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Beyond the Shelves: Picks of the Zodiac

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

Release Date: 10/02/2024

Beyond The Shelves: 2026 Reading Challenge Recommendations show art Beyond The Shelves: 2026 Reading Challenge Recommendations

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

In this episode of Beyond the Shelves, Sarah and Jes discuss the 2026 reading challenge, recomend books to complete your bingo board, and in the book bulletin, talk about the hit series Heated Rivalry on HBO.  Learn more about the reading challenge SHOW NOTES What We’re Reading by Alix E. Harrow by Beatriz Serrano by Virginia Evans by Rachel Reid by Ned Blackhawk   Big Reads of 2026 by Emma Straub by Evelyn Clarke by Maria Semple by Natalie Haynes Reading Challenge by Emily Krempholtz by Mason Coile by Lily Brooks-Dalton by Annika Norlin by Jordi Lafebre by Daniel...

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Beyond The Shelves: Best Books of 2025 show art Beyond The Shelves: Best Books of 2025

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

In this episode, Sarah and Jes discuss the best books of the year, great books to give as gifts, the most checked out items at DMPL, and the librarians personal favorite books they read in 2025. Learn more below:   Show Notes What we are reading Jes: by Solvej Balle by Caro Claire Burke Sarah: by Denise Williams, by Alix E. Harrow Best Bets (good gifts) by Annalee Newitz, by Suleika Jaouad, by Brad Meltzer and Joel Mensch, by Kate Sidley Best of the Year Lists Books 1. by Lily King 2. by Katie Kitamura 3. by Ocean Vuong 4. by R.F Kuang 5. to me by Arundhati Roy 6. by Stephen...

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6 Nature Books That Will Change How You See the World show art 6 Nature Books That Will Change How You See the World

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

Join us for our first video episode as we explore books celebrating nature and the environment! From Mary Oliver's contemplative essays to fungi's hidden intelligence, we discuss how the natural world intersects with our lives. Plus: library neighborhoods explained, garlic-scented books (!), and Reading Rainbow's triumphant return with a new host. Nature & Environment Theme Books Currently Reading On Their TBR      

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Beyond the Shelves: Horror For Scaredy Cats show art Beyond the Shelves: Horror For Scaredy Cats

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

Sarah and Jes discuss books that will put you in the mood for spooky season but aren't that scary.   Show Notes: What They're Reading by Rebecca Ross by Layla Sage by Emily Brontë by Etaf Rum  Best Bets: other highly recommended books by Charlotte McConaghy by Patricia Briggs and Fiona Staples by Elena Ferrante by Brian K. Vaughan Books to get you into spooky season: by Daryl Gregory by Tiffany Jackson by Tananarive Due by  Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly by Ling Ling Huang by Nick Medina by Kat Dunn by Carissa Orlando Book Bulletin A new update to the...

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Beyond the Shelves: Pocket-Sized Powerhouses show art Beyond the Shelves: Pocket-Sized Powerhouses

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

Sarah and Jess highlight eight short books under 200 pages to power through the DMPL reading challenge bingo, promote the fall author series, discuss a new bookstore in town, and a new app to track your reading.    Show Notes: What They're Reading Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters American Spirits by Anna Dorn It's Not the End of the World by Jonathan Parks-Ramage 2025 Reading Challenge: Short books to get BINGO by Ore Agbaje-Williams by Premee Mohamed by Yu Miri by Annalee Newitz by Martha Wells by Juneau Black by Nnedi Okorafor by Kang Han To learn more about the reading...

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Beyond the Shelves: Book Club - 'The Phoenix Pencil Company' show art Beyond the Shelves: Book Club - 'The Phoenix Pencil Company'

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

On the latest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah are discussing what they liked and didn't like about . (Please note - this episode was recorded in early July) What They're Reading Best Bets (Recommended backlist books): Book Bulletin

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Beyond the Shelves: Summer Lovin' show art Beyond the Shelves: Summer Lovin'

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

The latest episode of Beyond the Shelves is all about love! Jes and Sarah discuss the new queer romances they're most excited for this summer. Show Notes What They're Reading , by Sabaa Tahir , by Emily Henry , by Courtney Milan    , by Nicola Dinan , by Ashley Herring Blake To Be Read , by Danielle L. Jensen by Michael Lewis , by Rufi Thorpe , by Cara Bastone , by Cara Bastone , by Tourmaline , by Milo Todd Books About Love , by Gabriella Gamez , by Venessa Vida Kelly , by T.J. Alexandar (Kanopy)  (3 seasons on DVD) , by Adriana Hererra by Chip Pons , by Marie Rutkoski ...

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Beyond the Shelves: Summer Reading Preview show art Beyond the Shelves: Summer Reading Preview

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

On the newest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah chat about this summer's biggest releases and the books they're most excited about. As you might have guessed, they are not necessarily the same thing! Plus, find out which host is a vampire girlie and which is a werewolf girlie. What They're Reading , by Cara Bastone , by Holly Brickly , by Katie Kitamura , by Mona Awad , by Rachel Reid , by Jonathan Blitzer  To Be Read , by Emily Henry , by Meredith Hambrock , by Helene Marie Bertino , by Tracy Deonn , by Amal El-Mohtar , by John Ganz What We're Excited For , by Maggie...

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Beyond the Shelves: A History of Chick Lit show art Beyond the Shelves: A History of Chick Lit

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

On this month's podcast, Jes and Sarah talk about the history of Chick Lit - how it started (Bridget Jones's Diary), how the genre was covered in the press, and what new types of books have spawned from it today. Show Notes What They're Reading To Be Read Reading Material

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Beyond the Shelves: Book Club #1, 'Harlem Rhapsody', and Other Fun News show art Beyond the Shelves: Book Club #1, 'Harlem Rhapsody', and Other Fun News

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

The Beyond the Shelves first ever Book Club episode is live! This month, Jes and Sarah both read Harlem Rhapsody, by Victoria Christopher Murray. They discuss the historical fiction novel about Jessie Redman Fauset, a real life figure dubbed "midwife of the Harlem Renaissance," and her relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois. This podcast does contain spoilers - but you don't have to have read the book to listen and learn more about the Harlem Renaissance era! Show Notes The Book Club Book Further Reading Authors in the Book Timestamps 0:00 - AViD Lineup/What We're...

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More Episodes

On the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast, Jes and Sarah give book recommendations for each sign of the zodiac. It's a nice warm-up for the next big Flash Recommendation event, coming up on Wednesday, October 16.

What is Flash Recommendations? It's an event on our social media pages where you give us some information and our Book Chat team gives you a book recommendation. On October 16, head over to our Facebook or Instagram page and let us know a genre and your Zodiac sign. Then you'll get a book rec. It's that simple! Be sure to listen to this episode of the podcast to get some general recs as well.

Don't forget about the last event in our Fall Author Series - Daniel Kraus will be stopping at the Central Library on Wednesday, October 23, at 7 PM.

 

What We're Reading

 

Picks of the Zodiac