Books To Read, Songs To Hear
I recently surveyed Upper School teachers to find out what is the one book they would recommend to everyone this year, and what song they would single out as the Best of 2017. Their answers are noted below. If the teacher sent me an explanation, I have included that; otherwise, their choices speak for themselves!
My favorite read of 2017 was the novel Salt Houses by Hala Alyan, a sweeping novel that chronicles the lives of one Palestinian family over multiple generations. (I wrote about this book in my blog dated September 14 of this year.) My favorite song is a track called "Nothing To Find," which is one of several excellent songs from the album A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs. A close second for me is "Pleader" a heavily orchestrated track from the British band alt-J.
Brigitte Debord: The Perfume by Patrick Süskind
Back
My favorite read of 2017 was the novel Salt Houses by Hala Alyan, a sweeping novel that chronicles the lives of one Palestinian family over multiple generations. (I wrote about this book in my blog dated September 14 of this year.) My favorite song is a track called "Nothing To Find," which is one of several excellent songs from the album A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs. A close second for me is "Pleader" a heavily orchestrated track from the British band alt-J.
Paul Augustus: still "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell; song: "Sleep on the Floor" (The Lumineers)
Lindsay Beatty: Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead; song: “Suit and Jacket” (Judah & The Lion)
Lisa Boes: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Good Girl by Mary Kubica; Favorite songs: “It Ain’t Me” (Selena Gomez), “Praying” (Kesha)
Forbes Cone: The Invention of Air by Steven Johnson; song: “Feel Inside” (Flight of the Conchords)
Jan De Sal: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman and Old Filth by Jane Gardam
Brigitte Debord: The Perfume by Patrick Süskind
Courtney Engle: The Red Rising series by Pierce Brown (Red Rising, Golden Sun, Morning Star)
Austin Harvey: The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis
Ross Holland: Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies – not from this year but nothing else I read this year bowled me over quite like this collection of stories. Songs: “Proud” (Alex G.), and the song that has made me happiest is “You Can Win” (Bileo), a slightly cheesy soul track from 1979 that will run you about $1000 if you want it on vinyl. Good thing YouTube is free (for now).
Kimberly Jans: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom – an old one but new to me and an excellent read
Paul Kim:Whiplash by Joi Ito; song: “Carte Postale” (Slove)
Kathleen Law: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie and Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Daniel Lopez: The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk; song: “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi)
Dani Meyers: Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance; song: “Fly” (ROAR)
Emily Perez: Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith (poetry) and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez
Liza Skipwith: From the Life and Work of C.G. Jung by Aniela Jaffe; song: “Castle” (Halsey)
Luis Terrazas: The Sellout by Paul Beatty; song: Anything on 80s on 8 satellite radio
Lisa Todd: The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
Stephanie Turner: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng -- After Everything I Never Told You, I was eagerly awaiting Ng's next novel, as she brings together characters of various classes and backgrounds to address issues close to teachers' hearts: nature vs. nurture, teens' illicit behavior, and the mentor/mentee relationship.
© 2023 Colorado Academy
