Required Reading: Vanessa L. Ochs

Vanessa L. Ochs is a U.Va. associate professor of religious studies and author most recently of Sarah Laughed and Inventing Jewish Ritual, which won the 2007 National Jewish Book Award in the category of contemporary Jewish life and practice.

Miniature Literature

The Small Library's big collection of little books

The Miniature Book Society defines a miniature book as any book less than three inches on each side. Historically, such tiny books served a purpose.

Q&A

Literary Tribute: Rita Dove

In September, the Library of Virginia honored Dove—whose distinctions range from receiving a Pulitzer Prize to being the former Poet Laureate of Virginia and the United States—with a lifetime achievement award.

New & Notable

Breathing the Fire Kimberly Dozier (Grad ’93) Meredith Books In this memoir, CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier describes her battle back from critical injuries sustained in a 2006 Baghdad bombing that

Required Reading: Marcia Day Childress

Comic Wizard

Adam Beranek's breakout graphic novel

He points out the stigma attached to comic books—that it’s for geeky kids with Coke-bottle glasses and pocket protectors—is out the window.

A Long Paper Trail

U.Va. Library acquires the papers of poet Anne Spencer

A 40-year effort by U.Va. to acquire the papers of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer finally met with success in June. With her family’s blessing, the late poet’s literary life on paper was boxed up at her home in Lynchburg, Va., and delivered to the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.

Q&A

Ronald T. Wilcox

Darden professor and former economist for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Ronald T. Wilcox examines the causes and consequences of America’s aversion to saving

The University and the Civil War

New book offers a fictional account grounded in fact

Nick Taylor’s debut novel, The Disagreement, is set at the University’s Medical School during the tumult of the Civil War.

The Tibetan Connection

The University's unique relationship with an ancient culture

The people and culture of Tibet have been a part of the U.Va. community for decades, and a new center provides a fresh link to an area of growing international focus.

1957: Faulkner Among the “Snobs”

After Faulkner arrived on Grounds, his "observations on ‘Virginia snobs’ caused somewhat of a sensation," wrote Virginius Dabney in Mr. Jefferson’s University. "He liked the state, he said, ‘because Virginians are all snobs and I like snobs.’"

New & Notable

Just Enough Anxiety: The Hidden Driver of Business Success Robert H. Rosen (Col ’77) The Penguin Group We’re told that anxiety is bad and we work hard to “de-stress”

Required Reading: Michael J. Klarman

A leading authority on the history of civil rights law, U.Va. law professor Michael J. Klarman won the 2005 Bancroft Prize for his book From Jim Crow to Civil Rights.

Bestsellers at the U.Va. Bookstore: July through september 2007

Fiction/Poetry

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

2. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

3. The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl

New&Notable

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge: The Book of Mnemonic Devices Rod L. Evans (Grad ’81, ’87) The Penguin Group For those in search of memory aids, this books helps one remember