The Faculty Recommended Book List

Under the guidelines of Goal 2 and Goal 4, and believing that one of the reasons people don’t read more is the lack of a way to find good things to read, I asked the faculty to give me a short list of their favorite books. My hope is that you will browse the following list and find many interesting books to read. My thanks to all the teachers and staff who took the time to send me their list of favorite books. Additional thanks to Ms. Sara Wachter for proof-reading this list before its publication.

Bob Wolff

[Please email any comments on this list to rwolff@duchesneacademy.org]

Mr. Becker:

Roberts, Gregory David. Shantaram. A novel about a man’s struggle for redemption in modern day India

Steinbeck, John. East of Eden.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath.

Pearl, Matthew. The Dante Club. A murder mystery set in 1865 Boston. Emerson, Longfellow, Lowell, and Holmes help solve the crime.

Greenblatt, Stephen. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare. The only good Shakespeare Biography I’ve read.

Lewis, C. S. The Weight of Glory.

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Enger, Leif. Peace Like a River. Set in 1962 small town Minnesota. Follows the adventures of asthmatic Reuben Land and his family. Great story.

Now, if I were really stuck on an island and could only have a couple of things I would definitely take my Shakespeare’s complete works. If that were too heavy, I would take a copy of The Tragedy of King Lear.

King, Stephen. The Stand.

Mrs. Classe:

Follett, Ken. The Pillars of the Earth. In this novel, set in twelfth century England, the author tells the story of the building of a cathedral entwining the lives of many characters.

Lindbergh, Anne Morrow. Gift from the Sea. Treasures from the sea become symbols for various aspects of a person’s life. Short, can be reread with new meaning at different stages of life.

Markham, Beryl. West with the Night. The story of pioneering aviatrix, Beryl Markham, set in Africa. Recommended to me by Marie DeMott.

Paulos, John Allen. Innumeracy, Mathematical Illiteracy and its Consequences. You do not have to be interested in math to appreciate these interesting stories of the social cost of “innumeracy” to our society.

Mr. Daly:

Shapiro, James. A Year in the Life of William Shakspeare: 1599. That was the year he wrote Julius Caesar.

I’m currently reading a kind of trilogy (kind of in that there seem to be five more that follow) It’s the Neal Stephenson, Baroque Cycle: Quicksilver, King of the Vagabonds, and Odalisque.

Mrs. Ford:

Sparks, Nicholas. A Bend in the Road.

Clark, Mary Higgins. Her suspense novels

Mrs. Haggas:

Kidd, Sue Monk. The Secret Life of Bees. This is a story of a young girl with a tragic childhood yet it is a book full of joy and love. She flees from her abusive father in the hope of finding out something about her deceased mother. She finds comfort, guidance and spirituality with three sisters who take her in. The book explores the relationship of mother to child and that shows us that we can discover this relationship in many different women in our lives.

Pilcher, Rosamunde. The Shell Seekers. This is an enjoyable book about an aging woman who discovers that one of her father’s paintings is worth a fortune. As she tries to decide what to do with the painting she recalls her parent’s long and loving marriage and her cherished childhood. This book is set in England and it is full of descriptive passages that make you feel like you are in a garden, warm and cozy kitchen or on the beach.

Hosseni, Khaled. The Kite Runner. This book tells the story of fierce cruelty and redeeming love seen through the eyes of the privileged young narrator as he comes of age in the last peaceful days of the monarchy in Afghanistan. It is a powerful and compelling book.

Ms. Harrison:

Weir, Alison. Six Wives of Henry VIII. Non-fiction

Ellison, Ralph. The Invisible Man. Fiction

Weir, Alison. Innocent Traitor. Historical Fiction -- Lady Jane Gray

Behrens, Peter. The Law of Dreams. Historical fiction -- the Irish Potato Famine

Sister Lucy Hayes:

James, P.D. The Murder Room.

James, P.D. The Lighthouse. Both are Adam Dalgliesh stories.

Cultural, socio-historical novels:

Tsukiyama, Gail. Women of the Silk Set in the 1920's China, women laborers in a silk factory who organize a strike for better conditions.

Fleischman, Lisa Huang. Dream of the Walled City. Again, China, 1890- to Mao's time

Erdrich, Louise. The Painted Drum.

Erdrich, Louise. Four Souls. Both of the above concern Native American, women's search for roots, and her identity

Lahiri, Jumpa. Namesake. Indian--immigration, adaptation issues.

Lahiri, Jumpa. Interpreter of Maladies A collection of her short stories

Brooks, Geraldine. March. For those who like to "know the rest of a story": this is the father of Alcott's Little Women

Dunant, Sarah. Birth of Venus. A picture of Florence during Savonarola's tenure.

Anybody interested in some spiritual reading? Might I suggest three?

Brueggemann Walter. Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination. All exegesis on Old Testament themes, with insightful applications for today's living:

Brueggemann Walter. Deep Memory Exuberant Hope: Contested Truth in a Post

Christian World.

Brueggemann Walter. Texts that Linger Words that Explode: Listening to

Prophetic Voices.

Brueggemann Walter. The Covenanted Self: Explorations in Law and Covenant.

Ms. Heck:

Adams, Richard. Watership Down.

Kidd, Sue Monk. The Secret Life of Bees.*

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby.

Wiesel, Elie. Night.

Cather, Willa. Death Comes for the Archbishop.

Mrs. Hickman

Murphy, Louise. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. Set in Poland during World War II, two Jewish children are hidden from the Nazi’s in the home of Magda, a gypsy woman on the edge of a village. In this setting the imagery of the fairy tale: ovens and witches, take on powerful new meanings.

 Russell, Mary Doria. A Thread of Grace. Set in the mountains of northern Italy during World War II, this is the story of resistance fighters. The various characters’ experiences are artfully woven together in a story that is tragic and moving.

 Russell, Mary Doria. The Sparrow. A futuristic story of a Jesuit priest and a team of scientists who travel to a galaxy where intelligent life has been identified. Based on the precept that unlike Columbus, this first meeting of two worlds could avoid the tragic mistakes made by the Spanish, the author takes well-intentioned crew through a series of interactions that lead to tragic consequences.

Unsworth, Barry. Sacred Hunger. Written from the perspective of a ship’s doctor hired to serve on a slave ship, this incredibly well researched historical fiction provides a detailed account of the early slave trade from Europe to Africa and the new world.

Ms. Horacek:

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. This is the classic romance novel by Charlotte Bronte which was published in 1847 and is one of the most famous British novels of all time. The story is that of a governess, Jane Eyre. Despite her plainness, she captures the heart of her enigmatic employer, Edward Rochester, but soon discovers he has a secret that could jeopardize any hope of happiness between them.

Buck, Pearl. The Good Earth. A novel first published in 1931, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1932. It is the first book in a trilogy that includes the books Sons (1932) and A House Divided (1935). It is the story of a farm family in China in times of famine, flood, and prosperity. A farmer, Wang Lung, who lives with his widowed father, marries O-Lan, the homely former slave of a wealthy household, the Hwang Family. The plot involves theft, religion, and polygamy.

Cather, Willa. My Antonia. First published in 1918 this book is considered the greatest novel by American writer Willa Cather. My Antonia is the final book of the "prairie trilogy" of novels by Cather, a list that also includes O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark. My Antonia tells the stories of several immigrant families who move out to rural Nebraska to start new lives in America, with a particular focus on a Bohemian family, the Shimerdas, whose eldest daughter is named Antonia. The book's narrator, Jim Burden, arrives in the fictional town of Black Hawk, Nebraska, on the same train as the Shimerdas, as he goes to live with his grandparents after his parents have died. Jim develops strong feelings for Antonia, something between a crush and a filial bond, and the reader views Antonia's life, including its attendant struggles and triumphs, through that lens.

(My narrative for the 3 novels above is taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Mrs. Hough:

Berg, Scott. Lindbergh.

Graham, Katherine. Personal History.

 Goodwin, Doris Kearns. No Ordinary Time.

Atkinson, Rick. An Army at Dawn.

Kidd, Sue Monk. The Secret Life of Bees.*

Mrs. Klukas:

Any book by Des Moines author Bill Bryson. He writes humorous non-fiction and also has done some non- humor on a history of the English language and another on the history of almost everything

Conroy, Pat. My Losing Season, or any other of Pat Conroy’s books.

Maclean, Norman. Young Men and Fire and his A River Runs Through It and Other Short Stories. My favorite. 

Ms. Linden:

Kidder, Tracy. Mountains Beyond Mountains. Tracy Kidder shows how one person, Paul Farmer, can make a difference in solving global health through a clear-eyed understanding of the interaction of politics, wealth, social systems, and disease. Profound and powerful, the reader will be taken around the world as Paul Farmer changes people’s minds through his dedication to the philosophy that “the only real nation is humanity.”

Allison, Jay and Dan Gediman. This I Believe. Based on the National Public Radio series of the same name, This I Believe features eighty essayists—from the famous to the unknown—completing the thought that begins the book’s title. Each piece compels the readers to rethink not only how they have arrived at their own personal beliefs, but also the extent to which they share them with others.

Gladwell, Malcolm. The Tipping Point. Little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or "tipping point" is reached, changing the world.

3) Mr. Machuca:

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. The author gives an ‘easy-to-understand’ description of Christianity without focusing on denominational differences.

Kearns-Goodwin, Doris. Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir. The Pulitzer Prize winning author gives a most interesting, educational and entertaining account of growing up in the suburbs of New York in the 1950’s. Special attention is given to her love affair (inspired by her dad) with the Brooklyn Dodgers of Jackie Robinson.

Pope John Paul II. Crossing the Threshold of Hope. The Pope writes about the existence of God, the role of the Pope, and many other of life’s probing topics.

Wooden, John. They Call Me Coach. Former UCLA basketball coaching giant (winner of 10 NCAA National Championships) gives wonderful nuggets of wisdom. An excellent book for people of all ages. His explanation of his “Pyramid of Success” alone makes this great book worth reading. Furthermore, it is a most inspirational book for anyone who is a teacher, coach or parent.

Mrs. Moeschler:

Herman Wouk. Winds of War and War and Remembrance. These historical//fiction novels, chronicle Captain Victor "Pug" Henry and his family's life before, during, and after World War II.

C.S. Lewis. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. This is not simply a children's novel. Read it again and discover a sense of wonder and faith as you enter the kingdom of Narnia.

Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird. Discover Atticus Finch, a man who loves his children, his neighbors, and his town and quietly teaches lessons about courage, integrity, and justice.

Mrs. Oakman:

Grogan, John. Marley and Me. A must read for any pet lover. The story of a man and his Labrador and their lives together, this is a very touching story that anyone who has lived with an animal (particularly a dog) can relate to.*

Berendt, John. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This is an older book, but I couldn’t put it down when I read it. It is a non-fiction tale of murder and strangeness in the south.

And on a different spin…

Bennett, William J. The Book of Virtues. This collection of fairy tales, fables, and poetry is not a book to be read straight through. However, it gives good reminders in small doses of how to live. My personal favorite is the tale of the little red hen, one my mother often quoted when I was growing up.

Dr. John O’Keefe:

Ambrose, Stephen. Undaunted Courage. The story of Lewis & Clark’s grand adventure

Rice, Edward. Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton: The Secret Agent Who Made the Pilgrimage to Mecca, Discovered the Kama Sutra, and Brought the Arabian Nights to the West. The subtitle hints at why this is so fascinating.

Norris, Kathleen. Dakota: A Spiritual Geography – the personal reflection of a woman spending time living on the plains of South Dakota; a cousin to Thoreau’s Walden Pond.

Morris, Charles. American Catholic: The Saints and Sinners Who Built America’s Most Powerful Church. Very helpful for anyone teaching in a Catholic school in the US.

Mrs. O’Keefe:

Cather, Willa. Death Comes for the Archbishop. Cather’s 1927 story of the Southwest. A classic.

Hillerman, Tony. Any and all of the Navajo mysteries featuring Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn.

McCourt, Frank. Teacher Man. The further adventures of the young man whose tragic early life in Ireland was chronicled in Angela’s Ashes.

Giardina, Denise. Saints and Villains. A fictional but mostly true telling of the life and death of Dietrich Bonheoffer, the German Protestant theologian and philosopher executed for his role in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler.

L’Engle, Madeleine. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. The author of the children’s classic, A Wrinkle in Time, writes about the process of creativity. A wandering and rich book to read a little at a time.

Tutu, Desmond. God Has A Dream. My favorite book to reflect and pray with when the realities of social ills and human rights abuses threaten to overwhelm me.

Mrs. Pfenning:

Seierstad, Asne. The Bookseller of Kabul. Nonfiction (We’re supposed to read more non-fiction, right?) This reporter lived in Kabul with a family for three years and reports the events of their lives. There is an interesting focus on the change in women’s lives after the Taliban and the drive within some women to become more independent while retaining cultural tradition.

Ansay, Manette. Vinegar Hill. Fiction. A story about dysfunctional marriage, in-laws and the lot. Somewhat disturbing in its presentation.

Alvermann, Donna and Stephen F.Phelps. Content Reading and Literacy: Succeeding in Today’s Diverse Classrooms. Yes, it’s a text book, but it’s an accessible one. I bought it five years ago when the state of Iowa required those seeking a Teacher’s license to have at least 9 hours of reading specialty training. I dug it out this year in light of our North Central process. I’ve been “peeking” at portions of it all year. It’s a great resource.

Mrs. Rose:

Sandoz, Mari. Crazy Horse.

Mr. Stommes:

Brown, Dan. The DaVinci Code.

Brown, Dan. Angels and Demons.

Brown, Dan. Deception Point.

Browne, Sylvia. Prophecy.

 Browne, Sylvia. The Mystical Life of Jesus.

Ms. Swanson:

Gilligan, Carol. In a Different Voice. Gilligan explores how men and women approach morality in different ways. Her work focuses on moral development in women, in particular, girls. She discusses how women define themselves in terms of their relationships, which is different from how men define themselves. Even though the book was written about twenty years ago, her theories have relevance today, especially to those of us working with young women.

Zull, James. The Art of Changing the Brain. This book explores the biology of learning by showing clear connections between the biology of the brain and what happens during teaching and learning. Zull’s main message is that “learning is change. It is change in ourselves because it is change in the brain. Thus the art of teaching must be the art of changing the brain.” The book is easy to read for the non-scientific mind and made me reflect deeply on how I teach and learn. I highly recommend this book for every teacher.

 In the fiction genre the best fiction book I have read in a long time is:

O’Connor, Joseph. Star of the Sea. This is about a ship sailing from England to New York in 1847 at the height of the potato famine in Ireland. As the story progresses, a murder takes place on board the ship. However, this story is far from being a simple murder mystery. The story is told from various points of view and is interspersed with documents relating to the history of the time. It is clever, well-written, and raises many questions about the social justice of that time. Note to Dan Daly - This would be a wonderful accompaniment to any Dickens novel.

Ms. Wachter:

Siddons, Anne Rivers. Sweetwater Creek. Twelve year old Emily Parmenter survived her mother's abandonment and her beloved older brother's death - and now finds purpose in training

her father's magnificent spaniels....and refuge in the magic of Sweetwater Creek. But a new friend has entered Emily's life - a troubled daughter of privilege whose secrets threaten to blow a hole in Emily's beautiful world and let the real one in....

Mayle, Peter. A Good Year. Max Skinner has recently lost his job at a London financial firm and just as recently learned that he has inherited his late uncle's vineyard in Provence. Unfortunately the wine produced on his new property is swill, but then why are so many people interested in it? Fast moving and fun, fizzy with intrigue, bursting with local color and flavor, the Povencal life never tasted so good!

Dr. Wolff:

Halberstam, David. The Fifties. A personal look at the 1950's in the U.S. that reads as if you were talking late at night to a parent or grandparent who lived in that era.

Diamond, Jared, Guns, Germs and Steel. A complete discussion of how the Europeans were able to take over the world and not vice versa. It has an interesting section on the invention of writing.

Teale, Edwin. North with the Spring. A record of the journey made by Teale as he met spring in the Everglades in Florida and followed it North until the first day of summer. This is very good read when you are sick of winter.

Manchester, William. A World Lit only by Fire. A quick look at medieval times, as seen from a very personal point of view.

Grogan, John. Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog. The biography of a golden lab who never stopped being a puppy.*

* Indicates that this book was recommended by more than one staff member.