Our hosts discuss the book they read together, and Crystal says goodbye to the podcast!

Our hosts discuss the book they read together, and Crystal says goodbye to the podcast!

Ep. 234, Crystal's Goodbye

Our hosts are back this week to discuss books, culture, and the short stories they've read!

Our hosts are back this week to discuss books, culture, and the short stories they've read!

Short Stories Galore!, Ep 233

Love A Good Mae West Room, Ep. 232

Crystal and Frank are back! They kick off the year with chatting how they spent their holiday break. 

Crystal and Frank are back! They kick off the year with chatting how they spent their holiday break.

Reviews and More Reviews!, Ep 231

Frank and Crystal are joined by 2 great NYPL librarians to help close out 2022!

Frank and Crystal are joined by 2 great NYPL librarians to help close out 2022!

We Have Guests!, Ep 230

This week we're revisiting Frank and Crystal's book pick from June: Light From Uncommon Stars. We'll be back next episode with some fabulous guests to cloose out 2022! 

This week we're revisiting Frank and Crystal's book pick from June: Light From Uncommon Stars. We'll be back next episode with some fabulous guests to cloose out 2022!

REBROADCAST: Always Under Renovation, Ep. 218

Frank and Crystal discuss books, culture, and what to read before they head out for Thanksgiving (which has already happened!).

Frank and Crystal discuss books, culture, and what to read before they head out for Thanksgiving (which has already happened!).

Perfectly Frank and Crystal, Ep 229

Our hosts discuss their free read book picks! Frank read We Spread by Iain Reid and Crystal read My Pinup by Hilton Als. 

Our hosts discuss their free read book picks! Frank read We Spread by Iain Reid and Crystal read My Pinup by Hilton Als.

Herding Cats? Or Herding Horses..., Ep. 228

Our hosts discuss this week's book club pick - The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier. 

Our hosts discuss this week's book club pick - The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier.

Book Club: The Anomaly, Ep. 227

Frank and Crystal discuss the books they picked off of last episode's theme - The Spice Girls!

Frank and Crystal discuss the books they picked off of last episode's theme - The Spice Girls!

When 2 (Librarians) Become 1 (Spice), Ep 226

The New York Public Library’s podcast about books, culture, and what to read next.

So glad you are back. I missed this podcast so much. Let the reading begin.

Ahhh you are back

Welcome Rhonda. Good luck Gwen. So glad the podcast is back.

Glad your back

The Librarian Is In

Want to broaden your reading horizons this year? Librarian extraordinaire Meredith Mann joins Frank and Gwen to debate the pros and cons of annual reading challenges. Plus: secret database magic, sci-fi written by robots, and our favorite British bakers. Get links to the books discussed in the episode at nypl.org/podcast.

Want to broaden your reading horizons this year? Librarian extraordinaire Meredith Mann joins Frank and Gwen to debate the pros and cons of annual reading challenges. Plus: secret database magic, sci-fi written by robots, and our favorite British bakers. Get links to the books discussed in the episode at <a href="http://nypl.org/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nypl.org/podcast</a>.

New Year, New (Reading) You

For the last episode of 2019, Gwen surprises Frank by reading one of his all time favorite books, Frank delves into the world of Trust Exercise and Gwen shares a personal announcement. Stay warm on those windswept moors everybody, and we'll see you in 2020!

For the last episode of 2019, Gwen surprises Frank by reading one of his all time favorite books, Frank delves into the world of Trust Exercise and Gwen shares a personal announcement. Stay warm on those windswept moors everybody, and we'll see you in 2020!

Walk the Windswept Moors

Gwen gets fired up about reading—you guessed it—new fiction this year, while Frank dips into the backlist of a new favorite author. Plus: New Year's resolutions, The Bachelor, and the best short stories of 2018. Book Recommendations  Best American Short Stories 2018, ed. by Roxane Gay  The Children's Bach by Helen Garner   The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley Encocylopedia Britannica's quick summary of "Beowulf"—or check out  lots of versions of the actual poem from the Library Non-Book Recommendations  The panel Gwen is speaking on at ALA Midwinter: “So You Want to Podcast." Come say hi! Vice Nina LaCour's podcast, Keeping a Notebook  The Bachelor 

Gwen gets fired up about reading—you guessed it—new fiction this year, while Frank dips into the backlist of a new favorite author. Plus: New Year's resolutions, The Bachelor, and the best short stories of 2018. Book Recommendations <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbest%20American%20short%20stories%202018__Orightresult__U?searched_from=header_search×tamp=1546966011489&amp;lang=eng" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Best American Short Stories 2018</a>, ed. by Roxane Gay <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SGarner%2C%20Helen%20the%20childrens%20bach__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> The Children's Bach</a> by Helen Garner <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Smere%20wife%20maria__Orightresult__U?searched_from=header_search×tamp=1546891195092&amp;lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Mere Wife</a> by Maria Dahvana Headley Encocylopedia Britannica's <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beowulf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">quick summary of "Beowulf"</a>—or check out <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbeowulf__Orightresult__U?searched_from=header_search×tamp=1547057606660&amp;lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> lots of versions of the actual poem</a> from the Library Non-Book Recommendations <ul> <li>The panel Gwen is speaking on at ALA Midwinter: “<a href="https://www.eventscribe.com/2019/ALA-Midwinter/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&amp;PresentationID=477461" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">So You Want to Podcast</a>." Come say hi!</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g09a9laLh0k" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Vice</a></li> <li>Nina LaCour's podcast, <a href="https://www.ninalacour.com/podcast/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Keeping a Notebook</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bachelor_(U.S._TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bachelor</a></li> </ul>

New Fiction! New Fiction!

Gwen and Frank are both struggling to find the perfect book this week — and coming up with some ideas about how to do it. Plus: the glory that is Ilana Glazer.

Gwen and Frank are both struggling to find the perfect book this week — and coming up with some ideas about how to do it. Plus: the glory that is Ilana Glazer.

How to Pull Yourself Out of a Book Slump

Gwen and Frank take a deep, emotional dive into a masterpiece by this year's Nobel Prize winner in Literature: Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. Get the full list of episodes at www.nypl.org/podcast. 

Gwen and Frank take a deep, emotional dive into a masterpiece by this year's Nobel Prize winner in Literature: Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. Get the full list of episodes at <a href="http://www.nypl.org/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.nypl.org/podcast</a>.

Never Let Me Go. Seriously, Never.

We talk about how to fit more reading into busy schedules, Lin-Manuel Miranda, horror books and movies, childhood favorites, David Bowie, Lin-Manuel Miranda again, and our love for Downton Abbey’s kind Anna and unstoppable Edith.

We talk about how to fit more reading into busy schedules, Lin-Manuel Miranda, horror books and movies, childhood favorites, David Bowie, Lin-Manuel Miranda again, and our love for Downton Abbey’s kind Anna and unstoppable Edith.

#TeamEdith, Ep. 3

Book synergy abounds with two titles that explore the sometimes dark, sometimes funny, sometimes supernatural relationship between parents and children. Plus, a listener question about "leisure reading" proves to be more complicated than it first seems.  Books Discussed:  Lanny by Max Porter  A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother by Rachel Cusk

Book synergy abounds with two titles that explore the sometimes dark, sometimes funny, sometimes supernatural relationship between parents and children. Plus, a listener question about "leisure reading" proves to be more complicated than it first seems.  Books Discussed: <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21755909__Slanny__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Lanny</a> by Max Porter <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21834578__Srachel%20cusk__P0%2C8__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother</a> by Rachel Cusk

Life-Changing Lessons

Books and reading are the foundation of any library but your local librarian is doing so much more: computer help, test prep and yes, even knitting. This week, Gwen and Frank talk to Erin Horanzy, an Adult Programming Librarian at NYPL's Francis Martin Library in the Bronx. Enjoy! We want to hear from you! Please share your thoughts with us in this short survey: www.nypl.org/podcastsurvey

Books and reading are the foundation of any library but your local librarian is doing so much more: computer help, test prep and yes, even knitting. This week, Gwen and Frank talk to Erin Horanzy, an Adult Programming Librarian at NYPL's Francis Martin Library in the Bronx. Enjoy! We want to hear from you! Please share your thoughts with us in this short survey: <a href="http://www.nypl.org/podcastsurvey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.nypl.org/podcastsurvey</a>

How Many Hats Can a Librarian Wear?

Go behind the scenes at BookOps, the Library's special secret spy agen— er, the "technical services" unit. Also: the Helen Ellis/Shirley Jackson/Anita Brookner triumvirate, Frank's shocking Harry Potter confession, and more.

Go behind the scenes at BookOps, the Library's special secret spy agen— er, the "technical services" unit. Also: the Helen Ellis/Shirley Jackson/Anita Brookner triumvirate, Frank's shocking Harry Potter confession, and more.

The Podcast That Must Not Be Named, Ep. 4

Gwen and Frank tackle one book that feels comforting and homey; one that's distinctly unsettling; and one that's somewhere in between. Plus: A stranger on the train helps us deconstruct the genius of J-Patt. Book Recommendations  Your Duck Is My Duck: Stories by Deborah Eisenberg  The Farm by Joanne Ramos  Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home by Nora Krug   Also mentioned:  Mary Poppins Returns Emily Blunt and the rest of the cast going down the bathtub slide!  Everything Doris Day

Gwen and Frank tackle one book that feels comforting and homey; one that's distinctly unsettling; and one that's somewhere in between. Plus: A stranger on the train helps us deconstruct the genius of J-Patt. Book Recommendations <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Syour%20duck%20is%20my%20duck__Orightresult__U?searched_from=header_search×tamp=1557861179159&amp;lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Your Duck Is My Duck: Stories</a> by Deborah Eisenberg <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sfarm%20joanne%20ramos__Orightresult__U?searched_from=header_search×tamp=1557759033455&amp;lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Farm</a> by Joanne Ramos <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21642729__Sbelonging__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home</a> by Nora Krug   Also mentioned: <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Smary%20poppins%20returns__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mary Poppins Returns</a> Emily Blunt and the rest of the cast <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIAc2eYH_xA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">going down the bathtub slide</a>! <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SDoris%20day;jsessionid=7211065AD75E7E1941B425722759F8D3?lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Everything</a> Doris Day

Comfort Reads

The hosts of WNYC's Nancy podcast join Gwen and Frank for a conversation about queer books, making podcasts, and Xena Warrior Princess... and they Skyped in from their vacation, no less!  Subscribe to Nancy wherever you get Podcasts, we highly recommend it.  (This episode has some less than perfect audio, which is particularly embarrassing given our super professional radio guests. We promise it's still a great episode, and we're sorry!)

The hosts of WNYC's Nancy podcast join Gwen and Frank for a conversation about queer books, making podcasts, and Xena Warrior Princess... and they Skyped in from their vacation, no less!  Subscribe to Nancy wherever you get Podcasts, we highly recommend it.  (This episode has some less than perfect audio, which is particularly embarrassing given our super professional radio guests. We promise it's still a great episode, and we're sorry!)

Nancy Books

We all love libraries, but what books do you just NEED to own? Frank coins a new genre, Gwen falls for a book about mistakes, and they both share some deep thoughts about the oxford comma.   This Week’s Books:  The Grammarians by Cathleen Shine  The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames  Dreyer's English : An Utterly correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer

We all love libraries, but what books do you just NEED to own? Frank coins a new genre, Gwen falls for a book about mistakes, and they both share some deep thoughts about the oxford comma. This Week’s Books: <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21834390__Sgrammarians__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Grammarians</a> by Cathleen Shine <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21825654__Selizabeth%20ames__Orightresult__X4?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Other’s Gold</a> by Elizabeth Ames <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21694447__Sdreyer%27s%20english__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Dreyer's English : An Utterly correct Guide to Clarity and Style</a> by Benjamin Dreyer

Cozy Intellectualism and/or Baby Marginalia

Margaret H. Willison, a.k.a. The Coolest Funniest Pop-Culture-iest Librarian Ever, joins Gwen and Frank this week for the ultimate high/low-culture episode. nypl.org/podcast

Margaret H. Willison, a.k.a. The Coolest Funniest Pop-Culture-iest Librarian Ever, joins Gwen and Frank this week for the ultimate high/low-culture episode. <a href="http://www.nypl.org/voices/blogs/blog-channels/librarian-is-in" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nypl.org/podcast</a>

Dame Margaret Comes to Town: Ep. 13

Who's up for some dubious morality? We're all about the scandal this week, as Frank and Gwen tackle controversial essays, what makes a "beach read," and, um, porcupines in library book drops.

Who's up for some dubious morality? We're all about the scandal this week, as Frank and Gwen tackle controversial essays, what makes a "beach read," and, um, porcupines in library book drops.

Scandal!

This week, Gwen and Frank take on books ranging  from the collapse of modern civilization to a murder "how-done-it" told exclusively from the point of view of a perspicacious fetus.  Get the full list of books discussed at www.nypl.org/podcast.

This week, Gwen and Frank take on books ranging  from the collapse of modern civilization to a murder "how-done-it" told exclusively from the point of view of a perspicacious fetus.  Get the full list of books discussed at <a href="http://www.nypl.org/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.nypl.org/podcast</a>.

The Beginning or the End?

Jane Eyre

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, Gwen and Frank fall hard for the wise and wonderful Vanessa Zoltan of the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast! We talk Harry and Jane, try the spiritual practice of lectio divina, discuss the healing power of romance novels, figure out Frank's Tinder profile... get ready for some serious revelations. Vanessa's book recs:  My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout 

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, Gwen and Frank fall hard for the wise and wonderful Vanessa Zoltan of the <a href="http://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast</a>! We talk Harry and Jane, try the spiritual practice of lectio divina, discuss the healing power of romance novels, figure out Frank's Tinder profile... get ready for some serious revelations. Vanessa's book recs: <ul> <li><a href="browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Slucy%20barton__Orightresult__U?searched_from=header_search×tamp=1535482572666&amp;lang=eng" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">My Name is Lucy Barton</a> by Elizabeth Strout</li> <li><a href="browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sanything%20is%20elizabeth%20strout__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Anything is Possible</a> by Elizabeth Strout</li> </ul>

Harry Potter Meets Jane Eyre

Anita Brookner

Dorothy Parker

Your hosts wax rhapsodic about two of their mainstay favorite authors. Plus: Gwen takes "cozy intellectual" suggestions from a listener's email and Frank discovers a YouTube celebrity crush. 

Your hosts wax rhapsodic about two of their mainstay favorite authors. Plus: Gwen takes "cozy intellectual" suggestions from a listener's email and Frank discovers a YouTube celebrity crush.

Anita Brookner and Dorothy Parker Walk into a Bar...

It's World Read Aloud Day, and Gwen and Frank are hearing voices from ghosts and robots. But they still manage to keep it together to recommend some books and play an extra round of their guessing game.

It's World Read Aloud Day, and Gwen and Frank are hearing voices from ghosts and robots. But they still manage to keep it together to recommend some books and play an extra round of their guessing game.

Don't Shush Me! 

Humidity can't exist in outer space! Beat the heat by blasting off into orbit with Frank and Gwen's brand-new segment. Plus: Do audiobooks "count" as reading?

Humidity can't exist in outer space! Beat the heat by blasting off into orbit with Frank and Gwen's brand-new segment. Plus: Do audiobooks "count" as reading?

Hot Garbage, Summer in the City, Ep. 19

Frank and Gwen break down romance novel stereotypes with fellow NYPL librarian Anne Rouyer. The genre often gets dismissed as fluff, but romance can subvert the traditional confines of gender, power, class, and more. (Gay Regency, anyone?) Anne's Recommendations  Social Intercourse by Greg Howard  The Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah Maclean   Unmasked by the Marquess and  It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian  My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan (for those who love  Me Before You by Jojo Moyes)  Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison And for a non-book recommendation: 'Hiyori's Bed &amp; Breakfast'

Frank and Gwen break down romance novel stereotypes with fellow NYPL librarian Anne Rouyer. The genre often gets dismissed as fluff, but romance can subvert the traditional confines of gender, power, class, and more. (Gay Regency, anyone?) Anne's Recommendations <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21554405__SSocial%20Intercourse__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Social Intercourse</a> by Greg Howard <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SThe%20Wicked%20and%20the%20Wallflower__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Wicked and the Wallflower</a><a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SThe%20Wicked%20and%20the%20Wallflower__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>by Sarah Maclean  <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21575173__SCat%20Sebastian__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Unmasked by the Marquess</a> and <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb21533615__SCat%20Sebastian__P0%2C1__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> It Takes Two to Tumble</a> by Cat Sebastian <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SMy%20Oxford%20Year%20__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> My Oxford Year</a> by Julia Whelan (for those who love <a href="https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SMe%20Before%20You__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Me Before You</a> by Jojo Moyes) <a href="browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__SAngus%2C%20Thongs%20and%20Full%20frontal%20Snogging__Orightresult__U?lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson</a> by Louise Rennison And for a non-book recommendation: <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80195839" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">'Hiyori's Bed &amp; Breakfast'</a>

May I Remove Your Preconceived Notions? 

The best self improvement podcast episodes. From improving productivity, to finding purpose in your life to what constitutes freedom, this topic is on anything and everything that can help people to improve their lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Self Improvement, Growth & Development

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!