Recreational Reading
Most of these books can be found in the "PR-PT" section of the library, which is our literature area. These are just a few titles to showcase what we have. Please search our catalog to see what else we have.
If you have any suggestions of materials to add to our collection please fill out a Recommend a Purchase request on our Services page.
PNW students, staff, and faculty can get books from any Purdue campus (Westville, Hammond, West Lafayette, Fort Wayne) and have them sent to your home campus or you can visit any Purdue Campus Library in person. All you need is your PNW ID.
Click on the titles below to see their availability
Recreational Reading
Pulitzer Prize Winners
The Nickel Boys
2020 Winner
The Overstory
2019 Winner
The Sympathizer
2016 Winner
All the Light We Cannot See
2015 Winner
The Goldfinch
2014 Winner
The Orphan Master's Son
2013 Winner
A Visit from the Goon Squad
2011 Winner
Tinkers
2010 Winner
Olive Kitteridge
2009 Winner
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
2008 Winner
The Road
2007 Winner
March
2006 Winner
Gilead (Oprah's Book Club)
2005 Winner
The Known World
2004 Winner
Middlesex
2003 Winner
Empire Falls
2002 Winner
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
2001 Winner
Interpreter of Maladies
2000 Winner
Banned Books
According to the American Library Association, a banned book is a book that has been removed from the shelf of a library or school. A challenged book is a book that some people think should be removed but hasn't been removed from the shelves of a library or school.
The banning and challenging of books have, unfortunately, a long history throughout the world. It may surprise you that hundreds of books are challenged and banned each year in the United States alone.
To find out why these books have been band/challenged check out the ALA Site