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It's Lit Y'all

It's Lit Y'all | Dr. Tonja Murphy & "Off the Shelf" with Tatia Long Kiser aka MS Mom Reads - May 2026

Ellen, Tonja, & Tatia, will discuss their current reads for May, we'll get "Off the Shelf" with MS Mom Reads, Tatia Long Kiser, and more. Then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week!


Book Mentions:

The Foursome by Christine Baker Kline

Medical Missionary: My Journey Through Global Health and Higher Education by Dan Jones

Waterfront Living by Erin Austen Abbott

On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Dolly all the Time by Annabel Monaghan

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver

A Season for Fishin’ by Pamela Courtney

J versus K by Jerry Craft and Kwame Alexander

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

Kin: A Novel by Tayari Jones

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

We Burn Daylight by Brett Anthony Johnson

Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnson

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel

Luna, Phoenix, Queen by Julia Oringer

Score by Kennedy Ryan

Glyph: A Novel by Ali Smith

Canon: A Novel by Paige Lewis

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar 


Join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org


Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.

More episodes

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  • It's Lit Y'all | JXN Book Club

    45:42|
    Ellen chats with JXN Book Club founders Chris Kelly & Kimar Cain about all things book club, their current reads, future reads, and favorite books of all time! Then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! Join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | Off The Shelf: Audio Books with Tatia Long Kiser & Tonja Murphy

    44:02|
    Today, Ellen chats with avid book lover, and owner of Mississippi Mom Reads, Tatia Long Kiser, and Mississippi Book Festival's Community Engagement Director, Tonja Murphy about audio books, current reads, and more! Then it's Book Drop new releases & Ellen's Book Nook Pick of the Week!Book Mentions: You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins ClarkDress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David SedarisMe Talk Pretty One Day by David SedarisKin by Tayari JonesThe Sugar Jar by Yasmine CheyenneWhistler by Ann PatchettDutch House by Ann PatchettTom Lake by Ann PatchettThe Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann FennellyHeating and Cooling by Beth Ann FennellyGreenlights by Matthew McConaugheyBorn a Crime by Trevor NoahHeavy by Kiese LaymonStrangers by Belle BurdenIn the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom JunodMemorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha TretheweyVera Wong books by Jesse Q. SutantoFrom Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley KeoughBrideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh narrated by Jeremy IronsThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood narrated by Claire DanesWuthering Heights by Emilly Bronte narrated by Joanne FroggattThe Murder at Gull’s Nest by Jess Kidd narrated by Siobhan McSweeneyThe Foursome by Christine Baker KlineMy Name is Barbra by Barbra StreisandSeven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise WilliamsThe Shampoo Effect by Jenny JacksonThe Five Star Weekend by Elin HilderbrandTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth BrowerBreakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, and moreNever Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays by Amena BrownCooking from Scratch: A Careful Selection of Useful Recipes by Toya BoudySomething We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me by Elizabeth Stordeur PryorThrilling Tales of Modern Men: Stories by Danny McBrideThe Sixth Nik by Daniel KrausVilla Coco by Andrew Sean GreerContrapposto by Dave EggersChildren of the Wild by Kevin PowersMonster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America by Lauren HoughJoin the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | Dr. Stacy Creel - "Dirty Books: Romance & Erotica in Libraries"

    47:10|
    Ellen chats with Dr. Stacy Creel, Associate Professor in the School of Library & Information Science at The University of Southern Mississippi, to chat about her Adult Genres Literature course, "Dirty Books: Romance & Erotica in Libraries," and more, then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! Join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | Jennifer Boone with Dixon Books

    45:10|
    Ellen chats with owner of Dixon Books in Natchez, Jennifer Boone, about the creation of the bookstore and more, then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! Join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | "Summer of Attention" with Catherine Pierce

    44:34|
    Ellen chats with former state Poet Laureate, Catherine Pierce, about her new essay collection about tornadoes, early motherhood and more, plus they also discuss her Summer of Attention project. Then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! Join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | Dr. Tonja Murphy & "Off the Shelf" with Tatia Long Kiser aka Mississippi Mom Reads

    45:25|
    Ellen, Tonja, & Tatia, will discuss their current reads, we'll get "Off the Shelf" with MS Mom Reads, Tatia Long Kiser, and more. Then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! Book Mentions: Wild Robot by Peter BrownI’m So Glad You’re Here by Mychal ThreetsLes Misérables by Victor HugoPhases: A Memoir by BrandyTheo of Golden by Allen LeviYesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensArsenio by Arsenio HallFamesick by Lena DunhamStrangers by Belle BurdenThe Calamity Club by Kathryn StockettThe Help by Kathryn StockettNight Watch by Jane Ann PhilipsSmall Town Girls by Jane Ann PhillipsLidie: The Further Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton by Jane SmileyA Thousand Acres by Jane SmileyCherry Baby by Rainbow RowellA New Way to Love Your Neighbor: Be Curious, Free, and Brave by Jada EdwardsCountry People by Daniel MasonNorth Woods by Daniel MasonJoin the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | Mike O’Brien's “The Tougaloo Nine" & MS Film Society Screening "The Librarians"

    44:25|
    Ellen chats with author Mike O'Brien about his latest release, “The Tougaloo Nine," his previous release "We Shall Not Be Moved” about the Woolworth sit-in, in addition to his work as an author, and more, and then Ellen sits down with MS Film Society's Executive Director, Ryan Parker about the free screening of "The Librarians," happening April 14th at the Capri Theatre in Jackson. Then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! Join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.
  • It's Lit Y'all | Lemuria Celebrates 50 Years with John Evans

    44:21|
    Ellen chats with Jackson based Lemuria Bookstore owner John Evans, about his legacy, love of books, and more, as he celebrates his 50th anniversary as a premier literary destination.Then it's Ellen's Book Drop & Book Nook Pick of the Week! For more information on Lemuria & the 50th Anniversary Event, visit: https://www.lemuriabooks.com/50BIRTHDAY and join the conversation, email: books@mpbonline.org. Hosted by Mississippi Book Festival's Executive Director, Ellen Daniels, It’s Lit, Y’all is a show celebrating the power of books and storytelling while exploring how literature shapes culture, identity, and community, highlighting Mississippi’s rich literary spirit—one story at a time. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, there’s nothing like getting lost in a good book! For more information: https://www.mpbonline.org/radio/Its-Lit-Yall/.