2024 Title is:
Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
In this debut novel, a morbidly anxious young woman stumbles into a job as a receptionist at a Catholic church and soon finds herself obsessed with her predecessor’s mysterious death. A delightful blend of warmth, deadpan humour, and pitch-perfect observations about the human condition, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a crackling exploration of what it takes to stay afloat in a world where your expiration — and the expiration of those you love — is the only certainty. This novel was long listed for The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, shortlisted for the Amazon First Novel Award, and a finalist for the Ottawa Book Awards.
About the Author:
Emily was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. She studied English Literature and Religious Studies at King's University College, and Library and Information Science at Western University. She received two writing grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, and has a background in libraries, teaching, and working as an information architect. She currently resides in Ottawa / the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
Oxford Reads Gala with author Emily Austin
Friday November 8 at 7pm
Market Centre Theatre
Woodstock, ON
Oxford County Library and Woodstock Public Library are excited to hold the 2024 Oxford Reads Gala featuring author and this year’s Oxford Reads pick, Emily Austin. Hosted by Sarah Acchione, the evening will be an intimate conversation with Emily Austin as she discusses her book Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead.
More ways to get involved!
There are lots of ways to celebrate this year's Oxford Reads title! Throughout September and October, we are hosting paint nights, a murder mystery, crafty nights, a death doula presentation, book clubs, and more!
For Oxford County Library programs, you can find all the details on the program calendar here.
For Woodstock Public Library, you can find all the details on the program calendar here.
If you liked Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead...
Oxford Reads Instagram Giveaway
To enter the Oxford Reads giveaway, participants must comment on the original Instagram post from the Oxford County Library’s account or Woodstock Public Library account with their favourite wellness practice (inappropriate, rude and disrespectful comments will be deleted). The contest will run from August 8th to September 16th, and winners will be selected with a random number generator. Three winners will be selected and randomly assigned one of the following prize donations:
- A gift certificate to Touchstone Farms valued at $40
- A gift certificate to Beantown Coffee Co. valued at $25
- A gift certificate to Kintore Coffee Co. valued at $25
Winners will be contacted by September 23rd via direct message on Instagram from the Oxford County Library Instagram account, and will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize. If the winner does not respond in the 48 hour time frame, another winner will be drawn.
Winners will be announced (first name, last initial) in a subsequent Instagram post at the conclusion of the giveaway. This giveaway is only open to residents of Ontario.
About last year's title
The Maid by Nita Prose
Synopsis - Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed.
About the author - Nita Prose is a writer and longtime editor, she is currently the vice president and editorial director at Simon & Schuster in Toronto. Winner of both the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction and a Goodreads Choice Award, and shortlisted for an Edgar Award for Best Novel. Nita lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is moderately clean
Previous Oxford Reads Selections
2023 - The Maid by Nita Prose
2022 - Driven by Marcello di Cintio
2021 - Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
2020 - Crow by Amy Spurway
2019 - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
2018 - The Purchase by Linda Spalding