Summer Reads from the Library Collection
~ Recommended by NJCU Librarians ~
Recommended by Fred Smith
Read why this particular portion of New Jersey has fascinated artists for centuries. It is also one of the few books that features so many shore paintings in one place.
Recommended by Patrick Shalhoub
Free-lance writer and former Jersey Journal reporter, Helene Stapinski, provides a fascinating and often humorous look back at everyday life in Jersey City before the current era of gentrification and waterfront redevelopment. She skillfully weaves stories of her own family background and growing up in downtown Jersey City into the larger history of her hometown.
Recommended by Juan Almodóvar
Watching The Lord Of The Rings movie in 2001 persuaded me to actually read the book. I've been enjoying classic fantasy and adventure stories ever since. They are classics for a reason!
Recommended by Min Chou
The book follows a blind French girl and a German boy whose lives intersect in WWII France, revealing the resilience of the human spirit. It's beautifully written, moving, and thought-provoking.
Recommended by Fred Smith
While best-known for his Leatherstocking Tales featuring the redoubtable Natty Bumppo, Cooper is also credited with creating a new genre of writing - maritime fiction. On that basis alone, "The Pilot" should be read.
Recommended by Patrick Shalhoub
NJCU has a hidden treasure in its community of ceramic artists and potters. This book contains a lot of useful ideas and information for anyone who loves to work with clay.
Recommended by Min Chou
The book presents a vivid, funny, and candid look at restaurant life through the eyes of chef Anthony Bourdain. It’s a flavorful, fast-paced summer read for food lovers.
Recommended by Patrick Shalhoub
Barbara Ehrenreich goes undercover as a low-skilled worker in a variety of minimum wage jobs and relates her experiences trying to make ends meet. This insightful and challenging look at common assumptions regarding employment, management and economic survival reminds me of the popular television series Undercover Boss.
Recommended by Min Chou
I love watching Miyazaki’s films, and this book deepened my appreciation. The music is so immersive, I often find myself humming it afterward. After reading his biography, I’m excited to rewatch them.
Recommended by Juan Almodóvar
This best-selling young adult dystopian novel won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1994. Its themes resonate today as much as they ever have.
Recommended by Min Chou
The book explores how names, heritage, and memory shape identity through the story of Gogol Ganguli. Lahiri captures the tension between tradition and modernity with refined, emotionally resonant prose, making the novel both insightful and impactful.
Recommended by Patrick Shalhoub
After experiencing lack of meaning and dissatisfaction in his life, Jay Shetty entered a Buddhist monastery in India. While living with the monks, he learned that he could experience genuine happiness without material possessions or a prestigious career. Although Shetty eventually left the monastic life, he continues to think like a monk by practicing daily meditation and gratitude.
Recommended by Juan Almodóvar
This collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories is entertaining and clever, without demanding too much of your time.
Recommended by Patrick Shalhoub
Novelist and historian Thomas Fleming shares the story of his father's close association with Jersey City's most famous mayor, Frank Hague, as he built a powerful political machine. Jersey City's history, neighborhoods, and politics all feature prominently in the story of Fleming's Irish-American immigrant family.
Recommended by Fred Smith
A non-technical and enlightening look on the intricacies of the English language and how it got that way.
Recommended by Fred Smith
One of the first comprehensive guides to the delights of New Jersey authored under the auspices of the famed Federal Writers Project.
Recommended by Juan Almodóvar
A great collection of books from one of the most insightful authors of the 20th century. His great wit and extraordinary command of the English language shine through in this volume.