Auckland Libraries blog

To spark your reading inspiration this summer, we’ve rounded up a legacy of best-sellers to bring you the best books from over the decades. Thanks to the Auckland Libraries Top 100 , we all know the best books of our most recent decade. But what about the many decades before? After much deliberation, we've chosen our top reads from the 1950s right through to the 2010s.  Agree?  Visit our website to start requesting!  Disagree? Let us know your favourites via Instagram , Facebook or Twitter .  The 50s East of Eden by John Steinbeck East of Eden was considered by Steinbeck to be his magnum opus. Its epic scope and memorable characters explore universal themes of love and identity, and it remains one of America's most enduring novels. Set in California's Salinas Valley, two families find their destinies fatefully intertwined. The 60s To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Lee explores the issues of race and class in the Deep Sout...

Alison has been on a mission over the summer to re-read her favourite books by the classic American author John Steinbeck .  In this episode, she’s joined by fellow Steinbeck fan, and high school teacher Daniel, and together they discuss the author’s enduring popularity, particularly amongst young readers.  Tune in to our podcast and find out how books that are so old can seem so new.  Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · Books and Beyond: A summer of Steinbeck Books mentioned in the show East of Eden by John Steinbeck  Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck  The Pearl by John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM104.6 , Sundays at 9.35 pm. Recent shows can be listened to via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

Alison and Ineka have been reading up a storm over summer and have some great suggestions for those of you who want to break out of your literary bubble and try books that are a bit different.  So, tune in for recommendations and then relax, reset and reflect and get your summer reading sorted!  Listen to this episode of Books and Beyond on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · Books and Beyond: Relax, reset, reflect Books mentioned in the show Weather by Jenny Offill A Lonely Girl Is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie Tu Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Feder Apeirogon by Colum McCann Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and … beyond. Catch us on Planet FM104.6 , Sundays at 9.35 pm. Recent shows can be listened to via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

With international travel off the cards for a little while longer, we've selected some reads to take you around the world from the comfort of home. Sweden A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Ove is the block's grumpy old man who enforces strict neighbourhood rules and whom everybody avoids. One ordinary day a new family moves in next door to Ove and turns his world on its head. Also available on  DVD . United States of America Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens For years, rumours of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark. But Kya is not what they say. Also available on  DVD . Botswana The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith Wayward daughters. Philandering partners. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a vis...