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7 Book Recommendations By Writing Arts Majors, For Writing Arts Majors - Diana DeSimine

3/28/2021

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They say one of the keys to becoming a better writer is reading. So, what do members of the Writing Arts community recommend? From biting nonfiction, to heart-stopping thrillers, to heartfelt Young Adult, the answers are diverse and well-rounded. If you’re looking to add something fresh to your To-Read list, here are seven tried-and-true recommendations to consider!

1. Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo

Attention fantasy fans! If you’ve been sleeping on Six of Crows, take this as a sign to look for a copy. Magic, crime, and mayhem await you, in this story of a band of outlaws pulling off a heist in the fictional, bustling city of Ketterdam. Marissa Stanko, Writing Arts senior, describes Six of Crows as an “awesome dark fantasy with rounded, relatable characters. The world pulls you in and the snappy humor and great tension keeps you there. I’m in love with basically everything Leigh Bardugo writes!”
The cover of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
View on Goodreads

2. Welcome to Night Vale – Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor

Madi Cook, Writing Arts sophomore minoring in German studies, recommends Welcome to Night Vale, a novel set in the same world as Fink and Cranor’s successful podcast of the same name. Set in a strange and mysterious desert town, Madi describes the book as “a balancing act between humorous and haunting.” If you’re in the mood to explore the secrets of Night Vale, where odd, supernatural creatures lurk, and a hush-hush government holds power, give this a try. Madi says, “It's one of my absolute favorite books because the writing style is just so clever and witty. I hope you decide to get a copy!”
The cover of Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
View on Goodreads

3. Intensity – Dean Koontz

Enjoy a read that gets your heart pumping as you turn the pages? If so, this one’s for you. Writing Arts alumnus Remy Desai-Patel swears by Intensity, an exhilarating crime thriller revolving around a young woman dealing with the threat of a ruthless serial killer – or self-proclaimed “homicidal adventurer” – invading her friend’s home. “It honestly had me on the edge of my seat the whole time through,” Remy admits. ”A bit of a warning because it’s pretty dark and the subject matter is a bit intense (no pun intended) but if you’re into crime thrillers and in for some chills, give it a go.”
The cover of Intensity by Dean Koontz
View on Goodreads

4. Every Bright and Broken Thing – Brian McBride

Writing Arts junior and fellow intern Anngie recommends Every Bright and Broken Thing, a young adult contemporary novel revolving around two brothers. Although they’re in different phases of their lives, with Liam still in high school and Ezra struggling to navigate life’s pressures as a young adult, both of them have to stop to deal with the grief of losing their mother. “The book delves into these characters and demands you to truly think outside the box,” Anngie says. “It’s so heart-wrenching, real, and raw. However, there are some heavy and triggering topics discussed, so people should be wary of that before diving in.”
The cover of Every Bright and Broken Thing by Brian McBride
View on Goodreads

5. The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides

“Only she knows what happened – only I can make her speak,” reads the tagline of this psychological thriller, in which a psychotherapist must handle a patient who’s turned mute after murdering her husband. The Silent Patient is recommended by Heather, who’s currently working towards her M.A. in Writing. “A plot twist that will leave even the savviest of plot-crafting veterans reeling,” she raves. “I remember having to pause the audio book to catch my breath. I can’t say too much more without giving things away, but this book is one of the best I’ve read EVER.” Now that’s some high praise!
The cover of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
View on Goodreads

6. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – Jon Ronson

A must-read in our social-media-saturated world, Ronson takes a deep look at today’s “great renaissance of public shaming.” This recommendation was given by Writing Arts alumnus Sean Farley. “The book was published in 2015,” he notes, “so the writing predates the #MeToo Movement and mainstream recognition of ‘Cancel Culture,’ but it still serves as an extremely interesting case study into how most people use the internet as means of exerting power over others, both for good and bad.” While some references are outdated due to the internet's quickly-evolving nature, Sean assures that “Nevertheless, Ronson’s journalistic storytelling remains excellent throughout, and his pleas for a more empathetic approach towards social media feel like they’ve never been more relevant.”
The cover of So You've Been Publically Shamed by Jon Ronson
View on Goodreads

7. The Secret History – Donna Tartt

In this intriguing novel, a group of misfit college students discover a love for classical studies – and become entangled in a murder. Laini Parejo, head intern of the Writing Arts department and a sophomore dual-majoring in Spanish, recommends this 1992 best-seller. “Tartt’s use of language is absolutely masterful,” she says. “Her use of ornate prose which carry some gothic undertones grabs readers and places them right into the narrative. The eccentric characters she creates are so gripping that you can’t help but go on reading as they descend  into the madness of their situation.”
The cover of The Secret History by Donna Tartt
View on Goodreads
Hopefully, your interest has been piqued by at least one of these solid recommendations from fellow Writing Arts majors. As you start to make a list of Summer reads, keep these in mind!
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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Creative Writing Minor
    • WA Major
    • Minors >
      • Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • New Media Minor
      • Technical & Professional Writing Minor
      • Writing Arts Minor
    • Certificates of Undergraduate Study >
      • CUGS in Creative Writing
      • CUGS in Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • CUGS in Technical and Professional Writing
      • CUGS in Writing Studies for Educators
      • CUGS in Professional Communication
      • CUGS in Writing for the Environment
    • 4+1 (B.A.+M.A.) Program
    • Degree in 3
    • Graduate Programs
  • Advising
  • WA Major
    • Writing Arts Journey
    • Required Courses >
      • General Education >
        • Science and Mathematics
        • Social and Behavioral Sciences
        • Literature, History, Humanities, and Language
      • Introduction to Writing Arts >
        • History & Materiality of Writing
        • Issues in Writing
        • Technologies & the Future of Writing
      • Methods Choice >
        • Communication Theory
        • How Writers Read
        • Tutoring Writing
      • Creative Choice >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Writing Children's Stories
      • The Writer's Mind
      • Writing, Research & Technology
      • Literacy Studies >
        • Situating Writing
        • Writing With Technologies
      • Senior Seminar: Methods of Analysis and Evaluation of Writing
      • Portfolio Seminar
      • Free Electives
    • Elements of Language >
      • American English Grammar
      • Editing for Publication
      • Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics
      • Linguistics
      • Rhetorics of Style
      • Semantics
    • Concentrations >
      • Creative Writing >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Creative Writing II
        • Film Scenario Writing
        • Fundamentals of Playwriting
        • Magazine Article Writing
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Screenwriting I: Writing the Short
        • Screenwriting II: Writing the Feature
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Teaching the Writer's Workshop >
          • Publishing & Writing for the Public >
            • Applied Media Aesthetics: Sight, Sound and Story
            • Editing the Literary Journal
            • Environmental Writing & Rhetoric
            • Fiction to Film
            • Introduction to New Media
            • Media Law
            • Online Journalism I
            • Participatory Media
            • The Publishing Industry
            • Publication Layout & Design
            • Photojournalism
            • Professions in Writing Arts
            • Rhetorical Theory
            • Self Publishing
            • Writing for Popular Culture
            • Writing for the Workplace
            • Internship
            • Research Practicum
        • Writing Children's Stories
        • Writing Comedy
        • Writing Creative Nonfiction
        • Writing Fiction
        • Writing Genre Fiction
        • Writing Poetry
        • Writing the Young Adult Novel
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
      • Technical & Professional Writing >
        • Developing Health and Scientific Literacy
        • Introduction to Technical Writing
        • Medical Writing and Rhetoric
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Scientific Writing and Rhetoric
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Writing to Bear Witness
        • Writing for Nonprofits
        • Writing for the Workplace
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
    • WA Learning Community >
      • Publishers
  • Internships
    • Internal Internships
    • External Internships
  • Careers
  • Faculty
    • Faculty Resources >
      • Best Practices in Online Learning
      • Syllabus Requirements
      • HyFlex/Remote Learning
      • Canvas Support >
        • Writing Comedy
      • Accessibility in Online Courses
      • Racial Equity Online
      • Supporting Developmental Writers Remotely
      • Building an Online Classroom Community
    • Acknowledgements
  • Blogs
    • Writer's Insider Blog >
      • Spring 2022 >
        • Writing Diverse Characters
      • Fall 2021
      • Spring 2021
      • Fall 2020
      • Spring 2020
      • Fall 2019
      • Spring 2019 >
        • An Interview with Devon James & Rachel Barton
        • Confession Travel Writer
        • Self-Publishing: A Change in Perspective
        • CCCA Career Fair: Having Your Future in Mind
        • Alumni Success: Entering the Working World
        • Behind the Scenes of Rowan's Hiring Process
        • Writing Comedy
      • Fall 2018 >
        • Singularity Press: Rowan's New Start Up
        • Writing Arts Club
        • How Can We Evaluate Creative Writing?
        • More Inclusive Events for Technical Writers
        • Guest Speaker Manuela Soares
        • Glassworks Reading
        • Spotlight: Taylor Henry, Recently Published Rowan Alum
      • Spring 2018 >
        • Publishing and Writing for the Public: A Reconstructed Concentration
        • What You Think You Know About Technical and Professional Writing is Wrong
        • The Toni Libro Medallion Award Winner: Myriah Stubee
        • An Interview with a Publisher
        • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Winner: Sara Skipp
        • The College of Communcation and Creative Arts 6th Annual Student Awards and Showcase Ceremony
        • Rowan Alum, Marissa Cohen, On Self Publishing and Advocacy
      • Fall 2017 >
        • Upcoming Classes in the Writing Arts Department
        • The Writer's Journey Blog by Earl Garcia
        • Rewriting The Department's Social Media Platforms
        • Rowan University Writing Arts Club Reinvents Mission
        • Glassworks Launches Issue Fifteen
        • For Futuristic Consideration: An Exploration of Careers in Writing
      • Spring 2017 >
        • Technical Communication: An Overview
        • A More Inclusive Future for Technical Writers
        • Easing the Tension: Breaking Down Technical and Professional Writing
        • Growing the Technical and Professional Writing Concentration
      • Fall 2016
      • Spring 2016
      • Winter 2015
      • Fall 2015 >
        • 2014 and Prior >
          • Archive
    • The Bulletin Board
    • RU Writing? Podcast
  • Creative Writing
    • CW Faculty Publications
    • CW Course Offerings
  • Writing Center
  • Alumni
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Awards
    • 2022 Emerging Writers Scholarship
    • Denise Gess Literary Awards
    • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
    • AnToinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
    • Past Awards >
      • 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
      • Write Rowan, Right Now! Contest
  • Student Groups
    • Writing Arts Club
    • Avant Literary Magazine
    • The Whit Newspaper
    • Her Campus Rowan
    • Odyssey at Rowan
    • Singularity Press
  • Events
  • ECCCA
    • RU Deptartment of Writing Arts - Home
    • News & Announcements
    • Rowan University - Home
    • Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts at Rowan University - Home
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  • About Us
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    • Land Acknowledgement
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