14 Books of 2014
Dickinson books offer something for every taste
Searching for last-minute gift ideas or, perhaps, that perfect holiday read? Look no further! There’s something for just about everyone in this list of books written by Dickinson alumni and faculty members. All 14 books were published within the last 14 months.
1. False Starts: The Rhetoric of Failure and the Making of American Modernism
by David Ball, associate professor of English
Ball addresses the fundamental questions of language, meaning and authority that run counter to claims of American innocence and positivity, beginning with the American Renaissance and extending into modernist and contemporary literature.Northwestern University Press. Learn more.
2. The Happiest People in the World
by Brock Clarke ’90
Clarke’s newest madcap spy thriller, set in upstate New York, is shaped around real-life incidents and sprinkled with dark, dry humor. Algonquin Books.
3. Camp Sharpe’s “Psycho Boys”: From Gettysburg to Germany
by Beverley Driver Eddy, professor emerita of German
Drawing on company histories, memoirs and interviews, Eddy traces the history of the men of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Mobile Radio Broadcasting Companies during World War II. Merriam Press.
4. The U.S.-India Relationship: Cross-Sector Collaboration to Promote Sustainable Development
by Michael Fratantuono, associate professor of international studies, business and management; David Sarcone, associate professor of international business and management; and John D. Colwell, deputy director of academic engagement at the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI), U.S. Army War College (USAWC)
A collection of reflections and transcripts from a March 2013 workshop co-hosted by Dickinson and SSI. USAWC Press. Download the PDF for free via the SSI website or buy the paperback through SSI or Amazon.com. Learn more.
5. The Fourteenth Goldfish
by Jennifer Holm ’90
This inspiring children’s book by Holm, a three-time Newberry Award-winner, celebrates the wonder of science and explores questions about life and death, family and friendship, immortality and possibility. The 2014 paperback edition includes exclusive new materials. Random House.
6. Hard to Hold On To: A Hard Ink Novella
by Laura Kaye (Laura Kamoie ’92)
In her newest book, Kamoie (aka Laura Kaye) introduces Edward, who suffers from untreated PTSD, and Jenna, his new love. This book debuted at number eight on The New York Times bestseller list. HarperCollins. Learn more.
7. Cries of the Lost
by Chris Knopf ’73
In his award-winning 2012 book Dead Anyway, Knopf killed his protagonist, market researcher Arthur Cathcart, and Cathcart’s wife, Florencia—or so it seemed. But Cathcart survived the execution attempt. Now, he’s out to catch his wife’s murderer. The Permanent Press.
8. Dead of Autumn
by Sherry Knowlton ’72
A walk in the woods leads to a murder-mystery nightmare for protagonist Alexa Williams, who can’t seem to shake the feeling that she and the victim are somehow connected. Soon, her own life is in danger. Sunbury Press.
9. God Wills It: Presidents and the Political Use of Religion
by David O'Connell, assistant professor of political science
A comprehensive study of presidential religious rhetoric. Using careful analysis of hundreds of transcripts, O’Connell asks when and why religious language is used and whether such language is influential. Transaction Publishers.
10. Bilateral Asymmetry
by Don Riggs ’74
This collection of poems and illustrations explores the balance—or the imbalance—between art and life, and the inevitable synergy between the two. Texture Press.
11. Challenging Global Gender Violence
by Susan Rose ’77, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology
While the specific cultural contexts and acts of violence vary, the feelings that women express about their experiences of abuse are strikingly similar. So are the images, colors and words they use to express those feelings. This book provides a qualitative and comparative analysis of women's experiences of violence, healing and action across cultures. Palgrave Pivot.
12. Goodbye Monsters
by Susan Rusnak-Hemme ’02 and Master Sgt. Ben Hemme
A little boy who is terrified of monsters is introduced to a magical creature, Zimbobo, whose supernatural powers keep all of the monsters away. Goodbye Monsters comes with a stuffed replica of Zimbobo, who offers children tangible protection from the scary monsters. The Hemmes developed the concept after learning that many young children in military families experience more bedtime fear than usual while a parent is deployed.
13. Openings for Amateurs
by Pete Tamburro ’69
After 40 years of teaching U.S. history, Tamburro has a second career as a chess writer. He pens a newspaper and online column on the subject and is writing for Chess Life magazine, Chess Life for Kids (edited by Glenn Petersen ’71) and British Chess Magazine. He also has authored several chess books. His latest serves up concise, common-sense advice on the game.
14. “The Devil's to Pay”: John Buford at Gettysburg, a History and Walking Tour
by Eric Wittenberg ’83
Wittenberg taps scores of primary sources, many never before used, to paint a detailed picture of the role Gen. John Buford and his horse soldiers played in the Civil War. Savas Beatie.
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Published December 19, 2014