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Southside Reads: 2023 Past Reads

Past Recommendations 2023

Did you miss a month? No worries! You can start at any time during the challenge. Want to catch up but need some help? You'll find our recommendations by month/theme.  Click on the heading to expand the selection with the recommendations.   

Each image of the book cover is a link to a description and more book details from Goodreads.  The Library Availability will give you details of format and availability by library.  Pick your title and start reading! 

Color in the Title (January 2023)

Welcome to Southside Reads! We’re challenging you to read a variety of books in 2023 by assigning a different category to every month, but don’t worry! The categories are broad enough to put your own spin on them.

For January, we want you to read a book with a color in the title. Go out and find a book, but if you want some suggestions to get you thinking, check out the list below (with information about local library availability*):

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Jade is a Twisted Green book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Silver Sparrow book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Red at the Bone book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Yellow House book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Reservation Blues book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Brown Girl, Brownstones book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Black, White and Jewish book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Djin Patrol on the Purple Line book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Bitter Orange Tree book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Golden Bones book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Through the Ivory Gates book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Brown Enough book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Black Folk Could Fly book cover with link to Goodreads description page
White Teeth book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Purple Hibiscus book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Indigo book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Devil in a Blue Dress book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Orange Mint and Honey book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Death of a Red Heroine book cover with link to Goodreads description page

Key for Local Library Availability

Locations:

  • CVRL - Central Virginia Regional Library
  • LU - Longwood University: Greenwood Library
  • HSC - Hampden-Sydney College: Bortz Library

Services:

*LU Overdrive is available for current students, faculty and staff only.

Book to Screen (February 2023)

Welcome to Southside Reads! We’re challenging you to read a variety of books in 2023 by assigning a different category to every month, but don’t worry! The categories are broad enough to put your own spin on them.

For February, we want you to read a book that’s been adapted for television or film. No restrictions other than that. Go out and find a book, but if you want some suggestions to get you thinking, check out the list below (with information about local library availability*):

Native Son book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Bell Jar book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Mystic Masseur book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Goodbye, Columbus book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman book cover with link to Goodreads description page
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden book cover with link to Goodreads description page
A Single Man book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Chosen book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Planet of Junior Brown book cover with link to Goodreads description page
House Made of Dawn book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Bless Me Ultima book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Book of Daniel book cover with link to Goodreads description page
If Beale Street Could Talk book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Maurice book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Enemies book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Never Die Alone book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Desert of the Heart book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Exodus book cover with link to Goodreads description page
The Price of Salt book cover with link to Goodreads description page
Seize the Day book cover with link to Goodreads description page

Key for Local Library Availability

Locations:

  • CVRL - Central Virginia Regional Library
  • LU - Longwood University: Greenwood Library
  • HSC - Hampden-Sydney College: Bortz Library

Services:

*LU Overdrive is available for current students, faculty and staff only.