The Librarian's Nightstand - Spring 2024
Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, we wonder what the must-reads is!* Our branch librarians share their most favourite recent reads. Just like this season's variable weather, they offer up an eclectic literary mix of poetry and prose. Feeling adventurous this spring? Let reading transport you to new worlds and perspectives!
*With apologies to a poetic Anonymous and their humorous ode to springtime, a popular verse from the mid-1900s.
The Picks
Explore the titles our branch librarians recently read and loved.
Aldershot & Brant Hills Branch Librarian Kathleen
I recently read Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin. I could hardly put this book down! It’s the story of Enid, who is hard of hearing, obsessed with space and true crime podcasts, and has an extreme phobia of bald men. Enid is used to rotating through superficial relationships with women from dating apps, but she inadvertently falls into her first real romance, while grappling with mental health challenges and family troubles.
If you enjoy serious stories about difficult topics told with lightness and humour, you’ll love this novel! The relationships in this book are also so real-feeling, and I especially loved Enid’s relationship with her mom.
Kathleen enjoys historical and contemporary fiction that widely span time and place. She 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!
Alton Branch Librarian Heather
Fantasy author, Sarah J. Maas deftly spins a darkly captivating adventure tale of humans and otherworldly creatures who dwell together in a magical land. In A Court of Thorns and Roses, we first meet Feyre and the High Lord of the faeries, Tamlin, whose epic love story unfolds in Maas’s bestselling series. If you’re drawn to the enchanting darkness of Beauty and the Beast, you’ll enjoy this masterful weaving of folk and fairy tales from multiple origins, fairy lore, adventure, and romance. I couldn’t step away from this fast-paced, richly-told story. If you choose to listen to the book as I did, you may find yourself re-reading some chapters to fully appreciate the intricate storyline.
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 Edward Rutherfurd.
Central Branch Librarian Emma
April was poetry month, so I decided to celebrate by diving into Yung Pueblo’s latest collection of free verse poetry and short prose, The Way Forward. In this third and final installment of his poetic trilogy, the #1 New York Times bestselling poet encourages readers to connect more deeply to their intuition, using it to remain focused and grounded amidst a world in constant flux. Compassionately written, these poems are hopeful and reflective. This is a great read to inspire wellness and self-care.
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.
New Appleby Branch Librarian Kumkum
Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series completely captivated me with its vivid depiction of Dublin, memorable characters, and intricate mysteries. In The Searcher by Tana French, the author showcases her versatility with a new narrative style and setting. Disillusioned retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper seeks solace in solitude while renovating his fixer-upper in an idyllic Irish village. However, when he stumbles upon a local boy's disappearance, he reluctantly becomes entangled in a web of secrets and suspicion.
Savour the novel as it unfolds slowly. It seamlessly intertwines Cal's introspection with the enigmatic secrets of the Irish village, gradually revealing layers of intrigue as the investigation progresses. French’s latest book, The Hunter, embroils Cal in another psychological suspense.
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.
Tansley Woods Branch Librarian Deepti
My pick is The Whispers by Ashley Audrain. I liked the writing. The story is about motherhood, the challenges of being a capable woman balancing work and family life, navigating challenges, being torn between personal needs and responsibilities, and trying to make a choice between them. Overall, this remarkable book delves deep into the intricacies of motherhood, the complexities of personal choices, and the resilience of women in the face of adversity. It captivates readers with its realistic characters, great narrative, and unexpected twists.
Teacher-turned-librarian, Deepti, loves a good suspense mystery—especially books by master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer—or young adult fiction adventures. Her favourite read of 2022 was One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus.
Find Your Next Great Read
Library staff are a great resource for reading recommendations. Of course, they have their personal favourite genres and authors, but they also keep a close eye on top picks from all corners of our collection.
When you visit the library, don’t be shy about asking for your next great read. Or try out our Handpicked For You service and get suggestions from our book-loving staff based on your past favourites and reading interests. You can also browse our curated Staff Picks lists online for thoughtful booklists on a wide variety of topics. Happy reading!
Spring is sprung, the grass is riz,
I wonder where the birdies is.
They say the birds are on the wing,
Ain't that absurd?
I always thought the wing was on the bird.
