Emory librarians share their favorite summer reads

By Kate Sweeney May 19, 2025

From essays that make us laugh till we cry, to uproarious family dramas, to (yes, even) a tale of a dragon who makes its home on the Louisiana bayou, these picks from Emory librarians have you covered for reading at the beach, airport or your favorite hammock.

Dhy Edwardsberry, business librarian, Goizueta Business Library

“Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris

Summer is a great time to try learning or doing something new, and this collection of essays explores Sedaris’s life in the United States and his move to France, showcasing how he uses humor to make sense of his experiences. It’s a fantastic read that will definitely make you laugh out loud.

Ginny Hudgins, teaching and learning librarian, Oxford College

“The Book of Delights” by Ross Gay

Poet and essayist Ross Gay documented the delights he witnessed over the course of a year, from one birthday to the next, in this joyful book. It is easy to fall into the humdrum of everyday life, but Gay is quick to pull you out with beautiful and often funny descriptions of what delights him. It could be his large garden, meeting his neighbors for a pick-up basketball game or sinking into his mother’s basement couch after being outside in the sun. This would be a perfect park companion to read aloud and share the delight with a friend!

“The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Sun on your face, sweet tea in hand and a book reminding us how connected we all are sounds like the perfect summer day to me! As Kimmerer harvests serviceberries, she considers their relationship with the natural world — defined, not by competition, but by reciprocity. This short book is a reminder that we will not survive without each other’s care and attention. It’s just the catalyst you might need this summer to find a way to plug into your community.

Kristan Majors, science librarian, Robert W. Woodruff Library

“Cornbread Nation 5: The Best of Southern Food Writing” edited by Fred W. Sauceman

What do congealed salad, grits, sweet tea, fried green tomatoes, tamales and wontons have in common? Find out in this compilation of essays, poetry and recipes about the food cultures of the South, compiled by the Southern Foodways Alliance. The chapters are brief, so when the summer heat is melting your focus you can start, stop or skip around.

“Crazy Rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan

Many of us have seen this satirical romantic comedy filled with travel, fashion, romance and family drama as a movie on an airplane, but it’s also a quintessential beach read. And it’s a trilogy! Emory Libraries has it in paperback and as a three-volume box set via Overdrive’s Libby app.

“Highfire” by Eoin Colfer

Take one dragon who loves the movie “Flashdance” and lives on the Louisiana bayou. Add a teenager on the run, and you’ll have the over-the-top funny and absurd fantasy novel “Highfire.” Parents who are familiar with Colfer as a bestselling children’s author? Just know: This book is definitely for grown-ups.

N’Kosi Oates, curator of African American Collections, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library

“Lovely One: A Memoir” by Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir, whose title also serves as a translation of her first and middle names, offers an inspiring personal account of her life before becoming the first African American woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Partly a love story, the book recounts Patrick Jackson’s early and enduring commitment to her. It’s also an exploration of the challenges of balancing work and caring for a neurodivergent child. Finally, it’s a celebration of her family, mentors and the trailblazers who paved the way for her historic appointment.

“The New Brownies Book: A Love Letter to Black Families” edited by Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer

In 1920, as art and writing flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, W. E. B. Du Bois published “The Brownies' Book: A Monthly Magazine for Children of the Sun” — the first periodical for African American youth. “The New Brownies Book” reconceptualizes the magazine. This immersive, hardcover anthology, with handpicked selections by Karida L. Brown, professor in the Department of Sociology, and artist Charly Palmer, celebrates the brilliance and beauty of Black life with breathtaking essays, poems and artwork from more than 50 Black artists.

Peter Shirts, music and dance librarian, Robert W. Woodruff Library

“Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors” by Amber Share

Thinking about taking a road trip to a national park this summer? Learn about the nation’s natural treasures through this book’s hilarious one-star reviews and beautiful illustrations. Gems like these, from real tourists, await you:

“Save yourself some money, boil some water at home.”
— on Yellowstone National Park’s geysers and hot springs

“Too spiky!”
— about the grand vistas of Bryce Canyon

It's entertaining to learn about the great outdoors from those who might prefer the great indoors.

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