Stories that Speak to Us: CAHSS Staff Share their Dreamiest Summer Reads

Thoughtful, heartfelt stories inspire and empower, connecting us deeply and reflectively to our world and dreams in ways that often reverberate throughout our lives. As part of our “Stories that Speak to Us” series celebrating the power of storytelling, the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) Newsroom asked CAHSS staff members to recommend books to savor on long summer days and warm summer nights. 

Ethan Dvorak, content specialist, Marketing & Communications, CAHSS Support Services

I recommend “Project Hail Mary,” written by Andy Weir, which recently had a tremendous film adaptation. The story follows Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher called upon to use his expertise and bravery to save the world. A mysterious force known as the Petrova Line is slowly draining the sun’s energy. Humankind, as we know it, will decay from lack of resources or war. We follow Grace from the moment he wakes on his ship, “The Hail Mary,” to meeting an unexpected friend and a previously undiscovered species: Rocky. Together, Grace and Rocky find common ground in their mission — Rocky needs to save his planet, too. This story reminds us that no matter where we come from, friendship develops in unforeseen and often necessary ways. This book revolves around bravery, genius, companionship, and, most importantly, hope. If exemplifying these traits can save the world, imagine the profound impact it can have on everyday life. “Project Hail Mary” pushes us to believe in hope and to look beyond what we imagine friendship and family to be. 

Kate Donovan, recruitment and admissions coordinator, Recruitment & Admissions, CAHSS Support Services 

My summer reading recommendation is “James” by Percival Everett. Inspired by Mark Twain’s classic “Huckleberry Finn,” “James” follows Huck’s enslaved friend, Jim, as the protagonist and main character as he and Huck adventure down the Mississippi River in the 1800s. The story offers a completely different view of “Huckleberry Finn,” highlighting a background character in the original novel. Depicted as suspicious and unknowing in “Huckleberry Finn,” Jim is now portrayed as a man of high intelligence, awareness, social aptitude, and agency in “James.” The story shows the danger he and Huck Finn were really in throughout their journey down the river, and the role Jim played in keeping Huck alive and safe while he was trying to free his wife and daughter from slavery, something that was not a central theme in “Huckleberry Finn.”

You do not need to read “Huckleberry Finn” first, as they are two distinct stories. The original is about a young boy learning his place in the world, while “James” is about someone who didn’t get to choose their place in the world and is determined to change it. If you ever felt that “Huckleberry Finn” is too much a book of its time (because it is ultimately a novel with racism in it), “James” is the healing, progressive version that highlights the importance of Black American voices in literature.

Angela Mitchell, manager, Marketing & Communications, Lamont School of Music

I am in the middle of reading “The Book of Dust,” the trilogy by Philip Pullman that is part-sequel, part-prequel to his late ‘90s trilogy "His Dark Materials.” The books further chronicle the adventures of Lyra Belacqua and her battle against the theocratic organization known as the “Magisterium,” and they shed more light on the mysterious substance called “Dust.” I first read “His Dark Materials” — made up of “The Golden Compass,” “The Subtle Knife,” and “The Amber Spyglass” — as a teenager. I was instantly drawn into the parallel world that Pullman created, where a human's inner self manifests as an animal-shaped "dæmon" that almost always stays near its human counterpart. All these years later, reading these books as an adult, I am just as captivated by the characters, themes, and storytelling. I can’t wait to get back to reading at the end of every day!