Bite-Sized Histories: Food, Culture, and Curiosities

Unexpected Favorites

These are a few of the books that have been recent unexpected gems, books that stayed with me long after finishing the last page. From senses to axe murders, these nonfiction books are definitely ones to try.  Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World by Gretchen Rubin Also mentioned in this segment is The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton Mailman: My Wild Ride, Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home by Stephen Starring Grant The Angel Makers: Arsenic, a Midwife, and Modern History’s Most Astonishing Murder Ring by Pattie McCracken Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder by Rachel McCarthy James   🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

Crime, Clues, and Cold Cases

From wrongful convictions to cartel justice and Hollywood scandal, this episode dives into five gripping true crime stories that explore justice, resilience, and the people who refuse to give up. 🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!   Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey College Girl, Missing: The True Story of How a Young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight by Shawn Cohen A Murder in Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown’s Most Shocking Crime by Casey Sherman Fear is Just a Word: A Missing Daughter, a Violent Cartel, and a Mother’s Quest for Vengeance by Azam Ahmed The Forever Witness: How Genetic Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder by Edward Humes Music by Liderc   https://pixabay.com/users/lid%C3%A9rc-34910776/ [https://pixabay.com/users/lid%C3%A9rc-34910776/]

Grave Matters: Cemeteries, Death, and the Lives Left Behind

This episode takes listeners on a reflective journey through the spaces we leave behind—cemeteries, burial grounds, and the quiet corners of history where memory lingers. These five books explore death not as an ending, but as a lens for understanding culture, identity, and the lives that often go unnoticed. From hidden histories and travel guides for the dead, to the emotional weight of unclaimed lives and the spiritualist craze that swept a nation, this episode blends history, empathy, and curiosity. Whether you’re drawn to the beauty of cemeteries or the mystery of what we leave behind, these pages invite you to walk among the tombstones—and listen to the stories they still tell. 1. Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville 2. 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die by Loren Rhoads 3. All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell 4. Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels by Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation by Barb Rosenstock     Music by:  https://pixabay.com/users/alanajordan-25247407/

Wild Lives: Nature, Conservation, and the Creatures We're Losing

This episode takes listeners into the wild — highlighting endangered species, ecological impact, and the people fighting to protect our planet’s most vulnerable animals. From birds and beavers to mysterious mountain beasts, these books blend activism, science, and storytelling to show how animals shape ecosystems and how we can help preserve them. Featured Books: * Birdgirl – Chronicles nature, activism, and the personal journey of a young birder fighting for conservation. * Vanishing Treasures – A powerful look at endangered species and the efforts to save them. * Beaverland – Explores the ecological importance of beavers and their surprising role in reshaping landscapes. * The Beast in the Clouds – Details of a 1920s expedition to find the mythical and rare panda bear.   Music by Liderc   https://pixabay.com/users/lid%C3%A9rc-34910776/ [https://pixabay.com/users/lid%C3%A9rc-34910776/]

Bite-Sized Histories: Food, Culture, and Curiosities

Welcome to this episode of Paige’s Pages: The Librarian’s Notebook, where great nonfiction meets curious minds—all in under 15 minutes. Today we’re serving up a flavorful episode that blends food, culture, and quirky history in ways you might not expect. If you’ve ever wondered what hot dogs say about America, how ice became a luxury, or why food makes us feel so deeply—this episode is for you. Music by Liderc   https://pixabay.com/users/lid%C3%A9rc-34910776/ [https://pixabay.com/users/lid%C3%A9rc-34910776/]