Atwood tops librarians’ picks
Three Canadian titles make September’s list, including Ta-Nehisi Coates’ first novel
With the Loan Stars program, librarians across Canada vote on the book titles coming out each month that they believe should be available in the country’s library systems. Here are the top titles for September 2019:
1. The Testaments, Margaret Atwood, McClelland & Stewart
2. The Water Dancer, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Random House
3. Had It Coming, Robyn Doolittle, Penguin Canada
4. High School, Sara Quin & Tegan Quin, Simon & Schuster
5. Antoni in the Kitchen, Antoni Porowski & Mindy Fox, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
6. Darkdawn, Nevernight Chronicle #3, Jay Kristoff, St. Martin’s Press
7. Vendetta in Death, In Death #49, J.D. Robb, St. Martin’s Press
8. The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix E. Harrow, Orbit 9. To the Lions, Holly Watt, Dutton 10. Good Time Party Girl, Helen Cromwell, Feral House/Publishers Group Canada
There are three Canadian titles on the list this month, Nos. 1, 3 and 5.
It will probably come as no surprise that librarians across the country are as excited as the rest of us about the publication of The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. It comes out Sept. 10.
Also highly anticipated is New Yorkbased Ta-Nehisi Coates’ first novel, The Water Dancer. He’s so well known for his essays and nonfiction writing, including the National Book Award-winning Between The World and Me, everyone’s excited about what his fiction will hold.
Another interesting choice this month is No. 10, Good Time Party Girl, which was actually first published in 1966 by a small pulp publisher that’s no longer in business. Feral House knew about the author, got in touch with her family, and came out with this expanded edition, so passionate were they about her story (that has a strong Canadian connection).
About No. 4: “Tegan and Sara are quintessential to music, LGBTQ rights (especially for queer women), and creating community through music. This autobiography is sure to inspire new and long-time fans.” — Brooklyn Cribdon, Greater Victoria Public Library
About No. 6: “An excellent close to the Nevernight series. Fast-paced and action-packed, Darkdawn never slows down. Mia is a great character, and I really enjoyed how Kristoff wrapped up the series. If Arya Stark from Game of Thrones was your favourite, I highly recommend the Nevernight series for a similar character.” — Jennifer Green, Oshawa Public Library
Loan Stars’ monthly lists of the top 10 upcoming books are voted on by library staff across Canada and organized by BookNet Canada and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC).
More information is available at loanstars.ca.