Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson with Gigi Howard
Welcome back Libration Nation! Today, I’m excited to share one of my recent favorites: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. This delightful tale is a blend of humor, adventure, and sweetness, following a young woman on a perilous quest to save the man she loves. As we embrace the cozy vibes of autumn, I thought it was the perfect time to dive into this enchanting fantasy.Joining me today is my husband, Bill, making his fourth appearance on Drinks in the Library. As always, we have a great time riffing and cracking each other up!Tress loves a salty tea, so I wanted to go with a salty drink and went with a Salted Caramel Coffee Martini, for a non-alcoholic option a Salted Caramel Latte would be perfect!Salted Caramel Coffee Martini1 oz Bailey's Salted Caramel Cream1.5 oz. Vanilla Vodka1-2 oz. Coffee or EspressoIceWhipped Cream, Salt, or caramel syrup (optional)Pour Bailey's, vodka, and coffee into a shaker over ice. Shake and pour into chilled martini glass• 2. Garnish with cream, salt, and chocolate syrup and enjoy!NA Option - A cold Brew Salted Caramel Latte would be perfect!In this EpisodeMistborn EpisodeBrandon Sanderson - The Economics of Books and EntertainmentThe Princess Bride FilmThe Princess Bride by William GoldmanReese Witherspoon Woman of the Year SpeechHitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Gin & TonicsTress of the Emerald Sea Premium HardcoverThe Substance FilmBrandon Sanderson KickstarterBooks by T. Kingfisher
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The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh with Mary Green
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh tells the poignant story of Victoria Jones, a young woman who uses the Victorian tradition of flower symbolism to communicate her emotions and navigate her troubled past. As she learns to reconcile her experiences through the meanings of various flowers, she embarks on a journey of healing and self-discovery that intertwines love, loss, and the power of community and relationships.My guest this week is Mary Green, a florist, wife, dog-mom, plant lover, and also my next door neighbor. Mary loves live music, spending time with friends and family, and books with dark twists and turns. She is a florist at Strawberry Fields Flowers & Finds, where she is able to share her horticulture knowledge and passion for all things plants!Hibiscus Paloma Mocktail1 grapefruit wedge½ oz fresh lime juice3 oz NA tequila (I used Ritual Tequila)¼ cup club soda1 tsp Hibiscus Simple Syrup (I used Wild Hibiscus, found at Total Wine)2 oz fresh grapefruit juicekosher salt for garnishDirectionsPour kosher salt on a small plate. Rub the rim of a highball glass with a grapefruit and dip the rim of glass in salt.In a glass, combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, and hibiscus simple syrup. Stir in tequila, add ice, and top with club soda. Garnish.In This EpisodeThe Complete Language of FlowersbyS. Theresa Dietz .5 Bottle Shop
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The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells with Hayley DeRoche
Hello Libration Nation! This week, we are diving into the captivating world of "The Murderbot Diaries," a remarkable series by Martha Wells. Follow the journey of an anxious, self-aware rogue security android, known as Murderbot, as it navigates a galaxy filled with humans and complex emotions. My guest this week is Hayley DeRoche, also known as SadBeige, They are a public librarian, activist and meme creator, known for being the content creator behind the "Werner Herzog's sad beige clothes for sad beige children" series. Her funny memes and sarcastic reels have garnered a following of 450,000 on Instagram, where she goes by the handle @officialsadbeige. You can also follow their substack Weird, But Okay. Their book A Field Guide for Sad Beige Parents will be coming out Spring 2026.Hayley has a collection of shirts and sweatshirts that are so cute and funny AND support public libraries - check them out! Also, 20% of the proceeds from sales of this collection go to support the Women’s Prison Book Project, which supports incarcerated Women, Trans, and Non-Binary people in the U.S. - because everyone deserves the right to read books they enjoy.Sanctuary Moon Cocktail2 oz. Herbal Gin (St George’s Terroir)0.5 oz Lemon Juice0.5 oz Simple Syrup4 oz Soda WaterLemon for garnish (optional)Pour gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker over ice. Shake and pour into highball glass over iceAdd soda water and mix gently with a spoon. Garnish with lemon and enjoy!In this EpisodeThe Murderbot Diaries by Martha WellsFar From the Tree by Andrew SolomonFive Laws of Library Science by SR RanganathanMurderbot TV Show on AppleGrizzly Man Documentary by Werner HerzogWeird, But Okay - Hayley’s SubstackWomen’s Prison Book Project
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Fantomina by Eliza Haywood with Samantha DeShazo
We are going back in time and discussing Amatory Fiction in the 18th century novel Fantomina by Eliza Haywood. This incredible story explores the complexities of identity and desire through the story of a young woman who adopts multiple personas to navigate the intricacies of romantic entanglements in 18th-century society. This provocative tale delves into themes of gender, autonomy, and the hidden depths of passion, highlighting the lengths one will go to in pursuit of love and self-discovery.Samantha DeShazo was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She earned her MA in English at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022, where she studied literature of the long eighteenth century. She is an educator who currently works with first year college students. When she's not working, she can be found with her nose in a book or pampering her beloved dog, Henry. Our drink this week was courtesy of Samantha, it is a Creme Earl Grey Black Tea fromThe Spice & Tea Exchange of Richmond. It is absolutely delicious, smells like Fruity Pebbles, and would definitely have been all the rage in Fanomina’s timeIn this EpisodeFantomina by Eliza HaywoodThe Spice & Tea Exchange of RichmondToni MorrisonFrankstein by Mary ShelleyThe Law of CovertureDidn’t Read It Podcast Fantomina EpisodeAmatory FictionSense and Sensibility by Jane AustenPamela by Samuel RichardsonLove in Excess by Eliza HaywoodBetsy Thoughtless by Eliza Haywood
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll with ELizabeth Wiley
We are going down the rabbit hole this week folks! Join us as we dive into the whimsical world of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a timeless tale that explores the boundaries of imagination and reality. We’ll unravel the quirky characters, enchanting landscapes, and profound themes that have captivated readers for generations.My guest this week is Elizabeth Wiley, an award-winning audiobook narrator with a decade of experience in genres like Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Biography. Originally from Minnesota and now based in Williamsburg, Virginia, she records in her home studio. Elizabeth enjoys discussions on the intersection of arts and sciences with her NASA engineer partner. Her interests include sailing, skiing, yoga, and nature spirituality, along with a fondness for Birkenstocks and Hygge.The Queen of Hearts Special Cocktail 2 oz Vanilla Vodka3 oz TJ’s To the Power of 7 Red juiceChocolate Covered CherriesShake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with chocolate covered cherries and enjoy!In this EpisodeAlice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollToo Old for This by Samantha Downing (Liz’s latest narration!)Red, Wine and Blue VirginiaLM Elliott’s websiteMy interview with LM ElliottAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland narrated by Christopher PlummerGo Ask Alice (film)White Rabbit (Go Ask Alice) - song by Jefferson AirplaneThe Phantom Tollbooth by Norman JusterJohn Tenniel’s Alice in Wonderland illustrationsRichmond SPCA Critter Camp
Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!
Canada - english