Now that the stress of the semester is over, enjoy summer break and relax with a good book! Pendergrass Library is not only a great place to study and check out class books, but also offers books for fun. Our Leisure Reading collection features a broad range of exciting new books, and any UT student, faculty or staff can check them out! Check out our Goodreads account for a full list of books.
Many Pendergrass Student Library Assistants are avid readers, and can gladly recommend books based on your personal preferences.
Our genres include:
General Fiction
Although we’ve labeled it “general,” the general fiction section is anything but bland. It encompasses a wide range of sub-genres and themes from humorous, to quirky, to dramatic, to thought-provoking. This category contains over 70 titles, including new releases and popular titles.
The Dog Stars (2012) by Peter Heller is set in post-apocalyptic Colorado. Although there are no zombies, there is disease that has decimated most of the population, and limited resources for those that are left. Hig is a man who struggles to accept the loss of his wife, and the violence he must commit to keep himself safe. Scavengers roam the countryside, killing anyone caught unaware for what little they may have. Hig’s dog and his neighbor Bangley are his only companions. The author’s poetic prose, describing the wasteland and its few inhabitants is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
Mystery
Suspense, thriller, mystery… The Drifter (2016) by Nicholas Petrie could be described as all three. Peter Ash is an ex-soldier with PTSD. He had a friend from the Marines who committed suicide after returning to the states, and he agrees to help the man’s wife with some home repairs. When he looks under the front porch he finds a suitcase of cash and explosive devices, guarded by a vicious dog. Throughout the novel, the mystery—and the danger— unfolds as Ash tries to find out who has placed the suitcase there and why.
Suspense
The Ex (2016) by Alafair Burke is a suspenseful novel that is new to the collection. Olivia Randall is an extremely successful defense lawyer. Twenty years ago, she ended her engagement to Jack Harris abruptly and rather cruelly. He later married another woman, who was brutally shot three years from the present day. When Olivia hears that her former fiancé, Jack Harris, has been arrested for a triple homicide of a young woman—and that one of the victims was connected to his wife’s murder—she decides to take the case and defend him. She truly believes in his innocence, until she begins to uncover clues that hint otherwise.
Romance
Our Student Assistant Holly Heindl highly recommends The Royal We (2015) by Heather Cocks for a light, fun summer read. Although categorized as general fiction, the focus is a love story clearly inspired by the beloved British royals William and Kate. Rebecca (Bex) is a down-to-earth American college student studying in England. When she falls for Prince Nicholas (Nick), her simple world becomes complicated. Will she be able to keep up appearances, or will it all become too much for Bex?
Fantasy
Our Student Assistant Lindsey Rasnake recommends A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) by Sarah J. Maas. When we think of fairies, many of us picture tiny winged creatures flitting about. In this book, fairies are a dangerous but misunderstood species of shape-shifters. When a girl named Feyre kills one, mistaking him for a wolf, she must answer to his angry comrade Tamlin. Feyre and Tamlin soon develop an interesting relationship as the author recreates a fairy tale reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with plenty of edge and intensity. If you enjoy the book, the author has recently released a sequel: A Court of Mist and Fury.
Non-Fiction
Holly also enjoyed Love in the Elephant Tent: How Running Away with the Circus Brought Me Home (2015)by Kathleen Cremonesi. If you like memoirs about adventurous people, consider this book. Kathleen Cremonesi was leading an ordinary life until she decided to join a European circus. She fell in love with an intriguing elephant trainer and learned a lot about herself while traveling with fellow performers.
Pendergrass specializes in books about plants and animals. Our non-fiction section holds interesting books about the animal kingdom, including one of Holly’s picks: Zooburbia: Meditations on the Wild Animals Among Us (2014) by Tai Moses. Although urbanization has taken a toll on wildlife, the resiliency of animals allows them to survive in suburban areas. The author writes about animal encounters and observations from her backyard and around her neighborhood and advocates for peaceful interactions between people and animals.
The Dog Stars (2012) by Peter Heller is set in post-apocalyptic Colorado. Although there are no zombies, there is disease that has decimated most of the population, and limited resources for those that are left. Hig is a man who struggles to accept the loss of his wife, and the violence he must commit to keep himself safe. Scavengers roam the countryside, killing anyone caught unaware for what little they may have. Hig’s dog and his neighbor Bangley are his only companions. The author’s poetic prose, describing the wasteland and its few inhabitants is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
Suspense, thriller, mystery… The Drifter (2016) by Nicholas Petrie could be described as all three. Peter Ash is an ex-soldier with PTSD. He had a friend from the Marines who committed suicide after returning to the states, and he agrees to help the man’s wife with some home repairs. When he looks under the front porch he finds a suitcase of cash and explosive devices, guarded by a vicious dog. Throughout the novel, the mystery—and the danger— unfolds as Ash tries to find out who has placed the suitcase there and why.
The Ex (2016) by Alafair Burke is a suspenseful novel that is new to the collection. Olivia Randall is an extremely successful defense lawyer. Twenty years ago, she ended her engagement to Jack Harris abruptly and rather cruelly. He later married another woman, who was brutally shot three years from the present day. When Olivia hears that her former fiancé, Jack Harris, has been arrested for a triple homicide of a young woman—and that one of the victims was connected to his wife’s murder—she decides to take the case and defend him. She truly believes in his innocence, until she begins to uncover clues that hint otherwise.
Our Student Assistant Holly Heindl highly recommends The Royal We (2015) by Heather Cocks for a light, fun summer read. Although categorized as general fiction, the focus is a love story clearly inspired by the beloved British royals William and Kate. Rebecca (Bex) is a down-to-earth American college student studying in England. When she falls for Prince Nicholas (Nick), her simple world becomes complicated. Will she be able to keep up appearances, or will it all become too much for Bex?
Our Student Assistant Lindsey Rasnake recommends A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) by Sarah J. Maas. When we think of fairies, many of us picture tiny winged creatures flitting about. In this book, fairies are a dangerous but misunderstood species of shape-shifters. When a girl named Feyre kills one, mistaking him for a wolf, she must answer to his angry comrade Tamlin. Feyre and Tamlin soon develop an interesting relationship as the author recreates a fairy tale reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with plenty of edge and intensity. If you enjoy the book, the author has recently released a sequel: A Court of Mist and Fury.
Holly also enjoyed Love in the Elephant Tent: How Running Away with the Circus Brought Me Home (2015) by Kathleen Cremonesi. If you like memoirs about adventurous people, consider this book. Kathleen Cremonesi was leading an ordinary life until she decided to join a European circus. She fell in love with an intriguing elephant trainer and learned a lot about herself while traveling with fellow performers.
Pendergrass specializes in books about plants and animals. Our non-fiction section holds interesting books about the animal kingdom, including one of Holly’s picks: Zooburbia: Meditations on the Wild Animals Among Us (2014) by Tai Moses. Although urbanization has taken a toll on wildlife, the resiliency of animals allows them to survive in suburban areas. The author writes about animal encounters and observations from her backyard and around her neighborhood and advocates for peaceful interactions between people and animals.