What’s Up in the Academy? Summer Reading Edition

A Personal Pile of Picks for the Season

A recent biblio-scandal rocked the summer reading list world. Apparently the Chicago Sun-Times used Generative AI (or A1, depending on your lack of exposure to the technology) to craft their recommendations. Welcome to my own summer reading list. How did I curate it? I wandered through bookstores, plucking titles off the shelf, and attended readings by writers I admire. That’s the method—nothing too intimidating. You’ll notice my preference for non-fiction, but I’m dipping my toe into fiction this year. So, let’s start there.

Women’s Hotel, by Daniel M. Lavery: This book appealed to me because it tells the story of women living in the fictional Biedermier Hotel, a second-tier women’s hotel in 1960s New York City. These hotels were essentially rooming houses for women from diverse backgrounds. The women portrayed here are hourly-wage earners seeking affordable, reliable housing as they live independently in the city. What spoke to me? I’ve always enjoyed fiction set in a historical moment that intrigues me, and this book fits the bill.