Since it's July, which means prime beach reading season, I surveyed my colleagues here in the Office of Admission to get a list of books you might particularly enjoy. Grab your Kindle or head over to your local bookstore and check out these picks for your summer reading list:
Me: Ten Percent Happier by Dan Harris"I've posted before that even Directors of Admission get anxiety and while I am no expert on the topic, I know there are certain things that we can do to de-stress and calm that incessant inner monologue. As you embark on what is sure to be a stress-inducing time in your life, you'll find Dan Harris' book to be tremendously helpful. Harris is famous for having an on-air anxiety attack on the set of Good Morning America. The book follows his journey from a skeptic (the way most of us feel about meditation) to believer. He calls meditation a superpower and after reading this book and practicing it myself, I fully and wholeheartedly agree."
Jill (Assistant Director for Transfer Recruitment): Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
"Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize. This fictional novel follows a young woman named Cora through her escape from a cotton plantation in Georgia. Cora encounters different worlds and people at every stage of her journey and the language and detail by Whitehead keep you engrossed and invested the entire time. The story doesn’t seem to get easier for Cora, but at every turn, you are rooting for this heroine as she finds her way to freedom.
In other words, she’s a true badass."
Paul (Director of International Admission): Secret River by Kate Grenville"This historical novel covers topics from colonization and race to immigration and the clash of civilizations through the lens of the settling of Australia. While offering insight to the early British development of Australia and the penal colony system, this novel also gives an alternative account of a period of history not largely understood by those of us who grew up in America."
Toni (Diversity Recruitment Coordinator): Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
"Inspired by James Baldwin’s 1963 classic, The Fire Next Time, Between the World and Me is written as a letter from author Ta-Nehisi Coates to his teenaged son. Coates covers topics such as the social, economic and historical context for the stigma and fear that surround the black community and young black men in particular in contemporary America. Coates frames his letter as he recounts his own story of growing up black and being influenced by his teachers and the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Coates also references American slavery, which he parallels with his son's recent experiences with the deaths of young black men in America (Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Jorden Davis). Coates uses these poignant recent tragedies as a guiding light that has illuminated the dangers of being a young, black male in America. Overall, the book offers a powerful framework to understand contemporary race relations in America and helps lay bare the larger underlying issues of modern movements including police brutality and Black Lives Matter."Between the World and Me is this summer's reading project for the class of 2021.
Becca (Admission Counselor for Arts and Architecture Students): Into the Water by Paula Hawkins"My personal favorite time to read any kind of thriller or mystery novel is during the summer when the days are long and lazy. Each chapter of this novel switches off between characters all living in a small town where numerous women over hundreds of years have died in the central river’s “drowning pool”. Each person’s perspective reveals a new, and often contradictory clue that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Hawkins is the author of The Girl on the Train, another amazing thriller."
Henry (Admission Counselor): Fire Shut Up In My Bones by Charles Blow"I highly recommend Fire Shut Up In My Bones by Charles Blow, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times. Blow’s memoir details his upbringing in rural, north Louisiana. Blow dives deep into the poverty and turbulent family life he experienced as a child, the African-American experience in The South, and his struggles with his sexual identity. This book provides beautiful and poignant insights into a slice of life in our country that is often overlooked."
Rachel (Admission Counselor): Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
"Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, grew up in South Africa as apartheid was ending and his autobiography delves into his upbringing during these tumultuous times. The book details his struggles with his racial identity and family dynamic through stories that are both informative and comical. Trevor has such a unique and difficult story to tell, but an incredibly important one to hear—it is sure to put things in perspective for you. Of course, this one has a special place in my heart since I studied abroad in South Africa when I was a student at Tulane!"
Owen (Admission Counselor): A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson "This is Bill Bryson’s memoir of his travels on the Appalachian Trail with his friend. It weaves in history, personal stories, and anecdotes from the trek in his hilarious writing style. It is certainly more than just a travel book, but it has always inspired some wanderlust for me and reminds me of the beauty of a simple trip through nature. To top it all off, Bryson’s companion is the “gloriously out of shape” Stephen Katz, who is an endless supply of funny moments. They made this book into a movie starring Robert Redford a couple years ago. I’ve heard it wasn’t particularly good, but don’t let a bad adaption turn you off from a great read!"
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar