Regardless of April’s rain or shine, cozying up on a couch or bench with a book makes for a great pastime. From fantasy novels to poetry collections, the literary worlds to get lost in are endless.
Ahead of World Book Day on April 23, The Beacon staff have hit the stacks to bring you their all-time favorite reads.
“The Complete Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi
Recommended by Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis, Living Editor
“The Complete Persepolis” is proof that comics aren’t just for kids. Through a simple art style, Satrapi bridges historical accounts and her memories of the Islamic revolution to preserve her family’s history and call out ways fundamentalism harms community. I first read Marjane Satrapi’s bildungsroman about war and exile when I was seven. After revisiting the book in middle school and college, I can see how Marji’s communist education and punk rock roots impacted me as a girl. On first read, I related to the protagonist’s only-child-ness and French upbringing. But I also learned about Iranian politics, sexual awakenings and the effects of smoking too much pot from Marji. Ultimately, the black-and-white, expressive illustrations make this coming-of-age story shine amongst an overwhelming amount of comics to choose from.
“Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez
Recommended by Kaylee Monahan, News Reporter
When I first opened “Love in the Time of Cholera” at a coffeehouse, an older gentleman with white hair and round-rimmed glasses leaned over and said to me, “I’m jealous you get to read this book for the first time.” Now, I find myself saying the same to you. This story chronicles the decades-long, unrequited love story of Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza, from their youthful passion to late adulthood. With Márquez’s signature magical realism, he paints a portrait of love and relationships, showing how connected people are to one another. Across distance, time and minutia, we make permanent imprints on each other — a tender sentiment that has stuck with me since I closed the book.
“The Message” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Recommended by Kimberly Cortez, Editor-in-Chief
I like to think this book found me in many ways. Stories shape us. They also move past us more quickly than we can catch them. Even rarer is harnessing that storytelling skill and delivering its message to the world. For Coates, the aspiration of those who tell stories — writers in particular — should be “nothing less than doing their part to save the world.” Through Coates’ journey through Senegal, North Carolina and Gaza, he explores how writers shape the stories and narratives we believe. At times, it felt like Coates was speaking to me, and maybe that’s because I am the intended audience. As he puts it, “... It is the journalists who decide which sides are legitimate and which are not, which views shall be considered and which are pushed out of the frame.”
“What You Are Looking For Is in the Library” by Michiko Aoyama
Recommended by Q Acosta, Photographer
I first saw this book over the summer in a Chicago bookstore. Instead of buying it there, I got the book through the library — a fitting process. The book walks you through a library’s shelves, highlighting the people who wander in and meet a reference librarian. This larger-than-life librarian aids all patrons with their struggles through book recommendations and gifts. These objects, ranging from a tabby cat to a plane, guide each person through the library. As a college student who doesn’t always know what their future will look like, this book captures that uncertainty but is comforting in showing how people can guide you. Like how each character meets the librarian, you, too, will meet people who help you learn more about the world.
“What Strange Paradise” by Omar El Akkad
Recommended by Rieve Randall, News Reporter
This novel is set in the backdrop of the Mediterranean refugee crisis and follows Amir, a young Syrian boy, who lands on an unnamed island after surviving a deadly journey across the sea. As he explores his new life, he forms an unlikely bond with Vanna, a local girl, who is the only person on the island who shows Amir empathy. I read this book as someone who isn’t used to realistic fiction, and it didn’t disappoint. I found myself getting attached to the main characters and becoming invested in seeing what would happen next. Bonus points for the novel: El Akkad is a local Portland author.
“American Hate: Survivors Speak Out” by Arjun Sethi
Recommended by Julianna Pedone, News and Managing Editor
If you’re looking for a book that feels both timely and necessary, “American Hate” should be at the top of your list. Civil rights lawyer Arjun Sethi gathers testimonies from across the country — from immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals and religious minorities — each sharing stories of surviving hate crimes in modern-day America. These stories are raw, real and human, and they cut through the noise of misinformation and rising prejudice. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an essential one — especially if you want to understand the real-life impact of today’s political climate.
“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
Recommended by Naara Conlon, Community Engagement Editor
Yes, this novel was likely part of your high school curriculum, but the praise is well deserved — it’s a modern classic. In “The Kite Runner,” Khaled Hosseini delivers more than just something to write an essay about. Set in Afghanistan, “The Kite Runner” follows Amir as he confronts reality and seeks forgiveness from a haunting betrayal. The characters’ humanity is what makes the novel so gut-wrenching. While the story carries sadness, it also offers a hopeful and emotionally enriching narrative. I first read “The Kite Runner” during my sophomore year of high school, and not a day goes by where I don’t think about it. It’s a book that will stick with you, well beyond the last page.
“Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn
Recommended by Samantha Zavala, News Reporter
Set in contemporary North Carolina, this fantasy novel follows Bree as she navigates college and magic. The characters grapple with themes of race and class, while protecting the world from the demons that lurk in the shadows. While cliche at times, this young adult, coming-of-age story mixes Arthurian fantasy with modern-day issues, resulting in a unique take on classic tropes. Although the plot and magic system can be confusing, the immersive storytelling makes this novel worth the read. With a cast of well-rounded characters, a compelling setting and a plot full of twists and turns you won’t see coming, “Legendborn” isn’t one to skip.
“The Rumi Collection” edited by Kabir Helminski
Recommended by Kaeden Souki, News and Sports Reporter
Some say the best way to understand Rumi is in its original Farsi —but for myself and others, learning a new language is difficult. This translation compiled by Helminski, a master of the same Sufi order founded by Rumi, is the next best thing. While I am grateful the great Jalal al–Din Rumi has reached popularity in the West, the prevalence of popular translations compiled by authors with no knowledge of the original language often shows the appropriation of Persian poets like Rumi, Omar Khayyam and Hafez by Western audiences. Helminski’s translations may not be perfect, but they preserve cultural identity and capture Rumi’s wonder. In this collection, Rumi ponders life’s struggle between joy and sorrow and the love found amidst despair. I was introduced to Rumi by my grandmother, and when she passed away earlier this year, it was Rumi’s steadfast gratitude and awe of love’s unknown bounds that kept me in check.
“Frankenstein in Baghdad” by Ahmed Saadawi
Recommended by Aidan Hyde, Sports Reporter
I was first introduced to this book in my Arabic literature class, and let me tell you, it’s bold, haunting and unforgettable. Set in the aftermath of the Iraq War, this book reimagines “Frankenstein” within the context of a devastated and chaotic Baghdad. A scavenger, tired of an unjust world, stitches together the body parts of Iraq War bomb victims to make a political statement. The figure, known to the people of Baghdad as the “Whatsitsname,” comes to life and begins taking revenge against those who killed innocent civilians. Saadawi blends horror, politics and humor to show how violence can transform cities and people. The story is rich with powerful emotions and offers readers a moving reflection on war and survival. This book left me sitting with profound questions about justice, humanity and violence.
“In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado
Recommended by Maggie Dapp, Sports Editor
In this memoir chronicling Machado’s relationship with her abusive ex-girlfriend, Machado asks readers to consider the stories left out of the historical record. In each chapter, Machado employs typical narrative tropes, from folk tales to fairytale imagery, to tell her unexpected story, all while providing commentary on the landmark legal decisions, works of fiction and accounts of queer history that have helped her understand her experiences. The narrative and experimental form allow Machado to grip you until you can see the bruises, creating a true classic of the genre.
“The Carrying” by Ada Limón
Recommended by Riley Martinez, Copy and Opinions editor
Ada Limón’s 2018 collection of poems, “The Carrying,” is a beautiful and haunting meditation on grief, expanding our ideas of family and living in a world filled with both immeasurable beauty and suffering. Written in stunning yet accessible verse, this poetry collection explores a vast thematic landscape, from sexual oppression, to environmental degradation, to infertility, to our relationships with animals and the built and natural world. I have spent months with this text and have written about it for school, and that has brought it near to my heart. But I venture that anyone who hears its music and sits with its ideas will walk away feeling enriched and enlightened.
This list was compiled by The Beacon staff. We can be reached at beaconeditor@upbeacon.com.
