Hi! I’m Heather-Lee Byrne, Information Services librarian and host of the Wellesley Free Library Book Report podcast. We want to make it easy for busy people in our community to figure out what to read next. Our podcast connects Wellesley library patrons with ranked popular titles and book recommendations from subject librarians in different genres so you know what to reach for when you’re ready to read!

Comments? Questions? Send us an email! wflbookreport@minlib.net

Streaming reigns, so why are libraries still acquiring DVDs? Unfortunately, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and other common streaming platforms don’t offer subscription access for libraries.We do have access to a service for libraries, Kanopy, which you can download as an app on your phone or computer and connect to your library account, but the licensing for popular movies is complicated and expensive, so don’t expect to see current blockbuster titles available there.

Libraries have already worked out how to borrow physical media like books and DVDs, so we’re able to offer reliable access to anything that comes out on DVD. Titles come and go from streaming platforms, but as long as the discs aren’t damaged, you can count on being able to check them out from our collection.

 

Interview Notes:

Do you love the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Have your own order for rewatching? Let us know!

Questions? Comments? Recommendations? Email us at: WFLBookReport@minlib.net

WFL Short Takes - The Mysterious Episod...

In this Short Takes, we talk about the unexplained, the mysterious, and various strange creatures . . .

00:09:19

February 22, 2024

WFL Short Takes - Whip It Up Wellesley

Whip It Up Wellesley is a brand new recipe club will provide an opportunity for people to try new recipes and comp...

00:02:41

December 20, 2023

WFL Short Takes - Radiation

Marco Kaltofen, PhD, PE (Civil, MA), C. NSE, has spent much of his professional life tracking radiation from its v...

00:06:22

September 25, 2023

Episode 11: Cookbooks with Annette

Today I’m going to talk to Annette, who just so happens to be our cookbook selector, about the collection, how s...

00:40:52

December 16, 2022

Episode 10: Holiday Romances with Racha...

Holidays are in the air! Whatever your feelings on the holiday season, a little escapism can go a long way. Enjoy ...

00:41:15

December 02, 2022

Episode 9: Graphic Novels with Annette

Annette brings us a number of diverse recommendations from this category, which really show the breadth and depth ...

00:34:43

November 18, 2022

Episode 8: Marvel on DVD with Jackie

Jackie Linsky tells us about some recent Marvel Movie recommendations from our DVD Film collection: Spiderman: No ...

00:37:00

November 04, 2022

Episode 7: Western Thriller with Sue

Our book recommendation this week is from librarian Sue Hamilos, Head of Information Services and our audiobook se...

00:25:16

October 21, 2022

Episode 6: Fiction with Megan

Today we’re going to be speaking with librarian Megan Flynn about Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus which Iâ...

00:28:16

October 07, 2022

Episode 5: Science History with Tyson

Today we’re going to be speaking with librarian Tyson Bolles about non-fiction history title, The Rise and Reign...

00:26:41

September 23, 2022

Episode 4: SciFi with Annette

Our book recommendation this week is from librarian Annette Diola, her SciFi Book Club’s August pick: Gideon the...

00:31:45

September 09, 2022

Episode 3: Young Adult Romance with Jac...

Today Wellesley Librarian and YA selector Jackie Linsky discusses the popular title The Summer I Turned Pretty by ...

00:26:34

August 26, 2022

Episode 2: Memoir with Deb

Today Debra Berenbaum joins us to talk about Anne Patchett's book of essays, These Precious Days.

00:26:58

July 30, 2022

Episode 1: Summer Fiction with Megan

This week we’ll introduce the podcast, the Wellesley Reader’s Report,  and speak with Information Service...

00:21:51

July 15, 2022

Reader’s Report

ADULT FICTION

1. Lessons in chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2. It ends with us by Colleen Hoover
3. Verity by Colleen Hoover
4. The personal librarian by Marie Benedict
5. Cloud cuckoo land : a novel by Anthony Doerr

 

ADULT NONFICTION

1. These precious days : essays by Ann Patchett
2. Ottolenghi Simple : a cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi
3. Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
4. Abundance : the inner path to wealth by Deepak Chopra
5. Drop acid : the surprising new science of uric acid–the key to losing weight, controlling blood sugar, and achieving extraordinary health by David Perlmutter

 

MYSTERY

1. The madness of crowds by Louise Penny
2. Mrs Pollifax pursued by Dorothy Gilman
3. The amazing Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
4. Mrs Pollifax and the lion killer by Dorothy Gilman
5. Mrs Pollifax, innocent tourist by Dorothy Gilman

 

SCIENCE FICTION

1. Dune messiah by Frank Herbert
2. The ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Gaiman
3. The fellowship of the ring : being the first part of The lord of the rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
4. Mistborn : secret history by Brandon Sanderson
5. Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

 

DVD

1. Elvis
2. Thor. Love and thunder
3. Jurassic World dominion
4. Minions : the rise of Gru
5. Where the crawdads sing

 

BIOGRAPHY

1. The boys : a memoir of Hollywood and family by Ron Howard
2. Fall : the mysterious life and death of Robert Maxwell, Britain’s most notorious media baron by John Preston
3. Surviving the white gaze : a memoir by Rebecca Carroll
4. The other side of the coin : the queen, the dresser and the wardrobe by Angela Kelly
5. Finding Chika : a little girl, an earthquake, and the making of a family by Mitch Albom

 

AUDIOBOOKS

1. These precious days by Ann Patchett
2. Lucy by the sea by Elizabeth Strout

     3. Sparring partners by John Grisham

4. Counterfeit by Kristin Chen
5. Remarkably bright creatures : a novel by Shelby Van Pelt

 

COOKBOOKS

1. Ottolenghi test kitchen shelf love : recipes to unlock the secrets of your pantry, fridge, and freezer by Noor Murad
2. Ottolenghi Simple : a cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi
3. Salad freak : recipes to feed a healthy obsession by Jess Damuck
4. Cheryl Day’s treasury of Southern baking by Cheryl Day
5. Lidia’s a pot, a pan, and a bowl : simple recipes for perfect meals by Lidia Bastianich

 

YOUNG ADULT

1. Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge
2. Borders by Thomas King
3. Welcome to the ballroom by Tomo Takeuchi
4. Space Boy by Stephen McCranie
5. The promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai

 

GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. The mortal instruments : the graphic novel by Cassandra Clare
2. Tokyo ghoul by Sui Ishida
3. Seraph of the end : vampire reign by Takaya Kagami
4. Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
5. Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

New York Times article: How Colleen Hoover Rose to Rule the Best-Seller List