It’s no surprise that the staff of the County of Prince Edward Public Library & Archives are readers.

We read widely, in part so that we can recommend books to you at the circulation desk. We would like to share some of the best books we read this year. Molly, Archivist, recommends the series Red Rising by Pierce Brown. It’s a sci-fi series set in a dystopian future on Earth 700 years into the future. As Molly spends her work days engrossed in history, reading sci-fi gives her a chance to imagine the future – many, many years into the future!

Interlibrary Loan coordinator Jenn is an avid cookbook connoisseur and suggests Delish by Joanna Saltz. It’s chock full of fun and innovative recipes in chapters including “Ya wanna pizza this?” Jenn explains that this cookbook is a lot of fun when cooking with her family – and the food that results is, as the title suggests, “delish”.

Personally speaking I enjoyed Polar Vortex by Shani Mootoo. I read it in advance of our author conversation, and it was a captivating read that kept me up late to finish it in almost one sitting. It is a complex exploration of relationships, truth, and identity, and is full of tension. I know I am in good company with this pick as it was shortlisted for the Giller prize this year!

If you missed the library’s conversation with Shani, Peter Blendell and Shelagh Hurley, you can find it on our YouTube channel. Gisa, librarian at the Ameliasburgh and Consecon Branches, has been reading murder mysteries this year. Her selection is The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks – perfect if you want something that will keep you guessing throughout and will defy your expectations.

David suggests The Fifth Season by N,K. Jemison. He explains that it is a powerful, poignant and imaginative read. It is the first of the Broken Earth trilogy. “I love how N.K. Jemison blends ideas of fantasy, magic, climate change, world catastrophe, oppression, class and race into one vivid and poetic world, and each character in the novel is so deep and rich with personality – it’s an awesome book and I can’t wait to read the rest in the trilogy.”

Milford Branch librarian Aaron recommends The Letter Killer’s Club by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky. He notes that Krzhizhanovsky is the endlessly clever and creative, and has become one of his all-time favourite storytellers. He also suggests What Kind Of Creatures Are We? by Noam Chomsky. This is Chomsky’s last word on philosophy’s big questions. Great material for thought and reflection.

Archives assistant Linda has been reading Ontario history and suggests Cursed: Blood of the Donnellys by Keith Ross Leckie. She explains that “I didn’t really know the story of the Black Donnellys, this book sounded interesting, and it really was” The book is fiction based on fact, and it made her want to learn more about this dark part of Lucan Ontario’s history.

These are just a few of the favourites of some of the library’s staff.

If you would like to hear more recommendations in columns like this, you can send me an email at [email protected].

-Liz Zylstra