Do Cool Sh*t
by Miki Agrawal
Jade Cuevas – Magazine editor
Miki Agrawal. At 37, this social entrepreneur has opened her own restaurant and established a sustainable underwear company (yes, it’s a thing) and a bunch of other cool sh*t. Agrawal shares her experiences on everything from getting out of your comfort zone to becoming a professional soccer player (sorta). While you may not be looking to start your own business straight out of college like Agrawal, her witty and casual writing style will leave you inspired to go out and do cool sh*t too.
SuperYou: Release Your Inner Superhero by Emily V. Gordon
Brady Phelps – Managing Editor
Emily Gordon—former therapist and current writer, producer and hipster-comedy icon—combines self improvement and entertainment in this superhero-themed self-help book. SuperYou is a guide to making the small changes necessary to transform yourself into what you see as the best version of you.
Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
Isaac Serna – News Assistant
Detached from where he once called home, Clay returns for winter break and comes to grips with why he
left in the first place. Reflective and devoid of feeling, Less Than Zero is a cold novel written by a young Ellis. The narrative is shockingly vulgar yet familiar to the average college student who is making their return home for the holidays.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Raquel Alonzo – Arts & Life Assistant
Rupi Kaur’s first published book, Milk and Honey, is divided into four chapters to help heal the hurt that lives within yourself. This New York Times bestseller is perfect for every woman’s coffee table.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Sam Ceballos – Magazine Assistant
The Bell Jar is a coming of age story that tells the life of poet Sylvia Plath. This novel, though dark in nature, can help others out of a dark place. It shows that people with mental illness can achieve their dreams and this speaks volumes, especially to those who suffer from depression and such. The Bell Jar gives hope to those who need it. There is no hero in this story, just the story of a young woman going through real life.
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
Ethan Pham – Photo Editor
A Tale for the Time Being Brings, by Ruth Ozeki, brings together two people, who are separated an ocean apart, with a diary. The diary of Japanese-American Nao Yasutani and the diary’s finder Ruth. The novel is an interesting tale that witnesses the convergence of two people and is a unique and tantalizing dual narrative. It explores the connection between the writer and the reader through the bond that can develop by the writings itself.
The Elephant Vanishes: Stories by Haruki Murakami
Gaige Davila – News Assistant
After finishing this collection, I bought nearly everything Murakami ever wrote. I’ve yet to understand why I enjoy his work so much, but it may lie in his ability to turn the mundane bizarre. I think about these stories and their characters often, as they’ve become a standard that I apply to any fiction writer after his.
Missoula : Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer
Caroline Traylor – Editor-in-Chief
Missoula, Montana is a typical college town with a prestigious university and beloved football team that inspires a passionately loyal fanbase. Over a four-year period, hundreds of students reported sexual assaults to local police (many allegedly committed by athletes) but few were taken seriously or resulted in charges, much less convictions. Written through a journalistic lens, these stories are thoroughly investigated and dispassionately reported. This nonfiction will first sadden you, but then enrage you enough to make change.
Book jacket photos courtesy of amazon.com
