You’ve read about their work in the pages of the Gazette (and in some cases, on this very blog), but what do some of Penn’s author-alumni like to read themselves? We asked several to share their summer reading suggestions.
James Morrow C’69: Satiric science-fiction and fantasy writer; author of This Is the Way the World Ends and The Philosopher’s Apprentice, among others. Featured in the May|June 2011 Gazette.
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Knopf, 2011. $24.95)
Erik Larson C’76: Nonfiction writer, journalist and novelist; author of In the Garden of Beasts, Thunderstruck and The Devil in the White City, among others. Reviewed in the Jan|Feb 2007 Gazette.Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell (The New Press, 1997. Reprint: Vintage, 2003. $14.95 paperback)
Red Gold by Alan Furst (Random House, 1999. Reprint: 2002. $15 paperback)
Larson says: “Furst’s novels, set during and at the edges of World War II, never fail to transport me into a Casablanca-like trance. It was surely a terrible thing to be hunted by the Gestapo in German-occupied Paris, but in Red GoldFurst makes the plight and experiences of his hero, Jean Casson, seem romantic and stirring.”
A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1994. Reprint: Harper Perennial, 2011. $14.99 paperback)
Larson says: “This is the first in Lehane’s series of private-eye novels featuring the very engaging Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, at work in the tougher precincts of Boston. Lehane is a master of style and pace, and drags you deep into the darkest recesses of the human soul, albeit with Kenzie and Gennaro wisecracking all along the way.”
Allison Winn Scotch C’95: Contemporary women’s fiction writer; author of The One That I Want (out June 28), Time of My Life and The Department of Lost and Found. Featured in the May|June 2009 Gazette.The First Husband by Laura Dave C’99 (Viking Adult, 2011. $25.95)
Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close (Knopf, 2011. $24.95)
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J Watson (Harper, 2011. $25.99)
Stuart Gibbs C’91: Young Adult fiction writer; author of Belly Up and an upcoming Three Musketeers series. Featured on the Arts Blog last August.
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson (Doubleday, 2010. $28.95)
Gibbs says: “Nobody combines arcane facts and humor as well as Bryson does, and this time, he’s turned his attention to learning the backstory on everything in our homes. (And if you missed Bryson’s A Brief History of Everything or A Walk in the Woods, those are great too.)”
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan C’85 (Anchor, 2011. $25.95)
Gibbs says: “I have to admit, I don’t usually like books like this — Egan shifts writing style and perspective in every chapter — but in this one, I enjoyed the ride — and found that it all ended up at a very touching, poignant place.”
Anything from author Carl Hiassen
Gibbs says: “If you’re looking for some good, fun beach reading, you can’t go wrong with a little classic Carl Hiaasen. Tourist Season, Double Whammy, Skin Tight, Native Tongue, Strip Tease… They’re all ridiculous and hilarious. I’ve read each of them several times over — and will doubtlessly continue to do so.”
