For the Love of Reading: The FWC's Summer Reading List

Do you remember those elementary school days when you’d receive a summer reading list to complete? As researchers, we always have a reading list piling up, but the summer is still a great time to pick up a book that isn’t specifically related to your field, whether to learn something completely new or simply to enjoy the pleasures of a breezy page-turner. Perhaps you’ll finally find time to read a classic that you’ve been meaning to get to for years, or perhaps you’ll discover a beautiful story by an author you’d never heard of before. Who knows? You may even try your luck with one of those mystery books, wrapped in brown paper packaging to mask its contents. Sure, the book might end up being far afield from your typical read, but if the booksellers have chosen this work for their “blind date” section (as it’s sometimes called), then it must be well-written, at the very least. 

We are fortunate to have wonderful libraries and bookstores around campus, as well as any number of charming, independent shops slightly farther away, all committed to the notion that reading and writing are fundamental activities in a healthy and happy society. But wherever you'll be this summer, it's always fun to wander into a bookshop you happen across and simply explore. You never know what you’ll find; checking out the “local authors” section usually leads to some surprises. If you’re looking for some random recommendations, the Fellowships & Writing Center has prepared its own summer reading list, comprising books we have already read and enjoyed, and books that we eagerly anticipate reading in the coming weeks. Feel free to let us know if you have any books that you recommend, or if you read any of our recommendations and have some thoughts to share! 

Nonfiction

Image	American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed by Isaac Fitzgerald Recommended by Christopher Brown Fitzgerald’s latest book caught my eye not because of the title, but because of the subtitle, “Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed.” Like Fitzgerald, I remember being in elementary school and hearing the legend of Johnny Appleseed, without realizing he was from Leominster, MA. Setting out to trek the Johnny Appleseed trail, Fitzgerald discovers that the myths don’t quite fit the story of the man, John Chapman, and the trail isn’t really a trail at all, but a stretch of highway. Still, the author decides to walk in Chapman’s footsteps from Massachusetts to Indiana, stopping at the various sites where Chapman planted orchards along the way. Weaving personal narrative with history, in some ways the book is more about Fitzgerald’s own journey in life than anything else, and it is something of a love story to walking––as a mode of transportation, a leisurely activity, and a time to reflect on oneself and what matters in the world.
Image	Good Morning, Monster by Catherine Gildiner  Recommended by Shannon McCarthy In this book, published in 2020, Gildiner, a clinical psychologist, follows the healing journey of four people after substantial traumas. This book is perfect for someone who loves to read about and understand human behavior. Having first read it a few years ago, I now find myself coming back to it, and it’s great to pick up and re-read just one of the stories. The stories are short enough to read in one sitting, but give you a complete, in-depth experience like you’ve read a much longer story. They also provide beautiful examples of human resilience.