Staff Picks: Bess Schelper Sampson’s Favorites

I first discovered this novella as part of Penguin’s Great Loves series, a collection of twenty writings on love that are packaged in slim, gorgeously designed volumes. Set in nineteenth-century Russia, it’s a coming-of-age story about a sixteen-year-old boy who is infatuated with his new neighbor. Unfortunately, she has a number of suitors, and as he realizes that she doesn’t share his feelings, he’s left dealing with the pain of unrequited love. I don’t generally reread anything (too many books out there!), but I’ve returned to this more than once over the years.

Grammar is interesting. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve tried (unsuccessfully) to convince of this. My new approach is to direct people to Benjamin Dreyer’s Twitter account—and to Dreyer’s English, a funny, incisive grammar guide that anyone would enjoy. His book is so good that it is being adapted for young readers and has even been turned into a card game.

Sweety is a headgear-wearing naked mole rat whose hobbies include interpretive dance and fungus identification. As her grandmother says, she’s a square peg. Humorous and self-aware, this picture book about staying true to yourself is one of my favorite titles to recommend for kids.

When it comes to my favorite books, I typically have (at least) two copies of each. I have the well-worn, marked-up copy I originally fell in love with—and a beautiful hardcover version that I subsequently invested in. There’s a place in my dream future library for both, so I was really excited to pick up this new hardback edition of The Great Gatsby when it came out earlier this year.