PBK a list of this years popular college reading assignments

[Ruth]

Have you read any of these?

https://www.pbk.org/FirstYearReading2020

[Mary]

I’ve read Trevor Noah’s BORN A CRIME and Isabel Wilkerson’s CASTE. I haven’t read Ibram X. Kendi’s HOW TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST but I’ve recently started his STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING in which he has introduced me to the terms anti-racist, racist and assimilationist.

[Joan]

I’ve read parts of The 1619 Project - awesome on-line, and The Great Influenza which was interesting.

[Lyn]

I enjoyed Born a Crime, and Exit West, and have Caste on hold at Library2Go.

[Ann D]

I've read:
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

I would recommend them all.

[Donna]

Ann D wrote: "I've read:
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

I would recommend them all."

I’ve read these four, also. All would make for interesting discussion.

[Ruth]

I’ve only read Exit West, which was a Reading List discussion book here a few years ago. I thought it was excellent. I’ve shied away from many of the books on this list because I am so tense and have so a much anxiety lately that in the interest of my own mental health I just cannot read them right now.

[Sheila]

I’ve only read Exit West

[Joan]

Like Ruth, I’m too anxious for deep reading - I know I didn’t do justice to The Dutch House because I just couldn’t take in anymore stories about mean people. So I’m rereading Northanger Abbey- always a comfort.

[Barbara]

I've read Exit West which I loved and I am really motivated to read Just Mercy. I listened to the audiobook production of Born a Crime read by Noah. He does a great job and I was very interested during the first half. At that point, I am not sure why, he started bothering me and I stopped. I do intend to go back and try again at some point though. I feel like I'm the only person who had anything bad to say about that book so it deserves another chance.

[spoko]

I’ve read Weapons of Math Destruction, which I found really enlightening. It’s right up my alley in a lot of ways, and I had heard a few interviews with the author before reading it, but it still produced some very interesting insights.

I’ve also seen a stage performance of Sweat, which was excellent. I hadn’t realized it was getting this kind of recognition (who notices new drama these days?), but it deserves it. We took our teenage son to see it last year, and had some great discussion afterward.

[Book Concierge]

I've read
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Have these on my TBR:
Just Mercy
The Great Influenza
Dear America
Tell Me How It Ends

[Bella (Kiki)]

I haven't read any of those, and I haven't even heard of many of them!

Ruth, I'm so sorry to read you're suffering from anxiety. I've suffered from anxiety from time to time over the years, and it's a terrible thing to go through. This pandemic and the social isolation don't make things any easier. The red/NIR red light I've been using for my skin and joint pain is wonderful for anxiety. I have the Hooga300, which is very affordable on Amazon. I always feel more upbeat after using it. I hope you feel better soon.

Joan, I can always get lost in Jane Austen. She never grows old for me. I also have my beloved "Inspector Lynley" novels to fall back on. Yes, there are murders in them, but the author doesn't dwell on the details like Patricia Cornwell does. Elizabeth George has created characters that feel like friends to me, primarily Inspector Det. Thomas Lynley and Inspector Sgt. Barbara Havers. When I read about them, I feel like I'm spending time with friends. Nice when I'm spending so much time at home and used to constant traveling.

[Angelina]

I read Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I loved how he used funny stories to teach the audience about the very real issues he faced in South Africa.

[Joan]

Kiki,
What a coincidence, I just picked up A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George — it looks like a good diversion.