Every year, we produce a summer reading hour to talk about some of our favorite books of this year, and give you recommendations of the best beach reads.

And this year, we’re diving into the illustrious, the notorious, the infamous paperback: the romance novel.

There’s a lot of stigma attached to romance reading, especially within the reading community. But this top grossing genre is actually one of the most popular book genres in the world.

Today, we go beyond harlequin bodice rippers and Fabio and dive into the world of romance with our panel.

Got a favorite romance novel or love story? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• AK Nevermore: president of theConnecticut Romance Writers Association and author living in Connecticut
• Michelle Smith: President/Owner The BookSmiths Shoppe, LLC. in Danbury
• Lauren Anderso: Founder ofPossible Futures Bookspace in New Haven.

Authors featured in this broadcast:

• AK Nevermore
• Kristan Higgins
• Amy Neff
• JJ Graham
• Krystal Marquis
• Chloe Liese

Book recommendations from the staff at Connecticut Public

• Normal People, by Sally Rooney
• A Court of Thorns and Roses (series), by Sarah J Mass
• Fourth Wing (Empyrean series), - Rebecca Yarros
• Author Emily Henry
• Author Casey McQuiston
• The Selection, series by Kiera Cass
• Bridgeton, series by Julia Quinn
• The Princess Diaries, series by Meg Cabot
• Conversations with Friends, by Sally Rooney
• Persuasion by Jane Austin

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Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop. But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?"

This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice Sendak Foundation in Ridgefield, where Sendak lived for forty years. There, the many layers of his artistic legacy live on, with the help of the experts and friends who knew and loved him best. We hear from them.

Twelve years after the artist's passing, the Foundation and HarperCollins are releasing Ten Little Rabbits.

GUESTS:

• Lynn Caponera: President and Treasurer, Maurice Sendak Foundation

• Dr. Jonathan Weinberg: Curator, Maurice Sendak Foundation

Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 12, 2024.

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The Cambodian genocide took the lives of up to three million people - between 1975 and 1979. Many were forced to work at labor camps where they faced abuse, torture and starvation.

But this is only part one of the story. The lesser known part is the story of Preah Vihear Mountain, where over forty thousand refugees were forced to climb to their death.

Many Cambodian refugees ended up in refugee camps in Thailand. But instead of being processed as refugees, they were forced on buses and driven to Preah Vihear Mountain, which is part of a mountain range between Thailand and Cambodia.

Returning to Cambodia was a devastating experience. Not only were they forced back into the country, but the mountain was filled with landmines, and refugees had no food or water. They were forced to climb down the mountain side, and those who didn’t comply were gunned down

Today, we heard from someone who experienced this firsthand. Bunseng Taing lives in Connecticut and is a survivor of this massacre. He joins us with his son, James Taing. Together, they produced the documentary film Ghost Mountain: The Second Killing Fields.

GUESTS:

• James Taing: producer of Ghost Mountain: The Second Killing Fields

• Bunseng Taing: survivor of the Cambodian genocide and author of Under the Naga Tail

• Jenny (JHD) Heikkila Diaz: Professional Learning Coordinator, Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Activist in Residence, UConn Asian & Asian American Studies Institute

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Music used in the broadcast:

• "Violin Sneha" by Keo Sokha

• Sarika Keo

• “Mad Because of Loving You" by Sinn Sisamouth

• Come Again Tomorrow by Yol Aularong

Dylan Reyes helped produced this broadcast.

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