The Library staff’s genre study book group meets bi-monthly to learn about different genres. We’ve covered mystery, science fiction, romance, historical fiction, young adult literature, horror, and the top-selling books of the 2010s. Usually, we meet at 8 am before the library opens. Staff members read the assigned books on their own time. Meetings begin with a presentation about the characteristics and appeal of the genre, then we discuss the books we read. This activity helps us learn more about genres that we may not usually read, so that we can recommend books that you might enjoy. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to get together and talk books.
Since we're all working from home, last week we took our meeting online. Our topic this month was “good reads”, so everyone re-read one of their favorite books. We focused on what makes the book appealing and whether the book still held the same appeal. It was the perfect time to discuss these books, because several of us mentioned that revisiting an old favorite felt comforting during these troubling times.
We thought you might be curious to know which books we discussed. Without further ado, here is the list. I’ve noted which are available as ebooks. Happy reading!
Fiction
- People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (also recommends the audiobook) Overdrive
- Look to the Mountain by LeGrand Cannon, Jr.
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee CL and Overdrive
- A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle
- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough Overdrive
- Sabriel by Garth Nix
- The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy CL
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Overdrive
- East of Eden by John Steinbeck
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien CL
- Trust Me by John Updike (would not really recommend)
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak CL and Overdrive
Nonfiction
- Testament of Youth: An Autobiographical Study of the Years 1900-1925 by Vera Brittain
- Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert Overdrive
- Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion that Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer
- The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston (be warned that the descriptions are graphic) CL
- Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America by Elizabeth Wurtzel (would recommend other titles first)
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