October, just in case you didn’t know, is National Book Month, aka the perfect excuse to read, read, read! Fall is the best time for reading. It’s getting cold and chilly out, so you can snuggle up with a blanket and some fuzzy socks and hot chocolate and just lounge to your heart’s content. We’ll be showcasing some of our favorite books this month in celebration. To start, here are our favorites, picked from our own bookshelves.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Recommended by BJ Robinson, Director
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by Shakespeare between 1598 and 1599. Lies, trickery, and deceit run rampant and prove that communication is important in a relationship! Don Pedro woos Hero for Claudio; Beatrice and Benedick are tricked into confessing their feelings; Hero fakes her own death. It’s a story where miscommunication is king, and chaos reigns.
Fun Fact: The majority of the text is written in prose, not iambic pentameter.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Recommended by Corey Parson, Managing Editor
One of the most commonly banned books of all time The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows Huck where The Adventures of Tom Sawyer left off. First kidnapped by his drunkard father, then given over to be “sivilized,” Huck decides the only thing to do is fake his own death and run away. And that’s not even the craziest part. Huckleberry Finn is an adventure story, filled with bad luck and worse timing.
Fun Fact: It was first published in the U.K. It took two months before it was published in the U.S.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Recommended by Jillian Murphy, Assistant Managing Editor
Anne of Green Gables features Anne-with-an-E Shirley, accidentally adopted and supposed to be a boy. Written by Montgomery in 1908, the novel follows Anne and her life in the small, magical town of Avonlea. The novel became an instant classic and is considered one of the best children’s novels of all time. Anne lived a life of adventure and could do all the things we wished to (including cracking a slate over someone’s head. Childhood dream.).
Fun Fact: Anne of Green Gables is incredibly popular in Japan. Enough so that there’s a recreation of Green Gables in Hokkaido.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Recommended by Emilee, student worker
What would you do if the gods of old were still here? Would you know? Would you maybe even be one of them? That’s who Percy Jackson is: Demigod, son of Poseidon, and supposedly the lighting thief. Percy was never told who his father was until it was almost too late. Now, he has to find Zeus’ lightning bolt and clear his name. Riordan’s series started as bedtime stories for his son which is why they translate so well to kids and adults today.
Fun Fact: There is a musical version by the same name. It first premiered in 2014 and was re-released in 2017.
The First Bad Man by Miranda July
Recommended by Sam, student worker
The First Bad Man is the debut novel of Miranda July, and it’s a work of surrealism that can’t be clearly defined. It’s protagonist, Cheryl, is fortysomething, aggressively polite, and clearly going through an unresolved crisis. Cheryl’s bosses convince her to let their daughter (Clee, 21, certainly aggressive, not exactly polite) live with her. From there starts a path of chaos that is certainly odd, but oddly enthralling and which will guarantee a wild ride to any reader.
Fun Fact: Before the book was released, July auctioned off items from the story. These include a jester hat, a Tibetan cloth, and special shoes (green flip-flops with nails sticking out the bottoms).
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