It’s my turn to write the Library’s column for the Summerland Review. The subject is Staff Picks.
After asking staff to provide their recommended reads, I decided to also ask what their number one pick for dessert was.
Some staff needed some time to think about what their favourite dessert was, while others knew immediately.
The question initiated conversations about what we love about dessert and then the sharing of recipes.
The common ingredient, as you might have guessed, was chocolate! Chocolate cherry trifle, warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, chocolate marble cheesecake, any dessert that contained a combination of chocolate and peanut butter, and then there was one delicious lemon meringue pie.
Unlike dessert, there was no common ingredient or method of how we choose our books.
Some choose by author, some read in search of books to include in the Summer Reading Club book list, some choices are by personal interest and some are simply chosen by the book’s cover.
One book that attracted me by its cover is Okanagan Eats and Drinks — Recipes from Okanagan’s Culinary Greats.
This book is full of beautiful photos, delicious recipes and introductions to wonderful Chefs and restaurants in the Okanagan Valley.
This month, there are a number of books recommended by staff that intrigued me.
A Thousand Naked Strangers, by Kevin Hazzard, follows Kevin who made the decision to become an EMT following 9/11 and gives an account of his years working on the streets of Atlanta.
Another interesting non-fiction read is North of Normal, a memoir by Cea Sunrise Person.
Cea’s father uprooted his family from their life in California and moved them to the Canadian wilderness where they lived for years without electricity, running water or at times, even a solid roof over their heads.
I have put both of these books on my “must read” list.
If you prefer a book to make you laugh, take home I am an Islander, by Patrick Ledewell.
Patrick was raised in Prince Edward Island and entertains readers with stories of life growing up on the island.
For those fans of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne and J.K. Rowling takes you back to catch up with Harry, who is now a husband and father working for the Ministry of Magic.
I personally enjoyed The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Steadman.
This is the story of Isabel and Tom, who is a lighthouse keeper on an isolated island off the coast of Australia.
I love books like this one that also teach some history and geography.
Whether you are looking for a new release, an historical read, a gritty western, a tale to take you travelling the world or a biography, we have something for everyone at the library.
Come on by and check out the Staff Pick Display this week to see what we have been reading. We are always happy to share books, but not necessarily our dessert!
Dianne Broadbent is an Auxiliary Assistant Community Librarian at the Summerland Branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.
