Best Reads of 2020 Staff Picks!

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I think it is fair to say, that 2020 will go down in history as one of those years, every one can’t wait to finish! It has certainly been a challenge, and I am sure most people are looking forward to catching up with family & friends over the holiday period.

For us here at the library it has definitely been different! We’ve had to think of new ways to engage with our members, get creative with the way we present programs and learn new skills. But throughout all of this we have still managed to read our way through 2020. In fact, I think we have read more than ever this year. And if there is one thing Librarians love better than reading, it is sharing what they have been reading with anyone who is willing to listen J

So, I have put together a list of our ‘Best Reads of 2020’ in the hopes that you might find something new to read. Our picks include new publications and some older ones too.

If you would like to share your, ‘Best Reads of 2020’ with us we would love to hear from you.

Share your ‘Best Reads’ of 2020 via our online ‘Read & Review’ form; be sure to mention somewhere that it’s a ‘Best Read of 2020’. If I get a lot of suggestions, I will put together a blog post with all your picks!

Fingers crossed you find your next great read!

Jody

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Good Reads Choice Awards 2020

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Announcing the winners of the 12th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, a major book award decided by readers. Congratulations to the best books of the year! Did one of your favourites become a winner?  Click on the titles below to reserve your copy now.

Best Fiction – The midnight library by Matt Haig
Best Mystery & Thriller – The guest list by Lucy Foley
Best Historical Fiction – The vanishing half by Brit Bennett
Best Fantasy – The house of Earth and blood by Sarah J. Maas
Best Romance – From blood and ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Best Science Fiction – To sleep in a sea of stars by Christopher Paolini
Best Horror – Mexican gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
Best Humour – Strange planet by Nathan W. Pyle
Best Non Fiction – Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Best Memoir & Autobiography – A promised land by Barack Obama
Best History & Biography – Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
Best Science & Technology – A life on our planet by David Attenborough
Best Food & Cookbooks – Modern comfort food by Ina Garten
Best Graphic Novels & Comics – Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman
Best Poetry – Dearly by Margaret Atwood
Best Debut Novel – Such a fun age by Kiley Reid
Best Young Adult Fiction – Clap when you land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Best Young Adult Fantasy – The queen of nothing by Holly Black
Best Middle Grade & Children’s – The tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
Best Picturebook – Antiracist baby by Ibram X. Kendi, Ashley Lukashevsky (Illustrations)

Christmas Cooking!

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Not long now until Christmas Day, and for those of you who love nothing better than spending the weeks and days leading up to Christmas in the kitchen preparing yummy food, we have the books to help you along.

Check out our awesome collection of Christmas books & DVDs! Find that special recipe that will have everyone asking for a copy year after year.

I don’t know about everyone else but, I love nothing better than endlessly flipping through Christmas books each year; not to mention my obsession with watching Jamie’s Christmas DVDs each year.

Along with a great list of books, I have also included a couple of our favourite recipes we cook each year.  While we can’t remember where we originally found these ‘well loved’ recipes, we would like to acknowledge the amazing cooks out there who were passionate enough to shared their recipes with us; we are eternally grateful!

Happy Holidays

Jody

Vegan Christmas Feasts: inspired meat-free recipes for the festive season by Jackie Kearney

Festive Table, an Australian Women’s Weekly title.

Christmas Feasts And Treats image 1

Celebrating Christmas, an Australian Women’s Weekly title.

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All About Books – Summer 2020/21

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It’s that time of year again when the new edition of our reading suggestions guide for adults and teens, ‘All About Books’, is ready to inspire your reading. The Summer 2020/21 edition features a diverse range of titles being published over the next three months – there is a little something for everyone. We may not have as much time during the festive season but hopefully these titles will encourage you to read and relax when you can. Collect your copy at any branch of the City of Parramatta Libraries or download it now, check our website (parra.city/library) for the latest news and opening hours. Don’t forget you can click on any cover to reserve the titles that you would like to borrow, even before they have been published, so as always happy reading!