What's on Your Bookshelf?

Despite having books to read for classes, our interns still like to enjoy a book or two on their own. So we asked one intern, Molly Spain, what she has on her recreational reading list while at school.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Ever since the movie was released, all of my friends and family members have talked nonstop about this book. I finally caved to see what the hype was all about and am now about half way through the book. I’m enjoying it so far because I always like a good mystery every once in a while.  Flynn has created such complex, yet realistic characters that capture the inner thoughts and feelings that a lot of us have but are afraid to voice.

Alive and Well in Pakistan by Ethan Casey

I was given this book for free during my business journalism class. Ethan Casey spoke to our class about his experiences as a journalist, and his passion drove me to read his nonfiction book about his travels. The book offers an insight into a world that most of us do not know much about other than what we read and hear in the news. Casey writes about the generous, kind and caring people of Pakistan, clearing any bad reputation of that country that might have been instilled in Americans by media.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I never go anywhere without a copy of Austen’s classic on my bookshelf. I keep a copy at my parents’ house and in my apartment because who knows when I’ll want to reread this one for the thousandth time? This may be a cliché favorite book to have, but I learn something new each time I read it. If you have not yet read this much talked about, romanticized novel, I would suggest giving it a try. It’s not just a “chick flick,” it is a novel of impeccable writing and fascinating characters with a complex plot. 

H.L. Mencken’s Chrestomathy by H.L. Mencken

I received this book as a gift, and while it is dense and not normally my favorite genre to read, Mencken’s nonfiction essays provide some interesting commentary on a variety of topics. I have only managed to get through a quarter of the collection thus far, but it is one project I intend to see through the end, even if it takes me years. I will finish it eventually.

Isn’t it Pretty to Think So? by Nick Miller

This is Nick Miller’s debut novel. I heard about his book via Miller’s Tumblr blog where he would post selective writings from his novel. His writing style grasped me from the get-go. He has a concise, yet poetic way of writing with internal focalization. Though I have virtually nothing in common with Miller’s male main character, Miller’s writing makes the reader feel as if you really are the main character and are embarking on the same journey. I finished the book in two days, and have read it once more since then. I keep it on my shelf just in case.