Alchemy of Genres

Top reads, fiction and nonfiction for teens

This time around, with the new format of "anything goes", I am including nonfiction titles as well as fiction.  Hope you enjoy my selections,

Saleena

Hear about a range of teen titles, Saleena chose as the best for the month

Changing our format a bit, now each month will share a "best of" picking out the titles I am going to share for various reasons but always trying to present a variety of options & genres.  Enjoy!

These are my picks for best of the year, according to what I have read from late Dec through to last week.  Titles may actually be a bit older, but if they touched me, and I read them this year...it counted.  Enjoy and let's hope for an awesome 2022!

Saleena's picks for best books (and/or series, because some WERE binge-read) of the year.  To clarify, these are books read this year, so some books may not be new, just new to her.  

A quick episode focused on some fun books to read when you just want to enjoy an adventure or a romance without any deep thinking required.

This is a mix (as per usual) of many genres (so many people thing fluffy only means romance stories).  Basically I define fluffy as escapist books that allow you to turn off your brain and just enjoy.  So, hope you enjoy the list.

Tales on the dark side, dealing with magic, or just the inhumanity of man or exploring dark eras of history.  Highly recommended books to start conversations, make you think or just escape into a world a bit darker than usually expected.

What is dark fiction?  Sometimes fiction that deals with dark magic, sometimes fictions that delves into difficult subjects and sometimes fiction that looks at a perspective that isn't normally seen (like, Harley Quinn for instance).

This podcast will look at book titles & book series' that look at the dark stuff (which doesn't mean there are't happy endings, only that they have to work a bit harder to get there).   :)

Looking at stories that are sometimes both funny and light; but sometimes only one or the other (humor is so personal, right?)  Some are classics, some are new and it's a nice mix of options for a day when you want to shut the door on the world and laugh a bit, or at least smirk at the absurdity of it all.

A list of really funny, or a bit funny or just fun to read books for teens (or adults who enjoy teen books).

We all love a good scary story, so here is a list of a few good ones....some classic, some new and a range of ages (nothing uber-graphic/slasher)

Enjoy!

Just some fun new (and old) books that will be great to read for teens (or adults) looking for something to devour without being too serious.

What are Potato Chip Books?  Books that, like chips, you cannot stop with just one.  These are fun, light, books or suspenseful and quick; but fun to dive into and devour like a Netflix marathon of your favorite show.  Listen and find your next binge session.

There are all kinds of stories of shape shifters and were-animals (wolves, foxes, etc); some fae, some magical, some in the traditional sense of "I've been bitten by x and now am cursed to be it".....we are exploring some of those stories and sharing some fun titles that have either (or both) types of supernatural beings.  Enjoy!

A gathering of a range of stories that I have really enjoyed (some you have heard about, some you have not).  All titles were published for adults, though not all have inappropriate content; they just weren't written with teens in mind.  Hope you enjoy!

Check out these titles where your mystery is mixed with ghosts, psychics, witches and/or wizards (or so many other supernatural creatures)

It's a fun way to discover you like mystery stories; or maybe dip a toe into magical fantasy......or (for me) explore stories not told in the expected way and usually resolved in twists you didn't see coming (because...magic!)

I tried to find Novels in Verse in adult stories, but unless it was an actual book of poetry (or a weird literary genre), it didn't exist.  So, these are all teen titles, feel free to enjoy whether teen or adult.  Poetry is a beautiful and emotive way to tell a story.

As part of our SB Reads 2021 partnership with the South Brunswick schools, this is a list of books matching the selected topic (silver linings) and everyone in the township is encouraged to find books to read and share in the discussion.  This is a small selection of books for adults.

As part of our SB Reads 2021 partnership with the South Brunswick schools, this is a list of books matching the selected topic (silver linings) and everyone in the township is encouraged to find books to read and share in the discussion.  This is a small selection of books for teens.

Here is a best of list of 2020 and 2021, based purely on what I've read and what I've enjoyed.  The blog to accompany this list will go up soon.  Enjoy! 

All titles are meant for adults, just FYI

We explore some fun romance stories, with no werewolves or vampires (though some psychic powers were present); just humans finding love and happy ever afters.....yay!  Enjoy

We are looking at romance stories for teens, leaving off supernatural or fantastical creatures (but allowing fantastic powers, like psychic abilities and stuff).  Humans, falling in love....in fiction.  Yup.  Enjoy.

Decided to spend some time going over some of my favorite vampire stories, and talk about the different societies, hierarchies, abilities, etc that authors give their creations.  Check it out, maybe you'll find some new stories!

I decided to take a look at a genre that is important (as it highlights what has happened in history) but also difficult to read (lots of bad, terrible things have happened in history); but also wanted to look at the very small but mind blowing section of speculative fiction; alternate history...where authors say "what if" and change a thing or a few things and see where the story takes them.  I talk about books written for teens and adults as usual, and divide the list between the two.  Hope you enjoy!

Saleena explores various short story collections, for teens and adults; some realistic, some horror, some SF, some fantasy (basically a bit of an overview) and shares some of her favorite stories from some cool collections.  

Got some new, some new (ish) ....ok, maybe not really new but not old enough to be classic either, so it's here.....  =)

There is a range of types and a range of ages, for teens and adults, you'll find something you like or that you may want to try.

Enjoy!

This is a list of books & manga some of which you may have missed, but that I wanted to suggest.  This episode focused on non-fiction (or inspired by real life fictionalized books) as well as a list of some classics that you should check out (classics in the sense of either old but still good or genuinely important and known as part of comic history.  Enjoy!

Next one will focus on some newer titles and authors you should explore if you haven't already.

Saleena explores friendships in all sorts of fiction, mainly fantasy but also romance, SF, historical fiction for example; looking at the nature of friendship, how it changes things, how it can give or take strength and courage (depending on the friend). 

Enjoy!

These are series' or books that I think would easily translate into shows or movies everyone would enjoy....and in the meanwhile, you should DEFINITELY read the books.

Thoughts or comments? Email me at sdavidson@sbpl.info

These are series' or books that I think would easily translate into shows or movies everyone would enjoy....and in the meanwhile, you should DEFINITELY read the books.

Thoughts or comments? Email me at sdavidson@sbpl.info

Let's explore some stories with demons, gods and monsters

I decided to look at a variety of genres (just to keep things interesting) and pull my favorite stories that kept me guessing or just kept me nervously turning pages ....hope you enjoy them!

Let's explore some speculative fiction that strays from Western norms, or at the very least shows diversity in its main characters.  I definitely am not claiming that this is everything, as there is SO much coming out (especially in YA); but it seemed like a timely topic.  Enjoy!

We are looking at & talking about long running series or intricately built worlds with depth and gravitas.  

This list is a mix of teen and adult titles focused on the land of the Fae, aka Tir na Nog aka Fairyland and so many other pseudonyms....this is not "elvish" stories in general as they have gotten into their own mythology thanks to Dungeons & Dragons as well as Tolkien; but there are many stories with fairies/fae/sidhe/fair folk and this is a small list of some of my favorites.

I don't know for sure, but given the huge number of them out there, I can't be the only one who loves when authors take inspiration from classic fairy tales and then go off on a new adventure.  A large number of these ended up being YA but that doesn't mean adults can't read them (really, they are fun and escapist regardless).  Enjoy!

You know how it is, you fall in love with a character, a series, a universe; then all you want to do is stay.....you feel like they are your friends or should be.  I have quite a few......I have lots of friends that live in worlds that don't exist, how about you?

Making a dive into horror, ok, I don't normally like bloody stories so it won't be a DEEP dive, but I do love a good spine tingler of a tale.  A bunch of these may be on the older side but hey, I'm a bit older; so it's fine.....and unlike humans, stories don't age.  Enjoy

Thought I'd have fun exploring strong females who are heroines in various ways; are strong in varying ways and see all the options.  Enjoy!

I put this list together in the hopes of sharing some LGBTQ titles for teens & adults that I thought were important or different or just affected me.  This is a personal list, not a comprehensive list one.  The teen titles end about the 44:00 min mark; and sorry but this episode is a little long (about 90 min).   I hope you enjoy the titles, feel free to explore and read!

Sometimes you just need a good laugh.  Here's a list of silly books from teen to adult, uber-silly to absurd mixed with fantasy or mystery or just life.  Enjoy!

We are exploring all kinds of encounters with aliens or just worlds where everyone is an alien.  Join me!

It is fun (and surprising to newbies) how often mystery/suspense is mixed with magical fantasy.  For those who prefer mystery stories or suspenseful stories of finding the murderer chasing you; these may work for you.  They incorporate the many ways magic, as a tool can be used to solve crimes and help people or to be a criminal.  One thing common to most, even when magic is known by all, is the undercurrent of secrets because magic and secrets are like chocolate chips and ice cream; yes, you can have them separately....but why?  Hope you enjoy the titles, find something new to read!  Make sure to support your local library.

Today we explore different pandemics and differing conspiracies (sometimes related to the disease, sometimes not) in SF & Horror.  These aren't books that people are talking about, and they should be because they are really good!  Some are older, some are newer; all are amazing.  Listen, go find the books & leave comments about them.  Off we go!

Today we are talking about fun classics in literature, but that also had an effect on SF/Horror & Fantasy Fiction in general.  Get out your fancy clothes and cosplay as intellectuals, we're going highbrow here..haha

Again, thanks for listening; hoping I don't ramble too much (small silences are me trying to find words and not say "umm" too much)

Romance as Fantasy allows us, as readers; to explore what a Happy Ever After is; and pretend that they are reality (which they aren't but....yeah....it is fun to pretend).  I am going over (as it says in the blog) my top pics, not necessarily THE top picks in the world.  Feel free to comment and send your thoughts (but please be nice)

This being the first episode, I just go over some of my favorite authors, some new reads and why I love them.  As we get more input we can add more of YOU into this.  Sorry for the random background noises, 1st time doing this, and don't have a studio (and do have a teenager living with me).  Will work on the "umm" proliferation and generally plan to do better as I get better at it.