Five books to jumpstart your New Year’s resolution

“It’s broken up into fast-paced, hilarious moments. Lenny Bruce was a comedian, but he was a civil rights activist, without realizing it. He would do sets about his wife while breaking laws about indecent language.” said Alex Leben, a third-year film and television student. “He found ways to talk dirty and influence people, hence the fitting title. It’s an easy-to-read experience that dissects what it is to be human and it displays, oddly, a time when speech was controlled, mirroring today. It’s weirdly poignant.”

Amanda Glover, a third-year writing student said, “I finished this book over the break, it was great! The author has a way of surprising readers with twists they wouldn’t have guessed. It’s one of those books you can’t get bored with reading.”

Allison Hambrick, a third-year writing student said, “This book falls under the category of books that everyone should read in their lifetime. “The Book Thief” tells the story of a preteen girl navigating life in Nazi Germany—from the perspective of death. It’s a nostalgic yet poignant book that highlights the impact of words, big or small, as units of knowledge that shape our lives. Falling in love, losing someone, taking a stand—each easier to bear the right words.”

Catalina Cano, a third-year writing student said, “It’s a book that explores a different kind of magical realism and will leave you thinking about it for weeks on end once you’ve finished it.”

Shelby Perkins, a graduate writing student said, “Just Mercy, is the story of a black man who finds himself on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Told from the perspective of a legal intern assigned to his case, the book highlights the injustices within the American legal system. Also—it got made into a movie, so it’s good incentive to read the book before seeing the movie duh!” she added.