Summer Reading No. 5: Elizabeth Miller

Coordinator of Digital Initiatives, Liz Miller, manages the library’s digital communications, like our social media, weekly newsletter, and this blog (hi! I’m the one writing these blogs!). This week, let’s see what’s entertaining Liz when she’s not making content.

First up is Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman. About this cookbook, Liz writes,

“I adore Alison Roman; if she recommends I cook something, I probably will. In fact, last year a few friends and I cooked A Very Alison Roman Thanksgiving together, featuring salmon, an exceptional salad, and dilly rolls. If any of that sounds good to you, I highly recommend you check out Nothing Fancy. These recipes are simple, have thorough, detailed instructions, and come out looking beautiful. The book is marketed as being recipes for having people over, but these work just as well for a regular night at home.”

All of Alison’s cookbooks, including Nothing Fancy, are available at the Dekalb County Public Library. Dining In is available at the Science Commons at Emory. Alison also maintains a YouTube series called “Home Movies,” and a newsletter called “A Newsletter“.

Next is A Burglar’s Guide to the City by Geoff Manaugh. Liz writes,

“A lot of people don’t know that I’m a big architecture nerd/buff, but now that secret is out. I’ve always been enamored by the stories of old bank robberies and heists and such, so when I came across this book, I knew I had to read it. After flying through it in one sitting, I have a new appreciation for the skill and creativity that has to go into thievery, but also crime prevention. I definitely walk into buildings differently now and consider the not-so-obvious points of entry, which is a fun shift in perspective, if you ask me.”

A Burglar’s Guide to the City is available at the Woodruff Library and the Dekalb County Public Library.

Daisy Jones and the Six is next on Liz’s list. About this one, she writes,

“I’m a sucker for a good book-to-TV adaptation, and Daisy Jones fits the bill. You’ll find all the drama you’re looking for in this story of love and music (& the love of music? the music of love?), that follows musicians Daisy and Billy as they join forces into one of the most influential bands of their time. Daisy and Billy’s story asks the age-old question, should we be with partners who complement us and provide us balance, or should we be with partners who understand us completely, but have the potential to drive us to ruin? Even after making it to the end, I’m still not sure how to answer that question, but where’s the fun in certainty anyway?”

Daisy Jones and the Six (the book) is available at the Woodruff Library and the Dekalb County Public Library. The mini Prime Original series is available on Amazon Prime, and the album is streaming wherever you stream your music.

Finally, Liz’s last recommendation is the Last Podcast on the Left.

“LPOTL covers pretty much everything I enjoy learning about: conspiracy theories, true crime, major historical events, cryptids, ghost stories, religious movements, UFOs, and the like. Ben, Marcus, and Henry manage to add humor to some of the most harrowing stories, and for that, I respect and admire them. This podcast has been going for over 12 years and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon, so there is also a huge back catalog of episodes to keep you busy on summer road trips. I will warn you that this is definitely a podcast for adults and I don’t recommend playing it out loud at work, so proceed with that information as you will.”

Last Podcast on the Left is streaming on LPOTL’s website, as well as most streaming services.

Like what you see? Stay tuned for more summer reading recommendations from the faculty and staff at Pitts and Candler!

Summer Reading No. 4: Brinna Michael

headshot of Brinna Michael

Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, Brinna Michael, makes many of the items in our Digital Collections findable and accessible online. When they’re not busy at work, what’s on Brinna’s entertainment rotation?

First on Brinna’s list is American Hippo by Sarah Gailey. Regarding this novella compilation, Brinna writes,

“Do you like hippos? Do you like alternate history? Do you like capers, er…, operations? This is the book for you. The story of an unlikely and unorthodox team of criminals and con artists who set out to deal with a rampant hippo problem in the bayous of Louisiana and end up at the center of a dramatic revenge plot for the ages.”

American Hippo is made up of two novellas, River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow. Find River of Teeth at the Woodruff Library and both novellas at the Dekalb County Public Library.

Next up is Midst, a podcast by Critical Role. If you’re unfamiliar with Critical Role, they create multi-platform content of voice actors embarking on epic journeys through role playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons, and you should absolutely check out their video content as well. Brinna describes this podcast as,

“A newish podcast introducing a strange cast of characters navigating the wilds of a planet on the edge. An intriguing combination of sci-fi, fantasy, and western genres, Midst is narrated in a unique, almost stream-of-consciousness style by three curiously strange narrators.”

Midst is available directly from Critical Role, or on many of the podcast streaming apps you know and love.

Finally, Brinna recommends The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo, which is currently comprised of three novellas.

These novellas (The Empress of Salt and FortuneWhen the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, and Into the Riverlands) tell stories within stories, vividly illustrating a world with deep history. In the kingdom of Ahn, fact and fable often cross paths as the central character, a story-gathering cleric, meets clever queens and handmaidens, viciously vain beasts, and feuding living legends.

All three novellas in The Singing Hills Cycle are available at the Dekalb County Public Library.

Stay tuned for more summer reading recommendations from the faculty and staff at Pitts and Candler!

Summer Reading No. 3: Myron McGhee

Circulation Services Coordinator, Myron McGhee, helps patrons find the circulating materials they need at Pitts and facilitates many of the events held in our spaces. In his off time, what is Myron reading to stay entertained?

First on Myron’s list is Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words. Any dog owner can attest that their furry friends can understand human language, but few have pursued that as far as retired psychology professor John Pilley. Chaser, Pilley’s Border collie, has learned over a thousand words and sentences, including grammatical elements, and has pushed the limits of our knowledge of animal intelligence. The incredible story of Chaser is a great read for anyone interested in how we learn, play, and communicate.

Besides the book, there are countless news stories and videos documenting Chaser’s grasp of language, so be sure to check those out as well if you want to learn more!

Chaser is available at Emory Libraries and the Dekalb County Public Library.

Myron’s second recommendation comes from Professor Emeritus of Church and Community, Luther E. Smith, Jr. In his newest book, Hope is Here! Spiritual Practices for Pursuing Justice and Beloved Community, Smith guides individuals and communities through five spiritual practices to experience the power of hope for pursuing justice and beloved community. The book explores topics central to what Smith calls “the work of hope,” like “racism, mass incarceration, environmental crises, divisive politics, and indifference that imperil justice and beloved community.” In this volume, Smith provides a practical, honest, and compelling resource for facing the challenges that accompany social change.

Hope is Here! is available for pre-order for a November 7, 2023, release date. In the meantime, you can learn more about this book at the Westminster John Knox Press website. Pitts will have this book on our shelves when it is released this fall, so keep an eye out!

Stay tuned for more summer reading recommendations from the staff and faculty of Pitts and Candler! New blogs are posted every week of the summer.

Summer Reading No. 2: Emily Corbin

headshot of Emily Corbin

Special Collections Reference Coordinator, Emily Corbin, helps researchers locate the materials they’re looking for in Special Collections. Now that it’s summer, let’s see what Emily suggests for some lighter reading.

First up is The Wok: Recipes and Techniques by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt.

Summer is the perfect time to experiment with new, easy recipes, and if you haven’t tried cooking with a wok, let this be your sign to try it! In The Wok, Lopez-Alt provides over 200 recipes for simple dinners, from Pad Thai, to Kung Pao Chicken, to dumplings. Beyond just the recipes, Lopez-Alt teaches readers the basics of wok cooking with techniques like stir-frying, braising, and even steaming using a wok, in addition to knife skills and pantry stocking.

The Wok is available at the Science Commons at Emory and Dekalb County Public Library.

Next up is Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott.

Mary Laura Philpott takes readers on an introspective journey through pain, coping, and finding meaning in life after darkness. Through stories and memories, Philpott brings levity and joy to the tough lesson that even love cannot stop bad things from happening. This definitely isn’t the lightest read, as it “tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear with humor and hope,” but is an emotional journey well worth taking.

Bomb Shelter is available at Dekalb County Public Library.

Finally, Emily recommends Happy Place by Emily Henry.

Happy Place follows the story of “perfect couple” Harriet and Wyn at their friends’ annual beach getaway in Maine. The thing about the perfect couple, though, is that they actually aren’t a couple- and haven’t been for five months. To not ruin the week, Harriet and Wyn lie to their friends (and themselves) about the breakup. Can they pull off this week-long charade?

Happy Place is available at Dekalb County Public Library.

Like what you see? Stay tuned for more summer reading recommendations from the faculty and staff at Pitts and Candler!

Summer Reading No. 1: Caitlin Soma

Head of Acquisitions and Access Services, Caitlin Soma, plays a crucial role in shaping our collections at Pitts. So what does she include in her personal collection?

Her first suggestion is Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel.

Caitlin says, “I love a feminist retelling of an old story, so this new take on Ramayana from the perspective of Kaikeyi, stepmother to Rama, was an obvious pick for me. In it, the author shows events in Ramayana from Kaikeyi’s point of view and demonstrates how harmful and reductionist the “evil stepmother” label can be. Humanizing a vilified figure while staying true to such a significant story and creating a readable novel is a tall order, and I think Patel does it exceptionally well. 

A little background knowledge of Ramayana is helpful for getting the full experience from this book, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy it. But if you do find yourself wanting to dive deeper into the tale, what is summer for if not researching an unfamiliar ancient text?”

Kaikeyi is available at the Woodruff Library and the Dekalb County Library.

“Although the world of The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna, and its sequel The Merciless Ones is fictional, it is inspired by stories the author heard growing up in Sierra Leone about the N’Nonmiton female military in Benin, the Mami Wata water goddess, and the great kingdoms, castles, and fortresses in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Mali. Drawing on these inspirations, The Gilded Ones is Forna’s answer to the whitewashed epics of Tolkien and his ilk. 

If you decide to read The Gilded Ones, please note that it’s so engaging you’ll want a copy of The Merciless Ones close at hand when you finish. The tale that Forna weaves is equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking, with twists and turns that make the characters’ struggles feel remarkably familiar for a world so different from our own.” 

The Gilded Ones is available at the Woodruff Library, and both books are available from the Dekalb County Library. 

“What if the descendants of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table still existed, had magic powers, and went to school at UNC Chapel Hill? What’s more, that this magic were at the center of a generations-long war between demons, descendants of the Knights of the Round Table, and those with a power rooted in the violent history of slavery in the United States?

Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn, and its sequel Bloodmarked delicately weave these complex ideas into a series that is as exciting as it is thought-provoking, with the thrill of magic and adventure tempered by a deft handling of race and ancestry in the American South.”

Legendborn and Bloodmarked are available electronically at Emory and from the Dekalb County Library.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (with sequels Thunderhead and The Toll) is a trilogy that has been everywhere in YA literature the past few years. I was a few years late to the party but had a great time once I arrived.

The story takes place in a future post-death society run by an omniscient AI. The ethical and sociological implications of those concepts alone are enough to stay engaged, but the storytelling is also incredible. Every time you expect the plot to turn a certain way, it goes not just in the opposite direction, but in a direction you never realized was possible.”

Scythe is available in the McNaughton popular reading collection at Emory, online at Emory, and from the Dekalb County Library.

Stay tuned for more summer reading recommendations from the faculty and staff at Pitts and Candler!