SIU’s Morris Library is full of books that everyone should read. These include many different types of genres, including books about Black History as it is Black History Month. It is also Library Lovers Month. Keep reading for a list of books that may be your new favorites from Morris Library!
1. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
This book has earned a Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and has been adapted for both film and theater. It is about a young Black woman by the name of Celie, who faces life’s hardships with unwavering grit and determination. This book represents black empowerment and is highly recommended.
2. “The Last Lecture” by Jeffery Zaslow and Randy Pausch
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, computer science professor Randy Pausch was asked to give a lecture that would represent his wisdom and stand as his legacy. This nonfiction book was his response. His message wasn’t about dying, but about living every moment to its fullest. Filled with a bit of humor, his story is definitely one to be remembered!
3. “Four Hundred Souls” by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
A group of extraordinary voices tells the intriguing story of the four-hundred-year journey of Blacks in America from 1619 to the present. This book is the number one New York Times bestseller. Check it out online through the Morris Library website linked below.
4. “The Third Policeman” by Flann O’Brien
This surreal, dark comic novel is about an unnamed narrator who becomes involved in a strange series of events after committing a murder. It explores themes of identity, death, and reality, often blending with humor. The Third Policeman will keep you on your toes and make you eager to read more!
5. “Black Like Me” by John Howard Griffin
Using medication that darkened his skin to deep brown, Griffin exchanged his privileged life as a Southern white man for the disenfranchised world of an unemployed black man. What happened to Griffin, as he made his way through the segregated Deep South, is recorded in this intense work of nonfiction. His history is a work about race and humanity that every American must read.
6. “Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout
Lawyer Bob Burgess is involved in a murder case, while forming a deep friendship with writer Lucy Barton. Their connection grows through walks and conversations about life, and Lucy is introduced to the iconic Olive Kitteridge, leading to shared afternoons filled with storytelling that honors the “unrecorded lives” of those they have known. Together, they seek to find meaning in their experiences and relationships.
I definitely recommend reading these books, as they will be very hard to put down! They are also very significant to society as they offer insight on important topics and honor Black History Month. Check them out at Morris Library or request online.
