Alphabetical by Title
12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose- I read this because a student I'm tutoring is reading/watching it for her English class. I get that is supposed to be a performance, but most of the angry men just annoyed me and I have no desire to watch old white men act in the 1950s movie version.
107 Days by Kamala Harris- We could have had it all.
1776 by David McCullough- I read this because of Hamilton, and I liked
it.
1984 by George Orwell- Big Brother is watching. Just one of those
books I always wanted to read, and I finally got around to it.
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood- I was intrigued by Atwood after reading The
Handmaid's Tale. This book was actually based on a true story about a
murder trial in 1850s Canada. Really interesting, and there's a six episode
miniseries on Netflix.
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson- It's a series of essays about Johnson's experiences growing up as a gay African America. It's fascinating, but it has been banned in several libraries and schools because it includes LGBTQUIA+ content.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins- I became aware of the controversies and criticisms when I looked up the cloud forests of Honduras halway through the book (they're gorgeous, by the way). I cannot understand the struggles of migrants, and I cannot speak to how authentic or inauthentic the book may be. I was moved by the story, and now I have resources through the other reviews on where to find other migrant stories to further my understanding of the topic.
Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver- Yes, the girl gets together with the guy at the end. But it's an unconventional love story, and it explores some really interesting issues like family, the US involvement in Central America, Native American history, the affect of big business on the environment, and even sex education in high school. A really good read, and I got it at a used book store for only $3!
An Atlas of Extinct Countries by Gideon Defoe- White men have always thought they could get away with anything.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid- I went through a space/astronaut phase as a child, so that plus lesbians means I really enjoyed this novel.
Atomic Habits by James Clea- Self-improvement books are really not my jam. And I want to talk to his wife and see if his habits extend to housework. Also, he needs more female examples.
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama (written
when he was a Senator)- Everyone who wants to be president should write
something similar.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins- This is the Hunger Games prequel, and it was good. Evil can come from anywhere.
The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner- Finches. The Galapagos Islands. Evolution is real. You know the drill. A fascinating look at the continued studies of the Galapagos finches. I heard about this book on a podcast.
Becoming by Michelle Obama- Woah. Woah. Love her. This is just her story, and her values, and her life. I know she said she would never run for office, but maybe we can make her queen or something?
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters- This novel was a sweet story about two people finding their way back home. It was from the perspective of two Native American individuals, but that didn't influence the story as much as the back blurb indicated.
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by Myeongseok Kang- What can I say, I love the BTS boys and I will read their book. It gave great insights into each album and how they developed their music.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty- I watched the show before I read the book, and both are excellent. The biggest difference is the book is set in Australia and the show is set in California. Same plot, different cultural references.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson- I loved this. It discusses immigration and how to preserve traditions, while being a really good family drama/mystery.
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors- I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I liked each sister's story and perspective.
Bossypants by Tina Fey- I have been told I somewhat resemble Ms. Fey, so I obviously had to read her book. She's a funny lady, so the book has a lot of comedy, but it also has a lot of wisdom.
The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What
Can Be Down About It by Paul Collier- This is really the first book I've read about
development. I wasn't an international studies, economics, or development
major, so I didn't quite understand every term and acronym Collier used, but I
did understand his main point. Most of the world is developed or developing,
but there are many countries, with around billion people total hence "the
bottom billion," who are stuck. In the book, he clearly outlines why they
are stuck, often through no fault of their own, and how to effectively help. Hint:
The answer isn't just throwing more money at them.
Brain Hacks by Lara Honos-Webb- Executive functioning is becoming a hot topic in education. This book focuses on executive functioning for adults.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid- This may be controversial, but this is my favorite novel from Reid. I love a strong woman is not afraid to be a b****. Because what is a b**** by a woman who is good at what she does, does she wants, and lets people that she's the sh**.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert- A historical fiction novel written like a memoir. If it's ever turned into a movie, the lead role would be a great Oscar role.
City of Thorns: Nine lives in the World's Largest Refugee Camp by Ben Rawlence- In a perfect world, there would be no refugees. But even in our world, we need to do better by current refugees.
Class by Stephanie Land- A follow-up to her first memoir, Maid. It further details the crippling reality of poverty in America.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner- Towards the end, there were I few times I almost cried. It's hard losing a loved one, especially one so entwined with your identity. Zauner explores her grief in a way that touches on the good and bad parts of loss, remembrance, and growth.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon- I am not on the autism spectrum, but I have taught many students who are. And to me, this book nails their perspective. It was such a good and eye-opening read.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid- I have heard a lot about Reid, and I have also read the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I like her style and I understand why she's popular. A great read and very rock n' roll.
Dead Wake by Erik Larson- Larson is a historical author, and I had to
read one of his books in high school for AP US History. And it was really good.
This book was really good too. It's about the Lusitania, a passenger cruise
ship torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in WWI. He uses mostly primary
sources, and the stories he tells are captivating.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver- This book was an excellent and poignant look at rural poverty, the opioid problem, foster car, foster care, and other relevant issues that many face.
Denali's Howl by Andy Hall- I picked this up in Alaska because I was curious about the state and it's beautiful but dangerous landscape. This is a story of how we can't fight nature, and it worth reading.
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman- I got this from the little free library in my parents' library, so it's already great for being free. It's about the Siege of Masada by the Romans during the mid-first century. It focused on women's stories, which is awesome. It's also just super long.
Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: The Zero Approach to Grammar by Lynne Truss- Yes, grammar is important. And you should try your best to use it correctly. But we should also not call people morons if they don’t know the different between a dash and a hyphen. Maybe they were never taught that and just need the chance to learn!
Educated by Tara Westover- This book reminded me of The Glass Castle, just with a Mormon twist. The same kind of story of the power of education, and how growing as a person may mean you distance yourself from your family. An excellent read.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine- A lovely reread. It was in the
school library when I was in Rwanda.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond- This is a must read, especially in the current climate. The rent prices of 2008-2009 that Desmond talks about are a far cry from the prices of today, but the problems remain the same. A country of such "riches" should not have such poverty.
The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Less- It's now a show on one of the many streaming services. An interesting read, but nothing too out there.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Our possible future.
Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai- I was truly blown away by this memoir. Malala is a well-known advocate for girls' education and in this memoir she discusses her own education at Oxford University. And she struggled! And she was open about her struggles which is incredible to read about. I know many of my students find school and the academic world hard, and I'm glad that someone so prominent in education advocacy is speaking how they worked through their challenges, both in academics and mental health. Definite read.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk- I get it, it's satirical and cynical and all that. But dude, just like, make a real friend, And I can't help but then that a woman would have handle her dissatisfation with life and capitalism in a much more productive manner.
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray- A beautiful piece of historical fiction about the friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, an early leader of the Civil Rights Movement. It's make a really good, and really relevant point, that it's not just enough to not be racist. To truly bring change, we need to actively anti-racist. It's a point I've read before and can be applied to sexism, homophobia, and many other ills of society. And yet, we still think that just because "I'm not like that," that's it's enough. It's not. Because there are lots of people who are "like that," and they will win if we do not actively stand up to them.
FLIPP The Switch: Strengthen Executive Function Skills by Sheri Wilkins and Carol Burmeister- More executive functioning. More strategies.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic- Listen, I am not high-brow or intellectual enough to get the all the Proust and Steinback references. But I enjoyed this graphic novel because it was about family, and we can all relate to that. And now there's another musical that I need to go see.
The Future by Naomi Alderman- This was so good. Like so good. It's kind of a blueprint for the direction we're headed in and how we could possibly fix it.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe- I'm really glad I read the most challenged/banned book of 2023. It taught me a lot about gender identity and how it can fluctuate by person, time, and place. It was eye-opening, funny, and it talked about fanfiction, which is a win for me.
The German House by Annette House- This book is some of the Auschwitz trials. The Germans in the book, even as late as the 60s, didn't want to face or admit what happened in the concentration camps. They were ignoring history, and we don't need to do the same.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil- A story of a young refugee who fled Rwanda before the genocide. After making her way across the African continent and through a variety of refugee camps, she came to America. Clemantine does not tell the polite version of her story, the kind we usually see on TV. She's raw and real, and dives into the realities of being a refugee. She's also not afraid to address the deep divides between her experiences as a refugee and her experiences in America.
The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Karen White, and Lauren Willig- Yes, this is another Lusitania book (though I thought it was going to be a Titanic book). But it's fiction this time, and includes lots of drama, espionage, and romance.
Greening Aid?: Understanding the Environmental Impact of
Developmental Assistance by Robert L. Hicks, Bradley C. Parks, Timmons Roberts, and
Michael J. Tierney- This is a very technical book about how much aid is given
to environmental issues. I didn't understand all of it as I majored in neither
environmental studies nor international affairs, but I got the gist. Climate
change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental issues are problems, and
developed countries and groups like the World Bank have started providing more
aid to developing countries to address these problems. However, every
hypothesis or conclusion the authors made felt like a "well duh"
moment for me, even though I have no background in the subject. Of course donor
countries are going to give more money to their trade partners, and of course
they're going to do it in a way that most benefits them. Aid is about helping
others, but that doesn't mean politicians and governments aren't looking out
for themselves first.
Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey- Listen, it was really interesting to read about the mountain gorillas. Their interactions are fascinating and it's fun to read about how they live, despite all the talk about poop and interbreeding. But I did find Fossey's writing a little racist. She usually refers to her Rwandan staff as just "the Africans" and seems to think that the gorillas that live in the mountains are better than the people that live in the mountains. I mean, gorillas are cool, and poaching is definitely bad, but I think people still hold the top spot.
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond- This is an ambitious read in which Mr. Diamond makes essentially the same point over and over. Europe and the Europeans weren't able to colonize the world because they (or any other race, ethnicity, or group of people) were inherently better or superior. They got lucky when it comes to agriculture and livestock. Wheat and pigs really did determine the course of human history.
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls- Walls is probably best
known for The Glass Castle, a personal memoir about her unconventional
and impoverished childhood. It was recently made into a film starring Brie
Larson. This semi-biographical novel tells the story of her grandmother, Lily
Casey Smith. Smith was a strong, real-life cowgirl who worked on ranches and
taught in one-room schools. She was really fun to read about, and the novel
almost made me want to move to a ranch (almost, I'm still not an outdoorsy
person).
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- I wanted to read the book
before I watched the show and boy is it an eerie novel. Some of ideas presented
are scarily close to things being said by people today about issues like
feminism and women's rights. A worthwhile read.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid- Come for the butts, stay for the love and the yearning. 10/10, no notes.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - Yeah, this definitely takes place in
Jackson, Mississippi. This is another one of those books that I've been meaning
to read and finally had the time. I haven't seen the movie (though I want to)
but the book still came to life in my mind, and touched on many issues that are
still very much relevant not only in the South, but the entire country.
The Hidden Power of F*cking Up by The Try Guys- I've been a fan of these guys on YouTube for awhile, and I was really excited to see them branch out. They're right: it's okay to try, and it's okay to fail. And they write about their experiences in a really fun way.
A History of the World in Six Glasses
by Tom Standage- Mr. Standage looks at how beer, wine, spirits, coffee,
tea, and Coca-Cola have changed the world. It's a really interesting
book and I'm glad it includes my personal favorite beverage, the one and
only Coca-Cola.
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes- A nice little mystery. 10/10 would recommend as a beach or airport read.
Hula by Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes- I wish I had read this before I visited Hawaii. Nonetheless, it is excellent, and weaves information about hula and the culture of Hawaii into a beautiful story.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb- She's right. Education is incredibly important and every child everywhere has a right to learn.
The Idealist’s Survival Guide by Alessandra Pigni- This book is all
about how to avoid and survive burn out in the fields of activism and humanitarianism.
As Pigni says, humanitarians and activists see a lot of crap, but often it is
the bureaucracy and red tape in their organizations that really bring them
down. And I think the same can be said about the education field, and even
fields like nursing and social work. These are the workers who put everything
on the line to help their students or their patients or their clients, but they
rarely take care of themselves. Furthermore, there’s usually not a lot of
support in the helping fields, and taking a break or talking about mental
health can be seen as a weakness by those in charge and other employees. So,
bottom line, don’t be too hard on yourself, and be nice to your fellow workers
in the various helping fields.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy- This was raw. And expresses just how grief and relief often go hand in hand.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson- I had another book by Larson,
so I went ahead and read it. This one is about the American ambassador to
Germany in the 1930s, the years of Hitler's rise to power. It describes Berlin
and Germany in those years as like a pot about to boil over, which it certainly
did. And it describes how some, like the ambassador William Dodd, opposed
Nazism and spoke against the regime, while others, both in Germany and in the
US, were more complicit. It makes me think of today and the issues we face. Who
will speak up against racism and sexism and who will let it continue? I only
hope we learn from that dark chapter of human history.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer- I have thoughts. Mostly that this was definitely written by a man about a man. From an outsider's perspective, someone who doesn't hike or camp or anything, McCandless was an idiot. And after hearing from the perspectives of those who do hike and camp, McCandless was an idiot. His death is tragic and I feel for his family, but Krakauer idolizes him in a way I don't feel comfortable with. It's not admirable or meaningful or heroic to test the limits of nature in a way that, in my eyes, is irresponsible. And his parents weren't perfect, but they loved him. Krakauer describes McCandless like this amazing mountain man who is giving up his worldly life to ascend to something better. In reality, McCandless sounds like an arrogant wannabe Bear Grylls who could have used his intelligence and privilege to help people in more tangible ways that just being a cautionary tale. And I guarantee most women would never be so unprepared or haughty.
Invisible Women by Caroline Criato Perez- The world is designed for men, and that hurts women. It also hurts productivity, community, and society. Men usually don't believe this, but Perez has provided the research and data to back women up. I do agree that there needs to be more discussion of trans women, non-binary individuals, and women of color, but this is a start.
The It Girl by Ruth Ware- A bit creepy, a bit mystery. It was fun.
James by Percival Everett- This was an incredible read, and I think there are many people who would benefit from reading this. Jim/James is leading a dual life, and that is something that still happens over a century later.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan- I finally read The Joy Luck Club because one of the chapters was featured in our English curriculum for 7th grade. And the whole book truly enforces the theme that you can't make someone be something they're not. Although the mothers tried, their daughters often went their own way. My students REALLY related to this theme.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini- He wrote a foreword for Stones
into School, so I went back and reread The Kite Runner. It was just
as moving as the first time.
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama- Love it. Love her. Inspiration with a dash of tea spilling.
The Long Game by Rachel Reid- More butts, more love. No notes.
The Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela- Look, I knew Nelson Mandela was getting on in his years when he was released from prison and elected as South Africa's first democratically elected president. I just didn't realize how many years he and the African National Congress had been struggling, and how long their walk to freedom really was. His story is remarkable, and that he managed to fight so hard for so long for what he believed in is inspiring.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah- Ishmael's heartbreaking story takes place during Sierra Leone's decade long civil war. Though there has been some dispute over the accuracy of the timeline and events presented in the memoir, the fact remains that boy soldiers were used regularly in this and other conflicts.
The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston- It made me want to travel to Honduras, even though I know I really shouldn't travel to Honduras. A wonderful archaeological adventure that also explores the moral and cultural implications of such expeditions.
The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White- This is a fun historical piece that would be nice to read on the beach.
Maharanis: A Family Saga of Four Queens by Lucy Moore- A fascinating and beautiful look at some of India’s ruling families. I didn’t know that under British colonialism that some princely families retained power. It was a great look at India’s road to independence through the lens of its native rulers.
Maid by Stephanie Land- I am fortunate enough to have never lived in poverty. However, I still want to understand poverty, particularly American poverty, and what I can do to fight it. This book helped with that. Now, I need to watch the Netflix series.
The Maid by Nita Prose- A nice little murder mystery with a fantastic protagonist.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid- A nice family drama.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden- I'm not sure how accurate this historical fiction novel is, I think I learned something. The "romance" aspect was a little creepy but overall I enjoyed it. Also, the movie is just really pretty.
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris- Sedaris is a comedian, and this is a wonderful collection of short stories from his eventful life.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt- I guess I need to visit Savannah.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig- I liked this book. Makes you think about choices in life, and how you really can be anything you want. I know this is going to sound bad, but I really wish a woman had written it. The main character is a women, and I feel like a female author could have written her better.
The Muralist by B.A. Shapiro- A lovely piece of historical fiction set at the end of the Great Depression/beginning of WWII. It actually taught me a lot about American art during that time and it's development.
Music of the Ghosts by Vaddey Ratner- This novel is a historical fiction piece about the Cambodian Genocide of the 1970s and its survivors. I was interested in it because of my visit to Cambodia in 2023, and it is a poignant piece about survival, and how trauma affects people for their entire lives.
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose- The sequel to The Maid. I liked the first one better, but this was still fun.
A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, and the Musicians- From Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between by Stuart Isacoff- A student I was tutoring was writing a paper about the piano and I was intrigued. Actual musicians would get more out of the book, but I still learned a lot!
The Necklace by Claire McMillan- The Necklace was good. It's this sort of romance, mystery book that goes back and forth between the 1920s and present day. The necklace in question is based on an Indian artifact, and the novel does touch on the fact that most things in western museums are, in fact, stolen. Also, I didn't like that the main female character accepted this guy's proposal at the end. I just felt like he didn't deserve it.
The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda- A nice mystery you can figure out the ending to. A beach read.
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger- A mystery/horror/supernatural kind of deal.
Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry- It's just kind of a boring book written by a middle-aged white guy who, according who Wikipedia, describes himself as a "raving egomaniac."
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah- Apparently, the Fanning sisters have expressed interest in playing the main characters. That would be good.
Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond- Some cultists summon the prince of hell at an escape room and the girl who's working there (recent college graduate who majored in history) has to stop the apocalypse. Oh, and she starts dating the prince of hell. Love it.
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder- He never says the name, but you know who he's talking about.
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen- I read this on vacation, and I honestly don't remember much except the setting. Some cool island in South Carolina?
Our National Parks by John Muir- John Muir was the idea man behind our glorious national park system. Except he really only talks about Yosemite and Yellowstone. Anyway, it's books like these that make me grateful I will never be tested on a book again (unless I go back to school for a PhD). So. Many. Trees.
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez- This young adult novel has been challenged or banned due to "sexually explicit content," "violence," and "difficult imagery." It's set in the 1930s in Texas, of course there is going to be violence and difficult imagery. And whoever said there was sexually explicit content didn't read the book that carefully. It really is a heartbreaking novel with important lessons about the time.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller- I actually really enjoyed this novel. And it was recommended by Reese Witherspoon! The main character in Palace realizes she has trauma, acknowledges that her trauma makes her do things that are not 100% moral, and is working through her trauma. The only thing that bugs me is that the author uses Memphis as a minor setting and basically describes it as a hell hole. And as a Memphian, I take offense. Yeah, we have problems, but we're not that bad!
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley- It was trying to do too much.
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles- This book is historical fiction, based on the stories of librarians at the American Library in Paris during Nazi occupation. Very interesting. I learned a lot about the occupation, and the characters were compelling. It was a win win.
Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton- We all need to read this memoir and then apologize to Paris Hilton. And probably Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, etc.
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray- This book is amazing. It's explores the racism and sexism inherent in 1900s America against a backdrop of art and literature.
Persuasion by Jane Austen- It's Jane Austen. I downloaded it for free from Project Gutenburg. The sensible, intelligent protagonist gets her man.
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson- I think it would be fun to be part of an upper class family in New York City. It sounds like fun, if very unrealistic to those in the rest of the world.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover- A Southern Baptist minister drags his family to the Congo during a time of revolution, independence, and war. Basically, the minister is my grandmother who had certain ideas about what Africa was like when I joined the Peace Corps. The book helps explain what the media forgets to show.
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond- Another book everyone needs to read.
The Power by Naomi Alderman- The novel is based on a great premise, and I quite liked the character and story development. It was fast, but I think we have to suspend some of our preconceived notions for such a unique concept. Alderman is giving us a hypothetical, and I think that hypothetical is worth contemplating.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- It's easier to understand in your 30s than as a teenager.
Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics by Tim Marshall- A really interesting look at how geography has shaped politics, and how geography will continue to affect politics forever.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain- Everyone who has ever asked me why I don’t like going out needs to read this book. Really, everyone needs to read this book. It’s okay to stop talking and just listen.
Refugee by Alan Gratz- This book tells the story of three young refugees from three different time periods. And it should be on every middle school reading list.
Remaking Rwanda: State Building and Human Rights After Mass Violence edited by Scott Straus and Lars Waldrof- A less optimistic collection I read before service, this series of essays looks at the democratic and governmental development of Rwanda after the genocide. Not nearly as positive as Rwanda, Inc., many of the essays would be at home in a college course on developing democracies or the aftermath of atrocities in terms of government.
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen- I think every teenage girl who like reading goes through a Sarah Dessen phase. She is the queen of teen romantic lit, and I still love her stuff even as I get older. The Rest of the Story is another lovely, easy read about a girl finding herself and finding love over the summer. And even though you can see the ending from a mile away, it's a nice comfort book.
River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard- I read this because the Congo-Nile trail is a big tourism draw in Rwanda, so I wanted to learn more about the river systems. Basically, the European need for exploration and conquest in the 1700s and 1800s led to the problems sub-Saharan Africa faces to this day. Yes, that's the message I got.
Rwanda by Philip Briggs- This is a Bradt travel guide I bought and read
to take with me. It is really more for tourists to Rwanda, and has tons of
great information of things to do, places to go, etc.
The Rwanda Crisis: History of a Genocide by Gerard Prunier- In
preparation for service, I read this to get an overview of the 1994 genocide
that defines Rwanda's recent history and even its present. The book was
incredibly well researched, tracing the conflict all the way back to
pre-colonial history. The genocide was a horrific event, and Prunier leaves out
nothing in examining the atrocities that happened.
Rwanda, Inc. by Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Redmond- I read this very
optimistic book in preparation for service. Crisafulli and Redmond focus mainly
on the economic recovery of Rwanda since the horrific genocide of 1994, and
have a positive outlook of the country's progress. They describe the many
different projects and investments in Rwanda, and have hope for the country's
future.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid- I really enjoyed this book. Some thought it was predictable, but I admire how Evelyn lived her life. The actress that eventually plays her in the eventual movie version will be an Oscar favorite.
The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls- It's like Jeannette Walls took her nonfiction and made it fiction. The story is set in the 1970s, but if you just add the Internet it could easily take place today. We still have the same issues with racism and sexism that she explores in the novel.
Smart but Scattered Teens: The "Executive Skills" Program for Helping Teens Reach Their Potential by Richard Guare, Peg Dawson, and Colin Guare- More executive functioning. Students still need to develop these skills so they get things done.
Solito by Javier Zamora- A great read. It really helped me see immigration in a new light, and I hope it can help others do the same.
South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon Line to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry- People who should read this: anyone who considers themself a Southerner, anyone who lives in the South, and anyone who has ever spoken badly about the South.
Spare by Prince Harry- THE TEA WAS SPILLED. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
The Splendid and the Vile: A Tale of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson- Winston Churchill. World War II. The first year of the bombing of London. History. You get it.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski- This book could have been about 200 pages shorter. But it featured a lot of dogs, so that's good.
Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson- The follow-up to Three
Cups of Tea about building schools in Afghanistan.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid- I really liked this book. It was dramatic and funny and tongue-in-cheek.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins- Another fantastic Hunger Games book that speaks directly to the time we live in. Those who crave power will do anything to keep control.
Survivor by Chum Mey- The story of one of less than a dozen survivors of the S-21 Tuol Sieng campd under the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. I was able to meet him when I visited Cambodia, and his story is one we must listen to.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini- By the same author who wrote The Kite Runner, this novel has similar themes of family and survival set in war-torn Afghanistan. It did make me choke up.
