Staff Picks: Summer 2023Like this list

23 items

• Son of Elsewhere

  a Memoir in Pieces

  Abdelmahmoud, Elamin,

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  CBC host and podcaster Abdelmahmoud moved to Canada from Sudan as a 12-year-old. His reflections on life in Kingston, Ontario as a teenager are poignant, humourous, and ultimately inspiring. He recounts his journey to fit in and find…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Picture in the Sand

  Blauner, Peter,

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  A sweeping historical novel that spans 1950s Egypt to today. When Ali’s grandson becomes estranged from the family, his only connection is secret emails from his grandfather. Ali shares with his grandson what his life was like in Egypt in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Small Game

  a Novel

  Braverman, Blair,

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  Mara joins four other contestants to spend six weeks surviving in the wilderness as part of a reality tv show. It doesn’t take long for things to go wrong, and Mara’s skills as a survivalist are put to the test, as is her ability to work…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Punch Me Up to the Gods

  a Memoir

  Broome, Brian,

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  This memoir opens in Ohio, where Broome, a gay Black boy, is ostracized and abused. It is unflinching, heartbreaking, and vivid, with some difficult subject matter. The chapters on Broome’s childhood are framed by a series of vignettes…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Finding Me

  Davis, Viola, 1965-

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  The audiobook version of Finding Me has made Viola Davis an EGOT—winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. If, like me, you didn’t know audiobooks could win Grammys, you’ll understand as soon as you listen to Davis’s stunning,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Guest List

  Foley, Lucy (Novelist)

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  This nail-biting suspense novel tells the story of a celebrity wedding between a rising television star and an ambitious magazine publisher on a remote island off Ireland’s coast. As the guests arrive and the wedding ceremony approaches,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Lessons in Chemistry

  a Novel

  Garmus, Bonnie,

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  In her fantastic debut novel “Lessons in Chemistry,” Bonnie Garmus introduces readers to Elizabeth Zott, a one-of-a-kind chemist trying to navigate a sexist 1960s society, and the curious people who stumble into her orbit. Garmus, a former…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Duet for Home

  Glaser, Karina Yan,

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  In this collaborative work, award-winning poet Lee Maracle and two of her daughters weave magic with words. They speak openly about their personal and collective experiences with trauma and survival but also sexual desire, love, laughter,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• How to Stop Time

  a Novel

  Haig, Matt, 1975-

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  A novel that seamlessly blends time travel, historical fiction, philosophy, and a hint of romance. Tom has lived for over 400 years. He isn’t a vampire, and he isn’t immortal. He just has a rare condition that allows him to age very, very…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Some Hellish

  a Novel

  Herring, Nicholas,

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  Ever wondered what life is like for a lobster fisher in a Prince Edward Island harbour town? A sprawling story that explores the lives and occupations of the town’s many unique residents, this book is a must-read for readers who enjoy…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Stay True

  a Memoir

  Hsu, Hua, 1977-

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  This Pulitzer Prize–winning memoir is a compelling exploration of identity and profound tribute to friendship that will have you wanting to share a mix tape with all your friends. Hua Hsu is 18, is “into being into things,” thinks that the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ash is purest white

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  Did you ever have a friend who was drawn to a love interest who was all wrong, over and over, like an iron filing to a magnet? This film tells that kind of story, set against a backdrop of historical changes in China from 2001 to 2017.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Held by the Land

  a Guide to Indigenous Plants for Wellness

  Joseph, Leigh,

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  Ethnobotanist and Squamish Nation member Leigh Joseph leads us on a beautiful journey through the plants native to this area. The book includes pictures, harvesting practices, medicinal uses, and recipes. On the surface, this is a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Yellowface

  a Novel

  Kuang, R. F. (Rebecca F.)

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  Yellowface is a provocative and captivating exploration of cultural appropriation, public opinion, the publishing industry, and tokenism. When bestselling author and literary darling Athena Liu suddenly passes away, June Hayward, a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Demon Copperhead

  a Novel

  Kingsolver, Barbara,

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  Demon Copperhead grows up poor in the American South. Can family, friends, and a smart view of life save him from the handicaps of institutional poverty, drug addiction, and the foster system? In this updated version of Charles Dickens’…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hope Matters

  Maracle, Lee,

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  In this collaborative work, award-winning poet Lee Maracle and two of her daughters weave magic with words. They speak openly about their personal and collective experiences with trauma and survival but also sexual desire, love, laughter,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Enchantment

  Awakening Wonder in An Anxious Age

  May, Katherine,

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  Part spiritual journey, part personal narrative, Enchantment is an exploration of the effects of the pandemic on the individual and collective experience. Katherine May reflects on the modern age with poignant personal insight and a great…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Rikers

  An Oral History

  Rayman, Graham A.,

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  Stark testimony from guards, detainees, activists, and medics paints NY's infamous island jail as a never-ending hell of abuse and neglect. Gangs given free and brutal reign. "Buck-fifty" (150 stitches) facial slashings. 120-degree cells.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Bandit Queens

  a Novel

  Shroff, Parini,

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  This book may have some outlandish plot points, but Parini Shroff makes me believe these creative and confident women will get away with murder. The Bandit Queens is a compelling and immersive novel that explores the complexities of female…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• What You Won't Do for Love

  a Conversation

  Suzuki, David, 1936-

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  An intimate conversation in the form of a theatre script between legendary environmentalists David Suzuki and Tara Cullis, and two artists and activists from the next generation. Part memoir, part dinner party, the book touches on much of…Read moreRead more of this annotation