Summer Reading List — Student Suggestions!
Rachel Lawyer, Library Instruction Specialist | rachel.lawyer@usu.edu
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Student Recommendations!
Mara (Bingham) Kenison
- Major: History
- Hometown: Farmington, UT
- Favorite USU Libraries Memory: "I loved helping set up the Mormon Board Game exhibit and attending the open house. It was so fun to watch everyone who interacted with it to giggle to themselves over the random bits of LDS culture displayed in the atrium."
Mara's Reading Recommendations:
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
"It's the best regency romance novel I've ever read. Just read it and you'll fall in love with Philip Wyndham just as quickly as everyone else who reads it does, except perhaps the main character, Marianne Daventry."
Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
"If you thought Donaldson's Edenbrooke was good, you should read Blackmoore. This is the first book that made me SOB in a very long time, but in a good way. The moody scenery of 19th century UK, the struggle between friendship and romance, the yearning of a young women to follow her dreams and leave the world she knows. It sounds a little cliche, but this book pulls at your heartstrings."
Everybody Always by Bob Goff
"If you want to know how to better love people and the effect love can have on people, you should read this book. It's an incredibly uplifting memoir and self-help book of sorts by an American lawyer who teaches that loving people is more important than being right." Mara's tip: Definitely get the audiobook of Everybody Always. It's read by the author which is the best in my opinion.
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Brook Haight
- Major: English Creative Writing
- Hometown: West Jordan, Utah
- Favorite USU Libraries Memory: "Me and my friends used to stay at the library until midnight every weeknight so we could 'study'. Some of my favorite memories at USU are from those late nights where we'd just be goofing off together or chatting about our lives."
Brook's Reading Recommendations:
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
"It's beautifully crafted, and has such a memorable narrative. It's a story about love and understanding, and how those things can make or break our entire worldview. I find myself thinking about it very frequently. Plus, I've never read anything like it before. I usually don't like sci-fi, but this one is really good."
Blindsight by Peter Watts
"This book is so weird and strange but has so much you can really dig your teeth into. I think about this book all the time. It crafts a really beautiful and compelling argument about humanity, one that I disagree with but was fascinated to read nonetheless. Plus, what kind of science fiction book has vampires??"
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
"This book is fantastic. It has some of the best crafted characters I've ever read, as well as some of the most interesting world building. I'm often on the edge of my seat while reading it, trying to figure out how Locke could possibly get out of whatever horrific situation he's found himself in. Plus, I'm a big fan of heist novels, so a fantasy heist novel is totally my jam." Brook's tip: If you get The Lies of Locke Lamora, you might want to get the rest in the series, since it's not a standalone book like the other two.
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Isabelle Berke
- Major: History
- Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
- Favorite USU Libraries Memory: "I absolutely love helping patrons in Special Collections & Archives with research questions! I always want to hear about that projects people are working on and the material in our library that they're interested in. We have such a varied patronage and it feels so special to learn right alongside our researchers!"
Isabelle's Reading Recommendations:
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
"As a person who often considered anything difficult to be 'impossible,' a certain line from this book changed my entire perspective of my own capabilities and ability to be successful. I won't tell you the line, but you'll know it if you read the book!"
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
"Who DOESN'T love classic horror?!"
Blood and Smoke by Charles Leerhsen
"I am definitely known in Special Collections & Archives as the race car person, so I would be remiss to not include my favorite book about the inception of the Indy 500, which does actually have a truly fascinating background!"
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Jaliyah Suggs
- Major: Sociology
- Hometown: Salt Lake City
- Favorite USU Libraries Memory: "Favorite memory is contributing to a big coloring mural during finals week."
Jaliyah's Reading Recommendations:
1984 by George Orwell
"George Orwell is an amazing author and I admire the way he wrote a dystopian novel that is set in the future."
Print available from USU Libraries
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
"It's a nonfiction book that has a similar vibe to Severance, the TV show."
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Eva Jones
- Major: Psychology
- Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
- Favorite USU Libraries Memory: "One of my favorite things about USU Libraries is the student book club! I've made so many friends and memories, and it's helped me find a community here at Utah State! We meet once a month, and if anyone is interested in joining, information is on the website!"
Eva's Reading Recommendations:
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
"This is such a fun, adventurous, and vibrant read! It's got pirates, magic-wielding princesses, romance, and everything you could ever want from a fantasy book!!!"
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
"This book is incredible! It's got some of the best science-fiction world-building that I've ever read, with engaging characters and a delicious storyline. But most of all, the prose of this book is FANTASTIC - it is stunning and beautiful and extraordinarily well written!!!!"
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
"I love Patrick Ness' other works (his storytelling is just incredible), but this book is especially raw and emotional. If you're looking to read something especially soul-crushing, this is it."