David’s Pick: The Rub of Time by Martin Amis Amis, who touts himself as “the only hereditary novelist in the Anglophone literary corpus”, is pretty authoritative when writing about literature, even when so much…

Brenda’s Picks – “I am not your negro” DVD by  James Baldwin; Between the world and me by Ta-Nehisi Coates These two items provide a deep insight into racial politics in the US,…

Angela’s Pick: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons I found this book googling “If you like David Sedaris…” Published in 1932, it’s a comic parody of the “rural novels” of the…

Brenda’s Pick: Eight days a week [videorecording] : the touring years When the Beatles made their first appearances they arrived at a time of confluence; a mix of world events, a…

Brenda’s Pick: Commonwealth by Ann Patchett I picked the right book to start the New Year…Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. This is her most recent story and it rolls along effortlessly…

Brenda’s Pick: Disappearance in Damascus by Deborah Campbell I had heard an interview with Deborah Campbell on CBC radio and watched for her book, Disappearance in Damascus. Her story begins…

Brenda’s Pick: Isabella : the warrior queen by Kirstin Downey For anyone with an interest in history and specifically Spanish history, this book is a fascinating biography of Isabella of Castile, who became…

David’s Pick: The Girls by Emma Cline It might be unusual to decide on a staff pick when you’re only on page 17 of a book, but this one is…

Brenda’s Pick: The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel Author Yann Martel has a way of telling a story that leaves behind a residue. In the case of The High…

Joanne’s Pick: A Profession of Hope: Farming on the Edge of the Grizzly Trail by Jenna Butler This poetic and thought provoking book is about a couple that buys 160…