What librarians read
Plenty of selections to consider with these book picks
Have you been looking for a good book to read?
Library staff don’t get much opportunity to read when they are working. But, they are generally big readers and they get to see lots of books in the course of their day.
In order to give you a look at what has caught their eye recently, I asked them to share a library book that they have read that they really liked and would recommend. Below are some of the suggestions I received.
“Salt Fat Acid Heat” by Samin Nosrat – This cookbook is a fresh take on not just the how, but also the why, of cooking using four core concepts of flavor. It has approachable writing with educational and fun illustrations. This cookbook could find a home in a dorm room, foodie kitchen, or chef’s library.
“Evan Smoak/Orphan X Series” by Gregg Hurwitz – This audiobook, narrated by Scott Brick, is a trilogy that includes the books, “Orphan X,” “The Nowhere Man,” and “Hellbent.” The “Orphan X Series” follows Evan Smoak, also known as “The Nowhere Man,” a vigilante on the run from the ‘Orphan Program’. The series is an intense roller coaster ride from start to finish. The author, Gregg Hurwitz, wrote Wolverine and Punisher for Marvel Comics and is scheduled to write the film adaptation of “Orphan X.” If you don’t do audiobooks, the books are also available at the library in paper copy.
“The Princess Diarist” by Carrie Fisher – This is an autobiographical account of Fisher’s experiences on the set of filming the first Star Wars Movie and her brief affair with Harrison Ford. She is such a charming and funny person. It is a breezy read. This was Fisher’s last book before her death.
“The Dry” by Jane Harper This murder mystery is set in rural Australia at the height of a drought. Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to his home town after many years away to attend the funeral of his former best friend. The longer he’s there, the more he questions the circumstances around the death of his friend, and the more his past comes back to haunt him. This is well written and suspenseful to the end.
“A Forest for Calum” by Frank MacDonald - This is an insightful look into the life of a Cape Breton mining town and the transitions faced by Scottish families. The language, music and the dancing are vividly portrayed as well as the Cape Breton landscapes. The hardiness of Cape Bretoners along with their Scottish traditions and their humor shines through. You will laugh and you will cry as you read this well written book.
“The Black House” by Peter May – Set on the isle of Lewis in Scotland, this murder mystery involves the brutal murder of a man on Lewis that closely resembles a murder in Edinburgh. These similarities bring Detective Sergeant Fin MacLeod to the island to investigate. Having grown up on the island, MacLeod is familiar with many of the characters that populate the island. May’s descriptions of Lewis are beautiful and it feels like the island is another character in the book. This is the first of a trilogy called The Lewis Man.
Since 2004, the Cape Breton Regional Library has been invited to nominate three books for the International Dublin Literary Awards. This award is presented annually for a novel written in English or translated into English. The award aims to promote excellence in world literature. Nominations are submitted by 400 library systems in cities throughout the world. The selection committee then choose ten books to short list. This short list was announced on April 5. One of CBRLs three books nominated for 2018, Human Acts, was selected for the short list from over 160 titles. CBRLs three picks include:
“All Things Cease to Appear” by Elizabeth Brundage - A portrait of a marriage that never should have been. The wife is trapped in an isolation that will end in madness and havoc. A thriller to be savoured.
“Human Acts” by Han Kang - Using as her base the Gwangju uprising in 1980 in South Korea, the author in poetic detail lays bare the traumas suffered by a number of participants in the events. The experiences are quietly heartbreaking. The writing and translation are both superb.
“Barkskins” by Annie Proulx - An ecological family epic played out over two centuries in North America. The book tracks the decimation of the continent’s forests and the concurrent decimation of the cultures and wisdom of indigenous peoples.
These are just a few of the books that library staff have enjoyed recently. People’s taste in books can be very different. From cookbooks to biographies, local fiction to mysteries, there’s something for everyone at the library. For more book choices, ask staff at your local library. Library cards are free. Just drop by your local library or check us out online at cbrl. ca. There are books here for everyone.