Let’s face it: Creative writing and storytelling – whether for policy, community initiatives or keeping our comms plans fresh – is no small feat. Here’s a peek at where our team found the inspiration that kept us sharp and energized this summer!
Fiction
“Lexicon” by Max Barry
Mach 1 Reader: Mary Love
Lexicon by Max Barry may be over a decade old, but it feels eerily relevant today. As a language and history nerd, I loved this Dan Brown–style thriller that explores the power of words across history and the role of communication in modern times, all wrapped in a gripping plot of secret societies and mind control. One of my favorite page-turners ever.
“Overstaying” by Ariane Koch
Mach 1 Reader: Caroline Payne
In my opinion: The more bizarre the book, the better. If you use reading as a form of escapism, might I recommend this debut novel by German author Ariane Koch?
A meandering, morally questionable character lives alone in their large, childhood home in a sleepy village. One night, fumbling home from the local bar, the lead picks up a vagrant off the street and invites them to live with her. The guest becomes a sort of pet – he sleeps in the room with the vacuum collection and the lead is proud of her hospitality and empathy. Eventually, though, this drifter becomes a burden, crippling the lead character with indecision, anger and neuroses. This story is not about the plot, it’s about the slip into absurdity.
I randomly picked this up in a bookstore in New York and the owner said, “did you pick this because of the cover?” Well, obviously.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins
Mach 1 Reader: Carsyn Collins
Before you ask, no, I’m not related to one of the greatest writers of this decade, but herHunger Games series did have major influence on my passion for reading at a young age, hooking me onto the world of dystopia.
If you’re someone who 1) needs a break from real-world politics and loves to explore the fictional kind or 2) is obsessed with Hunger Games and wants to dive deeper into the lore of Panem – this book is for you.
Sunrise on the Reaping dives into the beautifully layered backstory of Haymitch Abernathy, the infamous mentor from the original trilogy. Amid the deadly 50th Hunger Games, he navigates the Capitol’s twisted, manipulative politics while quietly, cleverly resisting their control – a glimpse at where his love for rebellion began.
What makes it remarkable is seeing an unsung hero emerge amid the corruption: Haymitch’s journey is one of resilience, strategy and longing – whether it’s forming unexpected alliances, taking a stand in small but meaningful ways or trying to find a way back to his love, Lenore. By the end, you understand exactly how the trauma and triumph of these Games shape the character we know and love in the original series.
“Topographia Hibernica” by Blindboy Boatclub
Mach 1 Reader: Talan Tyminski
What happens when an Irish artist, best known for going viral in the 2010s with a song about a horse and a plastic bag on his head, decides to start a podcast and write a book of short stories? You get Blindboy Boatclub’s Topographia Hibernica: a brilliantly bizarre collection stitched together with wit, magical realism and Celtic mythology.
From a poitín maker desperate to protect his child from changelings to a solicitor mourning the loss of his dog-race–obsessed client, each story pulls you somewhere unexpected. It’s weird, it’s wonderful and if you want something a little off the beaten path, it’s well worth the read.
Non-Fiction
“A Walk in the Park” by Peter Fedarko
Mach 1 Reader: Jamie McCormick
More than five million people visit the Grand Canyon each year, but less than one percent of visitors attempt a rim-to-rim hike, nearly 25 miles down the North Rim and back up out of the South Rim. Fewer than two dozen people in history have completed a full thru-hike, more than 700 miles of difficult and mostly unmarked terrain. If you’ve ever hiked in the Grand Canyon or even just looked over the edge of the rim, you know how wild this idea is — let alone with little preparation or fitness. That is where this true story begins, as an outdoor photographer and journalist duo attempt “a walk in the park.” This book weaves their story with the rich and often complex history of the park: the stories of communities deeply woven into the Grand Canyon, the convoluted history of its status as public land, and the rich ecological and geological landscape.
“Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir” by Ina Garten
Mach 1 Reader: Alice Claiborne
My favorite cookbook author and queen of entertainment, Ina Garten, just published a personal reflection on her life. A few years ago, my mom, sister and I heard her speak at a fireside chat in Austin and were captivated by her story – how she went from working in the White House to burning out, flipping open the classifieds and on a whim buying a little café in the Hamptons, even though she didn’t live there. I couldn’t resist picking up her new book to learn more about the journey that made her America’s favorite cookbook author.
“Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection” by John Green
Mach 1 Reader: Sharon Chapman
The “cough, cough, blood in the hanky” trope is a cultural shorthand for consumption, aka tuberculosis (TB), in many a movie and TV show. When you see it, you know that character is probably not going to live until the end (“Moulin Rouge,” anyone?). Green weaves the history of TB, which has killed millions for centuries, with the biography of Henry, a young TB patient he meets in 2019 in Sierra Leone who shares a name with Green’s son. As Henry’s condition worsens, we learn a brief history of tuberculosis, which has been around forever, and has been curable for some time.
Why do so many people still die of it? Green gives an overview of the political, racial and industrial factors, all heartbreaking and infuriating. Why is “everything tuberculosis”? Green, who before becoming obsessed with consumption was known for his young adult nonfiction, including “The Fault in Our Stars,” makes a strong case for how the disease has affected every part of life. He connects TB’s ripples through history, including a patient named Stetson who created the cowboy hat, the start of World War I, the impact of patients seeking a healthier climate on the growth of New Mexico, and even consumption’s influence on destructive beauty norms. That’s just a few.
“Everything Is Tuberculosis” is a quick read and only 5+ hours as an audiobook, but Green packs a lot in and is likely to leave readers wanting to learn more.
