“During my time volunteering in Thailand, I worked under this woman named Pin who was one of the main employees at the sanctuary. Every morning she would remind us that every animal we take care of, must be taken care of with love. When we remembered to take care of them with love, we remembered to treat them with kindness and to value their happiness.…
Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa
Recommended by Elizabeth Anderson
I read this novel on the back porch of my childhood home in a sleepy suburb of the Pacific Northwest over the summer, and was struck by the nearby history that I had never learned. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist is based on and takes place during the 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle; its take on the historical facts of the event is painted by Yapa’s poignant, lyrical phrasing.…
Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d’Art by Christopher Moore
Recommended by Jordan Waterwash
Christopher Moore’s ability to transform history into fantastical comedies completely mystifies me every time I read one of his books. Sacré Bleu is no exception. I’ve always been a fan of art, so it seemed natural for me to read what I thought would be an interesting tale about the lives of made-up artists during the Impressionist period.…
Katherine Romeo, Class of 2018
Favorite Authors, Genres, Periods, Interests?
I’m interested in the voices of marginalized writers, especially queer people of color.
What do you like most about being an English major?
My English major has allowed me to grow and give concise analysis, not only in English but also any other discipline.
What has been your most exciting or transformative experience as a major thus far?…
Dexter Curtis Adams, Class of 2018
Favorite Authors, Genres, Periods, Interests?
Favorite author: Taran Matharu
Favorite Genre: Fantasy
What do you like most about being an English major?
The ability to use my writing ability to its fullest.
What has been your most exciting or transformative experience as a major thus far?
Experiencing writing and literature from a new cultural perspective when I was in London for a study abroad program.…
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Recommended by Anna Davies
I’m always fascinated by how childhood, adolescence and the transition to the workforce is viewed in different cultures, and I’ve wanted to read Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha for quite some time. I picked up my copy for two pounds at an Oxfam shop while abroad, and finally had some time to read over break.…
Hannah Simpson, Class of 2016
I just moved to Chicago, and I’m already loving it! The theatre scene out here is much different than what I was used to in New York– instead of having a centralized “theatre district,” Chicago seems to have theatres just about everywhere I turn. Right now, I’m in rehearsals for As You Like It with Odds Bodkins, a new Shakespeare troupe.…
The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
Recommended by Catharine Boyle
I recently read The Kite Runner. People have been recommending it to me since I was in high school so I finally read it and found it has become one of my favorite books. It tells the story of two very close friends named Amir and Hassan.…
Nash Bonnema, Class of 2019
Favorite Authors, Genres, Periods, Interests?
Shakespeare, the English Romantics, ee cummings, absurdism.
What do you like most about being an English major?
Getting to have classes under a brilliant faculty and explore new corners of human expression.
What has been your most exciting or transformative experience as a major?
Not only learning to write like Shakespeare, but putting it into practice to develop a full length original Shakespearean tragedy…
Kit Balay, Class of 2014
I ended up at a marketing firm in Columbus as a business development analyst, which is in line with my interests. I’m not happy unless I’m writing reports! Being an English major (particularly an English major from Ohio Wesleyan) meant I had to have diverse interests, and experience in a number of different fields.…