This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

Well, I have to say that I am biased toward this book because the story of the author reminds me of my college days as an English major (okay, minus the graduation from Yale and the internship at The New Yorker). Marina Keegan was a talented Yale student of writing.  Shortly after graduation, she died in a tragic car accident.  This book, The Opposite of Loneliness, is a beautiful compilation of her work, both in fiction and non-fiction.  It was the perfect book to read this time of year because the first piece is an essay titled “The Opposite of Loneliness” which captures the essence of students nearing graduation.  Here’s the opening paragraph: “We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did I could say that’s what I want in life.  What I’m grateful and thankful to have found at Yale, and what I’m scared of losing when we wake up tomorrow after Commencement and leave this place.”

The fiction stories in the book are human, grounding and enticing.  They didn’t feel too lofty or snooty like some short stories can be.  The essays are beautiful and insightful and just enough to make you think about life without getting depressed.

I am sad that I will not be able to read more of her work.  I’m sure it would’ve brought me back to a subscription to The New Yorker.

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

The first Erik Larson book I read was Devil in the White City, and I couldn’t believe how mesmerized I was by the content, the characters, the storyline.  I have to say that I love non-fiction that reads like fiction.  After all, I even have a whole section of my library called “Non-Fiction Narrative” so students who like true stories but can’t find these non-fiction books that read like novels amongst the more factual and reference-like books in the non-fiction section.

In the Garden of Beasts was exceptionally written.  A fascinating tale of the Dodd family who moved over the Berlin, Germany pre-WWII.  William A. Dodd was named the United States Ambassador to Germany in 1933, and he remained ambassador until 1937.  The book tells both of his journey as a man struggling to maintain his “Jeffersonian” beliefs in a profession that’s renowned for lavish parties and extravagant social situations and of his struggle to clearly and accurately relay the tone of Berlin back to the U.S. during the rise of Hitler and the blacklisting of Jews. And perhaps even a more fascinating element of the story, is the journey of Martha, Dodd’s daughter, who was quite “friendly” with Nazi soldiers and eventually became an agent for the Communist party.

This book is a captivating tale of Germany and the Dodd family journey.  It certainly left me wanting to know more about the rise of Hitler.  Perhaps I’ll be checking out more non-fiction books this summer to satisfy my craving!