Middletown Strong: Looking Up with Russell Library Russell Library

Join Stephanie, Christy, and Kate as they interview the newest member of the podcast team, Dillon (me the editor) about all things Manga.  As well as some important announcements and upcoming events from Shannon and Kim in TTSU followed by more book recommendations from Stephanie, Christy, and Kate in Shelf Life.

Book Recommendations

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Lore Olympus (Vol 1) by Rachel Smythe
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Maus by Art Spiegelman
March by John Lewis
El Deafo by Cece Bell
The Fire Never Goes Out by ND Stevenson
Genderqueer by Maya Kobabe
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
Science Comics: Coral Reefs by Maris Wicks,
The Bat by Elise Gravel

The Library Vault Blog Posts

https://thelibraryvault.com/2023/12/18/animation-that-excites-manga-that-inspires/
https://thelibraryvault.com/2024/02/05/lost-in-translation-the-confession/

This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

When it comes to romance, readers have historically landed squarely on one side of the fence... love em' or hate em'. As the genre evolves, however, we're starting to see a new wave of romance fans. In today's episode, Stephanie, Christy, and Briana strive to deconstruct the contemporary romance genre. They'll explore a variety of tropes; such as, second chance romance, enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, slow burn, and friends to lovers, just to name a few. They'll also cover terminology and language specific to this genre, along with book recommendations from BIPOC  and queer authors. Fans of romance and skeptics alike will have a lot to learn from this episode. Share the love with Middletown Strong! 

Book Recommendations:
With Love From Cold World by Alicia Thompson
We Could Be So Good By Cat Sebastian
You Don’t have a Shot by Raquel Marie
Stars in their Eyes by Kacen Callendar
New Adult by Timothy Janovsky
As You Walk on By by Julian Winters
Seven Minutes in Candyland by Brian Wasson
Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly
Behind the Scenes by Karina Stetz-Waters
Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Love at 350 Lisa Peers
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Do you identify as an Oscar buff? Are you fascinated by the history and lore surrounding this annual cinematic event? If so, this episode is for you! Kate, Kim, and Christy sit down with special guest, Jeremy Bond, to chat about all things related to the world-renowned Academy Awards. Pull up a comfy chair, grab some popcorn, and get inspired to celebrate the best pictures of 2024!

This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

The winter solstice is upon us! Too many of us enter the darker months with a feeling of dread, but what if it didn't have to be this way? The solstice is a time to embrace the return of the light and rejoice in the gifts that the colder months have to offer. In this conversation, Kate will share a little history surrounding the winter solstice. Shannon will offer ideas for solstice celebration and Cate will share positive winter practices inspired by the Nordic and Scandinavian culture. Enjoy winter hikes in the woods, intentional time with loved ones, cozy reading sessions by the fire, and endless cups of tea! Happy Solstice!

Book Recommendations

loria Buenrostro is NOT My Girlfriend by Brandon Hoang
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Lost and Found by Kathryn Schulz
Hygge Episode

https://middletownstrong.buzzsprout.com/1546903/11994340-hygge-christy-stephanie-kate-cate

Resources

https://scienceatl.org/science-of-the-winter-solstice/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/well/mind/Scandinavia-Norway-Winter-Mindset.html

Live at Stonehenge: Winter Solstice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a66kvYnGc_c

This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

We are thrilled to bring this episode to our listeners on the last day of Indigenous People's Heritage Month! The Russell Library recently had the pleasure of partnering with Kyle O'Neil and her father and Wangunk Elder, Gary O'Neil, to showcase Kyle's 20 year retrospective journey as an artist. This conversation includes a retelling of Briana and Christy's experience hosting this beautiful event, along with sound bites of conversation from Gary and Kyle taken during a guided tour of the collection. We invite you to view Kyle's incredible artwork at the library throughout the month of December.

The land the Russell Library sits on is Wangunk land; we are honored to bring awareness and recognition to the Wangunk people, who are sometimes referred to as a “lost tribe.”

Book Recommendations

Misewa Saga 1: The Barren Grounds by David Robertson
Never Whistle At Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Collection edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr
First Laugh -Welcome, Baby!  by Rose Ann Tahe, Nancy Bo, and Jonathan Nelson
Powwow Day by Traci Sorell
We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson 

This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Do urban legends intrigue you? Does local folklore spark your imagination? If so, you won't want to miss our second spooky episode of the season! Librarians, Shannon, Briana, and Christy sit down with our Assistant Director of Public Services, Mary, to share CT urban legends. Where did these stories start? What was their intended purpose? Is there truth behind the myth?... You decide... And stayed tuned for a behind-the-scenes unexplained event that happened after the recording of this conversation. The Secrets of Russell Library continue to unfold!

Book Recommendations

Clown in a Cornfield & Frendo Lives  by Adam Cesare
Vampires of  El Norte by  Isabel Cañas
The Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
The Witch Boy by  Molly Ostertag
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones


This podcast uses music by Ashutosh, under a creative commons license:
Time by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US