We asked Flagler College faculty, staff, students, and our History Maker in Residence, R.L. Stine, to share their favorite page-turners as we soak up the sun and slow down for the season. From thought-provoking nonfiction to page-turning fiction, this year’s summer reading list offers something for every kind of reader. Whether you’re relaxing on the beach or cooling off indoors, we hope these selections inspire curiosity, reflection, and maybe even a new favorite author.
President John Delaney – The British are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton by Rick Atkinson
“I read several reviews about this book a few years ago that were fantastic. I love American History books. I’ve dashed through several other books recently that I recommend. “The Fall of the House of Zeus” about the fabulously wealthy Mississippi tort lawyer, Dickie Scruggs, who was caught trying to bribe two judges. He won a series of tobacco & asbestos cases and had a lifetime guaranteed income of $25 million every year, and he just kept getting greedier. Also, a couple of histories on the Civil War – can never go wrong with those, as that time period is addicting, so be careful!”
Best Selling Author and Flagler College History Maker in Residence R.L. Stine – Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
“This book features a mystery inside a mystery. You have an old-fashioned mystery novel featuring the brilliant detective Atticus Pünd. In addition, a mystery about who killed the book’s author. It’s twisted, tricky, and fun. (And there are two more in the series.)”
SGA President and Alpha Sigma Alpha President, Mia Melendez - Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
“I highly recommend this book to any college student feeling stuck or overwhelmed. The story follows two main characters, Wes and Liz, as they navigate the challenges of their first year in college. Wes faces the pressures of being both a freshman and a student-athlete, while Liz works to discover her path as part of the school’s athletics production team. Their journeys highlight the struggles, growth, and self-discovery that come with starting college life.”
Flagler College’s dedicated patrolling officer and liaison with the St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD), Gary Johnson – Bloody Sunset in St Augustine: A True Story by Nancy Powell and Jim Mast
“The book was about a murder that occurred in St. Augustine back in 1974. Just gives you a little history of St Augustine.”
Proctor Library Access Services Librarian John Wilson – The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
“This is one of my favorite books! I recommend it often when friends are looking for a good read. If you have any interest in history, outdoor adventure, unusual characters, and great writing, you won’t be disappointed in this book! A great story about an epic adventure, an endearing bunch of whitewater freaks, and a record that will likely stand forever; this book is hard to top.”
Communication Department Chair and Assistant Professor, Dr. Paige Chapman – A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.
“I plucked it off the bookshelf in my high school English teacher’s classroom, and I didn’t know anything about it but the cover art. She saw me reading it and started re-reading it herself. One day, I was reading it while sitting in her classroom as a teacher’s aide, and the book pushed me to tears for the first time. She walked past my seat, dropped a box of tissues next to me, and whispered, “I was there last night.” I’ve read it a half dozen times since then.
The book made me laugh and cry harder than I ever remember doing while reading before or since. The story is driven by quirky, funny, deep characters and delves into faith, friendship, and fate.”
First Year Common Read (Descriptor by Dr. Doug Keaton, Director of Classical and Liberal Education and the Core Curriculum) – Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka
“We picked it because this is a book about the ways in which the things we love shape who we are and who we become — and how living in a world of algorithmic recommendations can make it hard to find out what we truly like — and therefore who we truly are. College students are in the process of becoming themselves, and so learning the meaning of personal taste and preference, and defending in the world of corporate feeds, is important. So, it’s a book about becoming yourself in a world that wants you to be everyone else.”
Natural Science Department Chair and Associate Professor, Dr. Ed McGinley - How to be a good creature: A memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
"I previously read The Soul of an Octopus by Ms. Montgomery and loved her writing style. I think I finished this book in about two days. She uses different animals she interacted with to mark milestones and lessons in her life, something I have done in my own life, so it resonated deeply with me. Anyone who has a connection with an animal in their life will appreciate how Ms. Montgomery can put those feelings into words so beautifully."
Director of the Career Development Center, Vernita Bowens - Milk and Honey, by Rupi Kaur
“What makes this book stand out is how relatable it is. Whether you’re going through something difficult, reflecting on a past relationship, or just trying to understand yourself better, there’s likely a piece in the book that will resonate. It’s the kind of book you can pick up during quiet moments and feel seen, heard, and a little at ease.”
President of the Greek Programming Board, Vivian Shugats – No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
“It’s a 1948 novel about a troubled man who looks into the darker side of himself and his struggles growing into adulthood. I found the book insightful, unsettling, and immensely different from any other book that I have ever read.”
Dean, School of Business, Dr. Charles White – Jim Harrison: The Essential Poems
“I read it earlier in the summer and felt an immense connection to his writings, especially his poems about nature. My grandfather, who taught me to appreciate and spend time in nature, passed away recently. Harrison’s poems seemed to reflect that same spirit I saw in my grandfather. “
Flagler College Mascot, Lewis the Lion - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
“This book is a heartwarming tale about unexpected friendships and second chances—told in part by a wise old octopus! As Flagler’s resident feline, I know a thing or two about keeping secrets and observing humans, and let me tell you, Marcellus the octopus might just be my new favorite literary creature. A purr-fect summer read for anyone who believes in the magic of connection.”
