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

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!”

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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!”

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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.”

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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.”

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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!

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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.”

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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.”

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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!