Books & Bites Podcast, Ep. 103
JCPL librarians bring you book recommendations and discuss the bites and beverages to pair with them.
On this episode, we discuss books about the internet or social media. It’s one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge!
Whether horror, dystopian fiction, or a mystery, our picks will make you think about what it means to be human in a digital world.
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Michael’s Picks
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
Kayleigh recounts her time working as a content moderator for a major social media platform.
Her job is to analyze flagged content—often violent, disturbing, or offensive—and determine if it violates community guidelines. At first, it’s just a job. But as time goes on, it starts to wear on her—and her co-workers.
This novella asks important questions about what it means to participate in the digital world.
The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan
This novel follows the Saban family, the very first residents of a brand-new, exclusive development. When the dad decides to fix a crack in the wall himself, it leads him to a YouTube channel called The Handyman Method.
At first, it only has a handful of subscribers, but suddenly it’s flooded with hundreds of newer videos… along with a podcast. This book is best described as a retelling of Stephen King’s The Shining for the social media age.
Pairing: A Smoked Old-Fashioned from OBC Kitchen
Carrie’s Pick
This dystopian novel takes place in a near-future society where an unnamed state is surveilling people with biometrics, CCTV, and smartphones.
Thirteen-year-old narrator, Bri, is living in an abadoned house with their younger sister, Rose, after being separated from their mother. Will they ever see her again? And how will they survive in a society that only values people as data?
Pairing: Lemon Rice Pudding with Roasted Peaches from the book Apples for Jam or Creamy Vegan Rice Pudding from Minimalist Baker
Jacqueline’s Pick
Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham
Influence delves into the struggles of teenagers whose social media accounts propel them into fame at an early age. This YA novel opens with a prologue by a dead influencer, offering readers a haunting overview of her life online.
If you are a Sara Shepard Fan or have wondered about the high cost of internet fame, Influence is a must-read mystery.
Pairing: Crostino, Tomato, and Burrata