reading revelry

home Engineering Library EL&TC: November Reading Revelry

EL&TC: November Reading Revelry

By Gabe Harman   Posted in Engineering Library
Posted on

The month of November is the chilly calm before the mighty storm of finals week. There will be papers, exams, and stress. Although, it doesn’t have to be all work. Rest is just as important. And why not rest your mind by escaping into the cozy, fantastical worlds within this month’s Reading Revelry selections? The holiday break is almost here, and you’ll do great on your finals. Happy Reading!

 

 

Witch Hat Atelier 1 by Kamome Shirahama

ISBN: 9781632367709
Publication Date: 2019-04-23
In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with the gift for magic. She’s resigned to her un-magical life, until a traveling magician passes through her village, and Coco learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

ISBN: 9781614505242
Publication Date: 2020-07-21
Fourteen-year-old Mona isn’t like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can’t control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt’s bakery making gingerbread men dance.But Mona’s life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona’s city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

ISBN: 9780593439357
Publication Date: 2022-08-23
Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, and is used to keeping her head down with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos ‘pretending’ to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. When a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will decide whether protecting her found family is worth risking it all.

The House Witch by Delemhach

ISBN: 9781039410251
Publication Date: 2022
When Finlay Ashowan joins the staff of the King and Queen of Daxaria, he’s an enigma. No one knows where he comes from or how he came to be where he is, which suits Fin just fine. He’s satisfied simply serving as the royal cook, keeping nosy passersby out of his kitchen, and concocting some truly uncanny meals. But Fin’s secret identity doesn’t stay hidden for long. After all, it’s not every day a house witch and his kitten familiar, Kraken, take to meddling in imperial affairs. As his powers are gradually discovered by the court, Fin finds himself involved in a slew of intrigues.
TAGS:

Gabe Harman

Gabe Harman is a Senior Info Specialist at MU's Engineering library. He focuses on out-reach, instruction, and circulation

home Engineering Library Reading Revelry: October

Reading Revelry: October

By Gabe Harman   Posted in Engineering Library
Posted on

October is all about embracing Autumn by spending a cozy afternoon with a good book. Whether you’re looking for something light and heartwarming or something dark and mysterious, we’ve got you covered with this month’s Reading Revelry selections. From all of us at the Engineering library, happy fall and happy reading!

 

 

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

ISBN: 9780385353304
Publication Date: 2014-09-09
Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end. Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence.

Carmilla: the First Vampire by Amy Chu; Soo Lee (Illustrator); Sal Cipriano (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9781506734644
Publication Date: 2023-02-28
At the height of the Lunar New Year in 1990s New York City, an idealistic social worker turns detective when she discovers young, homeless LGBTQ+ women are being murdered and no one, especially the police, seems to care. A series of clues points her to Carmilla’s, a mysterious nightclub in the heart of her neighborhood, Chinatown. There she falls for the next likely target, landing her at the center of a real-life horror story and face-to-face with illusions about herself, her life, and her hidden past. Inspired by the gothic novel that started the vampire genre and layered with dark Chinese folklore, this queer, feminist murder mystery is a tale of identity, obsession and fateful family secrets

Archival Quality by Ivy Noelle Weir; Steenz (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9781620104705
Publication Date: 2018-03-06
After losing her job at the library, Cel Walden starts working at the haunting Logan Museum as an archivist. But the job may not be the second chance she was hoping for, and she finds herself confronting her mental health, her relationships, and before long, her grasp on reality as she begins to dream of a young woman she’s never met, but feels strangely drawn to.

DeadEndia: the Watcher’s Test by Hamish Steele

ISBN: 9781910620472
Publication Date: 2018-08-07
Barney and his best friend Norma are just trying to get by and keep their jobs, but working at the Dead End theme park also means battling demonic forces, time traveling wizards, and scariest of all–their love lives!
TAGS:

Gabe Harman

Gabe Harman is a Senior Info Specialist at MU's Engineering library. He focuses on out-reach, instruction, and circulation

home Engineering Library Reading Revelry: September

Reading Revelry: September

By Gabe Harman   Posted in Engineering Library
Posted on

Happy (sort of) Fall! This month’s Reading Revelry is all about Brandon Sanderson. Since his break through into the world of publishing novels in the early 2010s, Sanderson has made his name in the writing world with epic adventures, dazzling protagonists, and rich fantasy worlds. Here are just a view of his books to delve into. Happy Reading!

 

 

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

ISBN: 9781250318541
Publication Date: 2019-09-24
Vin is a Skaa thief living and surviving in the Lord Ruler’s twisted government where upper class Nobles are shielded from the hardships and struggle that the lower class Skaas are forced to face. However, when she’s approached by a band of rebels looking to use their secret powers to overthrow the tyrannical Lord Ruler, she might just have a way out. They know she has secret power too, and they are willing to show her how to use it to fight.
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

ISBN: 9780765360038
Publication Date: 2010-03-30
By using “breath” and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

ISBN: 9780765365279
Publication Date: 2011-05-24
Introduces the world of Roshar through the experiences of a war-weary royal compelled by visions, a highborn youth condemned to military slavery, and a woman who is desperate to save her impoverished house
TAGS:

Gabe Harman

Gabe Harman is a Senior Info Specialist at MU's Engineering library. He focuses on out-reach, instruction, and circulation

home Engineering Library, Resources and Services Reading Revelry: August

Reading Revelry: August

By Gabe Harman   Posted in Engineering Library Resources and Services
Posted on

Happy August! For some, this month means a sad goodbye to relaxing days in the sun and relishing in the simplicity of warm days and cool nights. For others, it means saying hello to chilly, crisp mornings and dusting off their impressive collection of flannel. Whether you’re already missing summer or you’re excitedly greeting the soon-to-come fall, Reading Revelry has a couple books to spend your August with. Happy Reading:

 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

ISBN: 9781250798008
Publication Date: 2021-06-29
The Ninth House is a great book to enter into the Autumn months with. Galaxy “Alex” Stern finds herself transitioning from her troubled life and mysterious past to entering her first semester at Yale. However, this also means she is stepping into her new role as Dante for Lethe House, a secret society tasked with overseeing the occult activities of the other eight secret societies inhabiting Yale’s campus. Will she be able to balance her new life and come to understand the nature of her power?

 

 

A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang

ISBN: 9781638930525
Publication Date: 2023-06-06
Eleanor is doing just fine. Yes, she’s keeping secrets from her husband. Sure, she quit her PhD program and is now conducting unauthorized research on illegitimately procured mice. And, true, her mother is dead, and Eleanor has yet to go through her things. But what else is she supposed to do? What shape can grief take when you didn’t understand the person you’ve lost? Resisting at every turn, Eleanor tumbles blindly down a path toward confronting her present. As Eleanor’s avoidance of her feelings results in a series of outrageous–often hilarious–choices, her actions begin to threaten all she holds most dear. Meanwhile, glimpses of Eleanor’s childhood and family history in Taiwan unfurl, revealing long-held secrets, and Eleanor starts to realize that she will never be able to escape her grief, or her family, despite her wildest attempts. But that doesn’t mean she can’t handle what’s to come. While maybe not inherently a summer book, A Quitter’s Paradise confronts the idea of change. For those starting new things in the beginning of a new year, having help with change might be just the right thing.
TAGS:

Gabe Harman

Gabe Harman is a Senior Info Specialist at MU's Engineering library. He focuses on out-reach, instruction, and circulation

home Engineering Library, Resources and Services Reading Revelry: Judy Blume July

Reading Revelry: Judy Blume July

By Gabe Harman   Posted in Engineering Library Resources and Services
Posted on

The Engineering Library is turning our attention to Judy Blume for our Reading Revelry picks for the month of July.

Since her first published work in 1969, Judy Blume gained renown as a prolific author to have published works for child, young adult, and adult audiences. However, she is also considered a trailblazer of child and young adult literature[1]. Blume wrote books that discussed topics of bullying, love, sex, and body image during a time where these things were rarely ever discussed in spaces children and teens had access to. While she was met with opposition, many of her readers still hold true that her books were spaces for them to finally get answers about themselves and the world around them that they couldn’t have asked anywhere else[1].

We hope you will enjoy reading (or re-reading) the selections we’ve picked for this month. Happy Reading!

Blubber by Judy Blume

ISBN: 9781481414401

Publication Date: 1974/2014

Jill and the rest of her fifth-grade class follow Wendy and Caroline’s example after they begin bullying a classmate for her appearance. However, it doesn’t take long for Jill and her best friend Tracy to realize that they are not exempt from becoming bullied themselves. The girls soon find themselves being tormented in a similar fashion by Wendy, Caroline, and the classmate they chose to bully simply because it was what everyone else was doing. 

 

Here’s to you, Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume

ISBN: 9780440409465

Publication Date: 1994

Rachel Robinson is thirteen years old, and she is the youngest of three siblings. While she is proud of her academic accomplishments, Rachel feels like her insecurities and perceived insignificance may get the better of her. Throughout the novel, she feels like she fades into the background of her family’s hectic life, that her best friends, Alison and Stephanie, secretly dislike her, that she might not be able to handle the pressure of joining high-achieving school societies, and worried over her crush on her brother’s older tutor, Paul Medeiros. In this novel, Blume captures the worries and insecurities that follow children into young adulthood[2].

 

Wifey by Judy Blume

ISBN: 9780425206546

Publication Date: 1978/2005

Wifey follows the life of Sandy Pressman, a New Jersey housewife in the 1970s. Bored with her life and marriage, Sandy decides to have an extramarital affair with an old boyfriend. However, her world seems to shift suddenly when she discovers evidence that her husband might also be having an affair. This novel expands on many questions surrounding the pressures of what building a “perfect” life looks like for women. While the book was written in the 70s, the discussions within the novel can still apply to today’s ideas of gender roles, heteronormative lifestyles, and the parts of a marriage no one else sees[2]. 

 

Sources

  1. Phillis, Leah (2018). Judy Blume (2938-) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327423779_Judy_Blume_1938-
  2. The New York Times. (n.d.). The New York Times. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/13/specials/maynard-blume.html
TAGS:

Gabe Harman

Gabe Harman is a Senior Info Specialist at MU's Engineering library. He focuses on out-reach, instruction, and circulation

home Engineering Library, Resources and Services MU Engineering Library’s Reading Revelry

MU Engineering Library’s Reading Revelry

By Gabe Harman   Posted in Engineering Library Resources and Services
Posted on

The staff at MU’s Engineering library is ecstatic to present our monthly book recommendation program: Reading Revelry!

Each month, our library staff will pick one or more books as recommendations for students to curl up and unwind from their studies with a good book or two (or more).

Please visit our Reading Revelry library guide to keep up with each month’s selections. Happy reading!

Our Selections for the month of June:

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

ISBN: 9781635570304
Publication Date: 2020-02-18
Dive into a fantasy world rich with adventure, political game, magic, and dragons in Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree. This book follows a Queen pressured with producing an heir to her throne, a lady-in-waiting tied to a secret society, a Lord banished from his kingdom by those looking to destroy it from the inside, and a young soon-to-be dragon rider willing to put her future on the line for an outsider.

 All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

ISBN: 9780374312718
Publication Date: 2020-04-28
George Johnson’s “Memoir Manifesto” is an honest, poignant recounting of their life experience as a black, queer person growing up in New Jersey and Virginia. The book follows Johnson from childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Beautifully told, the story navigates finding one’s own intersectional identity out of trials, triumphs, pain, and joy.
Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, Racial Slurs and Violence, Homophobic Slurs and Violence, and Familial Violence
ISBN: 9780983875550
Publication Date: 2015-04-14
Medical student Amal creates a rift with his conservative parents by coming out to them. After a night of trying to handle his emotional distress with alcohol, he wakes up to man by the name of TJ frying eggs and singing Paul Simon in his kitchen. TJ reveals that the two had made a drunken pact to drive from Berkeley to Providence. Amal needs to get there to fulfill a promise to his younger sister that he will attend her graduation. TJ has his own reasons for making the trip. Thus ensues a road trip between the two that is sweet, sometimes serious, and almost always heartening.