Reading List: Summer To Be Read

School is out for the semester and summer is on its way here. Summer is the perfect time to get in some non-school or school-related reading. So, we asked the library staff what’s on their summer ‘to be read’ list. Let us know what is on your summer reading list or check out one of these recommendations:

Melissa Moore, Library Director, will be finishing a re-reading of the Harry Potter series, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and Homecoming by Kate Morton.

Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian, is finishing Marriage Builder by Larry Crabb and In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. She also wants to read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager, said: “I’m thinking of reading The Wizard of Oz and Murder on the Orient Express. I guess you could say I was inspired by March Book Madness. It’s one you would have to get as Interlibrary Loan, but I think The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry would be a great summer book.”

Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Supervisor, might read A Place on Earth by Wendell Berry, William Shakespeare’s The Clone Army Attacketh by Ian Doescher, and The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World by Oliver Milman.

Micah Rhodes, Cataloging Associate, plans to continue reading The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

Sarah Blevins, Evening Circulation Associate, might re-read the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Sara Hand, Cataloging Associate and Administrative Assistant, plans to read Cursed by Marissa Meyer, Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk, and Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt. (All of these can be requested through Interlibrary Loan).

Beth Lynn, Collection Development Coordinator, plans to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

March Book Madness 2022: Week 4

Union University’s Library at the Logos welcomes you to this presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2022. Each week will feature our selection from two different genres. By the end, you will have been introduced to 8 genres and 16 books. Then, during the month of March, stay tuned to our social media channels to vote on your favorites. You, our readers, will determine which book will make it through the Final Four to become our first March Book Madness Champion! 

Sara: Can you believe it? We’ve reached the last quarter. Get some water and take a breath as we meet our last two match-ups. This week we have True Crime and Historical Fiction. Amber, why don’t you start us off with True Crime? 

Amber: Sure! Sometimes things that go bump in the night are real. This is where true crime books come in. We have two heavy-weight hitters in this match-up. You can rest easy as we are going back in time with two well-respected true crime novels.  

First up is The Devil in the White City, which follows Daniel Burnham, architect of the 1893 World’s Fair, and H. H. Holmes, often credited as the first modern serial killer. Holmes lured his victims to their deaths inside “Murder Castle” which resembled Burnham’s design for the World’s Fair. This New York Times Best Seller was awarded the Edgar Award for best crime fiction writing and is in the works to become a TV show.  

Sara: That sounds intense. Which book is going up against Holmes? 

Amber:  Helter Skelter is the contender and also an Edgar Award winner for Best Fact Crime Book. Helter Skelter is one of the bestselling true crime books in history. Helter Skelter told from the viewpoint of Vincent Bugliosi, the trial prosecutor, recounts the murder investigation and trial of Charles Manson and his followers in 1969. You may recognize some elements of Helter Skelter from the movie The Strangers.  

Sara: Wow, it will be hard to beat Helter Skelter. Which of these true crime novels will win out? Will Charles Manson or H. H. Holmes advance to the next round?  

Amber: The race is tight, but I think Helter Skelter may have an edge. Let’s not forget our final match-up for Historical Fiction Books. 

Sara: Historical fiction is a genre that allows the reader to be transported to a specific time and place as fictional characters face challenges that are specific to the era of history in which the novel takes place.  

Amber: Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Which two books are facing off?  

Sara: Our first book is the indomitable classic, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. The movie is as well-known as the novel, which gives it a leg up in the competition. The story follows Scarlett O’Hara who struggles to save her family’s plantation during and after the Civil War. Of course, It also includes an epic love story spanning 12 years between Scarlett and Rhett Butler.   

Amber: I can’t say I’ve read the book, but I enjoyed the movie. I think you might be right Sara; it’s an epic love story we can’t pass up. Which book is Gone with the Wind up against? 

Sara: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak takes place during World War II. It focuses on Liesel, a young German girl, who steals books before they can be burned and tells stories to her family and the Jewish man who is hiding in her home. The narrator is Death which makes the story even more compelling.   

Amber: Interesting, a story narrated by Death is unique. This one has a movie version too, I believe. Although this one is lesser known, who do you think will be moving on? 

Sara: I happen to be biased toward Gone with the Wind, but I’m predicting The Book Thief may win this time. That will be the final buzzer as we wrap up introducing you to all our competitors this year. Which team do you think will win? Which do you think has a chance to make a Cinderella run? Don’t forget to follow along and vote each week, as we follow the Read to the Final Four, and eventually see which book makes it to the top of the shelf in March Book Madness 2022.