In honor of National Library Week, here is a list of some of our team's favorite, and most recommended books.
Brandon Ballschmidt:
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger -
A dark Sci-Fi Western by Steven King shares the tale of "The Gunslinger". More than just the characters, this book pulled me in both by the slow revealing of the world the characters are in, and of the world which came before. This book is the first in King's "Dark Tower" series, and each entry of which has kept me thinking about them long after I had put the books down.
Cassie Ballschmidt:
The Book Thief:
by Markus Zusak
If you want a fast read, this book is not for you. If you only like happy endings, this book is not for you. It is unsettling and unsentimental, and yet oddly poetic. It is both quiet, yet brutally honest in it's description of the human condition. It is a story rich in character development and a place where the spaces between the words are often louder than the words themselves. Mostly told from the perspective of Death, "The Book Thief" is about a young girl during World War II and the Holocaust. It is one of the most breathtaking pieces of literature I've ever had the pleasure to consume. I find something new in it's pages every-time I dig in for another read.
“I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.” ― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
Chris Roman:
March, Book One
by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
In this graphic novel, "March" covers the civil rights movement in the 60s from John Lewis' POV. In Book 1 he discusses his childhood, early education, and how he became involved with Martin Luther King Jr, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. There's also 2 more books in the trilogy, March: Book 2 and 3!
Chris Rundell:
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
by Edward Fitzgerald
If the goal of reading is to further your knowledge, the best books are those that make you think, and The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam does.
The Stand
by Steven King
Post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel. After the accidental release of a strain of influenza that had been modified for biological warfare, an apocalyptic pandemic kills off 99.4% of the world’s humans. I read it in one very long night, could not put the damned thing down.
Mike Pindara:
Fight Club
by Chuck Palahniuk
Incredible mind-bending thriller you've probably already heard of. Compared to the movie, it's great to read inside the narrators head the whole time.
Freelance Manifesto
by Joey Korenman
If you're trying to further yourself as a creative, and need that extra push to find work and organize yourself on the business side, this is the go to.
Green Arrow: Road to Jericho
by Judd Winick
A personal favorite graphic novel. I love the art style of Scott McDaniel paired with a story that takes a hero back down to his roots to rebuild.
Ryan Johnson:
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self
by Anodea Judith
This is a great book if you’re interested in psychology, or if you’d like to better understand yourself. It’s a good resource for self-reflection.
Sean Connolly:
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury represents my favorite kind of science fiction. He doesn't need pages and pages of lengthy exposition to explain the science. It's just fun. Robotic killer dogs... 'nuff said.
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Also I reread To Kill a Mockingbird recently and well worth a read. The book has great characters, it's funny, and has great courtroom drama that, let's face it, we all love.
