Librarians have thousands of opportunities to read great books. So, how do they pick one over another? They read reviews, they take recommendations from others, just like we do, and now, they’ve agreed to tell us about their latest favorite reads.
Coming to My Senses: a Story of Perfume, Pleasure, and an Unlikely Bride by Alyssa Harad
A Birkenstock-wearing feminist with a PhD stumbles upon a perfume blog and a world of scent enthusiasts who share reviews and fragrance samples. It’s rare to find an author who writes non-fiction that reads like compelling fiction, and Harad accomplishes it remarkably well.
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
On Monday nights when her restaurant is closed, Lillian hosts a weekly cooking class. Written with a lush, lyrical affection for food and language; I couldn’t wait to read more in her follow-up novel, The Lost Art of Mixing.
—Recommended by librarian Susan Cooper.
The Master Butcher’s Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
My favorite author delights me with her imaginative plots and richly-drawn characters. In this novel, Erdrich focuses on German immigrants who open a butcher shop in North Dakota after World War I and get involved with the colorful townsfolk.
Gold by Chris Cleave
Britain’s top two female speed cyclists train incessantly for their final competition, the 2012 Olympics, while dealing with individual hardships. The versatile author shows the complex relationship between Kate and Zoe as well as the high-adrenaline experience of bike racing.
—Recommended by librarian Ann Pieri.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Haruf creates wonderfully believable characters in this novel about the residents of small town Holt, Colorado. I alternately worried about and rooted for the people in this beautifully written book.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
A close-knit group of college students slowly reveals a terrible secret to a new friend. I’ve read this compelling and sometimes creepy novel more than once and it draws me in again every time.
—Recommended by senior librarian Kathryn Zimmerman.
