The Strumbellas, Could Wisconsin’s Gubernatorial Election Be Decided In The Courts?, Share Some Books

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• 3 Great Novels That Explore World Of Academia

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  With chilly temperatures creeping up on Wisconsin, it’s the perfect time to settle in with a new book. And with it being the first month of college, what better subject to focus on than academia?

  “I’m a huge fan (of) the college novel,” said Anne Strainchamps, host of the the radio program “To The Best Of Our Knowledge” on Wisconsin Public Radio. “Campus is full of eccentric professors, weird students, backstabbing and departmental intrigue, all with the background of great books and beautiful ivy covered walls.”

  Here are three of Anne’s must-read books that explore the world of post-secondary education:

  “Stoner,” by John Williams

  Stoner tells the story of William Stoner, a university professor who lives a small and very unheroic life, which makes the book all the more beautiful, according to Strainchamps.

  “It’s a classic and deceptively simple novel,” Strainchamps said. “Today, it’s such a contrast to the kind of lives we often tell stories about or aspire to … lives that are big and glamorous, filled with fame, success and fortune.”

  Originally released in 1965, the book was out of print for a long time, but was recently republished.

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  “Dear Committee Members” by Julie Schumacher

  University professors: This one might hit a little too close to home for you.

  “It’s a classic academic satire,” Strainchamps said of “Dear Committee Members.”

  The novel tells the story of a fictional and jaded English professor, Jason Fitger, who teaches at Payne University (a pun that Strainchamps said was most certainly intentional). The book is told entirely in the form of recommendation letters written for his fictional colleagues.

  “These letters are masterpieces of caustic wit and grumpiness,” Strainchamps said, noting the letters were inspired by the author’s own experience teaching at a Midwestern university.

  Strainchamps said that the book harkens back to the time-honored advice: Write what you know.

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  “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell

  The protagonist of “Fangirl” provides a stark contrast to Schumacher’s jaded professor. Cath is a student experiencing her first year on campus, who spends her free time writing fan fiction about a popular character named Simon Snow, an obviously play on Harry Potter. It becomes clear that her writing is a replacement for friends on campus as she struggles to fit in.

  “It’s a coming of age novel, and a coming-out-of-her-shell novel,” Strainchamps said.

  It’s also a novel that speaks to society’s obsessions with popular culture like “Harry Potter” or “Game of Thrones.”

  “I think so many people are familiar with that kind of fan-world these days, that we really get that world that she’s part of,” said Strainchamps.

• The Strumbellas

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  The sound of the Juno award-winning band “The Strumbellas” has been compared to a mix of Mumford and Sons with Arcade Fire. We’ll talk with the band as they embark on the Wisconsin leg of their tour.

• Could Wisconsin's Gubernatorial Election Be Decided In The Courts?

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  There have been a lot of election-related headlines lately: Republican leaders are suing election officials over the redesign of Wisconsin’s ballot, the ACLU filed an emergency appeal against the decision to implement the new voter ID law 50 days before a major election, and a new poll shows Governor Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke tied among registered voters. A governmental affairs expert discusses these headlines and whether or not the race for Wisconsin’s governor will be decided by the courts.

• Share Some Books With TTBOOK's Anne Strainchamps

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  TTBOOK host Anne Strainchamps joins us to share some new book picks focused on the world of academia, including Julie Schumacher’s novel “Dear Committee Members.”