The Books We Loved

Troy Public LIbrary

The Books We Loved is a podcast about revisiting old favorites with an open mind and a new perspective. Despite the title, we won’t be limiting ourselves to books-- movies, music, TV shows, and other aspects of pop culture will be up for discussion. Hosts and TPL Librarians, Manda and Olivia (alongside some special guests from the Troy community!), will be asking themselves: does this book hold up?

Tune in to revisit your old favorites while adding some new titles to your TBR list.

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133 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes133

Newest first

Summer Book Club: Emma by Jane Austen
Today the girls are joined by repeat-guest, Angie, to discuss Jane Austen's classic, Emma. Books Angie recommended during the episode include: Book of Doors, Gareth Brown Wild Reverence: a novel, Rebecca Ross The Midnight Library, Matt Haig
Wednesday · 42 min
HOT READ: Ann Patchett's Whistler
Today the gals chat about a podcast favorite, Ann Patchett, and her newest novel: Whistler. A couple readalikes Olivia shared: Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng Anything by Liane Moriarty The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
July 22 · 48 min
Reader requests x2
Today the ladies make recommendations based on two patron requests. Titles discussed are below: Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro This Is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin Circe, Madeline Miller Babel, R.F. Kuang Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson A Rover’s Story, Jasmine Warga Anything by Gordon Korman The Second Life of Snap, Erin Entrada Kelly When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead Pax, Sara Pennypacker Stranded, Probst Mob Squad, Dawson City of Ember series, DuPrau Hatchet, Paulsen The Last Kids on Earth series, Brallier Anything by Margaret Peterson Haddix
July 15 · 19 min
Summer Book Club: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Today the ladies take on C.S. Lewis' beloved 1950 classic, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as part of their Summer Book Club series. Shoot the girls a message if you'd like tailored book recommendations.
July 8 · 35 min
June reads
Today the ladies share a few titles of books they've recently read, or are currently enjoying. Titles included: James, Everett A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, Mandanna Here Lies the Librarian, Peck Villa Coco, Greer Adult Braces: driving myself sane, West Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About: a memoir, Klee Go Gentle, Semple
July 1 · 17 min
Little House on the Prairie
Today Olivia and Manda are joined by Cassie, for a trip to the past, as the ladies discuss Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved, Little House on the Prairie series. SOURCES: Various PBS articles The Pioneer Girl Art Project, South Dakota Historical Society Press The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum website A Kids Britannica biography "The Little House Books: a historical slap upside the head," article from the blog, "A Bestiary of Books: Odds and Interesting Children’s Novels, 1900 – 1975” Several Minnesota Public Radio articles https://pioneergirlproject.org/2023/08/30/helen-sewell-the-first-little-house-illustrator/ https://lauraingallswilderhome.com/ "Where the Wilder Things are: the Laura Ingalls Wilder roadtrip
June 24 · 39 min
Summer picture books you'll love
Today the ladies are joined by local picture book connoisseur, Ben, for a chat about summer-themed picture books your family will love! To check out Ben's picture book recommendations, he can be found on Substack or Instagram . Titles discussed include: Big Mama's, Donald Crews Blueberries for Sal, Robert McCloskey It Began with Lemonade, Gideon Sterer Summer is for Cousins, Rajani LaRocca I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, Kevin Sherry Jabari Jumps (and it's sequel, Jabari Tries), Gaia Cornwall Walking Trees, Marie-Louise Gay Fireworks, Matthew Burgess Flotsam, David Wiesner
June 17 · 31 min
Author Spotlight: Margaret Wise Brown
Today the gals discuss author, Margaret Wise Brown, creator of the beloved classic, Goodnight Moon, and many other books. Recommended reads: Kids: The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown, Mac Barnett Adults: Margaret Wise Brown: awakened by the moon, Leonard Marcus In the Great Green Room: the brilliant and bold life of Margaret Wise Brown, Gary Sources: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art The Traditional and Fine Arts Organization Online exhibits on several of the illustrators discussed, taken from the University of Minnesota Libraries MOMA’s website https://www.esphyrslobodkina.org/ Encyclopedia Britannica online An article titled: “Margaret Wise Brown’s Celebration of the Seasons,” by Danielle Ridolfi which was featured on Washington University’s library website 2026 article titled, “The Tao of Margaret Wise Brown,” which was featured in the Brooklyn Downtown Star
June 10 · 43 min
HOT READ: The Correspondent
Today Olivia and Manda share their thoughts on The Correspondent by Virginia Evans; a 2025 release that continues to appear in the New York Times Best Sellers list (Hardcover Fiction). Also, in case you couldn't jot it down, Olivia announced this year's Summer Reading list, aka the Brit Lit edition, and titles are as follows: June: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis July: Emma, Jane Austen August: Matilda, Roald Dahl
June 3 · 29 min
MORE book recommendations for May!
A speedy episode where each of the ladies share two titles apiece. Books recommended: Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March, Lynda Blackmon Lowery How to Read a Book, Monica Wood A Woman of No Importance: the untold story of the American spy who helped win World War II, Sonia Purnell This Story Might Save Your Life, Tiffany Crum
May 27 · 12 min
Book Club recommendations
Today the gals racked their brains and came up with recommendations of books they think would be a great choice for your Book Club! Books discussed: Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor Survive the Night, Riley Sager The Rachel Incident, Caroline O'Donoghue Belonging, Nora Krug Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano Daughter of Fortune, Isabel Allende
May 20 · 16 min
our 4th anniversary!
Today's epsiodes is full of shenanigans, silly quizzes, weird questions, and a little backstory on your hosts. Thank you for helping us make it to 4yrs!
May 17 · 42 min
Recent reads - May
A short and sweet ep -- the ladies each share three recent reads worth checking out: Best Offer Wins, Kashino The Merge, Walker The Road to Tender Hearts, Hartnett The Small and the Mighty: twelve unsung Americans who changed the course of history, from the founding to the civil rights movement, McMahon The Names, Knapp Heart the Lover, King
May 13 · 16 min
spilling the library tea
Today the gals take a break from chatting books, and share funny stories from their years being librarians. Sit back and enjoy as the gals spill the tea!
May 6 · 29 min
Q1 - most requested titles
Today the gals count down the top 12 most requested titles (here at TPL) for the first quarter of 2026. Hopefully you'll get as many good recs as they did! List of titles below: 12. My Husband’s Wife, Alice Feeney 11. James: a novel, Percival Everett 10. The Women, Kristin Hannah 9. The Secret of Secrets, Dan Brown 8. Fourth Wing, Yarros 7. The First Time I Saw Him, Dave 6. Twice, Mitch Albom 5. My Friends, Backman 4. Broken Country, Clare Leslie Hall 3. Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid 2. The Correspondent, Virginia Evans 1. The Widow, Grisham
April 29 · 22 min
Author/Illustrator Spotlight: Garth Williams
Today the gals take on Garth Williams. Williams was an American author and illustrator, known for his gorgeous illustrations in such classics as: Charlotte's Web; the Little House on the Prairie series; The Cricket in Times Square, and many more beloved books.
April 22 · 34 min
taking small bites - a poetry primer
Today the gals celebrate National Poetry Month by sharing bits and bobs from some of their favs. Poetry titles shared today: “Wild Geese” – Mary Oliver “Mountain Dew Commercial Disguised as a Love Poem” – Matthew Olzmann “A Primer” – Bob Hicock “Dirtbag” – Leigh Lucas “How to Like It” – Stephen Dobyns “What I Didn’t Know Before” – Ada Limon “Unchopping a Tree” – W.S. Merwin “Digging” – Seamus Heaney “I Sing the Body Electric” – Walt Whitman “Darkling I Listen” – Adam Clay “Funeral Blues” – W.H. Auden “Try to Praise the Mutilated World” – Adam Zagajewski “Nostalgia” – Billy Collins “Feet” – Ross Gay “Maple Valley Branch Library, 1967”
April 15 · 27 min
Break that reading slump!
Today the gals share some ideas about how to break your reading slump, and offer up some titles that helped them get back into reading.
April 8 · 40 min
What we're reading this spring
Olivia and Manda discuss their recent reads during today's episode. Remember, if you're looking for personalized recs, send an email to: podcast@troypl.org
April 1 · 30 min
Living a creative life
Today the gals host Danielle (from Digital Services) for a robust discussion about the inspiring and controversial photographer, Sally Mann, and her 2025 book, Art Work: on the creative life.
March 25 · 50 min

The Books We Loved

Summer Book Club: Emma by Jane Austen

HOT READ: Ann Patchett's Whistler

Reader requests x2

Summer Book Club: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

June reads

Little House on the Prairie

Summer picture books you'll love

Author Spotlight: Margaret Wise Brown

HOT READ: The Correspondent

MORE book recommendations for May!

Book Club recommendations

our 4th anniversary!

Recent reads - May

spilling the library tea

Q1 - most requested titles

Author/Illustrator Spotlight: Garth Williams

taking small bites - a poetry primer

Break that reading slump!

What we're reading this spring

Living a creative life