Winter Break Reading Recommendations

As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, winter break is a great time to curl up with a good book! We asked the staff of the Goodson Law Library to share some recommended reading – either books they've enjoyed recently or titles they're looking forward to reading next. If you need some inspiration for your to-be-read pile, check out our seven winter 2022 recommendations below.

What We Liked

Candice Millard, River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile (2022). (Request a print copy!): "A gripping account of adventure, personal rivalry, and innumerable obstacles in the search for the headwaters of the Nile by a formerly enslaved man, a British aristocrat, and the English translator of One Thousand and One Nights and the Kama Sutra. In this epic tale, Millard pulls together the history of British imperialism, literature, science, and geography (not to mention disguises, burrowing beetles, and Dr. Livingstone). I couldn't put it down!" – Laura Scott, Assistant Director for Reference, Clinics & Outreach and Senior Lecturing Fellow

 

Stephen Greenblatt, The Swerve: How the World Became Modern (2011). (Request a print or Kindle copy!) "This book was such a pleasure to read. It is both a historical mystery story and a fascinating introduction to an ancient poem, Lucretius' On the Nature of Things, which was astonishingly ahead of its time." – Don Hopkins, Data Scientist

 

Erika Krouse, Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation (2022). (Request a print copy!) "This memoir of a rookie PI's work for an attorney on a Title IX lawsuit against a university athletics program reads more like a novel. It's a fascinating view into a part of legal practice that you don't hear much about in law school, vividly told by an author whose own past trauma informs her approach. (Content warnings: sexual assault & child abuse.)" – Jennifer L. Behrens, Associate Director for Administration & Scholarship and Senior Lecturing Fellow

Marlon James, Moon Witch, Spider King (2022). (Request a print or e-book copy!): "I'm currently reading the second novel in the Dark Star Trilogy. Set in ancient Africa, Moon Witch, Spider King dives into the origin story of Sogolon, the Moon Witch. I am excited to continue diving deeper into the fantasy world from the first novel in the trilogy, Black Leopard, Red Wolf.” –Julie Wooldridge, Research Services Librarian and Senior Lecturing Fellow

 

What We’re Excited to Read Next

Nina Totenberg, Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships (2022). (Get on the hold list!) "This book was written by someone I have a lot of admiration for, about someone I have a lot of admiration for. Haven't read it yet, but will do so one of these days, over dinner." – Jane Bahnson, Assistant Director for Research & Instruction and Senior Lecturing Fellow

Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere (1997). (Get on the hold list!): “I'm excited to start Neverwhere because I liked American Gods, and the reviews for this book are very good: it is one of NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy books of all time!” –Chelsey McKimmy, Research Services Librarian and Lecturing Fellow

 

Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart: A Memoir (2021). (Request a print or e-book copy!). "I would like to read this critically-acclaimed memoir by musician Michelle Zauner (of Japanese Breakfast), about reconnecting with her Korean heritage after the death of her mother. I think that her reflections on grief and loss will be relatable to a wide audience, although they (and I!) may want to save it until after the holiday season." – Alex Zhang, Archibald C. and Frances Fulk Rufty Research Professor of Law, Associate Dean of Information Services, and Director of the J. Michael Goodson Law Library