Local happenings

April Reading Recommendations

By Logan Anderson (landerson14@css.edu)

March 28, 2025

When I began to think about which books to recommend this month, I realized I’ve been craving books that let me slow down and forget about the world for a little while. Spring can be a busy and exciting time as we come out of hibernation and finally begin to feel the sun again, but all the activity can be draining. For April, I wanted to recommend some books that offer a break from the stresses of college and the world.

The first book is “This Is How You Lose The Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. This was a quick read for me, which makes it perfect for those who don’t have a ton of time to spare right now. This novel exists outside the constraints of space and time, and is set in a mind-bending world where skipping between timelines is the norm.

It follows rival agents Red and Blue through a universal time war where two sides, the Agency and Garden, compete to bend the future in their favor. Red and Blue begin a fated correspondence of letters, which are playful and taunting at their conception, but soon grow flirtatious and romantic. They develop a complicated and forbidden relationship. 

Their story is told through their letters, as well as through glimpses of their missions in different locations and time periods. Creative and poetic, this novel is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read. Allowing myself to travel up and down the threads of time along with Red and Blue put into perspective how microscopic I am and how insignificant my problems are in contrast to the vastness of the universe.

The next book is also a fast read. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho falls under 200 pages and is a simple yet powerful story. Written with straightforward language, it’s easily digestible and it held my attention to the very end. This book follows Santiago, a young shepherd from Spain who embarks on a journey to discover his Personal Legend in the Egyptian desert. 

While the possibility of finding treasure is what draws him to the desert, the many transformative truths he learns about living prove to be even more valuable than gold. Santiago’s carefree and spontaneous way of life was grounding for me to read about. He confronts each challenge with acceptance and a willingness to learn, which is a skill that I believe is very important to have in the face of adversity. Anyone who reads “The Alchemist” will be able to relate the lessons to their own lives, which for me has provided guidance and hope in times of uncertainty.

The final book for this month is “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr. This novel is longer than the first two, but this winding story is certainly worth the time. It follows five different characters and spans from 15th-century Constantinople to present-day Idaho to a spaceship in the distant future. 

The characters are all connected by the story of an ancient Greek tale of a man named Aethon who journeys to reach a land of utopia. Each character finds their own meaning in Aethon’s story, but the themes of garnering hope and strength through reading and storytelling are common among all of them. 

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” explores the significance of stories that stand the test of time, and the connection they can spark, even between people living in very different worlds. This novel is a great read for those who love multiple narrators and for readers who love to travel deeply into the past, and be transported far into the future.