Join us every Friday in July and August and learn about the Decoda staff’s summer reading plans. Today Sandra Lee, Decoda’s Executive Director, is sharing her summer reading picks.

Book talks are a great way to promote books to any group of readers. I loved the Dewey Divas and Dudes’ presentation at a library conference years ago. I could sit and listen to their book recommendations for hours. One great pick was Three Years with the Rat by Jay Hosking, an excellent storyteller and UBC lecturer. Another recommendation I stumbled upon at a publisher’s table was My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. The book — a quirky, comedy horror set in the 1980’s — was adapted to film (with an awesome 80’s soundtrack) in 2022.

Decoda talking about books

As I start to plan my summer reading, I’ll consider many suggestions. Lists are great, but book talks are spellbinding experience. Sharing your favourite books is an engaging activity with colleagues, friends and family. So don’t just read, share! The Decoda team’s winter celebration is a book talk and exchange where we pitch and gift a book that intrigued us. The recipient can keep the book or trade for another presented to the group. Titles from the 2022 Decoda book exchange for my summer reading:

• Circe by Madeline Miller
• The Winners by Fredrik Backman
• Rising Tide by Anne Cleeves
• The Library Book by Susan Orlean
• Return to Solitude by Grant Lawrence
• The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
• Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Let’s talk about my summer picks

Currently, I am reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. Like Murakami, I like to run every day unless it is near impossible with work and home. Unlike Murakami, my runs are shorter, and I struggle to write. He inspires as he connects running, writing and living life to its fullest.

This summer, I hope to enjoy some of the books on my growing reading list above. But first something lighter: The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker, or Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes… some contemporary romance fiction on a beach, in Victoria, after a long run.