UBC Librarians have shared some uplifting summer reads, listens and watches from history to mystery to accompany you through the summer season.
Vanessa Kitchen from the Woodward library recommends Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard P. Feynman as told to Ralph Leighton, “This is a wonderful book about learning and the connectivity of the paths we take in life by one of the world’s most famous physicists. It is also hilarious and reflects all the things I love about science: curiosity, imagination, determination and a love/longing for lifetime learning.”
She also recommends a podcast called The Huberman Lab Podcast that explains ways we can use our brain chemistry to boost energy, sleep better, learn faster, understand emotions and feel great.
Exploring history
From books, films and photographs, here are recommendations that take a look through history.
Chelsea Shriver from RBSC recommends Books before print by Erik Kwakkel. “Dr. Kwakkel is the director of the UBC School of Information and superstar in the world of medieval manuscripts, with a particular scholarly interest in manuscript fragments. He’s also very active on Twitter, if you want a fun entry into this topic. After reading Books Before Print, you can check out UBC’s western manuscripts and early printed books in Open Collections.”
Kristen Wong, Program Services Assistant, Community Engagement recommends Cheuk Kwan’s series Chinese Restaurants. “It isn’t your typical restaurant/food documentary. He visits Chinese restaurants in different countries uses restaurants as a backdrop to illustrate the history of Chinese migration, diaspora, and identity. It gives insight to why and where people choose to immigrate and how food is a way of retaining identity.”
If you’d like to learn more about the history of UBC Library, John Moran from University Archives suggests one of his favourite Scrapbooks on the 50th Anniversary of UBC Library: Scrapbook for a Golden Anniversary, “The word scrapbook in the title is a bit misleading, it’s not strictly a scrapbook in the traditional sense, but there is a treasure trove of photographs and information on UBC Library from its early days, including a list of librarians from 1915-1965,”
Storytelling
When Claire Williams, Forestry Archivist at RBSC is feeling down, she often remembers scenes from one of these movies to re-watch: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood or Disney’s Christopher Robin, “While they are each uplifting in different ways, these films center the real life and fictional heroes of Winnie the Pooh and Fred Rogers, in their quests to bring joy and love to people of all ages. Enjoy a cinematic moment, which invites viewers to close their eyes, and remember those people who “have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving.””
Kristen Wong enjoys Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West “This novel took a spin on things and asked the Wicked Witch really was wicked, questioned her motives and looked at what made her the character she was. If you enjoy fairy tale twists, take a read!”
One of Ursula Ellis’ (Reference Librarian at Woodward Library) favourite films is Happy-Go-Lucky which follows the story of Poppy, a London teacher whose joyful, quirky outlook gets her through many challenges. (Content warning for misogyny, racism, verbal abuse.)
For the love of our environment
“Kayak to Klemtu is an inspiring and heartwarming film.” says Ursula Ellis. It is about 14-year-old Ella, played by Ta’kaiya Blaney, kayaks the Inside Passage from Vancouver to Klemtu with family to speak at a hearing on oil tankers. “The movie is visually stunning and shows the vital importance of protecting these waters.”
Claire Williams recently checked out Downstream edited by Dorothy Christian Rita Wong. “I found myself uplifted and grounded by the explorations of water in today’s world. The writings inspired me to feel a new appreciation for the beauty and resilience of the many creeks, streams, rivers, and shorelines in Vancouver. Contributing authors approach the concept of water through stories, poetry, and moving essays, which invite their readers to collectively envision and take action towards alternative futures.”
“The Overstory by Richard Powers is a beautiful and intricate novel that brings hope and urgency to activism around saving our natural world. I wish I could write like this!” shares Vanessa Kitchin.
Music
As the days get longer, here are some recommendations to fill your summer nights.
Liam Monoghan, Program Coordinator at CWSC recommends What’s Your Pleasure? By Jessie Ware. “I love a moody, introspective singer-songwriter moment as much as the next person, so Perfume Genius’ 2020 album Set My Heart on Fire Immediately was a contender for this spot, but I also love a light-hearted pop record, and Jessi Ware delivers. These days especially, even if it’s just alone in your bedroom, I think we could all use a good reason to dance.” Liam shares.
Every once in a while, Claire Williams craves new music; new songs, new rhythms, new instruments that she’s never heard before. “As I recently started playing fiddle, I was drawn to ‘Wood That Sings—Indian Fiddle Music of the America’s’. The album includes incredible performances from musicians in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Latin America, Arizona, Mexico and more. The songs had me tapping my feet all through the afternoon, and wanting to hear more from Indigenous fiddlers and violinists as Lee Cremo, whose ‘Jig Medley’ was stuck in my head long after the album ended.”