Catherine Coles
Coles’ Notes
The staff of the County of L&A Libraries are avid readers and always eager to share their favourite books. Here we bring you a list of some of the reads we’ve recently enjoyed. This month you’ll find a ripped from the headlines thriller, a funny kid’s picture book, a non-fiction book about anxiety, and a couple character-driven historicals.
Coleen recently enjoyed A New Day by Brad Meltzer and Dan Santat
“Colourful cartoon-like appeal abounds in the picture book A New Day, which features anthropomorphic days of the week having their own audition-style competition. Sunday feels underappreciated and suddenly quits, leaving the other days of the week to take on the task of trying to replace her. Laughs abound when suggestions run the gamut of RunDay, Burpday to Caturday. Large colourful illustrations featuring speech bubbles alongside the text, create a comic book feel that encourages shared reading amongst the family. Parents will enjoy the illustrations as much as the children – Monday is ‘all business’ and Saturday reminded me of The Big Lebowski. Hilarity aside, the theme of kindness and appreciation comes through with a simple gesture amongst the noisy auditions – devoting one day to just be kind and the wonderful feeling that saying thank you brings.”
Karen S recently enjoyed Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig
“In the final year of WW I, a group of Smith College alumni known as the Smith College Relief Unit went to France to give aid to the remaining residents of destroyed French villages near the front line. Miraculously, every member of the unit made it home safe, both in life and in Lauren Willig’s latest historical novel. Kate, Emmie, and Julia are among the group of 18 women who head out together with lots of good intentions, but no idea of what they’re heading into, or what they’re doing, really. After a number of months supporting the villages and getting pretty good at their work, the Germans launch their spring offensive in March 1918 and, since the villages are only a few miles from the front, the British army wants the women to leave immediately. They refuse, instead working up to the last possible minute to evacuate the villagers they’ve been helping. Slowly, over their time in France, this band of strangers and near strangers evolves into a true band of sisters. This is an engaging, page-turning historical novel that should appeal to fans of Jojo Moyes’ The Girl You Left Behind, The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly, and The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.”
Marg recently enjoyed Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman
“Girls with Bright Futures is a scandalous, ripped-from-the-headlines novel that looks at the highly competitive world of Ivy League College admissions and the resulting scandals which involves lying, cheating, forgery and bribery. In this story, it also involves something much more nefarious! We are introduced to three mothers, all of whom are desperate to have their daughters accepted to Stanford in the fall. They will do anything to have their girls attend the prestigious school but with only one slot available who will win? When a serious, life-threatening accident occurs on the night before the application deadline it becomes apparent that someone will stop at nothing to make their dreams a reality by using any means possible.”
Julie recently enjoyed Relax, Dammit by Timothy Caulfield
“I think it is safe to say as a society we have never been more stressed. Misinformation and polarization seems to be running rampant with a lot of armchair experts. Relax, Dammit: a User’s Guide in the Age of Anxiety by Timothy Caulfield breaks down a day in the life of an average person. Caulfield, the current Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, uses his knowledge of peer reviewed articles and studies to support or debunk many common beliefs we have today. I liked the layout this book and it was very readable. My one complaint though is the fact that it went to the printing press prior to COVID so a few of his messages don’t pertain to our ‘new’ COVID world.”
Kristin recently enjoyed The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
“The Giver of Stars begins when the life of an impulsive British woman is changed forever when she is whisked away from her stifling life in England by the handsome American Bennett Van Cleve. Alice agrees to marry this man, thinking that a new life in Kentucky will be exciting and far away from her family’s expectations. She envisions all her dreams coming true with a handsome man by her side, and beginning a new adventure of her choosing. Unfortunately, small town life in a coal mining community quickly proves to be quite claustrophobic, especially due to the fact that she has to share a house with her overbearing father-in-law. So, when a call goes out for volunteers to help deliver books by horseback as part of a new travelling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically to escape her disappointing home life. Little does she know that joining this team of unique and strong-willed women will send her on an unforgettable adventure full of loyalty, justice, and passion.”
All of these titles can be reserved online with your library card at CountyLibrary.ca.