January 9, 2025
UO alumni and friend authors to add to your 2025 reading list
Start your 2025 reading on the right foot with a diverse collection of works from fellow University of Oregon alumni. The books on this list showcase a blend of nonfiction, fiction, memoirs, and young adult literature, exploring themes that range from self-discovery, mystery, transformation, and the supernatural. Each author brings a unique perspective, offering readers personal narratives, emotional depth, and compelling storytelling across various genres. Happy New Year and happy reading!
Nonfiction Books
By Gina Sipley, MEd ’07 (teaching and learning)
Sipley explores the concept of "lurking" in online spaces, particularly in the context of digital literacy. Lurking refers to the act of observing or reading content in online communities without having to actively participate. Sipley examines how this behavior can contribute to learning and engagement and offers insights into how it shapes individuals' digital interactions and learning practices. The book challenges traditional views of participation and emphasizes the value of passive engagement in the digital age. Through this lens, Sipley highlights the role of lurking as a legitimate and impactful form of digital literacy practice.
Fiction Books
By Natalie Jacobsen, BA ’10 (cinema studies)
Set in 1877 in Kyoto, Japan, this captivating novel blends elements of mystery and psychological depth. The story follows a young protagonist who embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind eerie occurrences tied to an abandoned train. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they are confronted by unsettling phenomena and haunting figures that challenge their understanding of reality. Jacobsen's narrative explores themes of grief, memory, and the unseen forces that shape our lives, all while building a sense of suspense and emotional resonance. The novel captures the tension between the physical world and the spectral realm, offering readers a thought-provoking experience.
By Miranda Schmidt, BA ’08 (English)
A story of queer love, new motherhood, and ecological interconnectedness, Leafskin is a lyrical and immersive novel that weaves together elements of fantasy, nature, and self-discovery. The story follows its protagonist as they navigate a world where the boundaries between the natural and the magical blur. Through vivid imagery and poetic prose, Schmidt explores themes of transformation, identity, and the connection between humans and the earth. As the protagonist undergoes a mysterious change, they must confront inner struggles and external forces that challenge their sense of self. Leafskin is an evocative exploration of growth and renewal, offering readers an exciting journey into a world where the fantastical and the personal intertwine.
By S.R. Schulz, BA ’07 (human physiology)
In Supersymmetry, a woman travels from Oregon to Croatia while struggling through faltering relationships. Set in a future where scientific advancements have reached unprecedented levels, the story follows a protagonist caught in a web of innovative research into quantum physics and parallel universes. As they navigate a world of shifting truths and moral dilemmas, the novel delves into the philosophical implications of scientific discovery and the limits of human understanding. With its intricate plot and intellectual depth, Supersymmetry challenges readers to contemplate the boundaries between science and the unknown, offering a gripping narrative that blends speculative ideas with personal conflict.
By Michael N. McGregor, BA ’80 (journalism)
American tour guide Joe Newhouse wants nothing more than to reach Venice. Since moving to Munich after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he's watched his business fail, his wife leave him, and his love for Europe diminish. Now he faces one last ten-day tour with a surly group that doesn't want to be there. As he leads them through the mythic lands of Europe's Romantic past, he grows increasingly disturbed by their stories of earlier lives, puzzled by their desire to be with a man who doesn't arrive, and entangled in an illicit affair that promises to either save him or plunge his tour-and his life-into madness.
Soaked in the Romantic atmosphere and dark deeds of old Europe—as well as the freedoms and hopes of a new era—The Last Grand Tour takes us on a perilous journey through Hitler's Berchtesgaden, Mozart's Salzburg, and Mad King Ludwig's Bavarian fantasyland before reaching its stunning climax in the murky waters of Venice. Along the way, it explores the often-shifting lines between fidelity and freedom, illusion and reality, regret and desire.
Soaked in the Romantic atmosphere and dark deeds of old Europe—as well as the freedoms and hopes of a new era—The Last Grand Tour takes us on a perilous journey through Hitler's Berchtesgaden, Mozart's Salzburg, and Mad King Ludwig's Bavarian fantasyland before reaching its stunning climax in the murky waters of Venice. Along the way, it explores the often-shifting lines between fidelity and freedom, illusion and reality, regret and desire.
Memoirs
By Lidia Yuknavitch, BA ’89 (English)
Lidia Yuknavitch’s Reading the Waves is a mesmerizing exploration of identity, personal transformation, and the power of narrative. Set for release on February 5, 2025, the memoir draws on Yuknavitch’s complex background—her father’s abuse, her complex relationship with her mother, the death of her child, her sexuality. The alumna’s prose is raw and lyrical, turning inward to use her creativity for healing. With its deep introspection and evocative storytelling, Reading the Waves offers a powerful meditation on the ways we shape our lives and make sense of the world around us. Yuknavitch is a bestselling author, with titles like Thrust and soon-to-be feature film The Chronology of Water.
By Corine Lewis
Corine Lewis’s heartfelt and inspiring memoir offers a candid look into her journey as a cheerleader, cheerleading coach, and sexual assault and domestic violence survivor. Through a series of personal stories, Lewis reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and personal growth she experienced through her trauma and how she has transformed her pain into a catalyst for change. With humor and vulnerability, she shares the lessons learned along the way, including the importance of resilience, teamwork, and self-confidence.
Young Adult
By Chloe Spencer, BA ’17 (journalism)
Haunting Melody follows a young protagonist who discovers an eerie, haunting melody that seems to resonate with something deep within her. As she unravels the origins of the music, she finds herself drawn into a web of dark secrets and long-buried truths. Spencer’s narrative explores themes of memory, fate, and the unexplainable forces that shape our lives. With its atmospheric setting and emotional depth, Haunting Melody keeps readers on the edge of their seats, offering a gripping journey where the line between the living and the spectral is blurred.
Love books? Join our Alumni Book Club!
Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian
By Dr. Amy Attas
If you’d like to take your reading goals to the next level in 2025, look no further than the UO Alumni Book Club. Through March, we’re reading Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian by Dr. Amy Attas.
The heartwarming and insightful collection of stories offers a glimpse into the life of a compassionate veterinarian serving the pets of Manhattan. Through a series of true tales, Dr. Attas shares her experiences making house calls, offering medical care, and building unique relationships with both animals and their owners in the heart of the city. The book explores themes of empathy, animal care, and the special bonds formed between pets and their humans.
Join the book club today and enjoy reading on your own time, while connecting digitally with fellow Ducks who also love to read.