Ring In New Reads

There is nothing that gives me more clarity than a small library of books to get through. I usually have no problem letting my academics bleed into my personal reading interests, so these books are as diverse as they get. Hopefully, there is something here for you!

For the Poet:

The Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems by Billy Collins is perfect for people who might have a hard time understanding the semantics of poetry or who don’t know how appealing and humorous it can be. He turns the every day into an imaginative condition.  

The Pocket Rumi: for the romantic, the lover of spirituality, and the raw approachability that comes with being human. And it really is pocket-sized!

For the Activist/Diplomat:

Glimmer of Hope: this was written by the founders of March For Our Lives. They really go in-depth with how they started a movement that reached every corner of the world in a matter of months.

A Problem from Hell by Samantha Power: This book is pretty bulky and so I would create some sort of reading schedule to help get through it. This piece goes through America’s continuous inability to act in the face of genocide from Rwanda to Cambodia and everywhere in between. It is a tough and heartbreaking read and yet oddly motivating if you're interested in international policy, human rights, storytelling, foreign affairs, or diplomacy.

For the Non-Fiction Lover:

A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi: This book explores the linkage between having a mental illness and leadership. It goes in-depth while shattering myths and offers a thesis on how people who suffer from depression or mood disorders might actually be our strongest leaders. Key word on the word might.

For those who love  T.V:

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood: If you love historical fiction, character development following bad-ass women, and a follow-up series to watch after, I definitely recommend picking this up. There’s everything from murder to romance, unlikely friendships, and betrayal. Plus if you love Saoirse Ronan, you’ll love the Netflix show afterwords.

For the Fiction Lover:

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers: Perfect for the Southern Gothic lover, this book tells of moral isolation in a small southern mill town. If you are a fan of Tennessee Williams, Flannery O’Connor, or Harper Lee, you’ll love it.

Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood: Female friendships, art, a past that can’t be forgotten, betrayal, a childhood that uncovers identity, haunting and yet hilarious. A must-read for anyone trying to expand their Atwood collection. Or if you simply want a departure from her more dystopian pieces.

For those who love the Classics:

Hope Leslie by Catherine Maria Sedgwick: If you love collecting Penguin Black Classics such as I, you’ll love this compelling novel that challenges the stereotypes of conventional views of Native Americans, interracial marriages, and cross-cultural friendships. I also recommend this piece to any feminist.

BUtterfield 8 by John O’Hara: Another Penguin Black Classic that covers society after the Great Depression. If you love tragedy, New York glamour, and sensationalism please give it a read. And then watch the film of the same name starring Elizabeth Taylor.

Happy Reading!
cover photo belongs to me