Haley Seymour, Editor in Chief

My top pick of this year (so far) has to be The It Girl by Ruth Ware. Ruth Ware is one of my favorite authors, and I was lucky enough to interview her for my Capstone project, a podcast called “The Author and the Amateur.” In preparation for this interview, I caught up with her most recent books, reading it late into the night. Let’s just say I sprinted to the bathroom to brush my teeth before bed because I was so nervous. This is a great book to get your adrenaline pumping, with plot twists and crazy reveals galore.

Kelley Lebahn, Rising Editor in Chief

The book I have not stopped recommending this year is the science fiction novel Everything Matters! by Ron Currie Junior. I found this book in a street corner book swap box my first week after moving to Vermont, and it has defined my perspective throughout my first year of college. The novel begs the question, “when the world is ending, does anything matter?” It is a heartbreaking, hope infused story that takes you through omnipotence, cocaine, baseball, and love. 

Eric Banks, Staff Writer

Anyone who knows me I have a psychologically concerning passion for television, which is one of many reasons I highly recommend Matt Zoller Seitz’s and Alan Sepinwall’s TV (The Book). A collection of essays covering some of the most important television shows in history, Seitz and Sepinwall discuss everything from The Sopranos to Cheers to Spongebob Squarepants. Taking a close look at the sociological impact and storytelling capabilities of the medium, TV (The Book) is a fascinating piece of text from two of the greatest entertainment writers working today. 

Brigid Barry, Staff Writer

My summer pick is the most cliche possible, however perfect for those who enjoy a cute summer romance. Beach Read by Emily Henry follows two authors competing to write in the other’s respective genre. It’s simple, tear-jerking, and heartwarming. Great for those looking for an easy poolside read. 

Briar Gagne, Staff Writer

The best book I’ve ever read and likely the best I will read for a long time is Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor. This sci-fi book about a post-apocalyptic Africa is both a terrifying look into issues of our time and a magically immersive ride. Okorafor fits themes of racism, sexism, sexual assault, and female circumcision into a sub 120,000 word count—and she covers all of those themes with the attention they deserve. It’s far from an easy read, especially at certain parts, but this dark book changed the way I view the world, and somehow managed to do it in an enjoyable way.

Tanya Lee Stone, Advisor

My top pick this semester is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It has been called a literary gaming novel (perhaps the first of its kind) and I’d have to agree. I not only found it riveting simply from a fiction point of view, but it tackles issues throughout the story that we talk about at Champlain–gender and racial inequality in creative industries, and what it means to make creative work. The audio version was fantastic!