Summer is the perfect time to unwind with a book by the pier, get lost in a good story by the beach, or listen to an audio book in at your favourite coffee shop. We asked members of the NBM Lab to share what they’re reading this season and which picks are on their own reading lists.
Sarah Kim (Temerty Medicine Medical Education Health Humanities Theme Lead)
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Set in the world of finance in New York City, the novel explores family, wealth, and ambition through linked narratives.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
From Han Kang, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, this work of psychological fiction follows Yeong-hye, a graphic designer in Seoul, who suddenly decides to stop eating animal products after a nightmare.
Conor Mc Donnell(Editor-in-Chief, Case Repertory)
The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
Every writer should carry a notebook. This book traces the material and cultural history of the notebook as an object.
Bread of Angels by Patti Smith
One of the artist and writer’s most intimate memoirs that takes readers through her teenage years through art and romance.
Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li
A poignant collection of short essays about a mother’s suffering after losing her son.
Nicholas Pimlott (Member, Scientific Planning Committee)
The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Writing by Vivian Gorinick
A guide to personal writing as a craft that one can return to again and again.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
For the long-distance runners amongst us, this memoir is a great reminder that, like running, writer requires discipline and adopting a consistent practice.
Live to See the Day by Mark Medley
A globe-trotting exploration of what drives certain people to pursue a dream beyond all logic, reason, or reward.
Allan Peterkin (Academic Director, NBM Lab)
The News from Dublin: Stories by Colm Tóibín
A collection of short stories set across Ireland, Spain, and America about the complexities of family, longing, loss, and love.
Almost English by Barbara Sibbald
A historical novel that follows a mixed-race, Anglo-Indian family during the British Raj in India.
Damian Tarnopolsky (Creative Lead, NBM Lab)
Vigil by George Saunders
George Saunders takes on the gravest issues of our time and spins a tale that encompasses life and death, good and evil, and the thorny question of absolution.
The Life of a Creature by Nadja Lubiw-Hazard
A debut story collection about the interconnection between humans and animals navigating love, loss, and healing.
Tell Others: Storytelling for a World in Turmoil by Kim Echlin
Resonant to life at the NBM Lab, this latest work from Kim Echlin is a meditation on the cultural impact of storytelling told through five essays.