Daniel’s Summer Reading List

Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon

This is Michael Chabon’s first novel and it is filled with the same wit and wonder that fans of his later work will recognize. A perfect summer read for recent college grads. It tells the story of Art Bechstein’s adventures during his first post-collegiate summer and has some of the most colorful characters in contemporary fiction.

Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson

I first read this on a road trip to New York City. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed a book about a recovering alcoholic and drug-addict. Johnson’s prose in Jesus’ Son is both poignant and comical. If you’re vacationing on the road this summer I highly recommend taking this book with you.

Essays of E.B. White

I recently lost a chicken to a dog attack. It was a very unpleasant experience. A good friend of mine, a poet and avid reader, helped me bury my eldest hen in my back yard. As we shoveled dirt over the grave of my recently deceased pet, he told me about an essay he read by E.B. White. It was titled “The Death of a Pig”, and in it White talks about dealing with the death of his beloved pet pig. I fell in love with it as soon as I tracked it down and read it. I am currently working my way through the rest of the collection and it has quickly become one of my favorite books. This is nice collection to read by the pool or take with you to the beach.