Summer REEDing

A round-up of hot-weather reads written by our alumni and professors

To help keep you entertained, informed, and curious during the hot months, we selected a series of books from our Reediana section and posted them week-by-week on Instagram. From fiction to fire, this list covers a wide array of topics. In case you missed it, here are all the books from our 2019 #SummerREEDing series.

 

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Happy Summer Solstice! What better way to celebrate than with a heaping stack of #SummerREEDing. We’re excited to enjoy some Reed authors. What’s on your summer reading list? Stay tuned for our series of picks. . . #reedcollege #summersolstice #firstdayofsummer

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jun 21, 2019 at 11:37am PDT

 

The Better Sister by Alafair Burke ’91

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Our Reediana editor, Katie Pelletier ‘03, is headed on vacation and looking forward to some beach reading with “The Better Sister,” a smart, suspenseful thriller by Alafair Burke ’91 (@alafair.burke). Booklist predicts it will be a vacation favorite. What’s yours so far? Learn more about Alafair, a law professor and bestselling mystery writer, in our Reed Magazine profile (link in bio). #SummerREEDing

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jun 24, 2019 at 3:12pm PDT

Read more about Alafair Burke from our archives.

 

Rising by Elizabeth Rush ’06

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Continuing our #SummerREEDing series, here's a different sort of beach read: "Rising" by Elizabeth Rush ’06 chronicles the impact of climate change on America's shores and shore dwellers. This groundbreaking, lyrical book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2019.

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jun 28, 2019 at 12:49pm PDT

Read an excerpt from Rising in our December 2018 issue.

 

Heirs of the Founders by H.W. Brands MALS ’79

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Happy birthday, America! For this #SummerREEDing selection, we’re thinking about the founding fathers and reading the latest book by Pulitzer Prize–nominated historian H.W. Brands MALS ’79. It is a volume full of rivalry, drama, presidential ambitions, and national questions that linger today!

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 3, 2019 at 11:30am PDT

 

A Good Country by Laleh Khadivi ’98

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For our next #SummerREEDing selection, we offer this “unflinching” work by Iranian born Laleh Khadivi ’98, “A Good Country.” A 16-year-old, straight-A student named Alireza Courdee takes his first hit of pot on Laguna beach in California, setting off a chain of events that transform him from a high-achieving son of Iranian immigrants to a happy-go-lucky-stoner to a religious radical. Link in bio.

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 5, 2019 at 11:30am PDT

Angie Jabine ’79 reviewed A Good Country in our December 2017 issue.

 

The Night Swimmers by Prof. Peter Rock

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Late-night swimming in the mysterious depths of Lake Michigan haunts our imagination long after reading this book by Prof. Peter Rock. Like his other fiction, this autobiographical novel is deliciously strange and a perfect #SummerREEDing selection. Read our review via link in bio.

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 11, 2019 at 12:35pm PDT

Read more about Prof. Pete Rock, including a review of The Night Swimmers.

 

Natural History of the Pacific Northwest Mountains by Daniel Mathews ’70

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We don’t hike the Pacific Northwest without Daniel Mathews ’70—or his book, anyway. His gorgeous natural history is an excellent reference guide for identifying NW flora and fauna, and it provides engaging #SummerREEDing too. Peruse a review by Anne Laufe ’86 via link in bio.

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 17, 2019 at 12:20pm PDT

Anne Laufe ’86 reviewed A Natural History in Reed Magazine.

 

Chimes of a Lost Cathedral by Janet Fitch ’78

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We’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel to the sweeping historical saga “The Revolution of Marina M.” by Janet Fitch ’78 (@janetfitch323). A coming of age story set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, “Chimes of A Lost Cathedral,” at 700 pages is hardly a beach read but is highly recommended #SummerREEDing. Get swept up in a review by Angie Jabine ’79 via link in bio. #AntiBeachReads

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 19, 2019 at 11:03am PDT

Read more about Janet Fitch on Reed Magazine.

 

Project Fire by Steven Raichlen ’75

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Too hot to turn on the stove? We’re getting serious about outdoor live-fire cooking with this #SummerREEDing selection by Steven Raichlen ’75: "Project Fire: Cutting-Edge Sizzling Recipes from the Caveman Porterhouse to Salt Slab Brownie S’Mores."

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 23, 2019 at 12:22pm PDT

 

Mahalia Jackson and the Black Gospel Field by Prof. Mark Burford

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“Mahalia Jackson and the Black Gospel Field” by Prof. Mark Burford has us reading and listening along. Find out who said this song (“I’m Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song”) was one of the greatest vocal performances they ever heard. #SummerREEDing

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Jul 26, 2019 at 11:33am PDT

Read a review of Mahalia Jackson and the Black Gospel Field and more about Prof. Mark Burford at Reed Magazine.

 

Crises of the Sentence by Prof. Jan Mieszkowski

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In the era of Twitter, a great sentence reigns supreme. But what exactly IS a sentence? We’re getting to the bottom of it with Prof. Jan Mieszkowski's new book, "Crises of the Sentence." #SummerREEDing

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Aug 2, 2019 at 11:12am PDT

 

A selection of reading by President Audrey Bilger

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We’re getting to know President Audrey Bilger (@audreybilger) through her many publications for one last #SummerREEDing selection before the long, hot days come to an end and classes start. Fun fact: she has been a regular contributor to Bitch magazine. We’re especially enjoying this interview with cartoonist Lynda Barry (@thenearsightedmonkey). Link in bio.

A post shared by Reed College (@reedcollege) on Aug 16, 2019 at 9:38am PDT

Stay tuned for more about Reed's new president in the September 2019 issue of Reed Magazine.

Tags: Alumni, Books, Film, Music, Professors