There's just something about September that feels like a fresh beginning.

Even if the return of a new school year is experienced only vicariously, this month harkens back to those memorable student days—whether they were terrific or terrible. Our unwaning interest in books with academic settings demonstrates just how formative and fascinating those years can be. For this month's blog, I wanted to offer just a few of the many titles that tap into our shared scholastic experiences-with perspectives from both the student and the faculty.

First up are some tried and true classics, many of which have been relentlessly revisited and adapted in various forms. These are followed by more contemporary offerings that spend some time within schools or universities.The constant demand for new releases related to academia throughout the genres seems to indicate an a wide and varied audience. Of course, publishers are quick to accommodate by releasing at least a few every year at this time. I have also included 2 nonfiction books that are very different in terms of approach and tone. Both address the dangers of viewing "history" through a manipulated filter. Finally, I have linked a couple of my reviews on this topic that I enjoyed and that satisfied my own nostalgic itch. So, if you find yourself smelling phantom pencils or hearing echoes of school bells these days, know that you are not alone!

Fiction

Nonfiction

September's Featured Reviews

Recent Readings

I have recently just finished reading Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener and A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz (the third installment in the wonderful Hawthorne/Horowitz series). I also really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of Conviction by Denise Mina.

Right now, I am thrilled to read Anthony Doerr's latest Cloud Cuckoo Land, The Best American Mysteries of 2020 collection, and I am currently listening to Providence by Caroline Kepnes.

Do you dig or dread the eruption of Fall? Do you have any good recommendations that describe schooling in other cultures? I would to hear about them, any other suggestions you might have: jnmegan@gpl.org.

Until next time: Be safe, be well and be well-read!

Joelle

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So, who am I, anyway? I am a resident of West Groton, with a husband, 4 teenaged children and a Samoyed puppy-all of whom are systematically destroying our house. I am currently working part time at the Groton Public Library and in a former life I was employed as a Director or PR/Marketing at a high-tech consulting firm. My BA is in Psychology, but most of my time was spent in college earning a Concentration on the Novel. That is all to say that I make no claims at being an expert of any kind and my thoughts, opinions and mistakes are solely my own. I am just a person whose passion for books has continued to grow from the moment I was first able to grip and gnaw on them, and I have been devouring them ever since.