Arts & Culture

SU Community Members Share Their Summertime Reads

Thursday, July 21, 2016, By Kathleen Haley
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What good book are you enjoying this summer? Let us know.

We want to know what good reads University community members are delving into during the lazy days of summer—and offer a chance to win SU gear for their submission. Take a look below at some of the titles that are keeping readers busy.

(To participate, send us an email at sunews@syr.edu with “Orange Reads” in the subject line, your status with SU (student, faculty, staff or alum), why you’re enjoying the book and a photo of yourself, the book or where you’re reading this summer. Or post up to social media, using #OrangeReads. On Friday, Aug. 5, we’ll select an entry to win SU gear.)

 

cover of book

“The Lady with the Borzoi,” a biography of Blanche Knopf

Suzanne E. Guiod, staff member at SU Press: Currently reading Laura Claridge’s recent contribution to publishing history: a biography of Blanche Knopf, co-founder of the great literary house. Also in the queue: Annie Proulx’s latest novel, “Barkskins,” an epic family history set against the backdrop of the North American timber industry, and Mark Kurlansky’s “Paper.” Is there a pattern here?

Amy B. Lenczewski, staff member with the ϲ Early Education and Child Care Center: A book which is unforgettable is “People of the Book” by Geraldine Brooks. It’s full of historic reference, suspense, intrigue, great imagery and storytelling that is unparalleled! It takes you places and makes you wish you lived in another time as well as glad that you live in safer times. It explores different faiths and values. It shows you how good people struggle with what is good in trying times. Must read!

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First page of “Outlander” (Photo by Caitlan Truelove)

Caitlan Truelove ’17, master’s student in the : I recently decided to start reading the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon, now that the Starz TV series based on said books just ended its second season. I haven’t read for fun since before college, so the very act of reading is amazing. Even though I’ve seen the first season of “Outlander” (twice now), I have fallen in love with the book it was based on.

Rob Enslin, staff member in the : I generally keep a few books in circulation. Currently, I’m more than halfway through Philip Norman’s epic, 850-page tome on Paul McCartney—a stark contrast to Brenda Shoshanna’s “Zen Miracles,” much of which I’m reading for the second time. Just wrapped up two other Beatle books (Joseph Neizgoda’s “The Lennon Prophecy” and John McMillian’s “Beatles vs. Stones”), with a slight detour through Carlo Rovelli’s “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.” On deck: Sean Carroll’s “The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning and the Universe Itself.”

Dane Lopes

Dane Lopes

 

Dane Lopes ’95, graduate of the : I’m reading: “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek. Saw his TED talk and it inspired me to buy his book!

 

 

Janet Marsden, research associate in the College of Engineering and Computer Science: I recently finished “The Lowland” by Jhumpa Lahiri, which I enjoyed for its unique views of the immigrant experience in higher education (from Calcutta, India, to University of Rhode Island, my alma mater), and just started reading “The Difference Engine” by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. Although I don’t read much science fiction, I’m a fan of Gibson’s cyberpunk.

 

Klascius

Jillian Klascius

 

Jillian Klascius ’18, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences and the : I’m reading “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s an important book that gives me a glimpse of the struggles and dangers that a black person faces in our society.