University of Alberta Libraries Staff Picks - Summer Reads!

Ok students, staff, faculty.... put down your textbooks, your research or whatever you are working on. Seriously, summer is in full swing and now is the time to enjoy some leisure reading before fall term begins. You know you want to! You've earned it! We even asked library staff to share their favourite summer reads and compiled a list.

There is a little bit for every taste on this list, including thrillers, mysteries, romance, graphic novels, non-fiction and poetry. Most of these books can be found in our collection, and if you decide you want to check it out, just click on the book cover to get a direct link to the book's record in the library catalogue so you can find it in the stacks! We also included the submitting staff members comments, to give you a sense of what they are about.

We highly encourage you to explore many of great reads in our collection. You could also stop by Coutts Library and borrow one of their lawn chairs and enjoy the sun while you read. You will thank yourself when things get busy come fall!

Lab Girl  by Hope Jahren An entertaining memoir of a prominent woman scientist that reads like a good story and expresses a wonderful passion for plant life.	Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake  by  Anna Quindlen Pulitzer prize journalist and novelist reflects on her career, family life and her view life's later years to come.
Alone Against the North: An Expedition into the Unknown  by  Adam Shoalts Allows you to experience the thrills and challenges of modern day exploration, and to appreciate the beauty of the Canadian north.	A Wanted Man  by  Lee Child
The Eyre Affair  by  Jasper Fforde Simultaneously silly and smart!	Wyrd Sisters  by  Pratchett, Terry Funny and good character development... pick any book in the Discworld series.
The Handmaid's Tale  by  Margaret Atwood It is very relevant to today, particularly the extreme evangelical republican party, and the new TV Series.	Memory and Dream  by  Charles de Lint A Canadian author who writes modern mythology fiction very influenced by Native American Coyote myths and European faerie tales.
Big Little Lies  by  Liane Moriarty There's a mystery at the centre of it that makes you want to keep reading	Where'd You Go, Bernadette?  by  Maria Semple It's a quirky read, and I love the way it's written through notes, letters, and emails.
Hostage  by  Guy Delisle Exciting, terrifying, agonizing, incredible art . . . a Delisle masterpiece!	In a Dark, Dark Wood  by  Ruth Ware Summer is wedding season. Friends, Nora and Clare haven't seen each other in  ten years, until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s staggette "hen" arrives. The past & secrets start coming out. Things start going very wrong...
Eileen  by Ottessa Moshfegh	In Fine Style: the Dancehall Art of Wilfred Limonious  by  Christopher Bateman A fascinating read about Limonious & Jamaica’s 80s/90s dancehall culture, with rich visually appealing artwork.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian  by  Sherman Alexie The honest way it portrays reservation life and the struggle to overcome barriers.	Voyager (Outlander #3)  by  Diana Gabaldon Catch up with the 3rd book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series before it premiers on September 10th.
What is Not Yours Is Not Yours  by  Helen Oyeyemi Beautiful writing with bits of magic and whimsy. It's a book of short stories [though they all connect, in some way], so you get a variety of wonderful stories.	Keeper'n Me  by  Richard Wagamese The best part about this book is how it is told in two voices: one of the elder and one of the city-raised boy.  The dry sense of humour makes it fun to read too.
The Circle  by  Dave Eggers Fans of the show "Black Mirror" will love this. A consipiracy/thriller centred around a Google/Apple-esque company. I also saw some parallels with elements of scientology and the culture of denunciation in communist regimes. A real page-turner and a great summer read.	You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life  by  Jen Sincero It's self-help for people too punk rock for self help books.
So You've Been Publicly Shamed  by  Jon Ronson Looks at an interesting facet of social media. Also, a fascinating peek into another aspect of Zimbardo's prison study.	Saga  by  Brian K Vaughan The Art! The story!
Paper Girls  by  Vaughan, Brian K. The art work could tell a story on it's own.	Indigenous Writes  by  Chelsea Vowel Chelsea Vowel discusses Indigenous issues in a direct voice with excellent examples. A great introduction to Indigenous issues in Canada, should be required reading!
New American Best Friend  by  Olivia Gatwood A rising star on the American poetry scene. Olivia Gatwood is an amazing talent whose work is raw, enlightening and beautiful. Poetry is also great short reading for summer vacations.	Midnight, Texas  by  Charlaine Harris If you are missing Charlaine Harris' characters from Bon Temps, this is the next best thing.
Cutting for Stone  by  Verghese, A. (Abraham), 1955- Serious but beautifully detailed and written.	Sense and Sensibility  by  Jane Austen Jane's wit, humour, and poignant prose help you to remember the importance of self-reflection and give a window into life in regency England. “Sometimes one is guided by what they say of themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them, without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge."