Today@Dal

Think of Dal Reads as Dalhousie’s biggest book club--students, faculty, and staff all reading the same book for a shared reading experience.
 
This year’s book is Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. The book is available at all five Dalhousie Libraries, and is available to buy at the Dal Bookstores in the SUB and on the Agricultural Campus. The novel, published in 2012, is described by Amazon reviews as “an old school mystery set firmly in tech-loving, modern day San Francisco.” The New York Times Book Review said it was, “Part love letter to books, part technological meditation, part thrilling adventure, part requiem… Eminently enjoyable, full of warmth and intelligence.”
 
The book was chosen by creating a shortlist of student suggested titles, and then holding  a vote online and in person at the Killam Library this past spring. All suggested titles were held against the following selection criteria, developed by the Dalhousie Libraries and some students from the School of Information Management. The selection criteria were put in place to ensure that the book will provide a robust reading experience. The selection criteria are as follows:
 
-must be written by a living author (to allow for possible events and engagement with the author)
-must be able to generate discussion and exchange of ideas
-must be appealing to a broad range of readers of varying ages, literacy levels, and life experience
-must be in print and available for purchase in paperback, eBook, and audiobook
-must be strongly written with elements that will generate excitement among readers
-must be published in the last five years
 
On Thursday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. there will be a DalReads book discussion get-together in the University Club Pub. There will be snacks and great book talk. Everyone is welcome to attend. Those under 19 are allowed in the pub but not allowed to order alcoholic beverages.