In Bloom: May’s New Books at the Graham Library

· by · in New to the Collection. ·

May arrives alongside the final stretch of term and the long-awaited return of spring to Trinity College. As the campus shifts into a new season, this month’s new acquisitions reflect themes of renewal, connection, discovery, and reflection.

These titles explore the people who shape us, the communities we build, the natural world around us, and the stories that carry us through moments of change and growth. You can find these books on display at the New Books cart near the library entrance before they move to the Stacks or the Popular Reading Room downstairs.

All Spotlight Picks are also available to browse and request through our library catalogue.

Spotlight Readings for this Summer:

The First Lady Next Door: A Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure, by Eliza Reid
(Popular Reading: DL380 .R45 A3 2026)

Eliza Reid reflects on her unexpected journey from Canadian writer to First Lady of Iceland, offering an intimate look at public life, cultural identity, and belonging. Warm, thoughtful, and often humorous, the memoir explores what it means to build a life between countries, roles, and communities.

Churchill: A Graphic Biography, by Vincent Delmas
(Display: DA566.9 .C5 D45413 2020)

This richly illustrated biography brings Winston Churchill’s life and political career vividly to the page, tracing his leadership through some of the twentieth century’s defining moments. Combining historical detail with graphic storytelling, it offers an accessible and engaging portrait of a complex figure.

Under the Olive Tree: Palestinian Christian Theology from the 1980s to the Present, by Maayan Karen Raveh
(Stacks: BT30 .P19 R38 2025)

Raveh examines the development of Palestinian Christian theology through the lenses of faith, resistance, identity, and place. Drawing on decades of scholarship and activism, the book highlights how theology can respond to ongoing political and social realities.

Evensong: Notes from the Choir, by Timothy E. Popple
(Stacks: BV290 .P67 2025)

Blending memoir, reflection, and musical history, Popple explores the enduring traditions of Anglican choral worship and the communities formed around sacred music. The book offers a moving meditation on ritual, memory, and the role of music in spiritual life.

The Iliad, by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson
(Popular Reading: PA4025 .A2 W55 2023)

Emily Wilson’s new translation of The Iliad brings clarity, immediacy, and emotional depth to Homer’s epic tale of war, grief, and human conflict. Balancing poetic elegance with accessibility, this edition invites contemporary readers into one of the foundational works of Western literature.

Son of Nobody: A Novel, by Yann Martel
(Popular Reading: PS8576 .A7651 S66 2026)

In this imaginative and philosophical novel, Yann Martel explores questions of identity, storytelling, and what it means to belong in the modern world. Blending wit with deeper reflections on humanity, the novel continues Martel’s signature style of inventive literary fiction.

Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History, by Caroline Tracey
(Stacks: QH541.5 .S22 T73 2026)

Tracey examines the environmental, political, and cultural histories of salt lakes across the globe, revealing how these fragile ecosystems reflect human intervention and climate change. Both deeply researched and lyrical, the book invites readers to reconsider landscapes often overlooked.

How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries, by David George Haskell
(Stacks: SB404.9 .H37 2026)

Haskell traces the extraordinary history of flowering plants and their profound influence on ecosystems, animals, and human civilization. Combining science, storytelling, and ecological insight, the book reveals how flowers transformed life on Earth in ways we still experience today.

GENERAL COLLECTION

Literature, Language & Media

This section includes fiction, poetry, language studies, criticism, and works about storytelling, communication, and culture.

History, Politics & International Affairs

This section focuses on world history, diplomacy, war, regional studies, leadership, and international relations.

Science, Health & Technology

This section includes climate science, medicine, nature studies, ecology, technology, and environmental sustainability.

Philosophy & Psychology

This section explores consciousness, behaviour, relationships, wellbeing, and reflective living.

Art, Design & Special Formats

This section gathers sustainability visual arts, design studies, print culture, and unique materials via mediums.

THEOLOGY COLLECTION

Biblical Studies & Scripture

This section focuses on interpretation of the Bible, biblical history, and scriptural scholarship.

Doctrine, Faith & Contemporary Theology

This section examines Christian belief, ethics, identity, theology in modern society, and interreligious reflection.

Worship, Ministry & Church Life

This section includes prayer, liturgy, ministry practice, denominational life, sermons, and church leadership.

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