The Staff Picks shelf is one of the most popular displays at Port Moody Public Library. Our librarians regularly recommend great titles they have enjoyed so it is easier for you to choose a new read. Here are some great books I’ve read this year:
I really enjoy memoirs and the best one I’ve read this year is Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, an acclaimed scientist who studies trees, flowers, seeds and soil. Jahren compares her experiences as a budding scientist with the development of trees. In a tangle of memories, she talks about her special relationship with her lab partner and friend Bill; the challenges of being a female scientist in a male-dominated field; and her deep love of and fascination with plants. If science is not your thing, don’t worry, her writing is exquisitely beautiful and she describes her journey with the language of a novelist.
I’m usually late to jump on the bandwagon of popular books but it only took a few chapters of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend for me to regret not having read this before. The four books in the series tell the story of two friends, Lenu (the narrator) and Lila, in Naples, Italy, from their childhood in the 1940s until old age. Ferrante describes in vibrant details the life of the neighbourhood, the relationship between the families and the friendships that are formed through the years.
When I read books like Ready Player One, I realize I should read out of my comfort zone more often because there are surprises out there. Ernest Cline’s debut science fiction novel takes place in 2044, when reality is an ugly place. People live, play and work in an online platform called Oasis. When the creator of Oasis dies, he launches a treasure hunt game whose prize is his fortune. Players need to solve puzzles based on the creator’s obsession with pop culture of the last century. If you grew up in the ’90s like me, you’ll enjoy the nostalgia. If you didn’t, read it for the fun race. There is plenty of adventure and mystery — even romance. It’s definitely a page-turner.
Chick lit is my go-to genre when I want to read something light and fun, and Sophie Kinsella is my favourite author. Katie Brenner is a country girl living in London and pursuing big dreams. She’s obsessed with curating her life perfectly on Instagram but she does not show her dreadful commute to a boring admin job. When she loses her job and has to go back to the country, Katie finally finds out the true definition of “perfect.” With Kinsella’s usual humour, My Not-So-Perfect Life will make you smile.
Did I say I like memoirs? Give me one with gorgeous illustrations in graphic format and I just can’t say no. Vietnamese author Thi Bui’s debut graphic novel, The Best We Could Do, tells the story of her family, which immigrated to America during the Vietnamese War in the 1970’s. While she discovers herself as a new mother, Bui reflects on her own family’s struggles and sacrifices to raise their children and their tough adaptation to a new life in America.
Next time you visit your local library, make sure to ask your librarian about their top reads of 2017 — you’ll certainly leave with great recommendations.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Ana Calabresi works at Port Moody Public Library.
