Staff Picks
By: Graeme Simsion
If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted read that will engage you from the first page to the last, this is the perfect book! It tells the story if quirky and socially inept genetics professor Don Tillman, who launches The Wife Project: a mission to find a perfectly compatible female life partner. Armed with a lengthy and intricate questionnaire to weed out unsuitable candidates, Don is prepared for anything! And then…enter Rosie. Disorganized, messy, impulsive, and charming Rosie. The two form an unlikely partnership, each helping the other on their personal quests.
Golden Hill by Francis Spufford is about life in pre-revolutionary New York. But be sure to check your expectations because it wasn’t like you thought it was. A mysterious young man from England with a very large letter of credit in his pocket intrigues and upsets both the Dutch and English factions. Follow this man through a series of page turning plot twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Recommended by Kate.
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella is a book about a teenage girl dealing with crippling social anxiety who meets a boy that helps her overcome her mental illness. As mental illness is not usually the central topic dealt with by many fictional books, this was a refreshing read on a problem that exists in every day life. Recommended by Sami.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is an emotional read that provides insight into a difficult topic affecting America currently: police shootings. An eye-opening and honest portrayal of growing up African American and existing in two worlds, the main character Starr attends a party in her poverty stricken neighborhood for the first time only to witness the murder of her childhood friend Khalil the same night. In the aftermath of the shooting as Starr and her friends and family try to deal with the tragedy, and the media coverage of it, we learn more about coming together and speaking up for what’s right. The Hate U Give will take you on an emotional journey that you won’t soon forget. Recommended by Michele and Ty.
Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Power by Priscilla Shirer is a motivating read that stirs the spirit, while empowering and strengthening your resolve. It encourages you to create your own road map to winning everyday battles and helps to put life and personal issues/ conflicts in their proper focus. A great read for anyone who finds power in prayer, at any place in their spiritual walk. Highly recommended by Patience
Dear Ijeawele or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a short read but very thought-provoking and so important. Chimamanda approaches a complicated topic in a light and humorous way that makes the subject accessible for anyone to begin thinking about how they can actively engage in feminism. Recommended by Juanita.
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes is a heartbreaking romance novel showcasing the likable and realistic characters Louisa Clarke and Will Traynor. An unconventional love story between a wheel chair bound former extreme sportsman and an ordinary woman from a tiny village, two people who couldn’t have less in common, Me Before You will have you laughing and then ultimately crying. Recommended by Kate
A powerful film, based off the 1992 P.D. James novel (see if the book is in) about a world where infertility is destroying all hope, and an unlikely hero must protect the most precious thing of all. You will be gripped by this movie until the very end. Recommended by Maritza