Bookshelf

We asked two writers, a student and an alumna, what they recommend to Lincoln readers

Ramona Boyd ’23 Laurel Davis Huber ’69

Occupation: Aspiring author, poet, photographer, illustrator, and social science researcher Recommendation: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Why I like it: Invisible Man is my favorite book of all time. It teaches me so much about writing every time I read it – and it never loses impact. Why Lincoln might like it: I would recommend this book for its harrowing and pertinent metaphors, vivid language, and unique inner dialogue. It is a crucial book for anybody to read, but especially for people who want to learn deeply about experiences different from their own, a central value at Lincoln. Occupation: Novelist Recommendation: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd Why I like it: First of all, Kidd is a top-notch writer (I was so impressed by her first novel, The Secret Life of Bees). This novel is my favorite sort – an impeccable fictional version of a true story. Sarah Grimke, a young woman who despises slavery, develops a kind of understanding – true friendship would be impossible – with the slave Hetty, and along with her sister devotes her life to the abolitionist cause. Worth reading for the story alone, but the inner lives of the women in this book are truly beautifully rendered. Why Lincoln might like it: Serendipitously, this novel delves deeply into Quakerism and what compelled two sisters to embrace that faith. I think the Lincoln community would appreciate this novel not only because of the connection to Quaker values, but also because of its examination of the strength of sisterhood and the terrible curse of slavery on our collective consciousness.