2022 Reading Challenge: Read a Book Mentioned on The Book Drop

OPL invites patrons to take part in the 2022 Reading Challenge, opens a new window! For each challenge, OPL offers suggestions for titles to listen to or read. As you’re working through the challenge, feel free to tag @omahalibrary on Twitter, opens a new window, Instagram, opens a new window, or Facebook, opens a new window, to let us know which read you picked up this month!

In April 2020, OPL launched its very own podcast: The Book Drop, opens a new window! Each week, a team of OPL staff shares their favorite reads and explore topics related to our community, libraries, and the joy of reading. Each episode is accompanied by a resource list of all the books and media mentioned. Listen to an episode from OPL's website, opens a new window or on your favorite podcast app!

On September 15, 2022, the podcast team recorded their 100th episode! There are now more than 2,700 titles that have been mentioned throughout the duration of the podcast! Episode themes have varied over the three seasons, including topics such as OPL Reading Challenge categories, awards, and literary news and book trends.

An ideal way to approach the Read a Book Mentioned on The Book Drop challenge is to listen to a few episodes. To get you started, top episodes are recommended below by each of the podcast hosts.

Anna Wilcoxon, opens a new window, Diversity & Inclusion Librarian, favored episode 86: Reading Challenge: Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors, opens a new window, discussing books that fit this year’s challenge. Check out “On the Noodle Road: From Bejing to Rome, with Love and Pasta, opens a new window” by Jen Lin-Liu, a descriptive and personal food and travel work with bits of relationship-focused memoir.

Musician and adult specialist David Dick, opens a new window claims episode 97: Book Soundtracking, opens a new window as his recent favorite. This episode paired songs or albums with books. Listen to the album “Chronicle of the Black Sword, opens a new window” by Hawkwind while reading the fantasy saga “Stormbringer, opens a new window” by Michael Moorcock.

Erin Duerr, opens a new window, Readers & Writers Librarian, recommends episode 55: UFOs Are Real!, opens a new window featuring aliens and outer space. “Black Hole Survival Guide, opens a new window” by Janna Levin, a physicist, astronomer and science writer, takes you on a trip toward annihilation by black hole, but with a sense of straightforward poetry.

Aquarian and Book Club Librarian Michelle Carlson, opens a new window (hi, that’s me!) loved episode 63: Literary Horoscopes, opens a new window, when the hosts paired the zodiac signs with books! As a Taurus-rising, I recommend “Blind Ambition, opens a new window” by Lutishia Lovely, a story of family drama and long-buried secrets crafted into an engaging tale of two sisters embracing the truth to bridge their divide.

I also highly recommend checking out the What Are We Reading episodes: Episode 90, opens a new window, Episode 74, opens a new window, Episode 57, opens a new window, Episode 44, opens a new window, and Episode 32, opens a new window.

For even more titles mentioned on The Book Drop, check out this list, opens a new window or find lists of all books and other materials in OPL's catalog, opens a new window in all the episodes the team has done so far. Don’t forget to follow The Book Drop, opens a new window on your favorite podcast app and to rate it and leave a review!

Happy reading, my friends!

For even more ideas, request a custom reading list or book bundle, opens a new window tailored to your interests by OPL librarians.

You may submit your completed reading log online, opens a new window or return a completed tracking sheet to any OPL branch to receive a pin and to be entered into a drawing for a book store gift card! All completed tracking sheets or online challenge form entries must be received by December 31, 2022, to be entered into the prize drawing.