Drinks in the Library – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What if I told you that your entire life boils down to just 4,000 weeks? Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks will change the way you think about how you spend your time, and this is the exact topic of the amazing conversation I had with Rebecca Schinsky from BookRiot!

Rebecca Schinsky is the Chief of Staff for Riot New Media Group, which runs Book Riot, the largest independent publication covering books and the publishing industry in North America. With over 15 years of experience working in the bookish internet, Rebecca is an expert in building communities and products that enrich readers' lives and promote literary culture. Outside of work, she's passionate about travel, cooking and baking, movies, meditation, and the power of a nice, long walk.

I was so thrilled when Rebecca agreed to come on the podcast! I've been a longtime listener of the Book Riot Podcast, which she co-hosts with Jeff O’Neal. It’s one of my favorite listens, and I’ve learned so much about the book and publishing universe from it. I actually first heard about Four Thousand Weeks from Rebecca talking about it on the Book Riot Podcast, so it was a full-circle moment to discuss it with her.

Our drink this week is one of Rebecca’s favorites: a Manhattan. It was the perfect drink to sip on while we explored all the amazing ideas in this book!

Manhattan Recipe

2 ounces rye whiskey

1 ounce sweet vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Garnish: brandied cherry (or lemon twist, if preferred)

In this episode

BookRiot

BookRiot Podcast

Oliver Burkeman’s Website

OliverBurkeman Books

Edelweiss and NetGalley (digital galleys for booksellers, librarians etc.)

Booklist Magazine

Good Morrow Libration Nation! This week we are LIVING in Henry VIII’s court, delving deeply into Hilary Mantel's historical novel, Wolf Hall Exploring the complex character of Thomas Cromwell, the historical context of Henry VIII's reign, and Mantel's meticulous attention to historical accuracy.

My guest this week is Valerie Adachi. Valerie is a self-proclaimed bookworm who even enjoyed reading cereal boxes as a kid, she reminisces over the tactile joy of spreading the New York Times across her kitchen table.

Recently completing a second master's degree out of sheer curiosity, she embodies a passion for continuous learning and personal growth. Her love for finding and trying new recipes has even inspired her son to become a skilled cook and baker. Adventure always seems to be around the corner for her, often appearing spontaneous but rooted in long-percolating ideas—like the decision to add a new puppy to her already bustling pack, turning her quiet life topsy-turvy.

Beyond her love for dogs, she thrives on live music, good food and drink shared with family and friends, and the thrill of knowing that adventure is always nearby, maybe we a cozy reading spot.

We paired the book with a Whiskey Neat, we drank Oak & Eden Toasted Oak Bourbon & Spire Whiskey - absolutely delicious and pair perfectly with the moodiness of the story.

In this Episode

New York Time’s List of the 100 best books of the 21st century

Virago Spirits (Richmond gin distillery Valerie mentions)

Beacon Mercantile

A Man for All Seasons

Hello Libration Nation - I’m back! So, after all these interviews talking with wonderful people about their favorite books, I felt it was time to share some of my own things, and who better to do that with than my husband Bill as our first guest host?!

This week we are talking Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont, one of my favorite books, and a source of inspiration for doing this podcast as well. Our drink this week is a GigiRita, which is just a Margarita with Grand Mariner that a I gave this silly eponymous names a few years ago after making them at home with friends, they are amazing and a staple at my house when hosting!

GigiRita

1 oz Grand Marnier

2 oz Tequila

1 oz Simple Syrup or Agave

.5 oz Lime Juice

Add salt if you want!

In this episode

Small Victories by Anne Lamott

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott

Somehow by Anne Lamott

Hello Libration Nation! So this week I am announcing that I am taking a tiny two week break from the podcast BECAUSE I am working with my friends at EveryLibrary to host some author interviews over the next two weeks. EveryLibrary is the only political action committee for libraries, and I’m thrilled to be partnering with them and doing my favorite thing, promoting storytelling and libraries!

Here is the interview schedule:

June 13, 2024 at 2pm  Mary Jane Wells, author

June 13, 20247 pm Alexis Landau, author, with Cassandra Campbell narrator

June 18 7 pm Alison Larkin, author

June 20 7 pm Jason June, author

More info and links to tune in can be found on EveryLibrary’s Website

The regularly scheduled podcast will be back in 2 weeks on Tuesday June 25. I’m really excited for the interviews I’ve already recorded and can’t wait to get them out to you then.

Included here is my very first episode that I did with my husband, Bill, on the book Hyperion. So if you haven’t gotten around to that episode, here it is. As I’ve said before since this was my very first recording the audio isn’t the best, however the jokes are solid gold. Enjoy!

We are going under the sea, 20,000 leagues worth to be precise! It was sincerely so wonderful to talk with Keely Blue about this novel that she loves dearly and learn all the ways it has impacted her. Keely is a library worker by day and singer by night. She fronts the alternative indie band The Tea Lights. In her spare time, she loves walking, collecting records, and escaping into fictional worlds.

For our drink Keely picked a Dark ’n Stormy, a classic ginger beer based cocktail that pairs perfectly with some of the darker scenes in this classic novel by Jules Verne!

Dark ’n Stormy Cocktail

1 part Dark Rum

3 parts Ginger Beer

Splash of lime juice

In this Episode

The Tea Lights

Voyage of the Nautilus Project

Explanation of the (mis)translations of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Jules Verne’s editor and the homeland of Captain Nemo

Isaac Asimov

Ursula LeGuin

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Project Gutenberg

How Public Domain Works

I’m so thrilled this week to be talking with Dr. Nan Carmack about a book that profoundly impacted her, Ahab’s Wife, or the Star-gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund. This book is a brilliant recapturing of the life of Ahab’s wife from Moby Dick and is the author, Nasland’s demonstration of a beautiful female journey in juxtaposition of Melville’s inherently male story. The life of our protagonist, Una, is largely set in Nantucket, so we enjoyed Nantucket cocktails while discussing all the interesting aspects of this adventure novel.

Nan Carmack is the Director of Library Development and Networking at the Library of Virginia. She works with all of the public libraries in the commonwealth. She is also an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University's Masters in Library and Information Science. After a first career as a mental health therapist and then a short stint as an independent bookstore owner, Nan finds that public libraries are the perfect intersection of social justice and intellectual curiosity. She is an amateur artist and enjoys getting her hands dirty in the garden. She has become one of those embarrassing people whose dogs are her children, now that her family has flown the coop. She and her husband live in Richmond, VA. Naps are a priority in her life.

Nantucket Cocktail

1.5 oz. White Rum

2.5 oz. Cranberry Juice

Splash Grapefruit Juice

Lime for garnish (optional)

In this episode:

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Port William Series (Jayber Crow) by Wendell Berry

Ron Rash Books

Silas House Books

Gangsters of Capitalism by Jonathan M. Katz

Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund

Virginia Literary Awards

Sherlock in Love by Sena Jeter Naslund

This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger

In Distrust of Movements by Wendell Berry

This week I am discussing The Friday Night Club: A Novel of Artist Hilma af Klint and Her Creative Circle by Sofia Lindberg, Alyson Richman and MJ Rose. I was so pleased that my friend and museum educator Izzie Call came on the pod and shared her passion and inspiration in learning about “The Mother of Abstract Art” Hilma af Klint. Izzie is a passionate educator who loves art and reading, and listening to her bring these two loves together is a true gift. Enjoy!

In this Episode:

Linda Nochlin’s Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?

Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Hilmas work The Swan, No. 12, Group IX/SUW from 1915 that was featured in Upgraded: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilma_af_Klint#/media/File%3AHilma_af_Klint_-_1915_-_The_Swan_-_No_16.jpg

Guggenheim website that shows the 2019 exhibition of Hilma’s work that inspired the book: https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/hilma-af-klint

To compare Hilmas work to the “Father of Abstract Art”: take a look at some of Wasily Kandinskys work and compare to Hilmas. https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/wassily-kandinsky/m0856z?hl=en

Swedish 75 Cocktail

3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

6 Tablespoons gin

2 Tablespoons lingonberry jam

Ice cubes for shaking

dry sparkling wine, chilled

Libration Nation is going International! This week we are discussing the German book Marzahn, Mon Amour by Katja Oskamp, which was the winner of the Dublin Literary Award 2023. Also, this Mother’s Day Week, my guest is none other than the Queen of Libration Nation herself, my mother Patricia Smith!  Marzahn, Mon Amour  is about the experiences of a woman who becomes a pedicurist in Marzahn, Berlin and chronicles the stories of her clients, mostly seniors who came of age in East Berlin before the Wall came down. These stories are told with compassion and curiosity, documenting the beauty and truth of a people who have experienced both tragedy and triumph.

Our drink this week is an Aperol Spritz, which is featured in the book and is perfect beverage to enjoy all summer long!

Aperol Spritz Recipe

Ice

3 ounces Aperol

3 ounces dry Prosecco

1 ounce club soda

Orange slice, for garnish

In this episode

Hoopla for Libraries

Marzahn, Berlin

Dublin Literary Award

The Clown by Heinrich Boll

Hello Libration Nation! This week I am talking with writer, library worker and avid reader Heather Knapp about a book that had a big impact on her as a child and kicked-off her love of reading: The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick.

One of the characters in this story LOVES Chocolate, so Heather and I paired it with a Chocolate Martini Mocktail!

Chocolate Martini Mocktail

3/4 cups milk of your choice

1 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk

3 tbsp chocolate syrup

Whipped Cream (optional)

1 teaspoon flaked chocolate for garnish (optional)

In this episode

Brave New World

Famous People with Epilepsy

Ready Player One

Percy Jackson Series

Bluey TV Show

A Clockwork Orange

But I gotta know what’s your Romanta-ta-cy? If you are Hannah “H Bomb” Hauck the answer to this is Fourth Wing and everything else that is coming next from Rebecca Yarros. This is a fun romp with my BFF as we discuss Fourth Wing and everything around the creation of this story, deep diving into both the smut and the publishing industry. Seriously, where else are you going to find this kind of content?! Hannah also made her own cocktail for this episode, “The Wingleader”, a light twist on a Margarita!

The Wingleader

1.5 oz Tequila

1 oz Triple Sec

.5 oz Lime Juice

2 oz Orange Juice

1 oz Club Soda

.5 oz Agave

In this episode

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Elhors Danlos syndrome

Red Tower Books

Rebecca Yarros Romance Novels

Ranganthan’s Five Laws of Library Science

Book Riot Podcast - First Edition

Rebecca Yarros Non-Profit One October