University Libraries

By Scott West

Many years ago, when I was charged with developing the leisure reading collection, I did not realize how much fun it would be. That was in 2007, and I am confident in claiming that it remains the most dynamic print collection in Roesch Library.  

Reading has always been a fundamental part of the academic experience, and the leisure collection is a reminder that college library patrons (students, faculty and staff) still read an extraordinary amount. This blog is intended to not only promote the leisure reading collection, but emphasize the reading opportunities throughout the University Libraries. Below is a list of the bestsellers available as well as a discussion of the various award-winning books added over the summer.

First, some details about the leisure reading collection itself. The collection, located in the first-floor lobby, is made up of two parts. The first is the popular reading section, which encompasses a broad range of genres in popular fiction and nonfiction. Adult and young adult options as well as graphic novels are an important collection focus. The books are either leased from an agent, indicated by a green band on the cover and spine, or added with the possibility of becoming a permanent part of the general collection on the fourth through sixth floors (blue dot on spine). The second is the archive of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. This section includes all winners, runners-up and finalists in both fiction and nonfiction categories. Stop by and browse any time you’re in the library; titles are added each week. 

Bestsellers

Bestselling books are a high priority for the leisure reading collection. Here’s just a sampling from the Sept. 13 New York Times bestsellers:

• Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros, No. 1 
• Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, by Peter Attia, No. 1
• Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett, No. 2
• The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann, No. 2
• The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin, No. 2
• Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus, No. 3
• I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jeannette McCurdy, No. 3
• Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s, by B. Dylan Hollis, No. 3
• Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver, No. 4
• Poverty, By America, by Matthew Desmond, No. 5
• Nick and Charlie, by Alice Oseman, No. 6
• The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese, No. 7
• The First to Die at the End, by Adam Silvera, No. 10

Pretty good, right?  

Award Winners

One of the most fun aspects of collection development for leisure reading is learning about the various literary prizes throughout the year. This summer, we added a host of the most recent books associated with the Pulitzer Prize, the Edgar Allan Poe Award (mystery), the Bram Stoker Award (horror), the Lambda Literary Award (LGBTQ+), the Eisner Award (graphic novels) and the Locus Award (science fiction/fantasy).

Bram Stoker Award

The Horror Writers Association presents the Bram Stoker Awards, named in honor of Bram Stoker, author of the seminal horror work Dracula.

• Beulah, by Christi Nogle (Superior Achievement in a First Novel)
• Crime Scene: Poetry, by Cynthia Pelayo (Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection)
• The Devil Takes You Home, by Gabino Iglesias (Superior Achievement in a Novel)
• Screams from the Dark: 29 Tales of Monsters and the Monstrous, edited by Ellen Datlow (Superior Achievement in an Anthology)
• The Triangle, by Robert P. Ottone (Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel)

Eisner Award

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards honor creative achievement in American comic books.

• Bitter Root Omnibus, Volume 1, by David F. Walker et al. (Best Continuing Series)
• Blacksad: They All Fall Down, Part 1, by Juan Diaz Canales et al. (Best U.S. Edition of International Material)
• Chivalry, by Neil Gaiman et al. (Best Adaptation from Another Medium)
• Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith, by Grace Ellis (Best Reality-Based Work)
• Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe (Best Webcomic)
• The Night Eaters, Book 1: She Eats the Night, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Best Graphic Album—New)
• Revenge of the Librarians, by Tom Gauld (Best Humor Publication)
• Shuna’s Journey, by Hayao Miyazaki (Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia)

I read Bitter Root, Blacksad and Lore Olympus. All are excellent. Bitter Root was new to me and definitely a cool bit of alternate history. Lore Olympus is amazing.  

Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is an award administered by Columbia University for achievements in U.S. newspaper, magazine and online journalism; literature; and musical composition.

• Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver (Fiction)
• Freedom’s Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power, by Jefferson Cowie (History)
• G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, by Beverly Gage (Biography)
• Stay True: A Memoir, by Hua Hsu (Memoir)
• Then the War: And Selected Poems, 2007-2020, by Carl Phillips (Poetry)
• Trust, by Hernan Diaz (Fiction)

Lambda Literary Award

The Lambda Literary Awards (fondly known as the Lammys) were created in 1989 to garner national visibility for LGBTQ+ books and authors.

• Dirt Creek, by Hayley Scrivenor (LGBTQ+ Mystery)
• Gods of Want: Stories, by K-Ming Chang (Lesbian Fiction)
• High-Risk Homoesexual: A Memoir, by Edgar Gomez (Gay Memoir)
• I’m So (Not) Over You, by Kosoko Jackson (Gay Romance)
• The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, by Sonora Reyes (Young Adult)
• Lost and Found: Reflections on Grief, Gratitude and Happiness, by Kathryn Schulz (Lesbian Memoir)
• Outwrite: The Speeches that Shaped LGBTQ Literary Culture, by Julie R. Enszler (LGBTQ+ Anthology)
• Reluctant Immortals, by Gwendolyn Kiste (Bisexual Fiction)
• The Wicked and the Willing, by Lianyu Tan (Speculative Fiction)

Edgar Allan Poe Award

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America.

• The Red Palace, by June Hur (Young Adult)

Locus Awards

The Locus Awards are an annual set of literary awards voted on by readers of the science fiction and fantasy magazine Locus.

• Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, edited by Sheree Renee Thomas et al. (Anthology)
• Boys, Beasts and Men, by Sam J. Miller (Collection)
• Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak, by Charlie Jane Anders (Young Adult)
• The Mountain in the Sea, by Ray Nayler (First Novel)
• A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, by Becky Chambers (Novella)
• What Moves the Dead, by T. Kingfisher (Horror)

In the next few weeks, a few more books are coming — from the Romance Novelists’ Association.  

Reads for Latinx Heritage Month

Our association dean, Ione Damasco, wrote a great blog post on Latinx Heritage Month. Did you see it? 

— Scott N. West is a collections specialist in the University Libraries.