Summer Reads from the CSU Community

Discover a collection of books written by the California State University's talented faculty and staff—works that promise to both educate and delight readers of all backgrounds. From pioneering research to captivating storytelling, these publications reflect the vibrant intellectual life of the CSU community.

Chico State English professor Rob Davidson's latest book, “Welcome Back to the World: A Novella & Stories," explores love, loss and renewal: a man cares for his ex-wife, expatriates bond in Taiwan, a boy mourns his parents' divorce, and a young man confronts race and change. The titular story documents the long, slow process of recovery from trauma and the promise of renewal.

Davidson began working on the novella while teaching overseas in 2016, aiming to offer lessons of hope during darker times, he said. The book was named the winner in the Short Stories category at the 19th annual National Indie Excellence Awards.​

“Jazz Revolutionary: The Life and Music of Eric Dolphy," by CSU Dominguez Hills professor Jonathon Grasse, is the first full biography of American instrumentalist Eric Dolphy. It chronicles his groundbreaking musical journey from Los Angeles to New York and Paris, exploring his life, legacy and recordings while offering deep insight into the innovative jazz artist's enduring influence.

The book won the 2025 Jazz Journalists Association Award for Biography/Autobiography of the Year. “A book of this depth on Dolphy's life is decades overdue," Grasse said.​

Co-written by Cal State Fullerton English professor David Sandner and American editor Jacob Weisman, "Egyptian Motherlode​" ​follows a character known as the Prophet, a musician with the ability to warp reality through his music. According to the authors, the book is “a wild ride through American popular music of the 20th century—from jazz to blues, from psychedelic rock to funk and beyond—following the Prophet's life and transformations, and all the people he changes along the way: family, friends, bandmates and enemies."​

Cal State Long Beach software analyst Somone Washington's debut memoir, “The Best of All Things," chronicles her struggle with kidney failure, taking readers on an inspiring journey of resilience and recovery. With honesty and heartfelt reflection, Washington offers hope to those battling chronic illness, especially those undergoing dialysis. Her message also extends to caregivers and loved ones, providing practical advice on how to offer meaningful support.

“I reflect on all the things I have experienced—the good, the bad, the triumphs, the mistakes, the global pandemic," Washington said. “It has all been a blessing, and I'm grateful to be here to enjoy it."​​

Written by Cal State LA professor Ericka Verba, “Thanks to Life" is a biography of Chilean musician and artist Violeta Parra. It explores her groundbreaking music, visual art and activism. According to Verba, Parra's music was synonymous with resistance and animated both the Chilean folk revival and the Nueva Canción (New Song) protest movement. The title comes from one of Parra's most famous songs, “Gracias a la Vida," which has been covered by artists including Joan Baez.

Drawing on decades of research, Verba traces Parra's radical life across continents, revealing a complex, self-made artist who challenged norms and redefined Latin American cultural identity.

In this atmospheric debut mystery by Sacramento State senior writer Jennifer K. Morita, an out-of-work journalist and the homicide detective who broke her heart must solve a murder before time runs out. More than just an engrossing mystery, “Ghosts​ of Waikīkī" explores timely issues in Hawai'i, including the displacement of local residents due to rising property values driven by foreign investment.

Morita said she spent the first six months of the pandemic “purging and baking with the rest of the world" before finally giving her lifelong dream of becoming a mystery author a chance.​

A bold feminist and queer retelling of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros, “The Palace of Eros" is the latest novel by San Francisco State creative writing professor Caro De Robertis. In the story, headstrong Psyche is sacrificed to appease Aphrodite but is instead swept away by the nonbinary goddess​ Eros to a hidden palace of passion and secrecy. Their forbidden love sparks a journey of desire, betrayal and transformation that challenges the gods themselves.

The novel earned the 2024 Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award. De Robertis is also receiving acclaim for another recent work, “So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color," which weaves together the voices of elders who share how they created space for themselves in the world.