If, like me, you get a spontaneous burst of energy following the New Year that inspires you to reorganize your entire bookshelf and set an impossibly large reading goal for yourself, congratulations! You’ve come to the right place. Here are a few of my favorite reads from break to help get your reading goals off to a strong start.
'The Correspondent' — Virginia Evans
This unique narrative follows the life of Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired attorney, as she deals with family politics, old ghosts from her former job and the affection of no less than two eligible men. The story is narrated entirely through letters and emails Sybil sends and receives, which creates holes for the reader to try to fill in before more information is revealed. Sybil’s list of people she corresponds with is as eclectic as the woman herself, and this book is sure to be a fun read for anyone who enjoys an unconventional form of storytelling.
'By Any Other Name' — Jodi Picoult
I read this book so I could go to my mother’s book club (don’t knock it ‘til you try it; we all get bored over break). Picoult weaves together the stories of Emilia, a woman in Elizabethan-era London, England, with that of Melina, a playwright in modern-day New York. The author draws parallels between the characters as both women confront sexism, stereotypes and difficult family situations.
Emilia’s penchant for writing in an era where women were not allowed to sell their work lands her in contact with a number of interesting characters, but as Emilia (and the readers) discover, the bard may not be who we thought he was.
'Severance' — Ling Ma
This dystopian book, published in 2018, has had a startling resurgence in popularity owing to its plotline centered around a global pandemic that bears some resemblance to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The narrative follows Candace Chen and a ragtag group of what seems to be the last people in the U.S. not infected by the disease. The group slowly makes its way across the Midwest, hoping to find sanctuary in a facility owned by one of the group’s members. The author skips between this bizarre pilgrimage and flashbacks to Candace’s life before and during the pandemic.
“Severance” is truly one of the most disturbing yet compelling books I’ve ever read. As the story progresses, Ma brings into question ideas about family, work, morality and what it really means to be alive.
'A Book of Common Prayer' — Joan Didion
There is nothing by Joan Didion that I have not absolutely adored, and “A Book of Common Prayer” is no different. The narrator, Grace Strasser-Mendana, an anthropologist living in the fictional country of Boca Grande, tells the story of the life and death of Charlotte Douglas, a tourist who comes to Boca Grande following the slow unraveling of her family.
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The bizarre, and at times seemingly random, narrative is an incredible depiction of the different ways people react to obstacles placed in their path. The final chapters culminate in a discussion of the tricky ways family and memory intertwine, and how we carry our loved ones with us in memory, regardless of whether or not they are still with us.
'The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories' — Marina Keegan
This collection of work was published posthumously after Keegan died in a car crash only five days after graduating from Yale University. Driven by a sense of collective grief, Keegan’s family, friends and professors helped to compile this series of work. Despite her young age, Keegan left behind an impressive amount of writing, much of it addressing the struggles and triumphs of youth.
Keegan’s curiosity and optimism are infectious, and I consider this book a must-read for any college student. Although the origins of this book are tragic, the content is anything but, and this book helped me feel more connected to those around me.
mahones5@miamioh.edu
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