The Librarian's Nightstand - Fall 2024

My pick is Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor. It's 1938, and a dead whale washes on shore on a remote Welsh Island. Shortly after, two English ethnographers arrive, hoping to study the island's culture. Eighteen-year-old Manod, who has spent her whole life on the island, becomes a translator for the scientists. Their worldliness attracts Manod and gives her a glimpse of a future off the island—but she becomes disillusioned by their inauthentic representation of her community. The whale becomes a metaphor for change and decay for Manod’s people.

You’ll enjoy this if you love novels with deeply immersive settings and endearing protagonists. Whale Fall will have you thinking about isolation, community, and the consequences of cultural exploitation.

Kathleen enjoys historical and contemporary fiction, widely spanning time and place and will especially dive headfirst into a family saga story (think Greenwood by Michael Christie or Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim). She loves reading to learn about different people, places, and perspectives!

A beautifully written recounting of life after tragedy, In Winter I Get Up At Night by Jane Urquhart centers on the life of Emer McConnell as she spends a wintery drive in the Canadian Prairies contemplating her story. Using vivid imagery, she brings readers into her childhood hospital room, family home, adulthood in love, and thoughts on the people around her.

Leaning into the spirituality of Emer’s family and friends, Urquhart weaves magic into the words on the page. Listening to this book allowed me to close my eyes, and it felt like I was in the room with Emer. I never wanted to stop listening; in the end, it left a hole in my life because she would no longer be there. This novel would make a great read or listen for anyone who enjoys historical fiction based in Canada, touching on colonialism and the drive to survive.

Heather dives into dramatic family sagas and historical fiction as her go-to audiobook picks and reaches for romantic beach novels and light mysteries for her leisure reading. Her favourite authors include John Green, Liane Moriarty, and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I have been trying to expand my reading horizons this year and decided to give magic realism a try by reading Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck. The story follows Lewis, a man who undergoes a shocking transformation into a great white shark a few months into his marriage with his wife Wren. This book takes readers on a moving journey as Lewis navigates his new existence and Wren struggles to connect with him despite his transformation.

I really enjoyed this novel and when reading it, found myself reflecting on what it means to truly love someone when they change in unimaginable ways. If you’re looking for something profoundly unique, give this book a try!

Emma likes to tuck into contemporary and historical fiction, young adult novels, and memoirs. She lists Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Lovely War by Julie Berry, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, and The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh as her favourite novels.

Dolly Alderton's second novel, Good Material, is a witty and heartfelt look at the messiness of life after a breakup. It follows Andy, a 35-year-old comedian whose world collapses when his long-term girlfriend, Jen, suddenly breaks up with him. Living out of a suitcase in his best friend’s spare room, he struggles to kick-start his career while obsessively hoping for Jen’s return. Andy's journey is full of humour and deep feelings as he navigates heartbreak, self-doubt, job issues, and a shrinking friend group. He learns he has much to figure out—not only about himself but also about Jen’s side of the story. Funny and relatable, this novel captures the challenges of modern relationships and personal growth, appealing to fans of Nick Hornby and Sally Rooney.

Kumkum often reads two to three books at a time, selecting from various genres, including mysteries and thrillers, relationship fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction.

This season, my pick is Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. This book had all the components I enjoy in a mystery: a family reunion set in a snowed-in resort, a murder, and many suspects among those present. It left me seeing everyone potentially being a killer, which kept me glued to the story. There were also many unexpected reveals along the way to keep the plot fresh and intriguing. Although it took a few chapters to hook me, I did enjoy this uniquely told story that had me turning the pages in anticipation of what would happen next. Most importantly, it was an entertaining read!

Teacher-turned-librarian, Deepti, loves a good suspense mystery—especially books by master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer—or young adult fiction adventures.