May our joy remain, the most borrowed book in Sherbrooke libraries

Many Sherbrooke residents who frequent the city’s libraries read the novel May our joy remain by Kevin Lambert. It is the most borrowed book of the year.

Librarian Marianne Bernier-Goudreault has seen the book pass from hand to hand since its publication in September 2022. She is not surprised that it is at the top of the list.

It’s not surprising at all with all the media coverage there has been around, all the prizes he’s won this yearshe notes.

In 2023, the author who grew up in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean won the Médicis, Décembre and Ringuet prizes, and made his way into the first selection for the prestigious Goncourt prize. The writer also entered into a public debate with the Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, about his book.

Marianne Bernier-Goudreault is used to coming across certain writers in the annual rankings. We have classics, we have authors who we know that if they release a new novel, a new book, it will end up in the charts. We’re talking about Michel Jean, Guillaume Musso, Louise Penny, Michael Connelly.

The top five most popular books are all novels. Quimmick by Michel Jean ranks second, then comes someone else by Guillaume Musso, Rue Duplessis : my little darkness by Jean-Philippe Pleau and, finally, What I know about you by Eric Chacour.

It should be noted that Louise Penny lives in Knowlton, in Estrie, and anchors several of her intrigues there.

Several writers from the region have also carved out a place in the list of the most popular documentary works, also established each year by the Sherbrooke library service.

Among them, the doctor and professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Sherbrooke, David Fortin.

The singer-songwriter Vincent Vallières, born in Sherbrooke, is also there with Bitumen and windjust like Sarah-Maude Beauchesne, from Granby, with Romance.

A passion

Marianne Bernier-Goudreault cherishes her profession. In an interview, she even confides that it is a passion.

What I like is the accessibility. It’s about being in a place where all people, regardless of their income, their social class, their origins, are welcome and have access to a host of resources for free.

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For me, what is beautiful about the library is really the democratization of culture and knowledge.

If she likes meeting people from Sherbrooke, asking them about their tastes to better advise them in their reading choices, she is also happy to find titles to fill the shelves.

I am a fan of books. It’s a real treat for me to be paid to go to a bookstore to look at children’s books.she confides.

His favorite this year? Quimmickby Michel Jean.

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There is a simplicity in Michel Jean’s writing which depicts landscapes without melodrama, without putting too much into it. It is touching and authentic. I think that’s what blows my mind every time.