Great SUmmer Reads (and Movies!) 2019: Books

An incredible true story of how the author, while fly fishing in New Mexico, learns of an amazing heist that took place in 2009. The British Museum of Natural History, in Tring, just north of London was robbed of priceless bird skins (feathers) that were mostly gathered by Alfred Russel Wallace during his expeditions in the 1800's in New Guinea and the Malay Archipelago. Very old, rare and very beautiful species were taken from the museum in the middle of the night by then 20 year old Edwin Rist who knew the feathers would be highly sought after by those who tie flies. He is a musician, a flautist, who wanted money to purchase a gold flute. The story is a tale of investigative journalism that includes photos and much information about the author, Alfred Russel Wallace, Edwin Rist, and how he accomplished the theft and what happened after that. You will not be able to resist following the trail and reading The Malay Archipelago, by Wallace which chronicles the story of how he came to capture some of the rarest and most beautiful birds and then ship the crates to the British Museum of Natural History. Now, most of that hard work has vanished with the theft. A really incredible true life story! -- Norma Aguirre Gaines, '08

"Watership Down" by Richard Adams 1972. An award winning novel set in the hills north of Hampshire, England. I have read this SEVERAL times over the past 35 yrs. It was part of my 9th grade Literature curriculum and I have never forgotten it!! You will LOVE and forget that the characters are rabbits!

Almost 25 yrs later (1996) Richard Adams wrote a sequel "Tales from Watership Down"
--Angela Labenski, Campus Operator

[Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth] In Doughnut Economics, Raworth presents seven new ways of economic-thinking to solve humanity's 21st-century challenges - meeting people's life essentials (such as food, water, social equity, etc.) while not overshooting our pressure on Earth’s life-supporting systems (such as climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, etc.). Her metaphors and examples make the book thoroughly enjoyable and comprehensible to non-economists like myself. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "We have an economy that needs to grow, whether or not it makes us thrive. We need an economy that makes us thrive, whether or not it grows." -- Veronica Johnson, Sustainability Coordinator

News of the World, Paulette Jiles. I like historical fiction, and this one has a unique twist. The main character travels Texas after the civil war performing the news of the day for audiences and is saddled with an unusual quest. A story about what it means to care for someone and look for a place in the world. -- Phil Hopkins, Philosophy

A gothic horror novel, set around Lake Superior, it has a suspenseful plot that ties in time travel, ghosts, an eerie lake and interesting connections between the past and present. I enjoyed this book so much, it made me read all her other Gothic horror novels. -- Maria Kruger, Director of Stewardship

Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers. I never miss a chance to recommend Dave Eggers work to anyone who asks. It is a nonfiction work that reads like a novel, with plenty of adventure included. I learned about coffee and Yemen in a thoroughly entertaining manner. -- Jean Whewell, Smith Library Center InfoDesk

This was a brilliant, well-told, and nuanced memoir of a woman growing up with survivalist family in rural Idaho. I loved reading of her coming of age and the way she holds her family in both truth and love. She does a beautiful job of holding the complexities of her relationships and upbringing. -- Kylin Lee, Licensed Psychologist at the Counseling Center

This is the story of the author's experiences growing up, then later pursuing a formal education. This book helped me think more deeply about how the experiences our students face before they get to us have a profound impact on their academic journey. It has helped me be mindful when I'm listening to students stories and helping them reach their goals. -- Jennifer Leach, Director of Advising and Retention

Mejia’s new young adult novel imagines an island society which is split in two by a wall. Those outside the wall are poor and hungry, while those inside the wall live lives of plenty. The novel follows Daniela Vargas, who was born outside the wall but smuggled inside by her parents. Now she is a 17 year old with forged identity papers who is about to graduate from the most prestigious training school for girls. Daniela has trained to become a primera, a cold logical wife charged with the management, finances and social standing of the family. Carmen Santos, her bully and tormentor, will be the segunda, or the wife who is the romantic, sexual, and childbearing partner. At graduation, they are married to Mateo Garcia, who is a xenophobic son of the president’s military advisor. Slowly, Dani is recruited by a resistance movement and falls in love with Carmen. Mejia does an excellent job of using this imaginary caste society to consider contemporary issues of immigration, xenophobia, wealth inequality, LGBTQ issues, and resistance. -- Sandi Nenga, Professor of Sociology

No words can describe the importance of her messages of inspiration. An earnest and honest immersion into her life. -- Alicia Moore, Education

"The US has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. One in every 15 people born there today is expected to go to prison. For black men this figure rises to one in 3. And Death Row is disproportionately black, too." The Author, Bryan Stevenson, a brilliant young lawyer, served as counsel for a black man sentenced to die for a murder - a crime he insisted he didn't commit. "The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, startling racial inequality, and legal brinksmanship - and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever." I like it because the book because is A POWERFUL READ that connects to the continued injustices inherent in our current justice system. Power, Privilege and Persistence describe the framework for this book. -- Alicia Moore, Education

Patel handles the heavy topic of developing his Muslim identity while growing up in America and coming to believe in religious pluralism through a series of humorous life stories. His account provides the founding story of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) and is a testament to the power of mutual understanding and respect. -- Tania Shebaro, Center for Academic Success

One of the most beloved novels of all time, The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCullough’s sweeping family saga of dreams, titanic struggles, dark passions, and forbidden love in the Australian Outback, returns to enthrall a new generation. -- Denise Barnes, Athletics

This Australian novel centers on genetics professor Don Tillman, who struggles to have a serious relationship with women. With a friend's help, he devises a questionnaire to assess the suitability of female partners. His plans are set off course when he meets Rosie, who does not fit many of Tillman's criteria, but becomes a big part of his life.

If you're a fan of Big Bang Theory, the character strongly resembles Sheldon Cooper:)
-- Denise Barnes, Athletics

This is a grotesque and tragic tale of what it is like to be different. It is also a beautiful story of acceptance and love. Having been fascinated by carnivals and side shows for as long as I can remember, this book continues to hold a special place in my heart and it quite literally seared my souI when I first read it while in college many years ago. *Warning* This is not for the squeamish! If you can stomach the premise, I promise this will be a book you will want to hold on to. -- Kerry Bechtel, Theater

I started reading Odds Against Tomorrow because I was moderating a discussion of the book, and it seemed like the responsible thing to do. And then I discovered that I really enjoyed it. It is a quirky, absorbing read that introduced me to a new literary genre -- cli-fi, and an atypical hero -- Mitchell Zukor. If you like your disasters with a bit of humor and romance in the mix, I recommend you check out Odds Against Tomorrow. -- Carol Fonken, Library

The heart-rending story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they've taken wildly divergent paths, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past. -- Denise Barnes, Athletics

I have yet to recommend this to any fantasy fanatic who didn't end up loving it! This book is like a mishmash of Wheel of Time and Harry Potter but written for the mature and dark audience of Game of Thrones. The book (and series) follows Kvothe's life story, but told in his own voice. Therefore, the narrator is at once reliable and not: it's sometimes unclear if everything he imparts to us is true, or whether his perspective is biased (just like we all are!). Is he in fact one of the most powerful wizards in the world? Two of the three books in this trilogy have been published so far - get started now so you're ready for the third! -- Carin Perilloux, Psychology Dept.

This book follows the line of descendants of two sisters from Africa who were born during the slave trade. Each chapter is about a different person. It is a very thoughtful book looking at black history in Africa and America. -- Dr. Erin Taylor, Chemistry

A fabulous combination of fantasy and historical fiction. At one level, it is an immigrant story and a window into New York City in 1899. At another, it is a fascinating interweaving of Arab and Jewish folklore in the growing friendship between the eponymous golem and jinni. Best of all, for a summer read, it's a fun adventure! -- Melissa Byrnes, Associate Professor and Chair of History

Magically written book about Martinique--one corner of Fort de France from 17th C through to 21st.....through eyes of a couple of protagonists. Funny at times, the writing is haunting, the place and people stay with you. -- Melissa Johnson, Professor of Anthropology

I am currently dipping in and out of two collections of literary journalism, Nora Ephron's THE MOST OF NORA EPHRON and Janet Malcom's NOBODY'S LOOKING AT YOU. They share a few traits that call me deeply: the attention to descriptive detail and spot-on word choice; the cumulative force and wonder of reading a series of pieces that I have read over the years separately; and the power of humor in stories of substance. Read Ephron on dinner parties or Malcolm on Tolstoy and be reminded of how one can be both a popular and an amazing writer. -- David Gaines, English Dept.

I am currently dipping in and out of two collections of literary journalism, Nora Ephron's THE MOST OF NORA EPHRON and Janet Malcom's NOBODY'S LOOKING AT YOU. They share a few traits that call me deeply: the attention to descriptive detail and spot-on word choice; the cumulative force and wonder of reading a series of pieces that I have read over the years separately; and the power of humor in stories of substance. Read Ephron on dinner parties or Malcolm on Tolstoy and be reminded of how one can be both a popular and an amazing writer. -- David Gaines, English Dept.

This collection of sci-fi/fantasy short stories is amazing. They explore modern American society and race, infuse our world with magic or reimagine it altogether. She experiments with innovative styles of storytelling and they're beautiful little masterpieces. This is the first collection of short stories by Jemisin, winner of three consecutive Hugo Awards for her Fifth Season trilogy (also well worth reading... so good.) -- Fumiko Futamura, Math & CS Dept.

This is an extraordinary book – at turns powerful, beautiful, heartbreaking, exhilarating, disturbing, fantastic, whimsical, thought-provoking, uplifting and inspiring, dark. I found myself wanting to re-read some sentences, passages, entire chapters just to soak up the beauty of the words, while in others the emotional momentum was so great that I couldn’t get through the words fast enough -- like someone desperately gasping for air, taking the words in as fast as possible (but not fast enough). This one has been in my queue for over a year. It was worth the wait. -- Michael Cooper, Margarett Root Brown Chair in Fine Arts, Professor of Music

This award-winning and remarkably compact generational novel is one that I hope to carry with me in my mind and heart always -- all the more amazing because it is Gyasi's debut novel, written when she was just twenty-six. (What was I doing when I was twenty-six? Never mind . . .) One specific point is that Yaw Agyekum's classroom discussion of the scar on his face (pp. 125-27) is the most succinct yet insightful demonstration of the imperative to approach history critically and thoughtfully that I know, a beautiful and charming anecdote that would lure anyone with a soul into thinking about the beauties and perils of historiography. More generally, I love Homegoing because of the artfulness with which it dispenses (tacitly) with the hackneyed metaphor of slavery and racism as a “stain.” That metaphor is too passive, too mild, too devoid of intent. Here, instead, slavery, racism, and their legacies are *fire* – destructive, ravenous, all-consuming, searing and scarring phenomena; what they destroy has to either will itself back into verdant existence or simply cease being. That’s pitted against the metaphorical theme of water, which is something pure, healing, liberating, revivifying, the means of finding one’s true self and seeing oneself truly. -- Michael Cooper, Margarett Root Brown Chair in Fine Arts, Professor of Music

You are immersed in the splendor of old Hollywood as an aging Hollywood icon recounts her scandalous life. The author creates characters that you are instantly drawn into the narrative they are telling. I was so captivated by the story that I could not put the book down and read it in one day. -- Megan Firestone, Head of Special Collections & Archives

This is the first book of a series set in England during WWII. It's about women and the undercover work they did during the war, with a focus on math. The whole series is excellent, but start with the first one. You'll love them! -- Katy Ross, Spanish

M.T. Anderson dedicates the book to "all those who resist the “Feed."

The ”Feed” (equivalent of the internet) cannot be turned off because it is part of the brain. The “Feed” is tied in to everything. Your body control, your emotions, your memory. Everything. When you have the “Feed” all your life, you are brought up to not think about things. Everything we’ve grown up with—the stories on the “Feed”, the games, all of that—it’s all streamlining our personalities so we’re easier to sell to…. They keep making everything more basic so it will appeal to everyone. And gradually, everyone gets used to everything being basic, so we get less and less varied as people, more simple. Because of the “Feed”, we are raising a nation of idiots. Ignorant, self-centered idiots. And as I fell asleep, the “Feed” murmured to me again and again: All shall be well, all shall be well...and all manner of things shall be well."

A National Book Award finalist in 2002, this science-fiction novel starts out with a weekend trip to the moon where characters are monitored by the "Feed'. The "Feed" questions our present day technology on our own independent thoughts and human interactions. -- Joan Parks, Library

If you loved the show Firefly, you'll love this book. It's heart-expanding, funny, wonderful science fiction. Each of the characters on this ship are interesting and engaging. Chambers' world-building is impressive, but not overwhelming, and her writing makes the crew of The Wayfarer feel like old friends. The best part? There are two more books in the series which tell other engaging stories set in this post-Earth universe. -- Theresa Zelasko, Librarian

This tells an alternate version of our world in which *women* suddenly realize they have an extraordinary physical power they can wield and it changes gender dynamics in ways ranging from subtle and expected to surprising and existential. Some have called it an Anti-Handmaid's Tale (in fact, Atwood was Alderman's mentor), and its dark social commentary has a lot to say about the state of our own world right now. -- Carin Perilloux, Assistant Professor of Psychology