Name: Arlysse
About Me In 3 Sentences: In Archer Library I work in reference and instruction, including French user services, 3D printing, Pressbooks, Fake News, and of course the Archer Book Club. I am a professional bassoonist (BMus) and music instructor in the province, and as an Interdisciplinary Studies MFA candidate I am researching music communication and health humanities. My life’s delights are reading (naturally), cooking, sketching, writing, herb gardening, eating cheese, and curling up with my spouse and cats to watch a cozy horror movie.
Reading Interests: Classic literature, children’s/young adult literature, historical fiction, romance, supernatural horror, dark fantasy, mythology, witchcraft and spirituality, health humanities, astronomy and astrophysics, archaeology.
Five Books That Have “Stayed With You”:
Overrated Book: Ghost Story by Peter Straub
Underrated Book: Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence
Beloved Book From Childhood: Tatterhood by Robin Muller
Book That Broke Your Heart: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Favourite Book from the ABC: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Favourite current reading trends and tropes: Romantasy, enemies/friends-to-lovers, morally gray characters and moral dilemmas.
Name: Jennifer
About Me In 3 Sentences: I've loved libraries and books my whole life, so finding a career at an academic library has been a dream come true. When I'm not reading, I enjoy crocheting, spending time with my family, and puttering around in my yard.
Reading Interests: Rom-coms, biographies, science, general fiction, history.
Five Books That Have “Stayed With You”:
Overrated Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Underrated Book: The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
Beloved Book From Childhood: Miss Suzy by Miriam Young
Book That Broke Your Heart: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Favourite Book from the ABC: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Favourite current reading trends and tropes: I've recently gotten into "romantasy", and I love BookTok!
Name: Brandi
About Me in 3 sentences: I received my master’s in history here at the U of R and have worked at the Archer Library since 2019. My love of books and libraries began while growing up in small town Saskatchewan (with little to do but lots of free books to read at the local library). Besides reading, I enjoy music, writing, gardening, and crafting (knitting, needlework, beading, etc.).
Reading Interests: I don’t really cling to any specific genre of book. I enjoy a good book in nearly any genre.
Five Books that Have “Stayed With You”:
Overrated Book: A book is not overrated if someone has found meaning and value from reading it.
Underrated Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Beloved Book from Childhood: Anne of Green Gables (and the entire Anne series) by L.M. Montgomery, I also loved The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Handful of Time by Kit Pearson, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (I really have to get to reading the rest of the Narnia series someday)
Book that Broke Your Heart: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
Favourite Book from ABC: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Favourite Current Reading Trends and Tropes: I don’t know if this is a reading trend or trope but I love using “Read With Me” YouTube videos to provide the right ambiance for reading. I also love watching book related YouTube channels and TikToks.