Books & Bites Podcast, Ep. 105
JCPL librarians bring you book recommendations and discuss the bites and beverages to pair with them.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15-Oct. 15, so what better time to discuss books by Hispanic-American authors? It’s one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge!
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts Ι Subscribe via Spotify Ι RSS Feed Ι Episode Transcript
Michael’s Pick
Tiny Threads by Lilliam Rivera
Samara Martin has just stepped into her new role as Executive Director for Global Brand Voice at the House of Antonio Mota, a revered but fading fashion designer.
Her task? To pull off an audacious dual fashion show in just two months and prove that Mota is still relevant.
But Samara isn’t just starting fresh — she’s running from something.
Tiny Threads is a psychological, slow-burn thriller laced with gothic atmosphere. It tackles the dark intersection of the fashion industry, capitalism, and misogyny.
Pairing: The mojito, a classic Cuban cocktail.
Jacqueline’s Pick
Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
Verónica is a Peruvian-American teen living in central Florida. Born with hip dysplasia, she spends much of her time swimming for physical therapy.
Swimming not only helps ease her pain, it also fuels her dream of becoming a professional mermaid like the ones in the famous underwater attraction, Mermaid Cove.
But Verónica’s life is shaped by strict expectations. When she begins dating her new neighbor, Alex, and secretly auditions to become a mermaid performer, she risks defying everything her parents have planned for her.
This powerful novel explores themes of identity, 1frnomy, disability, immigration, and the tension between family expectations and personal dreams.
Pairing: Aji Verde, a spicy Peruvian green sauce.
Carrie’s Pick
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
It’s the height of the Great Recession, and 56-year-old Cara Romero lost her job at the New York City-based “factory of little lamps” nearly two years ago. She now meets once a week with a career counselor as part of the Senior Workforce Program.
But Cara talks about more than her job search to her career counselor, narrating her life story over the course of their 12-week sessions. What emerges is a portrait of a spirited, complex, and often funny Dominican-American woman.
Pairing: Dominican pastelitos.