Chaparral 2024-2025: What Are You Reading?

Dana Marterella from English, Humanities & The Art Gallery says: [Reading along with the People No! by Thomas Frank] Both texts are about the ways that class informs American politics. There's an inherent critique of the democratic party's shift away from workers' interests and towards corporate interests. Both books talk about how this becomes an opportunity for Republicans to become-- at least at the surface of their rhetoric-- populist. I wouldn't say these are my favorite books; instead, I think it's important and interesting to think more creatively about the ways that class informs American politics.

Aisha Conner-Gaten from the Library says: I knew about Pauli Murray after watching a PBS special on her in 2020 (get into that too!) and just could not believe that such a person existed. To be that brilliant, funny, socially impactful, queer, Black, and fearful all at once is astounding to me. The word genius is thrown around far too often for my liking but in the case of Pauli Murray, I think the title is well deserved.

Book Summary: This memoir, published posthumously, details just a small slice of the dynamic and brilliant Pauli Murray, law maven, civil rights activist, and eventual priest. In a clear, sometimes dry voice, Pauli speaks of her sad and humble beginnings supported by power Black women in her aunts and gives us a historical lesson in American society, gender, and politics. She is connected to so many amazing feats: her graduate work is culled for Brown vs. Education, she becomes a (fiery) pen pal to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (get into The First Lady and The Firebrand by Patricia Bell-Scott about this), AND inspires what will become the feminist movement later in life. Pauli was a person of firsts; so much that she accomplished would create the world in which we thrive today.

Megan Torrey-Payne from Social Sciences - Psychology says: The characters are laugh out loud funny, complete with a prince-turned-frog who communicates by holding up pithy signs. Maehrer explores the lines of what it means to be a villain and what is family - all with a little bit of slow-burn romance thrown in. [Also read Book 2: Apprentice to the Villain]

Book Summary: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. Evie finds herself working in the office of the most dastardly villain in the country and along the way develops a crush and finds that maybe villainy isn't always so bad.

Caryn Panec from Non-credit Business/Life Skills says: Verghese is a master storyteller, creating deep and complicated characters and immersing you into the historical and physical setting. His stories are told from various viewpoints, but clearly come together to offer a rounded view of the time and place.

Book Summary: This novel covers three generations of a family in Kerala, India experiencing a mysterious affliction. As these characters overcome the adversities of their situations, their experiences shed light on the diversity of culture, formative landscape, and impact of the colonial legacy on Southern India.