Summer 2016 Reads Offered by Gumberg Library

With the start of the summer season upon us, the staff from the Gumberg Library collaborated to hand-pick the following recommended “summer reads.”

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen—recommended by cataloger Katie McCormick,

“A book with all trappings of a good summer read: sultry Key West and Bahamas settings, tropical storms, a voodoo queen, a severed arm, and, yes, a bad monkey.”

The Brothers K by David James Duncan—recommended by Jeff McCurry, director of the Simon Silverman Phenomenology Center

“What saves us and gives our lives meaning? Politics? Religion? Even baseball? Duncan’s hilarious novel will make you laugh out loud, while his themes are as deep as they come. This will be the most fun you’ve ever had while pondering the meaning of life.”

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein—recommended by Carrie Gessner, evening and weekend supervisor

“Told in diary format, Code Name Verity is the story of two best friends, one a spy and one a pilot, during World War II. Alternately funny and moving, it highlights heroism and friendship in a time of uncertainty and fear.”

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan—recommended by Curriculum Center Coordinator Danielle Henzler

“Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan has resonated with me from the moment I picked it up! Told via a narrative that weaves together traditional literature, historical fiction and contemporary characters, masterful storytelling showcases how the power of music can change lives.”

Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer’s Life by Pamela Smith Hill—recommended by University Librarian Dr. Sara Baron

“This is the remarkable story of why and how Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her world-famous and award-winning Little House on the Prairie series of books.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara—recommended by Music Librarian Terra Merkey

“A Little Life is a story of friendship, life, love, pain and suffering; four friends move to New York City after college.”

The Nimrod Flipout by Etgar Keret—recommended by Kelley Cotter, marketing and electronic communications librarian

“A decade beyond my youthful ignorance, Keret’s writing still haunts me—funny, twisted, evocative, surreal, and, above all, inimitable.”

Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson—recommended by Michael Janakis, reference and instruction librarian

“This book has been sitting on my ‘to read’ shelf for eight years, and it has been worth the wait!”

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson—recommended by Digital Scholarship Librarian Gesina Phillips

“A story of sisters, isolation and murder, set in a crumbling estate house.”

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka—recommended by Maureen Diana Sasso, director of information services

“In this award-winning novel, based on her own family’s history, Julie Otsuka offers a compelling account of Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II.” (This book will be the focus of Gumberg’s NEA grant-funded Big Read program in the spring 2016, which will include a visit from the author.)

Visit the Gumberg Library Tumblr blog to read the full-length recommendations.