FICTION
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Recommended by: Curtis Ferree, Associate Dean for Public Services & Head of the Academic Commons Partnership
"I re-read this for the first time since it came out. Pleasantly surprised that it’s much funnier than I remember."
Goodreads Link
DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
A Discovery of Witches (trilogy) by Deborah Harkness
Recommended by: Lisa Thornell, Head of Library Outreach and Communications
"If you like fantasy books (they remind me of a cross between Twilight and Harry Potter) you will be hooked and never want them to end! But when you do finish reading them you can watch the television series."
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DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Recommended by: Curtis Ferree, Associate Dean for Public Services & Head of the Academic Commons Partnership
"This book (first in the Broken Earth trilogy) takes place on a planet (a far-in-the-future Earth?) with one giant landmass, which is beset by periodic environmental calamity. Some people have evolved to be able to interface (and control) the Earth’s seismic activity. Others have risen to attempt to control *them.* Great, original world-building. The entirely trilogy is worth a read."
Goodreads Link
DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Recommended by: Lisa Mullane, Cataloging & Metadata Strategies Assistant
"The Yellow Wallpaper was always one of my favorite short stories, so I was excited to read this short novel by the same author. It counts toward the "a book about a non-patriarchal society" prompt for the PopSugar Challenge. It's a wonderfully empowering (and slightly vindicative) feminist story."
DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link (ebook)
DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link (print)
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Recommended by: Emily Porter-Fyke, Research and Instruction Librarian
"If, like me, you’re having a little trouble reconciling JK Rowling’s recent behavior with your own moral compass, but you find yourself needing some simple young adult fantasy escapism, you should try out Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The Lightning Thief started it all, so you should start with it! Riordan isn’t quite the wordsmith Rowling is, but he wrote these books for all kids of all types and it shows in his generous and careful characterization. No one is excluded or treated as “less than,” which is a real breath of fresh air these days. Plus, you get to learn about Greek mythology!"
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DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
Recommended by: Jennifer Mottolese, Archives Assistant
"Wonderful book about Sylvia Beach and her work opening Shakespeare and Company as well as publishing Ulysses."
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Recommended by: Ann Victor, Cataloging and Metadata Strategies Librarian
"Don’t worry, this is not a Stephen King horror novel. He delves this time into time travel, and imagines what the world might be like if one could go back and prevent the assassination of JFK. It’s brilliantly written, with an engaging story that puts an interesting spin on the concept of time travel, and throws a bit of romance, action, and mystery into the mix too. It’s a long one, but it’s worth it."
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DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
Recommended by: Matt Schirano, Senior Research Librarian & Instruction Coordinator
"From the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, this book is one of the few “I could not put this down” books I’ve read in the last 10 years. It follows an eccentric logging family in a small Oregon town who slowly veer into crazy absurdity as a labor strike grips their small town. Ken Kesey weaves a visceral Greek tragedy with a cast and setting that you wouldn’t think would generate something so emotionally engaging."
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DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin
Recommended by: Keith Engwall, Web & Technology Librarian
"Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, this sweeping SF novel explores themes of communication with alien intelligences in a wildly imaginative story filled with magical reality that, by the end, seems strangely plausible. Translated in a story mode that lovingly weaves Eastern and Western conventions, The Three Body Problem is the first Asian SF novel to win the Hugo Award in 2015. It is a mind bending glimpse into a vast universe beyond our world."
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DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
Time and Again by Jack Finney
Recommended by: Elise Bochinski, University Archivist
"One of the first and best-loved time-traveler stories, Time and Again is still a captivating read for long winter nights. The plot: a military project sends an ad agency sketch artist back to New York City in 1882 to solve a mystery that involves the destruction of the world."
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DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Recommended by: Sylvia Hurlburt, Circulation and Reserves Assistant
"A complex novel about a young girl experiencing abandonment, physical and mental abuse, extreme poverty and illiteracy which she overcame to eventually succeed as an author. the story takes many twists, part is a dark story of human tragedy, part is romance, part murder mystery, and part uplifting tale of overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles."
Goodreads Link
DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
NONFICTION
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Recommended by: Lisa Mullane, Cataloging & Metadata Strategies Assistant
"I absolutely recommend this book! I had to stop every couple of pages to remind myself that this whole thing actually happened, and it's not a work of fiction. It's written in novel format, so it reads like a fiction novel, but it's all the true story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, from the incredible innovations to the dark secrets."
Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption, by Bryan Stevenson
Recommended by: Ann Victor, Cataloging and Metadata Strategies Librarian
This memoir knocked me off my feet. I laughed, cried, felt enraged, and learned so much about our justice system. Bryan Stevenson is a great writer, and an amazing human. Then, if you enjoy this, watch the movie starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
Recommended by: Matt Schirano, Senior Research Librarian & Instruction Coordinator
"An absolutely fascinating read. Many people assume that the world’s famous athletes, inventors, musicians, scientists, etc. specialize at a young age. They find their niche and focus on being the best, at the expense of broadening their skills and interests. Epstein makes a compelling case for the success of a generalist approach: juggling many interests and letting your activity wander as your interests shift. It’s hard to explain this book in a short time, so I suggest just giving it a read!"
Goodreads Link
DiMenna-Nyselius Library Link
Talking to My Daughter About the Economy or, How Capitalism Works – and How It Fails by Yanis Varoufakis
Recommended by: Elise Bochinski, University Archivist
"Are you in the market for a book about economic theory that is personal, informative, and engaging? Look no further. Each chapter was genuinely interesting and I looked forward to reading the next. Recommended especially for those who are - like me – a bit challenged by the financial underpinnings of a more typical course on economics. Short read."
