John Locke once said, “Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him.”
Between cramming for exams, juggling multiple extracurriculars, attempting to maintain a social life and anxiously planning for the future, it seems everything takes precedence over reading and reflecting these days. It’s not often we find time to curl up and get lost in a good book. The days of proudly reading Dr. Seuss aloud to our parents or excitedly turning the pages of Harry Potter are distant memories of our youth.
For its annual State of the Campus Address today, Dec. 2, the University of Florida’s Student Government is partnering with Gainesville Reads, a local non-profit organization that works with nearby schools to promote the value of literacy in children’s educations. In the spirit of this great event and SG’s philanthropic efforts, GainesvilleScene has decided to spark your long-lost love for reading with our guide to the must-read books for your time off.
New Releases
“Not That Kind of Girl” by Lena Dunham
“There is nothing gutsier to me than a person announcing that their story is one that deserves to be told, especially if that person is a woman.”
Lena Dunham’s book has sparked all kinds of controversy — from accusations of child molestation to empathetic responses from her touching essay on rape. Dunham’s book is a great conversation starter for awkward holiday parties. For example, “Hey, how weird is it that Lena Dunham played with her sister’s vag when she was seven? Kids do the dardnest thing,” right before you grab another drink. Stay ahead of the culture curve and read what everyone is calling, “the voice of our generation.” -Kriti Vedhanayagam
“The Paris Architect” by Charles Belfoure
“Think how the world would’ve turned out if Hitler had gotten into art school, thought Lucien.”
Architect Lucien Bernard has yet to get his big break, but a call from a wealthy businessman holds much promise for the young man’s career. However, what ensues is a story fraught with suspense, doubt and risk. “The Paris Architect” is the ultimate can’t-put-it-down novel because with every page turn comes a plot twist you were not expecting.
“Yes, Please” by Amy Poehler
“It takes years as a woman to unlearn what you have been taught to be sorry for. It takes years to find your voice and seize your real estate.”
Amy Poehler’s “Yes Please” is, among other things, unwaveringly honest. This is a great book to read if you’re looking for something real and, of course, funny. It made me laugh hysterically, all the while contemplating my own life and my hopes for the future. It’s the perfect read for a long weekend or extended break from school or if, like me, you need an escape from trying to figure things out.
Classics
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson
“There was madness in any direction, at any hour. You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning.”
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is Hunter S. Thompson’s not-so-classic tale about the everlasting search for the American Dream. Following the drug-fueled antics of journalist Raoul Duke and lawyer Dr. Gonzo, this book will take you on an unforgettable journey into the human psyche. The characters lose themselves as they descend into a state of psychedelia, enthralling readers with their questionable morals and consumption of mind-altering substances. -Ashley Lombardo
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.”
“The Great Gatsby” is an instant classic brought to you by the ever-intriguing F. Scott Fitzgerald. The tale revels in the life of Jay Gatsby, a flourishing business man who throws extravagant parties to impress the love of his life. Hedonism and deception run wild through the plot as we quickly learn that the “American Dream” is as dead as chivalry is.
“God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” by Kurt Vonnegut
“There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”
You may have read Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle” or “Slaughterhouse-Five,” but “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” has somehow flown under the radars of Vonnegut fans, and inexplicably so. This novel was, in my humble opinion, the late-author’s funniest and most moving work, masterfully intertwining themes of wealth, social justice, personal conscience and altruism through the tale of Eliot Rosewater, a drunkard who decides to use his family’s riches to actually help people. “Mr. Rosewater” made me howl with laughter and, in the end, moved me to tears. -Debora Lima
Fiction
“The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.” by Adelle Waldman
“Dating is probably the most fraught human interaction there is. You’re sizing people up to see if they’re worth your time and attention, and they’re doing the same to you. It’s meritocracy applied to personal life, but there’s no accountability.”
Never has the schism between self and the idealized self been as eloquently articulated as it is in Adelle Waldman’s “The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.” Self-absorbed and emotionally stunted in spite of a perfectly adequate upbringing and education, Nate Piven can’t figure out what he likes. Meanwhile, readers struggle with whether they like him. Nevertheless, all 20-somethings will relate on some level with Waldman’s complex, multi-faceted characters as they traipse the dating world armed with biases, expectations and insecurities. -Debora Lima
“One More Thing” by B.J. Novak
“If you love something, let it go. If you don’t love something, definitely let it go. Basically, just drop everything, who cares.”
My purchase of “One More Thing” happened merely out of curiosity and admiration for B.J. Novak, better known as Ryan from “The Office.” But, once I started reading this delightful and poignant collection of short stories, I realized this was much more than a book written by another Hollywood dude who wanted to try his hand at writing. His stories have real depth to them and a beating heart I wasn’t expecting, and this collection has quickly become one of my favorites to read anywhere at anytime.
“The Dinner” by Herman Koch
“Sometimes things come out of your mouth that you regret later on. Or no, not regret. You say something so razor-sharp that the person you say it to carries it around with them for the rest of their life.”
So you’re a typical #cooldad in Amsterdam, going about your business, when you start to suspect your douchebag politician brother wants to run for president. You go out to dinner with him and his wife, and it’s awkward. Why? Because your son may or may not have murdered a homeless man, meaning a major roadblock for your brother’s presidential run. “The Dinner” occurs over a span of three hours, each chapter titled according to the dinner course. It’s suspenseful and thought provoking. -Daniel Harrison
Non-Fiction
“Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN” by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
“The place is erupting and we’re running on the field to get interviews. One of the greatest moments in my career. Then I have to ask Tom Landry good questions after a one-point loss. This shit isn’t easy. I’m twenty-five.” -Chris Berman
Created in 1979, ESPN is without a doubt one of the most popular networks in the history of television. This book journeys through the phases of ESPN’s history with detailed anecdotes of certain company breakthroughs and personal experiences from its employees. Passages about Erin Andrews’ peephole scandal and the surge of ESPN2 due to the gentlemen of “First Take” give the readers multifaceted background information on the intricate moments that have shaped this media juggernaut. -Dean Sandquist
“Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion
“To assign unanswered letters their proper weight, to free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves—there lies the great, the singular power of self-respect. Without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home.”
Joan Didion’s command of the English language, brightly on display in this collection of essays, is both envy- and awe-inspiring. Her characters are vivid and colorful; her assessments of the human condition are sensitive but powerful. “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” is nothing short of literary art, and Didion is nothing short of a literary legend. -Debora Lima
“Scar Tissue” by Anthony Kiedis
“A year jammed full of adventure and misadventure, strides forward and many steps backward. Another year in my topsy-turvy, Jekyll-and-Hyde existence.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis walks you through his life story in “Scar Tissue,” his tell-all autobiography published in 2005. Every misadventure, every sexual escapade, every narcotic high and every rehab stint is described, leading to utter absorption, entertainment and appreciation for Kiedis and the Chili Peppers. If there’s anyone who has enough life experience to fill 600-something pages, it’s Kiedis. Between each up and down in his life, the songs we have grown up loving are explained in detail, each telling a story of their own.
Light Reads
“Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?” by Mindy Kaling
“If it weren’t for my imagination, I would weigh ten thousand pounds. This is because the only way I am able to exercise anymore is through a long and vivid revenge fantasy.”
This book was pulled off the shelf after a devastating breakup in which I had gained a few pounds from too many pity parties and too much ice cream. When I saw Mindy’s grinning brown face on the cover, I knew this would be my breakup bible. To anyone who loves “The Office”, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler or anything smart and funny for that matter: Read this book! -Kriti Vedhanayagam
“Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris
“’I think it was very nice of Paul to give me this vase,’ she once said, arranging a bouquet of wildflowers into the skull-shaped bong my brother had left on the kitchen table. ‘It’s nontraditional, but that’s the Rooster’s way. He’s a free spirit, and we’re lucky to have him.”
A lifelong struggle with language inspired this set of self-deprecating essays by David Sedaris. From trying to cultivate a vocabulary free of S’s and plurals in anattempt to hide a plaguing lisp, to having a French instructor declare that every day teaching him “is like having a Caeserean section” to attempting to translate his brother’s slang for his parents, Sedaris has conquered his language-induced struggles and articulated quite possibly the funniest autobiography of all time. -Caroline Stonecipher
“Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls” by David Sedaris
“‘You have what we in France call ‘good time teeth,’ she said. ‘Why on earth would you want to change them?’ ‘Um, because I can floss with the sash to my bathrobe?’”
David Sedaris is hilarious enough to deserve numerous mentions on this list. In “Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls,” he regales readers with tales of taxidermied animals, “crop-dusting” flight attendants and telling pregnant and handicapped fans to “wait their fucking turns” at book signings. Sedaris is, as always, unrelentingly hilarious. Read all of his books if laughter is at all enjoyable for you.
Gainesville Reads will be collecting book donations when doors open for the State of the Campus Address event at 5:30 p.m. Student Body President Cory Yeffet will be sharing the past accomplishments and future endeavors of Student Government while giving you the scoop on what’s happening at our university. Click here for more event details.
Featured photo courtesy of: Tamara’s Blend
