Expand Your Shelf 2024: March Edition

Expand Your Shelf with these prompts: Read a book about or based upon a real person and read a book that won an award.

Read a book about or based upon a real person

Exploring the lives of real individuals offers a profound insight into understanding diverse experiences, effectively serving as a gateway to preserving history. Whether through nonfiction or fiction, this avenue provides readers with a vast array of choices.

I love learning about people of the world! One of my recent reads was Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson. This book introduced me to an incredible woman named Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt (1913 to 2011) who, back in the 60s and 70s, was instrumental in saving Nubian temples and antiquities from flooding caused by Egypt's construction of the Aswan High Dam. It sent me on a book tour of Egypt! 

Biographical fiction is another option, which blends real people and events with reimaged narratives. Being absorbed into a different person's life through creative stories is a great way to inspire readers to explore more about the person behind the character.  

What did I choose to read for a book based on a real person?

What Have We Here? By Billy Dee Williams 

Discover more great suggestions from our librarians. “Read a book about or based upon a real person.” 

Read a book that won an award

With books that win awards, you have many options to help you choose a book! Reader-voted awards such as GoodReads Choice Awards, writer organizations such as the Edgars, Hugo, and Spur Awards, and prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize; this only scratches the surface! However, it's worth noting that while it may not officially qualify as an "award," the endorsement from celebrity book clubs holds significant sway with readers. Icons like Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Jenna Bush Hager all contribute to this phenomenon with their highly anticipated 'pick of the month.'

 My pick for a book that has won an award was:

All Systems Red by Martha Wells, Nebula Award for Best Novella 2017 

Discover more great suggestions from our librarians. “Read a book that won an award.” 

Wait, there is more! We have our very own resource page dedicated to awards. Check out our book awards resource to pick your next read.  

Until next month, happy reading! 

Lisa P.
Reader Engagement Department