Dive into a good book this summer with this list of recommendations from Lees-McRae faculty and staff
It’s summertime in the High Country, which means warm mountain hikes, relaxing days by the river, refreshing drives on the parkway, and plenty of time for a good book.
Led by Associate Professor of Communications and Media Studies Abby Arnold-Patti, faculty and staff from the college have put together this list of reading recommendations for the summer. With a variety of topics, genres, and perspectives highlighted in the list there is sure to be a selection for every reader, whether you prefer diving deep into niche nonfiction topics, traversing foreign worlds through fantasy and science fiction, or exploring the intricacies of human connection through literary fiction.
"One of my favorite things about the summer break is having the time to enjoy more pleasure reading. I often get my best book recommendations from colleagues, so it makes good sense to me to gather that information and share it with our broader community,” Arnold-Patti said. “I plan to read many from this list over my summer break and I hope others will take advantage of these recommendations as well. They might challenge us, make us feel, make us think, and help us to know members of our Lees-McRae family better by connecting with them over a good book."
Reading one of these titles this summer? Connect with Lees-McRae College on Instagram or Facebook and let us know your thoughts. Happy reading, Bobcats! The full summer reading list for 2024 is as follows, and titles available in the Shelton Learning Commons are marked with asterisks:
The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag
By Sasha Velour
Recommended by Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for English Silas Heying
A Grandmother Begins the Story
By Michelle Porter
Recommended by Associate Professor of Communications and Media Studies Abby Arnold-Patti
A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder
By Michael Pollan
Recommended by Dean of Arts and Humanities Michael Vines
A World of Curiosities
By Louise Penny
Recommended by Professor of Religious Studies Ken Craig
Assembling California
By John McPhee
Recommended by Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Design Michael Iauch
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work
By Matthew B. Crawford
Recommended by Dean of Arts and Humanities Michael Vines
Braiding Sweetgrass*
By Robin Wall Kimmerer
Recommended by Assistant Dean of Arts and Humanities Robert Turpin
Tinkers*
By Paul Harding
Recommended by Assistant Dean of Arts and Humanities Robert Turpin
The Neapolitan Novels
By Elena Ferrante
Recommended by Content and Media Strategist Maya Jarrell
In Search of the Old Ones: Exploring the Anasazi World of the Southwest*
By David Roberts
Recommended by Program Coordinator of Outdoor Recreation Management and Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Katie Wall
The Alchemist
By Paulo Coehlo
Recommended by Program Coordinator of Outdoor Recreation Management and Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Katie Wall
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
By Neil Gaiman
Recommended by Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology Alex Glass
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World
By Patrik Svensson
Recommended by Visiting Assistant Professor of English Joseph Worthen
The Way of Kings
By Brandon Sanderson
Recommended by Instructor of Mathematics Woody Madison
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
By Kevin Fedarko
Recommended by Assistant Director of Campus Life Kendall Malsam
The Three-Body Problem
By Cixin Liu
Recommended by Associate Director of Marketing and Enrollment Communications Emily Webb
Prodigal Summer*
By Barbara Kingsolver
Recommended by Lab Coordinator Betsy Walker
Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People
By Abrams Locklear
Recommended by Lees-McRae librarians
House of Cotton
By Monica Brashears
Recommended by Lees-McRae librarians
Demon Copperhead
By Barbara Kingsolver
Recommended by Lees-McRae librarians
Ender's Game*
By Orson Scott Card
Recommended by Visual Media Manager Josh Floyd
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures
By Merlin Sheldrake
Recommended by Assistant Instructor of Wildlife Biology Anna Bigler
