New books for your spring reading list
It’s a brand new week and you know what that means—brand new books! The warmer weather makes for a good excuse to get outside and crack open a book in the sunshine, maybe one you haven’t had the time to read yet, or maybe one of these exciting new releases. And the best part is you don’t have to look very far for your new reads because the Lamar Memorial Library on campus has all these books available to MC students for free. So, get to reading!
Non-Fiction – “Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law” by Jeffery Rosen
Take a step into the mind of one of the most influential women in American law and politics with this biography that explores Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s career and life in her own words. Written by the head of the National Constitution Center who interviewed Ginsburg before her death, this book is an opportunity to hear the Supreme Court Judge’s thoughts and discussions on everything from the future of Roe v. Wade to opera. This is a perfect read to pick up for Women’s History Month. It has even received glowing reviews from MC Library staff.
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg has always been a pivotal figure in women’s rights, so I was delighted to give it a read so quickly after its release,” said Library Assistant Sara Corso. “This book shows RBG from a more personal perspective of a close friend and details her and Jeffrey Rosen’s conversations spanning two decades. I’m not sure if it’s the intimate details of their conversations and letters, or if it is the opportunity to hear from her one more time, but this book is a treat I think anyone would enjoy.”
Fiction/Fantasy – “Every Bone a Prayer” by Ashley Blooms
Set in the dark and oddly magical Appalachian Mountains, “Every Bone a Prayer” follows the story of 10-year-old Misty and the mysterious voices that fill her holler and whisper back to her when she talks.
“The story of one tough-as-nails girl whose choices are few but whose fight is boundless, as her coping becomes a battle cry for everyone around her,” this book is just as atmospheric and beautiful as it is heart-wrenching. If you are a fan of magical realism or the works of Neil Gaiman, here is another one to add to your shelf.
Historical Fiction – “The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead is a newer writer who won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with his novel “The Underground Railroad,” and he has done it yet again with this book. His latest book focuses on the experiences of two black boys in Jim Crow Florida and their time in a cruel reform school. The characters of Elwood and Turner walk the line between nihilism and idealism as they try to survive their sentence to this dark and twisted place. Whitehead’s writing is gorgeous and takes an unflinching look at how lives are warped by tragedy.
History – “The Sound of Hope” by Kellie D. Brown
If fiction is not your thing, then take a look at a story just as harrowing and inspiring in this book. The story revolves around the use of music in a time of great oppression and upheaval-World War II and the Holocaust. With diary entries, first-hand accounts, and original art pieces, “The Sound of Hope” shows you how important music is to humanity and helping it survive even in the darkest of places.
“This book bears witness to the power of music to uplift and give hope, even in the darkest of times,” said Kathi Sluder, the Cataloguing and Collection Development Librarian at Lamar Memorial Library. “The powerful stories of individuals who used music as a way to survive, and transcend, the horrible circumstances in concentration camps during the Holocaust are a part of history I was unfamiliar with before reading this book. The themes and lessons of resistance and standing up to hate resonate in the world we find ourselves in today.”