UNP staff members are always reading new books, both within our list and outside of what we publish. Here are some of the titles where our noses have been buried.
“An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green is a science fiction story about dozens of samurai suit wearing sculptures appearing in cities all around the world without warning or explanation. The protagonist of the story is the first to post a video online of her encounter with, what she calls, “the Carls.” As the story moves on, we learn “the Carls” are a who, rather than a what. This is a fun, pop-culture mystery, but it also has larger themes of international communications, government oversight, and the lens of social media and traditional media on unfolding world events and public opinion.” -Lacey Losh
“I recently finished Slow Guillotine by Teo Rivera-Dundas. It follows a quirky friend group trying to make it work in New York. I loved all the bookish-ness, as the main character works at a (failing) bookstore and knows everything about books and publishing. It was a fun, funny, thought-provoking read. I also recently finished Silas Marner by George Eliot, one of my favorite British 19th century writers. It was quintessential George Eliot, very sad but simultaneously heartwarming. Her writing style is a lot to get used to after not reading it for a while, but I found it to be very worth the read.” -Madison Wigley
“I picked up a copy of House of Margins by Tlotlo Tsamaase, an UNL PhD student in English, after attending her event at Francie & Finch last week. Ranewa’s sister, Anaya, disappears after attending an exclusive writing residency, and she is left only with a true crime podcast to help her uncover the truth about what really happened. The premise sounds really interesting, and I’m planning to bring my copy to keep me occupied during my flight to the GSA conference later this week.” -Sarah Kee
“I just started Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, a beloved historical fiction masterpiece that was adapted to film with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson many years ago. I’ve been reading some quick, satisfying fiction, and I’m ready to pick something on my shelf with a little more complexity and length. It follows a group of circus misfits of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth during the Great Depression era. Blending themes of love, grit, and history, it feels like the right blend of beauty and tragedy.” -Taylor Gilreath
“I am currently wading through Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea. A TV journalist and the sister of a woman accused of murdering her married lover join forces to crack the case and prove her innocence twenty years later. However, the woman accused of murder died in the falling of the Twin Towers on 9/11, but has recently been identified with new DNA technology, reopening the case and everyone connected to it, unburying a lot of secrets. The plot is interesting, but the writing is confusing and repetitive. I’m listening to the audiobook, and since I’m more of a physical copy reader, I’ve had a hard time getting into it. The good news is I’ve heard the ending is worth it.” -Emily Casillas
