What we’re reading: English faculty recommend their favorite books

Summer is the perfect time to slow down, recharge, and dive into a good book, and faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Department of English are doing just that.

They’re turning the page on some of their favorite reads and sharing their top recommendations for the summer. These thrillers, historical fiction, romance, or thought-provoking nonfiction will appeal to every type of reader.

While these recommendations are from other authors, the college is home to a wide range of faculty publications. The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Bookshelf showcases books written, edited, or co-edited by faculty members. According to the University Data Commons, faculty across the college published an average of 32 books over the past three years.

Ashley Reed, associate professor of English and undergraduate program director, is always a little behind the times for her reading picks, something she calls a “by-product of studying 19th century literature for a living.” However, she had two recommendations to share.

“The Murderbot Diaries” by Martha Wells: Specifically the first book in the series, “All Systems Red,” is a short, fast-paced, funny novella featuring a lovable first-person narrator. 

“Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel: Published in 2014, the novel depicts the aftermath of a pandemic. Reed said reading this book in the age of COVID can be an “odd experience” although it is “beautifully written and full of compelling characters, and it describes a world that’s both sinister and occasionally magical.”

Both of these books have been adapted into television shows.

Avery Wiscomb, assistant professor of English, recommends these books that explore themes of power and society through the lens of technology, politics, and human relationships.

“Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson: A post-cyberpunk novel, published in 1992, features sharp social commentary wrapped in an adventure story about a katana-wielding pizza delivery driver. 

“Bloodchild and Other Stories” by Octavia Butler: Published in 1995, this collection uses fiction to examine uncomfortable truths about power, survival, and human relationships. Butler’s stories are brutal yet humane, showing how speculation can illuminate real-world issues of race, exploitation, and what it means to be human.

“Daemon” by Daniel Suarez: Published in 2006, this techno-thriller explores how technology might transform politics and power, offering a gripping "beach read" that feels increasingly relevant as artificial intelligence reshapes daily life. 

“The Dispossessed” by Ursula K. Le Guin: Published in 1974, this novel imagines two contrasting worlds – one capitalist, one anarchist – and follows a physicist caught between the two. Le Guin uses this setup to explore questions about freedom, society, and what we owe each other, making complex political ideas accessible through compelling storytelling and worldbuilding.

Cana Itchuaqiyaq, assistant professor of English and professional and technical writing, offers readers a nonsterotypical romance, very different from other genres she usually gravitates toward for casual reading. 

“Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert: Followed by “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” and “Act Your Age, Eve Brown,” this series follows the Brown sisters who aren’t your stereotypical romance characters. The first book features a main character who is a curvy, successful, disabled Black woman navigating life, career, and love. The realities of her disability and how it intersects with her life are discussed in a natural way that is also compatible with the romance genre.

“The Coroner's Lunch” by Colin Cotterill: Another series Itchuaqiyaq has been reading this summer is a mystery series — her go-to genre. Set in late 1970s communist Laos and revolves around Siri Paiboun, the elderly national coroner of Laos with shamanistic abilities. Although written by a white Australian living in Thailand, Itchuaqiyaq said “Lao culture is represented with care and respect — as far as I can tell — and the portrayal of communist bureaucracy and culture is interesting.” 

Katie Carmichael, associate professor of English, director of language sciences, and co-director of the Speech Lab, suggests a four-part series about the life of a woman who grew up in Southern Italy in the shadow of World War II era fascist regimes.

Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante: Beginning with book one of the series, “My Brilliant Friend,” this story explores themes of friendship, betrayal, love, jealousy, insecurity, and heartbreak, which makes it feel “indulgent, fun and gossipy, as all summer reads should be,” said Carmichael. But it also delves into deeper themes about society, politics, and the challenges of moving into the modern era. Carmichael challenges readers not to breeze through all four books by summer’s end.

Tyechia Thompson, assistant professor of English, recommends her “perfect summer read.” 

“Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer's Legendary Editorship” by Dana A. Williams: A fast-paced page turner that is part biography and part literary history, this book is a patiently researched look at Toni Morrison’s editorial work. Thompson called it “an inspiring read for those seeking to do one’s work — whatever that work is — with integrity and commitment.”