Notes from Crew Quarters--Winter Break Reading

This week, we asked our editors: What nonrequired reading do you have planned for over winter break?

Jason Teal Associate Editor, Creative Nonfiction Sandusky, Ohio

The Ravickians series, written by Renee Gladman and published by Dorothy, a publishing project: www.dorothyproject.com. I missed out when these were originally published. Dorothy is an awesome boutique press based in St. Louis. Looking forward to reading three books set in the same universe again. It has been bumpy road of standalone titles and collections.

Robin McCarthy Managing Editor Belfast, Maine

The list is always longer than I could ever possible read, but I'm easing into things with Station Eleven and then moving to The Visiting Privilege by Joy Williams. Along the way, some Louise Erdrich, and a lot of bonkers stuff as research for various whackadoo projects I'm trying to shape.

Amy Hansen Associate Editor, Poetry Sycamore, Illinois

I just started Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue by Sam Harris and Maajid Hawaz. My reading has been trending toward self-absorbed and insular, and I'd like to use my break to change that.

Jacque Boucher Spoken Word Poetry Juneau, Alaska

I'm reading Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible for the first time, then a ton of sci-fi novels, theory texts, and other stuff I never read that have words I'd never think to use in poems. I'm taking suggestions, if you've got 'em.

Matt Weinkam Managing Editor Cincinnati, Ohio

Counternarratives by John Keene, Open City by Teju Cole, and Among the Wild Mulattos by Tom Williams are on my bedside table right now. I also have a copy of Amber Sparks's new collection The Unfinished World which comes out in January and I'm so fucking excited to read it.

Ashely Adams Associate Editor, Creative Nonfiction Watervliet, Michigan

I'm about three-quarters of the way through a reread of Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, so I'll probably try to finish that. I'll also be rereading Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer since my students will be reading that in my class. New stuff: a lot of sci-fi/fantasy probably. I'm specifically looking to finish reading all of Octavia Butler's works. All I have left is Kindred and the recent short story collection that was released.

Stephen Wardell Associate Editor, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry Williamston, Michigan

I'm burnt out on social and political philosophy from this past semester, so I'm looking for something really self-absorbed and insular. How perfect that Amy Hansen in the guise of Secret Santa got me this book called Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.

Hayli Cox Associate Editor, Creative Nonfiction Morenci, Michigan

Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending, because it's short enough, British enough, and weird enough for my liking.

Karl Schroeder Associate Editor, Poetry Buckhart, Illinois

I, like Ashely, am in the middle of A Sand County Almanac. The chapters are arranged by month, and I've been trying to read each section during its designated month, but grad school happened and I lost all conception of time and left my bookmark at the beginning of September. Got some catching up to do.