, I know what they look like in my head. 

Christy: Right. Thank 

Stephanie: you. Mm-hmm.

Stephanie: Getting it. And if I, and if I don't see the movie, I know what they look like in my head. I don't need you to show me what the actor looks like. Mm-mm. Although I actually will touch on that in my book, so we'll come back to that. 

Christy: And I will touch on movie rights too, so it's sort 

Kim: of interesting. Ooh, good.

Stephanie: Good, good, good, good, good. Ooh. Yeah. Cool 

Kim: So we've already started to talk about our buzzy books, so let's continue. Um, let's talk about some of the buzzy books past and present that we've read, and whether we think they lived up to the hype. Okay, so let's start with Stephanie. Can you tell us about the buzzy book that you brought?

Stephanie: Yes. So I brought the, I guess it's a prequel. There's two prequels, but um, the most recent prequel in The Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: So this is 17 years after the first book, and this is the Haymitch book, and if that doesn't mean anything to you , you probably aren't in The Hunger Games [00:08:00] universe.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. Um, Haymitch is the character from the original series who is the mentor to Katniss and Peeta through their games. Mm-hmm. Um, he's a really tragic character. He is. And he's an alcoholic, he's angry, and for some reason, he's also one of the most compelling characters. When I read the original books, I was like, "There's something about this guy that I really like."

Stephanie: I didn't think I wanted or needed this book, to be quite honest, but wow, did I um- 

Christy: Right? 'Cause it's like, "Don't mess up the series, author." 

Stephanie: Yes. Yeah. 

Kim: We like 

Christy: this series. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Kim: What is this prequel business? 

Stephanie: Yes, and I'm- 

Kim: And, and sometimes the- Prequels are funny ... the story has been told. 

Stephanie: Correct. 

Kim: We don't need the extra information.

Stephanie: Correct. Yeah. So this is a prequel, and it takes place between the first prequel and the original books. So there's the original three, the first three Hunger Games, then there was another prequel, which I did not read, I'll get to that, and then this one is in the middle. Um, so this is centering on his story when he was, uh, a competitor in The Hunger Games as a tribute.

Stephanie: So we learn his backstory, and we follow his journey through the [00:09:00] games, which is not a spoiler, and after 'cause you know that he has survived because he exists in the, the other books. This is like a really heartbreaking and intense and tender and clever book, and you're just thrown right back into the arena for a whole new set of games and trials and traps and new characters.

Stephanie: Like I, I was all in. I had to convince myself to read the book, but once I picked it up, I was like, "I'm in. I'm in." 

Kim: Mm-hmm. And so how did you hear about this book? What... You said you weren't sure that you were going to read it. Yeah. I mean, obviously there's been a lot of anticipation- Mm-hmm ... around this book.

Kim: Um, and that is another kind of buzz. Like- Yeah. Mm-hmm ... if you have a favorite author, hearing about- Mm-hmm ... when they're going to, um, publish again is always exciting. 

Stephanie: Yes. So I did not think I was gonna dip back into this universe. I love the originals, and I love the movies. They're actually very good adaptations, but I wasn't sure I was interested in another prequel because The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes had come out a couple years previously, and I did not read that book.

Stephanie: I heard it wasn't [00:10:00] great. So I was like, "I'm writing off this series entirely. I'm good with the three books. I don't need anything else." Mm-hmm. But I was thinking about this earlier, I will take a buzzy book from somebody whose taste I trust. Yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Like if they keep talking about it, I'm like, "All right.

Stephanie: This person..." So it was actually Bria on Reading Glasses. Yes. Bria kept talking about this book, and I was like, "Really? Really? People are loving this? All right." Mm-hmm. So- I t- I trust her taste. And I realized everybody around me was reading it, people whose taste I also trusted, and I was like, "All right.

Stephanie: We're just doing it." And so I picked it up on a day, and then I was actually home sick with COVID for the whole week. 

Kim: Oh, wow. So- 

Stephanie: Yep ... which was terrible, but I had a ton of time to just be, like, fully immersed back in this world, and that was the perfect timing for me for this book, 'cause I could just, like, live in it.

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Kim: Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Kim: Yeah. And so it sounds like it really resonated with you- Yeah ... um, and maybe even exceeded your expectations? 

Stephanie: I would say so. 

Kim: Yeah. 

Stephanie: I, I had pretty low [00:11:00] ones. Um, I had- To be quite honest. Well, 

Kim: sometimes when a series goes on long enough- Yes ... you do. Mm-hmm. Yes. You start wondering, like- 

Christy: Yes.

Christy: And, and isn't that the problem with buzzy books- Yes ... that by the time- Yeah ... they've reached the, the critical mass- 

Kim: Yes ... 

Christy: the expectations are so high- Yes ... that, um, a lot of times people are like, "Eh, it wasn't for me." 

Stephanie: Well, especially because- Yeah ... the book, the prequel before this had such mixed reviews. Right.

Stephanie: Mm. I was really hesitant because I was like, "I don't wanna read a book in a series that I love and have it not be good." So I was nervous, but- 

Christy: You took the leap ... 

Stephanie: I did. Yeah. I needed to remind, be reminded why I love this series and why I love Haymitch as a character. 

Christy: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. And it does not hurt that Woody Harrelson played him in the movies.

Stephanie: Yay. Woo-hoo. Yes. Yeah. And he's so good at that character that I was like, "You know what? I think I do wanna jump back in." Mm-hmm. Um, I really love him as an actor. It got me over the hesitation, and I'm really glad that I went back. 

Kim: Okay. Well, so would you recommend this book? 

Stephanie: I would. However, if you have never read The Hunger Games before, you're gonna be very confused.[00:12:00]

Stephanie: So I can't say I recommend it unless you've at least read the original books or at least seen the movies. Mm-hmm. Because there's so much in this world, it's gonna be really confusing, and I don't think it'll work as a standalone. Mm-hmm. So I think if you're a Hunger Games fan, absolutely this is a recommendation if you haven't read it yet.

Stephanie: Um, and it's also being adapted to a film this year. 

Kim: Mm, mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Oh. So the casting is perfect. Perfection. The trailer looks amazing. So if anything, read the book, then see the movie. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. And that's an interesting point. So even though it's a prequel- Mm-hmm ... you wouldn't consider it, like, a starting point?

Stephanie: You know, it's hard to say because it came out after. I mean, honestly, you probably could read the prequel and then read the series. Hey, listeners out there, if you wanna start with this book and then read the other books, tell me how it goes- Yeah ... 'cause that would be delightful. 

Kim: I think, yeah. 

Stephanie: I can't recommend that because I didn't do it that way, but- Yeah.

Stephanie: Yeah ... because you're- to your point, it is a prequel, [00:13:00] so it might actually work if this is your first Hunger Games book. I don't know. Mm-hmm. Try it. 

Kim: Yeah. Yeah, 'cause laying the framework for a world is very different than going into somebody's backstory. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Kim: So yeah. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Kim: So obviously, this is a book that, um, has had a lot of anticipation- Mm-hmm

Kim: and, you know, um, people are talking about it. So, but could you, uh, what, what is a book that, um, you've encountered as a librarian that went from, like, a regular title to suddenly being everywhere? 

Stephanie: Yeah. So you actually mentioned it in the intro. It makes me think of Remarka- Remarkably- Yes ... Bright Creatures.

Stephanie: That book is so hard to say. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This book felt like it came out of nowhere. Mm-hmm. It didn't, but it felt like it got really popular out of nowhere, and everyone was reading it overnight. And again, I was not super compelled to pick this book up. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: And my sister was reading it for her book club, and she was like, "Will you read it with me?"

Stephanie: I was like, "Sure. Let me give it a try." And I went to Christy and I was like, "Listen, I'm not sure this book [00:14:00] is for me. I'm gonna read it for book club." 

Christy: And I was like, "Yeah, I think this one will work." 

Stephanie: Yeah. Yeah. And you... 'Cause you know my taste well enough, that there was enough in this that I gave it a shot.

Stephanie: I really liked it, and I think the uniqueness of the story is what created the buzz for it, and the fact that it has these themes of human connection in a time where readers are really looking for that, I feel like that was one of the reasons that this book really became- Mm ... popular and has stayed popular.

Christy: And staying power. Yeah, 

Stephanie: yeah. 

Christy: Yeah. This one is still popular. Yeah. I still recommend this. And 

Stephanie: it's being adapted- 

Christy: I do. Yeah ... very soon. Sally Field. 

Kim: Yay. Mm-hmm. Yes. 

Christy: Another good- By Louis Pullman. 

Stephanie: Yeah. That's right. We were just talking about this 

Christy: this morning- Yeah ... Kelsey. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Kim: Well, Unremarkably Bright Creatures is an interesting case, because I actually didn't read it for a long time because of the buzz.

Kim: Right. I was like, "Oh, this is just one of those feelgood books. It's not-" Has 

Christy: a talking octopus for a main character. Right. 

Kim: Yes. So hard to get past. It's, like, it's kitschy- Yeah ... and I'm like, "I don't, I don't think it's for me." But when I finally picked up, picked it up, I was really glad it, I did- Mm-hmm

Kim: because it, it [00:15:00] is... You talk about staying power, I mean, it really connects with... It does connect with those themes, but in a very specific- 

Stephanie: Right ... 

Kim: way. And, uh, I loved it. 

Stephanie: Fuzzy for a reason. 

Kim: Fuzzy for a reason. Who's gonna 

Kate: narrate the octopus, the voice of the octopus? 

Stephanie: Oh, yeah. Do we know? Oh. Who's doing the voice of 

Kim: the octopus?

Kim: I'm not sure. 

Stephanie: Marcellus. Marcellus. 

Kate: I'm not sure. 

Stephanie: A friend of mine just got a dog and they named the dog Marcellus- Really? ... after this book. 

Christy: That's so 

Stephanie: cool. Mm-hmm. I love that. So now their dog is named Marcellus. 

Christy: We'll, we'll find out, 'cause we're librarians. We'll figure it out. 

Stephanie: We will. Yeah. Exactly, right? No, that's a great point, though, 'cause that's gonna be a huge- Yeah

Christy: reason if it works. Probably 

Stephanie: Tom Hanks. Can you 

Christy: imagine? I, I really don't know. 

Stephanie: Can you imagine if it's Tom Hanks? We're all holding... Maybe 

Christy: starting a rumor. 

Stephanie: Yes. I, I don't think Tom Hanks is a good fit, but I would love it. 

Christy: No, actually- I would love it ... he's not curmudgeonly enough. No. Um, but yeah. He- Not curmudgeonly 

Stephanie: enough.

Christy: 'Cause, you know, he's this- Oh, no, he- ... self, self-proclaimed curmudgeon, Marcellus. That is true. 

Stephanie: Yeah. That is true. Did you read it, Kate? 

Kate: No, not 

Stephanie: yet. So- Now you might have to ... when it came out, 

Kate: when it came out- Well, Kate, who do you guys think 

Stephanie: is- Now we're gonna get Kate to read it. 

Kate: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I remember when it [00:16:00] came out and I was like, "What is this?"

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Kate: So yeah. I just never quite got around to it. Well, everybody 

Stephanie: was like, "It's the octopus book. It's the octopus book." Yeah. I sh- I actually think is bad, not bad marketing, but it's like a l- it's not the octopus book. And I think- I know ... that's what- No, it really isn't ... yeah. That's why I partially didn't read it at first.

Stephanie: I was like, "I don't c- I don't care to read a book narrated by an octopus." But that's not what the book's about. 

Kim: No. 

Christy: Yeah. It's not. It's about humanity. Yeah. 

Stephanie: It is. 

Christy: Yes. And I will say, for, for Kate, just to give you a little, like a little teaser, the octopus has figured out how to get out of his aquarium. Oh.

Christy: And so during the night he sneaks out and he goes in search of snacks because- He's not getting quite enough. They're trying to keep him lean, and so- Oh ... there's other- Okay. That's true ... fishies that are disappearing. It's 

Stephanie: also part mystery. That's what it is. Yeah, there's a lot going on. That's hilarious.

Stephanie: And we turned, this turned into a Shelby Van Pelt cast. I know. Yes. Yeah. 

Christy: For the good reason. Yeah, for the better. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Kim: Well, so, um, Christi, why don't you tell us about the b- buzzy book that you brought today? [00:17:00]

Christy: Well, so my book is very different- ... from what we were talking about. Uh-huh. So we're, we're gonna do, like, a whole 360 here.

Christy: Mm-hmm. I picked Yesteryear by Carol Claire Burke. It is her debut novel, and let me tell you, she just hit it out of the park. Mm. Um, so the story is about a beautiful wife and mother of six children set in the current present time, and she sells her pioneer lifestyle of raw milk, farm fresh eggs, and her beautiful family on a farm to millions of social media followers.

Christy: And one morning- She suddenly awakens cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of the 1850s, where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister. 

Kim: Okay. I love this setup because it's like buzz on top of buzz- Uh-huh ... 

Christy: on top of buzz.

Christy: Uh-huh. 

Kim: You know, because, um, yeah, the, the trad wife theme is- Mm-hmm ... everywhere. It's hard to escape it. 

Stephanie: Which is interesting because the marketing [00:18:00] never says trad wife. It 

Christy: never does. 

Stephanie: Right. But everybody knows- It's so interesting ... this is the trad wife book. Right. Actually- Yes ... sorry, there's two books out right now called Trad Wife, and this is not one of them.

Christy: The author of the second trad wife- Mm-hmm ... book does talk about that. Yes. And she's like, "There's room for plenty of them." 

Stephanie: Oh, yeah. 

Christy: And both of those books are very different too. Yes, they are. One's for- 

Stephanie: Yes, one 

Christy: is for- Where this is more satire, lit fic. Mm-hmm. 

Kate: Can I ask a question? 

Christy: Yes. 

Kate: Please. I, I believe I've heard that term before, trad wife.

Kate: Mm-hmm. What exactly is... 

Christy: So I would say someone who is a trad wife would consider it derogatory. 

Kate: Hmm. 

Christy: But it's a term that's been applied- Hmm ... to women that are living a traditional lifestyle. 

Stephanie: Okay. 

Christy: Usually it includes some kind of very outdoorsy farm scene Yeah. With, with animals and, um, like, being very wholesome.

Christy: Mm-hmm. Okay. And often it does include, like, raw milk- 

Stephanie: Yeah ... 

Christy: and that kind of thing. But- Yeah ... so it's going beyond, like- Mm-hmm ... you're a [00:19:00] typical person living m- in a modern way, 

Stephanie: you know? But there's also this, like, other side of it that some of it is, like, only for social media. Like- 

Christy: Mm-hmm ... 

Stephanie: the- these, quote-unquote, trad wife influencers, they make it seem like this is how they actually live, but it's all just for the camera, and then they have their kids- Oh, okay

Stephanie: eating, like, actual regular boxed cereal instead of making it from scratch, or, like, what you don't see is that their husbands are hedge fund managers, so they have time 

Christy: and money. They're very wealthy. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. There is a certain, um, one that this is based on, and the father has a lot of money.

Christy: Hey, is she based on 

Stephanie: Ballerina Farm? 

Christy: Yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Sorry, I know too much about trad wife culture. It's very upsetting to me. I wish I knew less. 

Christy: It's interesting, though- ... because we all kind of have kind of had a touch of this or seen a little bit about it, and so immediately people know, like, oh, this is something that...

Christy: Like, she's going back in time. So here she is, like, she's using her KitchenAid to whip up some butter, and now in, back in the [00:20:00] 1850s there is no KitchenAid. 

Kate: Right. 

Christy: Right. So now you're gonna have to live the life that you said you were gonna be living. Oh. So- Right, okay ... um, she has... In, in yesteryear our, our heroine has, um...

Christy: Her name is Natalie. She has- Nannies. Um- Mm-hmm ... she has, you know, people that are helping her, uh, people that are helping her film. I mean- Yeah ... this is not a one-woman operation. They have money. 

Kim: Yeah. 

Kate: Okay. 

Kim: And it's, they're always living very beautifully. That's the other thing. Mm-hmm. You're, you know, going back in time, it's like you also don't have a- Milk braids.

Kim: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Gingham dresses, homemade aprons. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Christy: So they can sell the house. 

Kim: Smocking. Lots of smocking. Yeah. Lots 

Stephanie: of smocking. So much smocking. Yep. All little blonde-haired children most of the time. 

Kim: Oh my gosh. Yeah. 

Christy: I don't think we mentioned this. Yeah. So mostly it is, like purity culture- Mm-hmm ... it is quite often families that are white.

Kate: Mm-hmm. 

Christy: Okay. And very religious in most cases. I don't know if, if it touches so much on that in the Instagram post, but purity culture for sure. 

Kate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, okay. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Clean [00:21:00] girl aesthetic is like- Yes ... trad wife adjacent. Yes. Like that everything should be... You should have a clean face, and you should have straight hair, and your house should be white, and it should look clean.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. Okay. I'm like, "Couldn't be me." 

Kim: I was gonna say, no margin 

Kate: of 

Stephanie: error. Dude. It's interesting though. Like a messy girl culture. 

Kate: Right? 

Stephanie: Like a messy girl lived life. 

Christy: That's the librarian 

Stephanie: subculture right there. Personal life. Right, yeah. Sorry, if you have a very clean house that is not offensive, please. I, I just, I can't.

Christy: But she does talk about like having a little spilled flour on the counter. Like it's the, uh, lived in, but not really- It's aesthetic ... kind of look. Mm. Yeah. Okay. You know, so she does have some clutter, but it's, it's... I don't know, it's arranged. It's purposeful. It's purposeful clutter. Yes. 

Kim: Okay. That's a good way of putting it.

Christy: Sort of like what somebody would arrange if they were trying to sell a home- Mm-hmm ... or- Yeah ... um, in a, like a family TV studio or something, whi- which, you know, they're just gonna keep making the same mess over and over again- Right, right ... with no pur- real purpose. 

Kate: Okay. [00:22:00] Interesting. 

Kim: So how did you become aware of this book?

Christy: This book has been everywhere. Yes, that's what I was gonna... Yes. Yes, 

it 

Kim: has. Where did you, where did you discover it first? 

Christy: I think on Instagram. Yeah. And then, um, Brianna, my, my boss and our fellow podcast member person, um, had gone down to the bookstore to get it. She had to have it for vacation. Mm-hmm. And I think she read it before she left.

Christy: So I mean, there was already, already a lot of buzz around this. Yeah. Um, so I, I had some book FOMO, I will say. Um, and it seemed to have some kind of, like, secrets, um, a mystery about it, and I didn't want it to get spoiled inadvertently- Yeah ... because sometimes people are talking about it- Yeah ... 'cause we are a library after all.

Christy: Yeah. And it's like, "No spoilers. No, no, I've got my hands firmly clamped over my ears." You have to read it first. Yeah. You have to read it early if you- 

Stephanie: Yes ... especially if it's buzzy, 'cause you don't want- 100%. Exactly. I don't wanna get spoiled either. 

Christy: Yes. Mm-hmm. And this topic is very polarizing. Yeah. So I thought it would be a very interesting thing to be able to talk with people about.

Christy: And I'm always looking for books for Books and Brews. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Christy: So it's on- Yeah ... the possibility list for sure. [00:23:00] I was gonna say, are you gonna use it? All right. Possibly. It's gonna 

Stephanie: be a really interesting discussion. 

Kim: All right. 

Christy: Very interesting. 

Kim: All right, so did this book kind of live up to the hype? 

Christy: So it lived up to my expectations.

Christy: I don't wanna say too much about it because I don't wanna ruin anything. I don't wanna do any spoilers. Um, I think a lot of people will be using this for book discussions. Mm. There's so much cultural commentary to unpack for a fiction book. I mean, it talks about identity, unrealistic expectations of motherhood, um, internal- Mm-hmm

Christy: monitoring that's kind of pushed on us by society and maybe- Mm-hmm ... specifically religious systems. So all of those things, yes, there was just a lot to think about reading this book. 

Kim: Yeah. Okay. Would you recommend it then? 

Christy: I always recommend buzzy books. But I think I would tell people to be prepared that this is not light and fizzy buzzy.

Christy: It's, you know- Yeah ... some very serious topics. Um- Like, even empty performative nature of social media that's very highly addictive. I mean- Yeah ... I think [00:24:00] there's a lot you can relate to even if you're not living this traditional- 

Kim: Mm-hmm ... 

Christy: lifestyle. I think a lot of the things that Natalie goes through are things that are, whether we like to admit it or not, is a mirror to ourselves.

Christy: Mm-hmm. Even if we were like, "Oh, we would never be doing that nonsense." Mm-hmm. But, um, it- there's a lot to unpack. 

Kim: Yeah. And regardless, you feel the expectation. So I'm so glad you said that because there is kind of this idea that buzzy books are always, like, light books. Yeah. And your description of this really makes me wanna read it, whereas if someone said, "Oh, it's one of the trad wife books," I probably would've been like, "Mm, 

Christy: no.

Kim: Sorry." 

Christy: Yeah, 

Kim: not for me. Yeah. No, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Stephanie: I mean, Christi, I know you wouldn't recommend this to me. Because you know my taste. Fair. I don't, I 

Christy: don't think this is a, this 

Stephanie: is a 

Christy: Stephanie 

Stephanie: book. Yeah. Yeah, which is funny 'cause, like- ... I, I came to you and was like, "Mm, I have this on hold. What do you think?"

Stephanie: Mm. 

Christy: I was like, "Eh." 

Stephanie: Eh. And that's... No, that's- Nope ... that's good to know. Again, not, not my taste, and that's fine. 

Kate: Nope. That's what's nice about, you know, working in this [00:25:00] environment- Yes ... is because as you, someone said earlier, you know, you get to know each other's tastes, and it's like, "I think this looks interesting."

Kate: And then you can kind of bounce that idea off somebody else- Mm-hmm ... and they'll automatically know. I mean- 

Stephanie: Well, like yeah, last week- ... it's not for you ... I was showing Kate the cover to Japanese Gothic. I was like, "Isn't it beautiful?" Ah. And you were mesmerized by it. I was. I was- And then two days later I was like, "Nope, sorry, not for you."

Stephanie: Not for Kate. Not for Kate. No. Not a Kate book. Too gory. No. Very violent. 

Kate: Same- I like without the gore. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Beautiful cover, though. Beautiful cover. Yeah. 

Kate: Very beautiful 

Christy: cover. True. Same author as Bat Eater, 

Stephanie: so- Mm-hmm ... 

Christy: I'm looking forward- Yeah ... to 

Stephanie: reading it, but... I, and I do think you will enjoy it. Great. And then we will have a discussion- Yay

Stephanie: and it'll be a buzzy book probably a couple months from now. Yes. Buzzier than it already is. 

Kim: Yes. 

Stephanie: Very much. 

Kim: Yes. Yeah. So, um, you're at the circulation desk a lot, Christi, and so I feel like you're, you know a lot of what has... you know, the buzzy books that people are talking about. Has there ever been a title that kind of caught you by surprise?

Christy: Theo of Golden. [00:26:00] Um- 

Kim: Yes. 

Christy: All of a sudden this book had, like, 400 holds. Yes. I don't know this book. What is it called? Yeah. Theo of Golden. 

Stephanie: Okay. I don't 

Christy: recognize that title. And I ended up purchasing it because I, I didn't wanna wait to read it. Mm-hmm. But I, I sort of stay tuned. I've had other books to read in the meantime, so I'd- Mm-hmm

Christy: started it Which is never a good sign, and put it down. 

Kim: Oh, yeah. Yeah. 

Christy: But, um, I do... It is beautiful so far. Um, kind of a small town. Isn't it always like a traveler that comes to a small town? Yeah. Yes. So yeah. Yeah. So this man shows up and he's, you know, from another place, and he's learning about the city, and he's, um, very interested and seems to have a little bit of money.

Christy: Um, and he goes into a coffee shop that has pictures all... photographs all over the wall of other people that have come in the coffee shop. No, I'm sorry, they're paintings. Um, and he purchases one, and that's how it starts. Oh, interesting. So I will get to it. But I think I had the FOMO. I was like- Yeah ... "Oh, 400 holds.

Christy: Well, let me get that 

Stephanie: one." I'm like, "

Kate: That's all [00:27:00] right." She's 

Stephanie: like, "Let me get it if I don't read it." Okay. Now that you have spoken this title- Yeah ... I'm gonna see it everywhere now. Yeah. Yeah, that's- 

Kate: Somebody was in earlier in the children's room- Yeah ... and she was reading the description as she was walking in.

Kate: Huh. And she said somebody had told her about it, and I had remembered uh, when I was looking for my book that that one had come up and I was like- Oh ... "Oh, this looks really good." I didn't pick it up, but it does look really interesting. 

Christy: It does, and I think it's the Remarkably Bright Creatures book. Okay.

Christy: Like, it's that style. 

Kate: Oh, 

Christy: okay. Yeah. I, I mean, or that kind of buzz. 

Kate: Now I'm not gonna be able to escape it. The, the cover is really interesting. 

Christy: It is. It's very- 

Kate: It's like a feather. 

Christy: Yeah ... 

Kate: and, like, it's very simple, so it almost- Like 

Christy: line drawing. Yeah. 

Stephanie: I've 

Christy: not 

Stephanie: seen this. Oh my gosh. Where have I been? 

Christy: In the children's section.

Stephanie: I've been in the, yeah, the YA department. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. No, I've been in a, uh, I've been in a, the fantasy bubble. I don't know anything. 

Christy: Mm-hmm. So then- Well, I l- oh. Yeah, so it's interesting, right? So it's, like, very buzzy, and so I made sure to get it, and I, I'm, jury's out. I don't know yet- Yeah. Okay, fair enough

Christy: if it's gonna be something for me or not. Yeah. But a lot of people have [00:28:00] enjoyed it and have recommended it. 

Kim: Okay. 

Christy: Interesting. 

Kim: Uh, but they're not talking about it as much as they were 

Christy: before. Yes. 

Kim: So that's interesting. Hmm. And I feel like it came out during the holidays maybe. 

Christy: I think so. End of last year.

Christy: Or the surge 

Kim: in popular- Yeah ... popularity came at that time, so sometimes timing has to, has a lot to do with it too. 

Christy: Yes, 

Kim: it does. Yes. Yeah. So while speaking of beautiful covers, Kate, you have brought a gorgeous book- Yes ... um, today. So is this your buzzy title? What- 

Kate: This is my buzzy title, and it's called The Green Kingdom, and I actually did not pick it up initially.

Kate: The cover is very colorful. It's these shades of green and red and pink. And so when I first saw it, I was like, this... It was giving off Little Shop of Horrors 

Stephanie: vibes. Oh, it looks like a Venus flytrap. Right. 

Kate: Yes. 

Stephanie: Yes. Exactly. I see. That's what I thought it was. 

Kate: Because one of the plants looks like an eye. To me, it looks like an eye.

Stephanie: Oh, yeah. 

Kate: So that's why I was like, hmm. 

Stephanie: We [00:29:00] are looking at the cover, listeners. We are actually taking it in right now. Yes. But you have to look it up. 

Christy: It's beautiful. 

Kate: And it's c- it's The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke, and, um- 

Christy: Middle grade? 

Kate: Yes, middle grade. Definitely. I 

Christy: recognize this author now. Okay. Yeah, 

Kate: she- Yes, Inkheart.

Kate: Yeah. She did the Thief Lord. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Kate: Yeah. 

Stephanie: She's been writing fantasies for a long time. 

Kate: Yeah. Yeah. She's, 

Stephanie: yeah. For, for middle grade. For middle grade. 

Kate: Yep. Yeah, yeah. For middle grade, so- Yeah. Excellent ... um, so I've been searching for... I had just been through the New York Times bestseller, and this one happened to be on the New York Best Time- New York Times bestsellers for kids, and so- It's even got 

Stephanie: the little New York Times bestseller, uh, little sticker on 

Kate: the front.

Kate: It does! It's got a little gold sticker on it, so. Ooh. And it's also got red, um- It's beautiful ... red on the outside of the pages. Oh, 

Stephanie: it's 

Kate: beautiful. Um, so it's really beautiful, and the inside has lots of different plants in it. So, um, when I, when I finally picked it up, I was like, "Hmm." I wasn't sure what to expect from this book.

Kate: Mm-hmm. And, um, it's an [00:30:00] adventure story. It's mystery, but it's- a wholesome, it is a wholesome- ... very light book. Nobody dies. There's no, like, explosions. It's- 

Stephanie: Not like my book. Right. 

Kate: I'm 

Stephanie: not saying a word. 

Kate: Yes, exactly right. Very different vibes. Yes. 

Stephanie: Uh-huh, 

Kate: uh-huh. Very different vibes. Yes. So, um, but, uh, I've read some of her other books, and...

Kate: such as, like, the Inkheart series- Mm-hmm ... and some of the other ones we- Yeah ... we were just talking about. Yeah. 

Kim: So given that you've read her other books, did this one kind of live up to your expectations, both as a Buzzy book and as something, you know, as a- an author you've read before? 

Kate: Again, I didn't have any expectations going in.

Kate: I just knew what I, I thought I was about to read about. Mm. But it became something very, very different. And I enjoyed it because it was so, it was... it felt refreshing. 

Christy: Mm. 

Kate: And it's basically about this [00:31:00] girl who moves to Brooklyn from Maine with her parents for the summer, and she's like, ugh, she doesn't wanna go to Brooklyn.

Kate: You know, she's- 

Christy: It's quite different. 

Kate: Mm-hmm. It's very, very different, and so she's like, "I wanna be in the city." And so- Mm ... they move into this apartment, and she's found in her room this bookcase, and she's, you know, trying to get her stuff all settled, and she finds a packet of letters. 

Stephanie: Hmm. 

Kate: And so, like, every day she opens a letter, and each letter is, it's a correspondent between two sisters, and you find that out pretty, uh, immediately.

Kate: And she learns through these letters all these different things about nature, and it gets her out- 

Christy: Oh, 

Kate: lovely ... and it gets her... You know, 'cause she's, like, reading the letters and she's like, "I don't know what this is." And so through these letters, she learns to explore and expand, um, her interests a little more and- Mm-hmm

Kate: and, uh, so that's why I liked it. I, [00:32:00] I finished it and I was like, "I really, really enjoyed this book." It was like, oh. Yeah. 

Stephanie: Yeah. So it, is it- Wonderful ... does it have fantasy elements? 

Uh- '

Stephanie: Cause the cover looks fantastical. 

Kate: Well, right. And- 

Stephanie: But the way you described it sounds like it's kind of more realistic. 

Kate: It's realistic.

Kate: Okay. It's definitely realistic fiction. That was the word I was trying to figure out when I was thinking about this book. 'Cause 

Stephanie: Inkheart is very much fantasy. 

Kate: Inkheart is definitely- Not realistic ... a fantasy. Yeah, okay. Very, very different from this one. Interesting. But this is realistic. This is definitely- Okay

Kate: somebody could... This could potentially happen to somebody who- Yeah ... you know? 

Stephanie: See, now I'm more intrigued. Yeah. 'Cause at first I thought it was fantasy- Right ... and I was like, "Hmm, I don't know." 

Kate: But now, okay. Well, wait, because the cover is- Yes ... when you look at the cover, I'm looking at an eye and I'm thinking, oh, these are magical plants, or there's something watching her.

Kate: Yeah. Right. 

Stephanie: Absolutely. 

Kate: Um- 

Stephanie: No, it's about her opening her eyes up to the nature. 

Kate: Exactly right. Love that. Exactly right. And the connections she makes through- her experiences through these letters. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's really good. 

I 

Stephanie: love that. [00:33:00] Really good. 

Kim: So, um, would you recommend it, and if so, to who? 

Kate: I would.

Kate: I would recommend this book to anybody who likes nature and learning about plants and, um, kind of stepping outside their comfort zone a little bit. It, it's comforting. 

Kim: Yeah. Mm. 

Kate: So yeah, so I would, I would definitely recommend it to the nature lovers and, um- 

Kim: Yeah ... 

Kate: particularly kids, but adults would... I think adults would enjoy it too- Mm

Kate: because there were some things in there, like these plants, I'm like, "Oh, what is that?" And so you're learning about all these different- 

Kim: Yeah ... 

Kate: things as Caspia learns them, so 

Stephanie: it's, it's very interesting. Ooh, Caspia, that's a great name. 

Kate: Yes. Oh. Great 

Stephanie: name. 

Kate: Exactly. 

Stephanie: Even her name sounds like she's in a fantasy book.

Stephanie: Like 

Kate: Narnia. 

Stephanie: Yes. Yes. Yes. 

Kim: Yeah. Yeah. Well, so, and it's interesting, uh, 'cause I'm not an outdoorsy person. I mean, I love nature, but nature doesn't always love me. Um, but as you're talking about this, I think this would be good for people who are... need that bridge. Right. Especially as we're heading into the summer.

Kate: Mm-hmm. 

Kim: You know, some of us are, you know, naturally drawn to the outdoors, some of us less so, but [00:34:00] this sounds like a way to kind of reignite- Yeah ... that 

Kate: interest. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So. It's absolutely... It's just such a beautiful book, and the, a- again, the, you know, the cover itself is- 

Christy: Drawing you right 

Kate: in. Yeah.

Kate: It's... Oh, yeah. Absolutely. 

Stephanie: Yeah. So I, uh, before you finish, Kim, I just wanna say that Kate, I love that you mentioned it was on the New York Times bestsellers list for children's books. Mm-hmm. 'Cause I'm not sure everybody knows there are different lists for different- Yeah ... age levels. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So there's a children's list, there's an adult list, there's a nonfiction list.

Stephanie: Right. There's a teen list. Yeah. And I'm thinking all of our books were probably on separate lists. 

Kim: That's really interesting. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Yeah. That's a good point. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, at different times. Yeah. That's a 

Kim: good point. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Kim: Yeah. So you found this book because of the New York Times bestseller list. Is there a book that has come to your attention recently that you were like, "Where did this thing come from?"

Kim: Or would you use this as an example? 

Kate: Um, yeah, I would probably use that as an example. I was thinking of, in the past, a book that somebody from here had recommended to me was The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Mm-hmm. Yes. And it was just [00:35:00] one of those books that, like, the person w- who... I, I don't remember who it was, but it was another librarian, and they were very excited about The Secret Keeper, and they were telling me all about it.

Kate: And it was like lots of like, you know, you think you have this figured out, and then it keeps going, and you're like, bam. Like, there's so many... Like, it may have been you, Christy. 

Christy: It wasn't me, but- 

Kate: Oh. Oh, you're looking like it might've been you. I know. I was like, "Is it Ms. Christy?" 

Christy: Yeah. 

Kate: Um- 

Christy: Sounds very good, though.

Kate: Oh, The Secret Keeper's so, so good, and that's one... I think that's, when you talk about buzzy books, it's like that, you know, that- Yeah ... who's excited about it. Mm-hmm. And when somebody's excited about a book, you get really good- We get 

Stephanie: buzzy talking 

Kate: about books ... Yes, exactly right. Yeah. Yeah. But I would say, um, yeah, The Green Kingdom because it just sat there on the shelf staring at me.

Kate: Like, literally. 

Stephanie: A big old 

Kate: eye. I'm like, "Eh, I don't really know." And then finally I picked it up and, um, 

Stephanie: yeah. You know, sometimes the book stares you down until you're like, "Fine." 

Kate: Yes, ex- and this was the one. It was like, I [00:36:00] kept picking it up, and I'm like- Okay, I'll read it ... it's the, ah, the plant. I don't know.

Kate: It's like, you know. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Kate: So. 

Kim: Yeah. Well, speaking of plants, libraries are so much more than books, particularly during the summer. So we want to let you know what's happening Off the Shelf this month at Russell Library. Now that summer is here, uh, the library is gearing up for summer reading, and Russell Library's summer reading kickoff starts June 20th with the theme Burrow into a Good Story.

Kim: Mm-hmm. So again, the plant theme coming through. Uh, this program combines reading inspiration with games, events, prizes, and family activities. Um, so some of those activities include a visit from Jonathan the UConn Husky- Mm-hmm ... summer family bingo, and a full calendar of summer events, um, including possible outdoor story times throughout the season, both at the library and in locations through Middletown.

Kim: And summer reading is not just for, uh, kids and teens. It's also for adults, and I always look forward to [00:37:00] what adult summer reading is, um, planning because it always encourages me to read outside of my comfort zone. Mm-hmm. So- 

Christy: And that is one of the big goals. Yeah. We want it to be not terribly challenging.

Christy: Mm-hmm. So we don't want people to be scared off. 

Kim: Yes. 

Christy: Um, we've done bingo in the past, and maybe we were a little ambitious because it is hard. Um, so this year we have, we have a, a reading challenge, um, and you would pick up a prompt board. When you do, you get two raffle tickets, and all summer long you can, um, enter as you finish these little challenges, um, enter to win really cool prizes, different gift cards for around the, the, this, uh, Middletown downtown business gift cards, um, and, um, local businesses as well.

Christy: And they're things that we think people will be doing on their, uh, their time in the summer, like reading maybe a bigger book than they might normally pick up- Mm. Yeah ... 'cause they have time. Yep. Um, read a book you can finish in a [00:38:00] day. Uh- Ooh, I like that ... read a book that is a future film 'cause we- Mm ... we've been talking about that.

Christy: Yep. Uh, bring a friend to the library. Uh, read a book that cost you nothing. Hint, hint, any of our 

Kim: books. Library books. 

Christy: Yes, library books. Read a staff pick book, uh, and maybe listen to the podcast. Yay. 

Kim: Excellent. Where you can 

Stephanie: hear about more books. 

Kim: Yes. That's right. Yes, the best books- Mm-hmm ... and the buzziest books.

Kim: Absolutely. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Kim: So, um, well no, that sounds great, and it's... I, I, I always love, um, when people come in during the summer because they are, they're enthusiastic. Mm-hmm. They have more time. They're going on vacation, so they, they are looking, um, for something new. 

Stephanie: And maybe they haven't been to the library since last summer, so- Right

Stephanie: they're taking in everything we have. They're interested in what's happening. They're interested in what's buzzy. 

Kim: Yeah. And it's also a great way... It's nice to see how communities support their libraries during the summer because as you said, some of the prizes are, you know, um, gift cards to different... so that you can use at different downtown, you know, stores or restaurants.

Kim: And a lot [00:39:00] of, um, libraries do have prizes that are contributed to them by local businesses. Mm-hmm. So I know at the Simsbury Library they have an ice cream- 

Stephanie: They do ... 

Kim: uh, you know, shop that often, you know, um, supports summer reading. Definitely, you know, check out what your local library is doing, um, and, and, and see what it has to offer, and definitely come here.

Stephanie: Maybe- Mm ... uh, your local library will be hatching ducks like we are here. 

Kim: Yes. 

Stephanie: Yes. I know Kim wants to talk about the ducks. How nice. 

Kim: Spoiler alert, ducks. 

Stephanie: Ducks. Ducks, ducks, ducks. 

Kate: Date with a duck. 

Stephanie: I can't give you a whole lot more information 'cause this is our first time hatching ducks, but- 

Kim: Yes ... 

Stephanie: it'll be an experience.

Kim: Yes, and there's water involved. It'll be just ducky. Right? 

Stephanie: Oh, yeah.

Stephanie: Yes, ducks need more water than chickens. 

Kim: Yes. 

Stephanie: So we're gonna see how that is different. 

Kim: All right. Well, I can't, I can't add more to that. No. Nope. So I'm just gonna say- Nope, just 

Stephanie: ducky. That's, that's it ... that's it. Just ducky. 

Kim: It is ducky, and, um, it's time to close the book on today's [00:40:00] episode. And if you like what you've heard here, please subscribe to the show.

Kim: This ensures that you won't miss any episodes. And if you have a moment, kindly rate and review the podcast. This helps other bookish people like yourself find the show. Tune in next month to find out what else is on the shelf and what else is ducky. Bye. 

Kate: Bye. Bye. Quack, quack. Quack, quack, quack.

Stephanie: It was fun. And then it gets fast. We need the funk. We need the funk. And the, and they like, it's like they hit a turntable and they speed it up. The funk's so fun.