Off the Shelf
Sarah, our Adult Selection Specialist, suggests books that will linger in your mind.
This is an archive of all of Sarah's picks. If you enjoy her selections, you can also subscribe to the Off the Shelf e-mail newsletter that we send out twice monthly.
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson
For the last twenty years, amnesiac Claire has woken with no idea whom she is.
A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
History in small bites from the British Museum
South of Superior by Ellen Airgood
An unsentimental portrait of real life in an isolated town on the southern edge of Lake Superior.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Eighteen-year-old Victoria resorts to sleeping in a San Francisco park until she convinces a florist that working with flowers is one thing she does well.
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Moriarty uses Alice’s amnesia to ruefully examine the relationships that mean the most
Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
Funny and enlightening, this is a perfect read for both prospective and armchair travellers.
The Last Letter From Your Lover by JoJo Moyes
I kept thinking of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember...
Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Full of hard life and hope, Once Upon a River is memorable, meaty and perfect for book discussion groups.
She Walks In Beauty: a woman's journey through poems
These poems, selected and organized by Caroline Kennedy, follow the stages of life common to all of us.
Killed at the Whim of A Hat by Colin Cotterill
A slight mystery investigated by a varied cast of surprising characters, perfect for fans of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland
Vreeland writes superlative historical fiction with a focus on how artists create.
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Russell’s thorough research and lively writing style bring dusty Dodge City to vivid life.
Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy
A heartwarming and satisfying tale from a beloved Irish storyteller.
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
Who knew whales are connected to the history of lighting?
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, by Nicholas Carr
Can you concentrate as well as you did five years ago?
