Book lovers around the world have gotten used to September being an especially awesome month. After all, it’s Literacy Month and nearly always full of interesting releases. What makes this year special, however, is the sheer dearth of wonderful tomes hitting store shelves in the same thirty-day period. There’s something for everyone, from vivid yarns to highly anticipated sequels by some of the finest storytellers in the nation.
A quick glance at the list of upcoming books hammers the point home. Luminaries like Zadie Smith and Ken Follet will keep fans sated with releases of their own, while Sci-Fi maestro John Scalzi adds yet another must-read to his extensive bibliography.
This Literacy Month Professor Kate Geiselman, Chair of the English Department at Sinclair, is just one of the millions of avid readers with a bevy of titles ready to join her TBR list. A pair of books by two local authors in particular have caught her eye.
“Katrina Kittle has a book coming out this month called ‘Morning In This Broken World’ that I’m looking forward too. I’ll also be reading Erin Flanagan’s ‘Come With Me’,” Geiselman said.
Like many people at Sinclair, Geiselman wrestles with the challenge of finding time to enjoy a bit of leisure reading. In addition to leading the English Department, she’s also a mom, head of Flights Literary Journal, and oversees the Spectrum Literary Awards Committee. Despite that, she’s managed to carve out enough time to read a number of major titles including ‘Covenant of Water’ and ‘The Sun Walks Down’. Geiselman was keen to share some advice on how students and faculty can do the same.
Geiselman said, “We all read for different reasons. I usually like a little challenge when I read but there are plenty of people who read for the sake of escapism. I think any kind of snobbery over what you should be reading is misguided. Read what you enjoy, read whatever makes you happy.”
She advised her fellow bibliophiles to not assume a book may not be of interest to them. Reading something out of the norm may present readers with a pleasant surprise.
“There’s no better way to travel and learn things about the world than to see a different perspective. I read much more works in translation and books by people of color. Its important to alternate and give yourself some variety. If you read something heavy, its nice to follow up with something light. Just like your diet should have variety, your reading probably should to.”
It’s a tactic that has worked well for her. Recently, she’s dived into the poetic brilliance of Columbus poet Maggie Smith in addition to Sinead O’Connor’s best-selling memoir and ‘Lessons in Chemistry’. Two books from entirely different perspectives, covering very different topics but no less rewarding to the longtime educator.
“Being in a book group is a great way to read as a social activity,” said Geiselman. “The term book club sometimes intimidates people and makes them think that every discussion they have has to be an intellectual exercise. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It can be as simple as just comparing notes with friends. I read ‘The Covenant of Water’ with a bunch of my friends and it was gratifying to connect with them about the book and share our observations by text.”
Most importantly, however, is that readers have fun and don’t force themselves to read something just because they are expected to.
“Give yourself an opportunity to explore what’s out there. Just because you don’t like one thing or because people say you should like a particular book doesn’t mean you have to. It’s fine to say something is not for you and to try reading something else.”
Many on campus are not limiting themselves to new releases either. English Faculty member Simon Workman has his sights set on the Epic Fantasy cult classic.
“I’m making my way through ‘The Prince of Nothing’ series by R. Scott Bakker and finding it a great, thoughtful read. The books draw a lot on the author’s background in philosophy. While it might take awhile for new readers of the trilogy to settle in, once you do it’s an incredible experience,” said Workman.
Sinclair English Major and author Zach Osborne, like so many of his fellow students, will be balancing reading for class and leisure as the semester intensifies.
Osborne said to The Clarion, “I’m currently reading ‘Beowulf’ for class and have found it really interesting so far. It’s definitely something I would not have encountered on my own but am glad it was assigned to us. So far I really like it.”
“For leisure I’m reading the ‘Trials of Apollo’ series by Rick Riodan. He’s been among my favorites for awhile but the Apollo books are probably his best so far,” Osborne said.
In an age where reading apps, audiobooks, and e-books have become so readily available, Geiselman’s advice could not come at a better time. There’s entire worlds full of stories and exceptionally written tales waiting to be discovered.
Here’s a list of books that came out last month that we’re looking forward to at The Clarion. Let us know what you’ll be reading this month on social media:
-The Fraud by Zadie Smith (released Sep. 5)
-Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Sep. 19)
-The Armor of Light by Ken Follet (Sep. 26)
-Wellness by Nathan Hill (Sep. 19)
Ismael Mujahid
Managing Editor