It's our last backwards-looking episode of the new year, as we recommend some of the best of 2021! Here's our picks of the buzziest, award-winningest, best-sellingest books from last year. Other Best of Year books previously recommended on Read This Next: We also did a "Best of 2021 - so far" episode, which you can... Continue Reading →
Maybe it's a little narcissistic to be so interested, but hey, when you work in an iconically interesting place, you're going to want to read the books set there! Check out just a few of the many books set in libraries across all kinds of genres. We've been talking about doing this episode for ages... Continue Reading →
And we're back! After a summer break, Read This Next returns with all-new episodes and themes. Today we're all about the high seas (or the wide open oceans of space) with books about pirates. Listen to the episode on your favourite podcast platform by searching for Read This Next or watch on our YouTube channel (also... Continue Reading →
It's time for alternate histories and steampunk! Some of these also fit the descriptor historical fantasy, which is a new term for us - had you come across it before in your reading? Other alternate history titles we've discussed before are The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead and River of Teeth (American Hippo), the amazing... Continue Reading →
Happy Pride!! This week we are talking about YA books that feature LGBTQIA2S+ representation. Every year, we curate a booklist of new YA titles with queer content and alternate between organizing it by genre or by identity and orientation. This year is an identity and orientation year, so check back soon to access the complete... Continue Reading →
When I was finishing my undergraduate years at Lakehead in 2015, I had a conversation with a fellow student about my decision to enter the Masters of Library and Information Studies program at the University of Alberta. He then asked me a question that has recurred in various forms and from various people in the... Continue Reading →
This book was picked up and read on a whim based entirely on the title and cover art. Yes, I judged a book by its cover and am very glad that I did. It takes a wild combination of libraries, books, mermaids, and carnivals and twists it all into an intriguing tale. With a mysterious... Continue Reading →
I came across an article, recently, about the best libraries in literature: a list that could not fail to include the Cemetery of Lost Books, a fascinating labyrinth of forgotten tomes created by Zafón. Certain rules exist for those fortunate enough to enter this library: any first time visitor is required to wander the endless... Continue Reading →
Have you ever wondered what it is a librarian actually does? When I started off as a page at the old Mary JL Black Library in 2006 I can tell you with all honesty I had no idea what a librarian did. It’s funny, but we think that librarians and libraries are a thing of... Continue Reading →
By Jesse Roberts Miles Harvey is an American journalist and writer with an inherent fascination with maps. The Island of Lost Maps is his most well known work to date and guides the reader through the turbulent world of cartographic crime. The central theme of the book is the story of how map thief, Joseph... Continue Reading →
Thunder Bay Public Library's Book Blog 