Beyond the Shelves: Books That Bring Us Joy

Beyond the Shelves: A Podcast from the Des Moines Public Library

We're in the dead of winter - the perfect time get cozied up in an armchair and read a fun book. This month, Jes and Sarah are talking about books (and TV shows) that bring them during these cold, dark days. The hosts conveniently have grouped their selections into different tropes and categories to help you peruse!

SHOW NOTES

• Sign up for the 2025 Reading Challenge: Book Bingo
• What They're Reading
  • The Empire of Gold, by S.A. Chakroborty
  • House of Sky and Breath, by Sarah J. Maas
  • The Story of a Lost Child, by Elena Ferrante
  • City of Night Birds, by Juhea Kim
  • Private Rites, by Julia Armfield
• Books That Bring Us Joy
  • Books Jes is re-reading
    • The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
    • Toni Morrison's catalog
    • Fight Night, by Miriam Toews
    • Tiny Beautiful Things, by Cheryl Strayed
  • Found Family/Chosen Family/Ragtag Group books
    • Check Please, by Ngozi Ukazu
    • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
    • Under the Whispering Door, by T.J. Klune
    • The Expanse series, by James S.A. Corey
    • Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel
  • Kid/Teen Graphic Novels
    • Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulson
    • Nimona, by Noelle Stevenson
    • Squad, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
    • Pain Jane and the Mermaid, by Vera Brosgol
    • Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman
  • Lyrical Escapism
    • This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar
    • The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern
    • The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
    • An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
    • Starling House, by Alix E. Harrow
  • Hobby-ing Makes Everything Better
    • Sew It Yourself, by Daisy Braid
    • Cross Stitch with Cattitude, by Emma Congdon
    • Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook, by Sohla El-Waylly
    • Community Group: Fiber Friends
  • Community and Action
    • Go to Sleep, I Miss You, by Lucy Knisley
    • How to Keep House While Drowning, by KC Davis
    • The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein
    • On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
    • The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner
  • Books that Remind You Humans are Innately Good
    • Beautyland, by Helene Marie-Helene Bertino
    • The Wedding People, by Alison Espach
    • Fresh Water for Flowers, by Valeri Perrin
    • Light From Uncommon Stars, by Rya Aoki
    • A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers
    • TV Shows by Michael Schur, Bill Lawrence, Elizabeth Merriweather, Quinta Brunson, or Daniel Levy
  • Popular Self-Help Books
    • The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
    • Atomic Habits, by James Clear
    • Brené Brown books
    • Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, by Lori Gottlieb
    • Rest is Resistance, by Tricia Hersey