Books I Have Loved 2024

Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.

—Stephen King

Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real.

—Nora Ephron

 Which book this year was your perfect entertainment? Which book brought you in contact with both reality and imagination? Which book made you tune out an entire herd of 5th graders playing soccer, eat your best friend’s birthday cake before the party even started, or forget to wear a coat in 20° weather? Which book opened your eyes and your mind in ways you never expected?

And are you ready for your next perfect entertainment? 

It’s time once more for Overlake’s faculty and staff “Books I Have Loved” list. Check it out for the books your favorite teacher or staff member recommends, and find yourself some new fantastic reads. Note that the majority of these are published for adults, so best for Upper School/Adult readers.

In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you. 

—Mortimer J. Adler