From superfoods to questions of creativity, the shelves of the Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library are filled with possibilities.
· Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert – Bestselling author Gilbert opens her new book with the question, “What is creativity?” and answers, “The relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.” This is a very readable book about embracing our curiosity in order to live empowered and passionate lives.
· Euphoria, by Lily King – Inspired by events in the life of revolutionary anthropologist Margaret Mead, this gorgeous and evocative novel set in 1930s Papua New Guinea, is about three young, ground-breaking anthropologists caught in a love triangle that threatens their bonds, their careers and, ultimately, their lives.
· Everyday Super Food, by Jamie Oliver – Jamie Oliver’s latest collection of recipes “for a healthier happier you” makes eating well exciting, delicious, easy and fun.
· Felicity, by Mary Oliver – In this rare collection of love poems by one of America’s most beloved poets, Oliver describes – with joy – the strangeness and wonder of human connection.
· The Illegal, by Lawrence Hill – Hill, author of the critically-acclaimed The Book of Negroes, turns to the plight of illegal immigrants in the account of one boy who must run for his family’s survival as he attempts to live below the radar of the police and government officials in the fictional island continent of Zantorland, located between Africa and Australia.
· Lila, by Marilynne Robinson – Robinson, one of the greatest novelists of our time, returns to the town of Gilead, revisiting the beloved characters and setting of previous novels Gilead and Home in an unforgettable story of a girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe and wonder.
· Modern Romance, by Aziz Ansari – I almost read this book in one sitting, it is that engaging and hilarious. Acclaimed comedian Ansari teams up with a New York University sociologist to explore the nature of modern relationships, evaluating how technology is shaping contemporary relationships and considering the differences between courtships of the past and present.
· The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah – The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France. Recommended for those who enjoyed All the Light We Cannot See and Suite Francaise.
· The Reason You Walk: A Memoir, by Wab Kinew – Invoking hope, healing and forgiveness, The Reason You Walk is a poignant story of a towering but damaged father and his son, charismatic First Nations broadcaster, musician and activist Wab Kinew, as they embark on a journey to repair their family bond.
· Step Aside, Pops: a Hark! A Vagrant Collection, by Kate Beaton – Beaton began her infectiously popular web comic, Hark! A Vagrant, in 2007 and it quickly attracted the adoration of hundreds of thousands of fans. The follow-up, Step Aside, Pops is sure to be the comedic hit of the year: sharp, insightful, and very funny.
Sarah Isbister is the Children & Family Literacy Librarian at the Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library. She shares some of her favourite book selections for children and adults twice a month.