What Salve faculty and staff are reading (and listening to) this summer

This season, Salve Regina University faculty and staff have been reading everything from bestselling fiction and sweeping biographies to philosophy, history and poetry, while their playlists bounce from Whitney Houston and James Taylor to Noah Kahan, reggae, indie rock and jazz-inspired road trip favorites.

Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, president

President Kelli Armstrong's summer reading list spans suspense, public service and heartwarming fiction.

Jean Hanff Korelitz's "The Plot" follows a struggling writer whose career takes an unexpected turn after he steals a former student's story idea – only to discover that success comes at a dangerous cost. "I loved 'The Plot,'" Armstrong shared, calling it "a great thriller with a wonderful twist at the end."

She also recommends Michael Lewis' "Who Is Government," a collection of stories highlighting career public servants whose work quietly improves the lives of others.

"It's an inspiring portrait of career government workers who are making a real difference for others," she said.

For music, Armstrong has been revisiting favorites from her college years after attending a reunion this summer. Her nostalgic playlist includes James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," Steve Winwood's "Higher Love" and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."

Dr. Katie Brennan, assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy

Brennan recently finished "Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke, a satirical novel that "deals with the weight of traditional gender roles and the themes of madness in women," Brennan explained.

The novel complements her research on 19th-century German philosopher and novelist Hedwig Dohm, whose work explores many of the same questions.

"I'll be teaching Dohm's novel in my PEL399: Honors Existentialism and Social Justice course this fall," she said.

Michelle Caron, public safety officer and dog handler

Stephen King dominates Caron's beach bag this summer.

She's reading "Fairy Tale," King's fantasy adventure about a teenager who discovers another world while trying to save an elderly neighbor's dog.

"'Fairy Tale' reminds me that we would do anything for our dogs and the magic of the unknown," Caron said.

She's also reading King's time-travel novel "11/22/63," along with Emily Henry's bestselling romance "Happy Place," which follows former fiancés pretending to still be together during an annual vacation with friends.

"Happy Place takes place at the beach, so there's no better summer book," she said.

Ruggles, Salve's community resource dog

This summer, Ruggles dove into "Puppy Pool Party!: An Underwater Dogs Adventure."

"He loves this book because the children visiting the Newport Public Library read it to him during the 'Read to Ruggles' program," said Caron, who is Ruggles' handler.

As for his summer anthem? Naturally, it's the Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?"

Dr. Daniel Cowdin, chair of the Department of Religious and Theological Studies

Cowdin's bookshelf features two enduring classics.

R.C. Sherriff's "The Fortnight in September" follows a working-class British family on their cherished annual seaside vacation, celebrating the quiet beauty of ordinary life.

He's also been reading Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe," the historical adventure set in medieval England that helped define the historical novel genre.

Mary Edwards, adjunct faculty in the Department of English, Communications and Media

Edwards is looking forward to reading Kathryn Stockett's "The Calamity Club," a novel set in 1933 Mississippi that follows three women whose lives collide as they fight hardship, injustice and the limits placed on women during the Great Depression, along with Allen Levi's "Theo of Golden" – another favorite recommended by President Armstrong.

Her soundtrack leans toward timeless classics. "For songs, anything by Fleetwood Mac, The Cars or JT," Edwards said, clarifying, "as in James Taylor – the real one."

Dr. Ben Hohman, assistant professor in the Department of Religious and Theological Studies

Hohman's reading reflects both his scholarly interests and his summer teaching in Rome.

Hermann Hesse's "Narcissus and Goldmund" follows two lifelong friends – one devoted to intellectual life, the other to artistic beauty – as they wrestle with different paths toward meaning.

While teaching Salve's short-term study abroad program in Rome, Hohman also read Alberto Moravia's "Roman Tales" alongside Jhumpa Lahiri's "Roman Stories."

"The two books, written in 1954 and 2023, respectively, speak volumes to how much Italy and Rome in particular have changed through tourism, migration and globalization over the last 70 years," he said.

He's also beginning Jack Miles' "God: A Biography," which approaches scripture by examining God as the central literary character throughout the biblical narrative.

When it comes to music, his family soundtrack has become closely tied to Rhode Island summer evenings.

"My wife Claire and I have been taking the kids to Brenton Point and Second Beach throughout our second summer in Rhode Island," Hohman shared. "At least for me, these songs have become inseparable from peaceful afternoons and evenings by the water with my family."

Those songs include Leon Bridges and Khruangbin's "Texas Sun," First Aid Kit's "My Silver Lining" and Sade's timeless "Smooth Operator."

Dr. Aaron Lorenz, vice provost

Vice Provost Aaron Lorenz's picks balance thoughtful reflection with joyful optimism.

John Green's essay collection "The Anthropocene Reviewed" examines everyday aspects of modern life through deeply personal reviews.

"It's a great book," Lorenz said, "and has a section on Dr Pepper which in and of itself is worth the read!"

He also recommends Mary Oliver's "Devotions," a collection spanning the celebrated poet's career. "It will make you laugh and cry," he said.

His soundtrack is equally uplifting. Langhorne Slim's "Dance On Thru" tops the list.

"What's better than a song that says, 'Life is short, life is long, so greet each morning with a song … give your heart a chance to dance on thru,'" Lorenz reflected.

He's also listening to Bob Marley and the Wailers' "One Drop," which he says "really should be a song everyone should listen to every day," along with John Brown's Body's "Play On" because "the vibe it creates can't be beat."

Shelly Nicholas, lecturer in the Jean and David W. Wallace Department of Business and Economics

Nicholas' summer reading has doubled as research.

She's been diving into books about women in the music industry while preparing a presentation for the Northeast Pop Culture Association's fall conference. Her research explores how artists such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Rihanna have evolved from managed performers into founders of their own business empires by taking ownership of their music, brands and fan relationships.

When she's reading for fun, Nicholas enjoys magazines.

"I love the printed version of The Onion newspaper, Rolling Stone, Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today," she said.

Her current soundtrack matches the season, too. She's been revisiting Lorde's album "Solar Power" while relaxing in the pool after exploring the singer's recent anniversary releases, while Noah Kahan has become the soundtrack for family beach drives.

Dr. Matthew Ramsey, professor in the Department of English, Communications and Media

Because he teaches a class on presidents in film, Ramsey spent part of the summer listening to Ron Chernow's acclaimed biography "Grant," which chronicles the remarkable life of President Ulysses S. Grant.

He's also finally tackling J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring."

"It's a big gap in my reading history," Ramsey admitted.

A recommendation from retired colleague Dean de la Motte led him to Anne Brontë's "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," a groundbreaking Victorian novel about an independent woman escaping an abusive marriage.

His favorite reread of the summer, however, is Arturo Pérez-Reverte's "The Flanders Panel," an art mystery that blends chess, history and murder. "It's my comfy reading of the summer," he said.

When it's time to hit the road, Ramsay's playlist includes IDLES' "Gift Horse," Wet Leg's "Chaise Longue" and MJ Lenderman's "She's Leaving You."

Sam Sacco, senior lecturer in the Jean and David W. Wallace Department of Business and Economics

Sacco describes his summer reading and listening habits as "a bit eclectic."

M.L. Stedman's "A Far-flung Life" stood out as one of his favorite novels.

"I found it emotionally gripping and introspective," Sacco said. "I greatly enjoyed the book but was drained by its end."

He's also crossing Yuval Noah Harari's bestselling "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" off his reading list.

Another of Sacco's recommendations is "Power and Progress" by Nobel Prize-winning economist Simon Johnson and Daron Acemoglu, which explores how technology has shaped prosperity throughout history. Sacco has a personal connection to the book after attending one of Johnson's lectures with Salve students during a short-term study abroad trip to Oxford.

"He is brilliant, but funny and down-to-earth," Sacco recalled.

His music picks span reggae, Americana and Irish pop, including Keznamdi's Grammy-winning album "BlxxD & Fyah," Brad Goodall's "Hometown" and Pugwash's album "A Rose in a Garden of Weeds."

Dr. Jillian Wise, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences

Wise is reading Siddhartha Mukherjee's Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Emperor of All Maladies," an expansive biography of cancer that traces the disease's history, treatments and ongoing search for a cure.

For something lighter, she's also reading Bill Bryson's "The Road to Little Dribbling," a humorous travel memoir documenting the author's journey across Great Britain.

She recently finished "Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe" by Carl Zimmer, which explores the invisible world of airborne microbes, viruses and the science behind the air that surrounds us.

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