Amanda recommends: “Narcissus and Goldmund” by Hermann Hesse
Goldmund, a bright and energetic boy on the cusp of adolescence, is sent to study at a Catholic monastery in medieval Germany. Here, he falls under the mentorship of the intensely pious young teacher Narcissus. Despite the pair’s strong bond, Goldmund feels compelled to leave the cloister after some years to wander, to fall in and out of love and to find some meaning in his life. As he traverses the central European wilderness, Goldmund reflects upon the supreme value of friendship.
This book does have lots of romance (Goldmund cannot seem to keep the ladies away from him), but one of the main reasons that I love it so much is because of the timeless and sincere rapport between Narcissus and Goldmund. Their long-winded discussions glow by the flames of an unspoken and unconditional love. In conversation, they speak in serious, formal terms — and yet, the fondness that tints each dialogue is of an innocence and youth that lives in only the most unbreakable of bonds. No other novel that I’ve read has sculpted such a divine idol of friendship. For real, some of the chapters had me so emotional.
Bri recommends: “The Once and Future Sex” by Eleanor Janega
In this nonfiction book by historian Eleanor Janega, she explores medieval conceptions of women’s behavior, physical beauty, sexuality and roles within society. Published in 2023, Janega re-examines the history that other medievalists largely exclude, focusing on women and the lives they led at the time. She criticizes the male-centered approach to history and connects medieval thinking about women to modern times, arguing that though there has been some change, the world is not as progressive as it seems.
I loved this book because it not only tackles an area of history that I am not well-versed in, but the author herself is extraordinarily entertaining. Her scholarship is presented in an accessible way alongside humorous remarks that keep the reader interested in what she might say next. Though nonfiction is not everyone’s cup of tea, this is a book that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in feminism and women’s history.
Amelia recommends: “Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks” by Emily Pennington
A memoir about Pennington and the time she spent traveling to all of America’s national parks and all of the obstacles she encountered along the way. Published during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennington reminds us all how spending time in nature can change a person.
I like this book because of how real the author is. She becomes vulnerable — telling stories of very real obstacles and how lonely yet rejuvenating her journey was. She makes the reader realize that now, more than ever, if we want to save each other, we should start by saving our nation’s incredible landforms — from mountains and canyons to everything in between.
Kiera recommends: “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy
The book follows a father and his young son as they make their way through a barren environment after a post-apocalyptic event brings ruin and death to civilization. The story is told in third person, documenting the limited dialogue between the pair as they make their way south before the cold of the upcoming winter months kill them. The father continuously tells his son that they are the “good guys” in a society stripped of laws, morals and safety, even when they must fight to survive. Throughout their journey, they encounter cannibals, marauders and groups of people on killing sprees in what is left of the world. Illness plagues the family and memories from a past life threaten to spill into spoken existence.
This is one of my favorite books because it brought me back into reading. I was really interested in the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genre growing up, and this book felt like a step-up from the books I used to read. McCarthy’s formatting of this book (and possibly all of his books) makes it much more engaging than a typical book in my opinion, and the imagery used was both descriptive and imaginative. I highly recommend reading this if you are interested in the fears of the unknown.
Zach recommends: “What I Ate In One Year: (and Related Thoughts)” by Stanley Tucci
Actor, director and food connoisseur Stanley Tucci goes through nearly every day in 2023 to describe the food he ate, how he made it, who he ate it with and why the food he eats is significant to him. The year was pretty turbulent for Tucci’s life, from the filming of “Conclave” to the Screen Actors Guild strike. He also provides a number of recipes throughout the book, including “Tucci Minestrone.”
Tucci at times takes you through the whiplash of live events, from planning a menu for the King of England and dining with Woody Harrelson to the death of his first wife and bout with cancer. Despite these quick shifts in tone, Tucci’s anecdotes, stories and day-to-day life is often a delight to read — even if he insinuates four times in the book that he suspects his wife is cheating on him. I’ll need to try out a recipe or two that he peppers throughout the book.
