Redpath Book Display: Students Recommend

It is the time of the year when you feel like all you’re doing is reading. And yet it’s not really all that you wish to be reading? How about picking up a book for some leisure reading time? But are you confused about what to pick?

Well, look no further! The Humanities and Social Studies Library has put on display some of the top students’ picks to help you sync in with the crowd. Dedicated to bringing students a break between midterms and finals, our November display is curated from the recommendations of McGill students from all genres and book lengths. Basically, it’s got something for everyone!

For the ones you may not find on display, here are some of our ebook titles:

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

A hilarious parody of D.H. Lawrence’s and Thomas Hardy’s earthy, melodramatic novels, the deliriously entertaining “Cold Comfort Farm” is “very probably the funniest book ever written” (The Sunday Times.).

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Though her family thinks she has gone mad, Valancy embarks on an adventure of discovery. Her newfound independence leads her to a world where anything is possible—even love. But is her new life just another illusion, or has she truly found the Blue Castle of her dreams?

Kitchen confidential: adventures in the culinary underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

A New York City chef who is also a novelist recounts his experiences in the restaurant business and exposes abuses of power, sexual promiscuity, drug use, and other secrets of life behind kitchen doors.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Based on Plath’s own struggles, it chronicles a young woman’s descent into depression and eventually into suicidal behaviour, coupled with her quest to discover herself at a time when self-discovery, for a woman, meant navigating traditional models of social propriety on one side and new ideas of freedom and self-determination on the other. It is widely cited as one of the 20th century’s greatest novels. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The novel that scandalized Victorian England In a London studio, two men contemplate the portrait of another–younger and more beautiful–man. 

space

  1. Becoming Yellow: A Short History of Racial Thinking
  2. Brave New World: With the Essay “Brave new world revisited”
  3. Le Jouer Et Les Nuits Blanches 
  4. Wuthering Heights
  5. To Kill A Mockingbird

Well, that’s all we have here, but go check out the display to see if your favourite book is there too! 

You can find a full list of the books on display here.

For more information, contact us at hssl.library@mcgill.ca.

Sick of Paywalls? Here’s Three Open Climate Data Sources.

Did you know there are three open climate data portals that are accessible to all Canadians? In the spirit of Open Climate Justice, this blog highlights the importance of these accessible platforms. Along with these national data sets, at the McGill Library we also have an environmental studies library guide which highlights a few other national data sets and our own collection of geographic information. 

Climate Atlas

The Climate Atlas of Canada, is a great starting point as it combines climate science, mapping, and storytelling together with Indigneous Knowledges and community-based research. Through videos, articles, and stories, you can gain a deeper insight to the lived experiences of climate change, as well as climate action amongst different communities. The map is simple and interactive and gives you insight to how different communities in Canada will experience climate change. The first step to justice is understanding. The Climate Atlas provides a holistic look into our future in Canada. 

Climate Data

The Climate Data website has a vast pool of data that is perfect for a project or just browsing. What is special about this project is that Sectoral analysis is open for anyone to browse and use. It provides excellent background and relevant data to understand how climate change will affect a sector important to you! For example, if your family has a farm in Ontario, you can actually look at how your specific region is modelled to experience climate change and plan for the future accordingly. 

PAVCIS

This website helps facilitate the analysis of all of this data. Through more complex tools, PAVCIS might be more adpt for those experienced in climate analysis or academics. If you have a handle on the mechanics, it’s a powerful instrument for deepening your research and evidence. 

We hope this was helpful in aiding your research process and curiosity and opening

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the virtual book display and blog post by the curators for Open Climate Justice.

Feeling Moody? New Research Tool Workshop Coming Up!

For many students, the thought of a thesis can be incredibly daunting– especially starting to work. This can take the joy out of the incredibly important work you do in academia. This September, we are hosting the first ever mood board workshop! The aim is to give you the space to freely and calmly think through your research in a creative way, with mood boarding!!

On Tuesday, September 27th 11:45 – 12:45 in the Innovation Commons Room A, join other undergraduate and graduate students to learn about the purpose of mood boards and how to make one. This session focuses on online tools that can help bring your vision to life and reignite a passion for your research.

Sign up today!

If you have any questions, email hssl.library@mcgill.ca