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July 17, 2020

“I’m Booked.” – SEC Literature to Read This Summer

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

*Updated June 30, 2022

Is there ever a bad time to dive into a good book? We don’t think so. And we agree with all the bookworms that there’s something about the summer sunshine and warm weather that makes pleasure reading feel like a little slice of paradise.

From noteworthy graduates to esteemed faculty, no matter your genre, there is an acclaimed literary work out there with a connection to your favorite SEC university. And we are here to help you find it with several “SEC titles” worth adding to your summer reading list.

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Alabama – “Forrest Gump” by Winston Groom

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in a crimson jersey is an iconic image for University of Alabama alumni and fans, but the novel by the same name is a must read. In the novel, Winston Groom, a Mobile native and Alabama graduate, channels his personal experience into a modern folk hero, including his tour of duty in the Vietnam War and his time in Tuscaloosa. “Forrest Gump” has sold more than 1.7 million copies, bolstered by Hanks’ Oscar-winning depiction in the film adaptation.

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Arkansas – “True Grit” by Charles Portis

How do you measure a great Western? Perhaps when both John Wayne and Jeff Bridges play your protagonist in separate films. Charles Portis, a University of Arkansas alumnus, only penned five novels before passing away in 2020, but those were enough to leave a lasting legacy as one of the 20^th century’s most celebrated authors in the genre.

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Auburn – “First Man” by James R. Hansen

Auburn University Professor Emeritus James Hansen isn’t the first man to write about the life and accomplishments of Neil Armstrong, but in 2005, he did pen the “first and only definitive authorized account” of the legendary astronaut. From his upbringing and personal life to his historic flight on board Apollo 11, this biography chronicles one of the country’s most noteworthy citizens, and it provides the template for the critically acclaimed 2018 film.

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Florida – “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes

If you read to escape, the Italian countryside seems like a pretty good place to go, and University of Florida graduate Frances Mayes takes you there. This relaxing memoir, which inspired the popular film, follows a noteworthy UF graduate as she and her husband renovate a Tuscan villa over the course of several summers – learning about Italy’s culture and history along the way. If you need another reason to pick up this New York Times bestseller, it also includes several chapters of recipes!

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Georgia – “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens

After earning a degree from the University of Georgia, enjoying a career in conservation, and penning a handful of wildlife memoirs, Delia Owens’ debut novel wasn’t just an accomplishment – it set the literary world on fire. A coming-of-age tale blended with a murder mystery, this work spent 30 weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list and led Amazon’s list of Most Sold Books in fiction. Read the book, and then watch the movie adaptation that is set for release July 15, 2022.

 

Kentucky – “The Queen’s Gambit” by Walter S. Tevis

You may have seen the hit Netflix show, but did you know “The Queen’s Gambit” was a book first? Written by Walter S. Tevis, a Kentucky alumnus and former faculty member in the Department of English, the book is a New York Times Bestseller and shows the journey of Beth Harmon through the chessboard and life.

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LSU – “Journalism’s Roving Eye” by John Maxwell Hamilton

John Maxwell Hamilton spent more than two decades in the field before joining the faculty ranks at LSU, and he’s authored or co-authored ten texts about a profession increasingly under fire. His 2009 “Roving Eye” chronicles the history of American reporters abroad, examining how the challenges of foreign correspondence – from language barriers to national security – call for skillful, tenacious, and unbiased media coverage.

Ole Miss – “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” in “Milwaukee Noir” by Derrick A. Harriell

Already an award-winning poet, Ole Miss faculty member Derrick A. Harriell turned to fiction with “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” in the short story collection “Milwaukee Noir.” Harriell won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award presented by the Mystery Writers of America for the story set in his hometown of Milwaukee.

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Mississippi State – “Bleachers” by John Grisham

With a law degree and nearly a decade of criminal law experience, it’s no surprise John Grisham became one of the top names in courtroom fiction. And after attending both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi, he’s no stranger to college football either. Granted, his legal thrillers are highly acclaimed and well known, “Bleachers” is sure to satisfy the football fan in you.

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Missouri – “Roundabout” by Phong Nguyen

On the surface, University of Missouri Professor Phong Nguyen’s novel seems like a standard text, chronicling an accountant’s decision to leave his job and family to embark on a road trip. But this story examines the literary process through a protagonist who knows he is an author’s creation. And if you look closely, you’ll see this “improvisational fiction” is missing something – the letter “e,” which is nowhere to be found in the text.

 

South Carolina – “Head Off & Split” by Nikky Finney

As the winner of the SIBA Book Award for Poetry, the GCLS Award for Poetry, and the prestigious National Book Award for Poetry, this collection could fill a trophy case all on its own. University of South Carolina Professor Nikky Finney’s brilliant pieces provide an artful examination of some seminal Southern figures, from Senator Strom Thurmond and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Hurricane Katrina survivors.

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Tennessee – “Leaving Orbit” by Margaret Lazarus Dean

Venturing into outer space is undoubtedly one of mankind’s greatest achievements, and it often makes for a fascinating read, too. While teaching Creative Writing at the University of Tennessee, Professor Margaret Lazarus Dean for years spent her spare time researching NASA’s last three space shuttle launches from Cape Canaveral. The result, “Leaving Orbit,” is a creative work of nonfiction chronicling the end of an era that captured America’s imagination for half a century.

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Texas A&M – “Remaking Horror” by James Francis Jr.

No genre of film has become so ready-made for recycling than horror, particularly during the last two decades. James Francis, Jr., a horror scholar and Texas A&M University graduate, traces the lineage of the horror remake back to Gus Van Sant’s 1998 update of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” analyzing the industry phenomenon through more than two dozen movies.

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Vanderbilt – “Focal Point” by Jenny Qi

Jenny Qi, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt, takes the experience of her mother’s death and studying science, and combines them for her debut poem collection in “Focal Point.” In a story for Vanderbilt Magazine, Qi discusses her writing and research journey as well as the book, which was a 2020 Steel Toe Books Poetry Award winner.