Recommended Summer Reading, 2008
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz. A page-turner and literary read, the story explores the damages wreaked by Trujillo's regime across several generations both in the Dominican Republic and New Jersey. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for best novel of 2007. [Jenny Dunning]
Crazy Horse, by Larry McMurty. This brief, readable biography brings Crazy Horse to life. By giving us his perspective on American Expansion the book also helps the reader get into Native American consciousness. [Colin Wells]
The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan. The first book in a fantasy series, one that distinguishes itself from others of the genre in its depth of plot and character. The characters are human, and well-developed, and the writing style is very detailed and enjoyable. Even if you're not always a fan of fantasy, you may want to give Jordan a chance. [Ian Hathway '11]
Fillums, by Hugh Leonard. Set in WWII in the small town of Drane, just south of Dublin, this distinctive novel features an assortment of quirky townspeople who escape regularly to the movie theater to watch "fillums" (Dublin dialect for "films") and try to forget about the war. The novel is touching and funny, and Leonard (also a playwright whose plays include _Da_) is a supreme stylist. [Jan Hill]
Ghostwritten, by David Mitchell. Set in nine cities all over the world, Ghostwriten comes together as a series of stories linked only by characters who flit in and out of each others' tales, capturing the haunting feeling that nobody is truly alone. [Catherine Tuttle '09]
I, Lucifer, by Glen Duncan. A biting, comedic satire of modern society and religion, as told by the Devil himself as he takes a one-month trial run in the body of a suicidal writer named Declan Gunn, before deciding whether or not to take God up on the chance to redeem himself by living a righteous human life. [Ian Hathway '11]
Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear. This is a sandwich cookie novel: the cookie layers depict a woman who works in a detective agency working on a particular case. The filling is an elaborate flashback to the early days of World War I when she was a nurse, telling of terrible losses and poignant love. It is fiction, but has the ring of truth. [Rich DuRocher]
Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This novel set in contemporary Nigeria in a university setting has been praised by Chinua Achebe for giving the reader insight into what Africa is like today. [Joseph Mbele]
Run, by Ann Patchett. Patchett's most recent book (remember Bel Canto?) sets a cast of appealing characters moving through contemporary Boston in such smooth prose that we're surprised to arrive at the end pondering religion, family, achievement, family, race, family, politics, family. [Mary Steen]
Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe, by Doreen Baingana. A phenomenal new writer, Baingana has begun her career with a collection of short stories from Uganda that are both easy to read and powerful. [Joseph Mbele]
