Fireside Reading - Winter 2026
- UR Department of History
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
We know our readers have settled in or are travelling to and from many different places. Not all are experiencing this time of year as we do here in Rochester facing the cold chill of winter and a white blanket of snow as we step outside. But for those who are in need of a good excuse to relax by the fireplace or curl up on the couch with a cup of tea or a favorite pet, here is a list of reading recommendations from some of our current students and recent graduates. No matter what the weather is where you are, it is always a pleasure to find that great book to read.
Please enjoy some book recommendations from
URochester History Department graduate and undergraduate students, and recent graduates.
From History PhD student, Zach Carmichael:
"[Children of the Night: The Strange & Tragic Story of Modern Romania] is a non-fiction book about the long, strange trip Romania took during the twentieth century, guest starring Dracula, Queen Victoria's granddaughter, and, of course, Ceauşescu."
From History PhD candidate, Lizzy Carr:
"My suggestion is The Briar Book of the Dead (Angela Slatter, 2024). This is a lovely gothic fantasy novel that explores themes of family, power, and belonging against the backdrop of a familiar yet fantastical world. Slatter also has other books set in the same universe (The Path of Thorns, All the Murmuring Bones, The Crimson Road) which are standalone stories but carry through similar themes and settings."
From History alumni, Nora Culver, BA '25:
"It's an account of a fictional man's life as he rises to the top of a vast academic structure sequestered from the rest of the country. The reason I would recommend it is because it was compelling to watch the main character struggle with the place of scholarship and its relationship to---or isolation from---the world that produces it while Hesse, the author, also struggled with the same questions as he wrote [The Glass Bead Game] in Switzerland through the 1940's."
From 1st year History PhD student, Stephanie Drew:
"I'd like to recommend Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five. The story centers around a man, Billy Pilgrim, and his life in the 20th century, including his time as a soldier during World War II. Vonnegut's use of multiple genres allows him to explore themes of life, death, and war in his own satirical and absurdist way. It takes a bit to get into, but overall is a powerful, important, and deeply dark book that is truly unforgettable."
From 1st year History PhD student, Walter Evans:
"[In Islamnic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages], Glick tackles questions that are notoriously difficult to answer, such as when and how conversion to Islam unfolded in al-Andalus, and does so with unusual clarity and restraint. What I find especially compelling is the way he reconstructs what Muslim and Christian society actually looked like on the ground, while showing how technologies, economic structures, and ideas crossed political and religious frontiers in ways that challenge easy assumptions about incompatibility."
From 3rd year History PhD student, Mau Garza:
"Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s work, One Hundred Years of Solitude, uses magical realism to interrogate and explore themes of Latin American generational trauma related to colonization, regionalism, and traditionalist values."
From History undergraduate student & Vice President of the Undergraduate History Council, Rebecca Lash:
"This is a story of the incredibly painful liberation and birth of the modern state of Bangladesh, and I couldn’t put it down. [The Vortex: A True Story of History's Deadliest Storm, an Unspeakable War, and Liberation] book is the first in English to give a detailed account of the 1970 Bhola Cyclone, the deadliest storm in history, and skillfully connects all the sprawling events afterwards into one of the most engaging and timely history books I’ve ever read."
From History undergraduate student and peer advisor, Adam Michelman:
"Regardless of the topic, Morrison's lush and lyrical prose is always worth a read. But Beloved is a masterful example of how style can advance the story itself. Fragmented timelines and tattered formatting propel this confusing, unsettling, and deeply empathetic novel forward, forcing readers to grapple with the lasting horrors of American enslavement, the overwhelming fear of the unknown, and the selfless depths of a mother's love."
From History undergraduate student and peer advisor, Roshele Jean-Baptiste, two recommended books:
"There was a 40 year difference between ain't i a woman and Sisters of the Yam. There was so much growth, experience, and perspective learned from hooks throughout the time. Lots of black women's writing has been an emotional trigger as it stirred up pain and emotion. hooks aims to give the language necessary to create a therapeutic place that can address trauma. It’s an insightful read that aims to connect the spirit with the whole person."
"With the movie of the same name coming out next month this is a perfect time to start! This book, Project Hail Mary, seemed dense and daunting at first especially with the heavy science focus but Weir takes a refreshing approach explaining the science. I liked that the descriptions were palatable coming from a scientist. Even though half of the time we’re seeing Ryland experiment, it's gratifying to see the 5 “W” get answered and the process to get there."
If these suggestions have piqued your curiosity or you would like to add to our list, please let us know! We would love to hear from you about your favorite readings, articles, books, comics, novels, novellas, journals, or even a blog that have sparked your interest.
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