The ABC Book Reviews: A Beth and Cari Production

Episode 66: Best First Novels

2009-12-14T15:53:00.001-08:00

Beth and Cari talk about best first novels and go on a Twilight tangent and other random ravings.

Click here to listen: First Novels
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: December 14, 2009

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
The Help by Katherine Stockett
(Not First Novel) A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
(NFN) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
(NFN) Wintergirls by Laurie Halls Anderson
(NFN) Speak by Laurie Halls Anderson
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
And Sometimes Why by Rebecca Johnson (Cari thought was boring)
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa
Jonathan Norrell and Mr. Strange by Susanna Clark
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Gobble Gobble

2009-11-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Beth and Cari will be back in December with new podcasts for the holidays!

Episode 65: Meeting Neil Gaiman

2009-11-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Beth and Cari went to see Neil Gaiman in person on October 4 at Cleveland Public Library. Listen in on their experience, favorite books, and what he had to say...

Click here to listen: Neil Gaiman
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: October 19, 2009

Some of our favorite books by Neil Gaiman:
Interworld
Coraline
Stardust
American Gods
Anansi Boys
The Graveyard Book
I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
Sandman series
M is for Magic

Episode 64: Book Review of Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry or "Creepy is Good"

2009-10-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari veer from their usual format and review just one book: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Read the book and listen along. Post your comments!

Click here to listen: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: October 19, 2009

We begin with a death. Elspeth Noble is dead and leaves her two twin nieces, Valentina and Julia, her flat in London with the stipulation that her sister and twin, Edie, and her husband are not allowed in the flat and the twins have to live there for a year before they can sell it. Other tenants of the building await the twins' arrival: Elspeth's lover, Robert, lives in the flat below hers and is anxious to meet the two girls whom he has never met. Martin, a severe OCD case, and his wife Marjke live in the flat above and were friends with Robert and Elspeth.

What seems like an ordinary story takes a turn towards the paranormal when the reader is introduced again to Elspeth, this time as a ghost living in her flat, unseen (at first) to her two inheritors. There is mystery surrounding Elspeth's and Edie's relationship - as in what caused the rift in the sisters' relationship. The answer to which is kept in a diary in Robert's flat.

The story becomes more intriguing when Elspeth is able to communicate with the twins and as the twins develop relationships with the other tenants that knew Elspeth. Though the motivation for a secret plan hatching between one twin and the ghost seems unrealistic, it makes for a good story and will hopefully have you reading till the last page.

Episode 63: New Book Buzz

2009-10-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari talk about new books coming out and discuss the book Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos.

Click here to listen: New Book Buzz
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: October 3, 2009

Why My Third Husband will be a Dog by Lisa Scottolini
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger - OUT NOW!
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls (author of Glass Castle)
As It Was Written: A Novel by

Sujatha Hampton - Feb 16, 2010
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Evidence of Murder by Lisa Black
Under the Dome by Stephen King
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
Rules For My Unborn Son by by Walker Lamond
The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande

Family Affair: A Novel by Caprice Crane

Book Discussion: Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos\

Stay tuned for the book discussion about "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger
and Beth and Cari's experience at CPL seeing Neil Gaiman in person. Spoiler - it was awesome!

Episode 62: Resources for Your Career or "Beth got a D in Thinking!"

2009-09-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari talk about the job market and how you can find tools at the library to help you start or change your career, and your future!

Click here to listen: Career Books for a New You!
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: September 28, 2009

What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles

Princeton Review 5 Minute Career Quiz

Princeton Review Guide to Careers

Episode 61: Hot September Book News or "What book have you faked reading?"

2009-09-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Listen in on exciting new book news for September and ask "What book have you faked reading?"

Click here to listen: Book News
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: September 14, 2009

Follow Beth, TPLibrarian, on Twitter!

September 1, sequel to the "Hunger Games", "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins came out! Get your copy today!

"The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown, author of "DaVinci Code" and "Angels and Demons", released TODAY, September 16!

Friday, September 18, Oprah newest book club book is announced! Only 3 cds on Book on CD, WHAT COULD IT BE??? We know its not "The Secret" or "The Bro Code"....hmmm

Author of "The Time Traveler's Wife", Audrey Niffenagger's new book, "Her Fearful Symmetry" is released on September 29!!!

Past Oprah books that we enjoyed:
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Night by Elie Wiesel
Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Where the Heart Is Billie Letts
Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
What We're Reading Now:
Beth:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (She will be at Cleveland Public Library on Sunday, October 18 @ 2pm)
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos (Monday, September 21, 3rd Monday Book Group)

Cari:
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Other News


Meet Author Cinda Williams Chima at Hudson Library for Teen Read Week!

October 11, 2:00 pm @ Hudson Library and Historical Society

Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider series, will be at Hudson Middle School on November 21 @ 3pm

Episode 60: End of Summer Potpourri

2009-08-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari talk about some cool books to read on these hot days.

Click here to listen: Summer Potpourri
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: August 3, 2009

Bridget Jones Diary
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
Fried Green Tomatoes
A Thousand Spendid Suns
The Namesake
The Kiterunner
To Kill a Mockingbird
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Poisonwood Bible
Joy Luck Club
Life of Pi
Lord of the Rings
Water for Elephants
Geography of Love
One Good Turn
Finding Fish
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Great Perhaps
I'm So Happy for You
The Bro Code
Things I've Learned from Women Who've Dumped Me

Episode 59: Pet Books or "My sister dresses up her cat"

2009-08-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari talk about cool pet books and share animal anecdotes in honor of Twinsburg Public Library's "Dogs Days of Summer". To the left, Beth's dog, Jenny and Cari and one of her kitties.

Click here to listen: Pet Books
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: August 3, 2009

Marley and Me by John Grogan
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Dog Gone It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn
Lilian Jackson Braun's Cat Mysteries (lots)
Cat Fantastic by by Andre Norton and Martin Greenberg
Catwatching by Desmond Morris
Dogwatching by Desmond Morris
Bad Cat: 244 Not-So-Pretty Kitties And Cats Gone Bad by Jim Edgar
Max and Annie Series (English Springer Spaniel books) by Sandra J. Philipson
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Barry Moser
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillio
Cat Wrangling Made Easy by Dusty Rainbolt
The Puppy Whisperer by by Paul Owens, Terence Cranendonk, and Norma Eckroate
The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens and Norma Eckroate

Check out the Daily Chuck on http://dooce.com

Episode 58: Movies Based on a Book or "That's Such a Samantha Thing to Say!"

2009-07-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Meet Amanda, the Twinsburg Public Library practicum student for Teen. She, Beth, and Cari chat about newly released and upcoming movies based on books. Movie Under the Stars: Marley and Me on Friday, July 24 at 9:15 pm at the library.

Click here to listen: Movies Based on Books
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: July 22, 2009

My Sister's Keeper - just released June 26
Time Traveler's Wife - in theaters August 14
The Notebook - released June 24, 2004
Where the Wild Things Are - in theaters October 16
New Moon - in theaters November 20
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - in theaters July 15
The Stand - released May 8, 1984
Inkheart - released January 23
Tale of Despereaux - released December 19
Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader - in theaters December 10, 2010
Stardust - released August 10, 2007
Coraline - released February 6
Confessions of a Shopaholic - released February 13
Sex and the City - released May 30, 2008

Check out the titles from the library once they are released on DVD!

Episode 57: Young Adult Books or "Tracy stole my notebook and she called me fat"

2009-06-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari share their latest YA titles in preparation of Battle of the Books at at Stow-Munroe Falls. Twinsburg is undefeated!

Click here to listen: Young Adult Books
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: June 18, 2009

Interworld by Neil Gaiman (Speaking at Cleveland Public Library, October 4 @ 2pm)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
A Wrinkle in Time

Episode 56: Relationship Books

2009-06-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

Beth and Cari, amateur therapists, talk about relationship books for before, during, and after coupledom.

Click here to listen: Relationship Books
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: June 18, 2009

He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
Why Is It All About You by Sandy Hotchkiss and James F. Masterson
Its Called a Break-Up Because Its Broken Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Creating an Intimate Marriage by Jim Burns

Episode 55: New Book Buzz

2009-05-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Click here to listen: New Book Buzz
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: May 25, 2009

Listen in as Beth and Cari talk about awesome upcoming titles in fiction and nonfiction!

Episode 54: Book Potpourri

2009-05-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

Click here to listen: Book Potpourri
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: May 18, 2009

Beth's back from maternity leave and actually had time to read! Listen in as Beth and Cari talk about books their reading and are looking forward to reading. Next episode: New Book Buzz!

Episode 53 - Chick Lit and More

2009-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cari and Victoria, of the reference department, start by talking about chick lit but end up digressing in several different directions. Recorded April 16, 2009.

Click here to listen.

Show Notes:

The Givenchy Code, The Manolo Matrix, The Prada Paradox, the Demon Hunter series -
Julie Kenner
Twenties Girl, Remember Me?, the Shopaholic series - Sophie Kinsella
Best Friends Forever, Good in Bed - Jennifer Weiner
Love the One You're With, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof -
Emily Giffin
*I checked to see if she was coming out with a new one - it will be out in 2010.
Dexter series - Jeff Lindsay - New one comes out in the U.S. in September. The book is already out in the U.K. and Australia.
Dune Road - Jane Green - comes out this summer
The Keepsake - Tess Gerritsen
Sweet Valley High series - Francine Pascal
Babysitters Club series - Ann M. Martin
Horror/thrillers - Stephen King
Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz
Handle with Care & My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Watermelon, Angels, Anybody Out There? - Marian Keyes
Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding

Episode 52 - Thrillers and Suspense

2009-04-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Cari talks with guest host Carol about suspense and thrillers. Carol, a veteran of the reference department, is the suspense and thriller guru. Listen to this podcast for more raving about In the Woods, Cari's new favorite thriller, along with many new titles for suspense lovers. Recorded April 16, 2009.

Click here to listen.

Show Notes:

In the Woods & The Likeness - Tana French
Mallory series - Carol O'Connor
The Folly - Laurie R. King
Mystery/thrillers set in Washington state - Jess Walter
Ireland mysteries - Ken Bruen
Jesse Stone series, Spenser series - Robert B. Parker
Spenser TV show starred Robert Urich. He died in 2002.
Jesse Stone made-for-TV movies starred Tom Selleck.
The Sociopath Next Door - Martha Stout
The Yiddish Policemen's Union - Michael Chabon
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
A Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick
The Tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penney
Scandanavian thrillers:
Karin Fossum - Norway
Henning Mankell - Sweden - Faceless Killers
Jo Nesbo - Norway
Heartsick & Sweetheart - Chelsea Cain
The third one is Evil at Heart and comes out this fall.
The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris
Dexter series - Jeff Lindsay
Crime fiction - Donald Westlake

Episode 51: Carolyn Squared

2009-04-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Technical difficulties prevented this podcast from being uploaded in a timely manner!! Recorded April 7, 2009, here is the first podcast from Beth's maternity leave, with guest host Carolyn Vana. Since Cari's name is short for Carolyn, the title is "Carolyn Squared."

Click here to listen.

Show Notes/Books Mentioned:

David Eddings - fantasy series
The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians series) - Rick Riordan
Harry Potter on audio - J.K. Rowling - Read by Jim Dale
In the Woods (audio) - Tana French - Read by Steven Crossley
Buy-ology - Martin Lindstrom
Twilight series - Stephenie Meyer
The Shack - William P. Young
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
Myron Bolitar series - Harlan Coben
The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende
Try to See it My Way - B. Janet Hibbs
Alibi in High Heels - Gemma Halliday
1984 - George Orwell

Episode 50: Top Ten All Time Favorites

2009-03-24T06:45:00.001-07:00

Click here to listen: Top Ten All Time Favorites

Beth's top ten:
1. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
2. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. The Giver - Lois Lowry
5. The Horse and His Boy - C.S. Lewis
6. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
7. Romeo & Juliet (play) - William Shakespeare
8. Couplehood - Paul Reiser
9. The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman
10. Boundaries - Henry Cloud

Cari's top ten:
1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
2. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
3. The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon, I Mean Noel - Ellen Raskin
4. Anastasia Krupnik series - Lois Lowry
5. Good in Bed - Jennifer Weiner
6. Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling
7. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
8. 1984 - George Orwell
9. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
10. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Runners-Up
Plain Truth / The Pact - Jodi Picoult
Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris
The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri
The Dresden Files series - Jim Butcher

Other books mentioned
Anita Blake series - Laurell K. Hamilton
The Dexter series - Jeff Lindsay

Welcome Lucas Hatch!

2009-03-23T16:31:00.001-07:00

Beth's baby boy, Lucas Tyler Hatch, was born Saturday March 21st at 1:45pm. Mom, Dad and baby are doing great!

Cari will be posting the 50th (pre-recorded) podcast soon. Then, listen for Cari's podcasts with guest hosts in the next few weeks while Beth is on maternity leave.

Episode 49 - Humorous Books

2009-03-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

Click here to listen: Humorous Books or "Talk about People Who Made a Comeback!"
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: March 9, 2009

Beth and Cari crack themselves up talking about funny books and comedians!

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Beyond the Pale by Jim Gaffigan (audio CD)
Flight of the Conchords (audio CD and television show) - Bowie in Space
Are You There Vodka? Its Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
Couplehood by Paul Reiser
Babyhood by Paul Reiser
Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
more...

Episode 48: What Makes a Good Book? or "That would be like your Michael Connelly pizza"

2009-02-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen: What makes a Good Book?
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: February 24, 2009

Beth and Cari expound on top Books of 2008 as posted by Neil Howland on Fiction_L. They also comment on Steven King's slam on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series and enjoy using food analogies to describe different types of books.

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: a novel by David Wroblewski

Netherland by Joseph O'Neill

2666 by Roberto Bolano

Young Adult
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Stephen King's books:
Salem's Lot, On Writing, etc.

Episode 47 - Recent Reads or "Stop Talking to the Pigeons and Tell Me Who Did It!"

2009-02-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen: Recent Reads
Reserve Books from Twinsburg Public Library
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: February 10, 2009

Beth and Cari chat about books they've read recently. Try the Lamaze ice cube test and tell us if it worked for you!

Your Pregnant: A Week by Week Guide from Conception to Delivery by Lesley Regan

19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Home: a Memoir of my Early Years by Julie Andrews

Church of Lies by Flora Jessop

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall

Escape by Carolyn Jessop and Laura Palmer

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris

I'll Tell You I Love You, But Then I'de Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson

Terrier (Bekka Cooper Book 1) by Tamora Pierce

Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

Surrender by Sonya Hartnett

Episode 46: What to Read Next? Reader's Advisory

2009-01-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen: Reader's Advisory
Reserve Books from Twinsburg Public Library
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: January 26, 2009

For people who love to read, sometimes their favorite authors are exhausted and they run out of things to read. Never fear! Beth and Cari share some reader's advisory resources to help you with your "next reads".

Episode 45: Best Books of 2008

2009-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen: Best Books of 2008
Reserve Books from Twinsburg Public Library
SHOW NOTES:
Date Recorded: January 18, 2009

Beth and Cari talk about the best books of the past year with TPL staff picks. A special thanks to Cheri in Georgia for her suggestion to ask our listeners about their favorite books. Post your comments or email bhatch@twinsburglibrary.org or cdubiel@twinsburglibrary.org

Beth and Cari meet J.A. Jance!

2009-01-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

We would like to thank J.A. Jance for finishing her book tour at the Twinsburg Public Library. We would also like to thank Route 91 Reader's Row for coordinating the event and the Friends of the Library for providing refreshments.