In honor of Literacy Awareness Month, check out the following books recommended by staff at the Federal Way Mirror.

• “Tara Road” by Maeve Binchy: It has been many years since I first read this book. I loved it so much that I have given it as a gift over and over. Never before or since have I read a book that came so alive with each written word. I was able to picture the people, the places and even the cracks in the stone wall! Hmmm…I think it is time to download it to my Nook and reread it! – Mary Lou Goss, sales consultant

• “The Joy of Hate” by Greg Gutfeld: One of the funniest and most insightful reads in recent years on the state of politics and culture in the U.S. – Greg Allmain, reporter

• “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey: I love this novel’s message of challenging the rules and expectations of society. R.P. McMurphy is a convict who fakes mental illness to avoid doing harder time. While committed to an institution, he shakes up the rigid routines of fellow mental patients, who rally around their new friend and rebel against the hospital’s status quo. McMurphy becomes convinced that the colorful patients are no crazier than the average person walking around on the streets. The tension in this story builds in the power struggle between McMurphy and the emasculating Nurse Ratched, leading to a shocking but inevitable conclusion. – Andy Hobbs, editor

• “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell: This is a book based on how ideas, trends, crime waves or any other measurable data develops and spreads like a virus to gain widespread attraction. The case studies presented in the book are incredibly interesting and thought provoking. – Rudi Alcott, publisher

• “Last Days of Summer” by Steve Kluger: More than 10 years ago, our book club read “Last Days of Summer” by Steve Kluger and it immediately became one of my favorite books ever and one that I’ve given several times as a gift. The story is a hilarious yet touching  account of a young boy growing up in New York in the 1940s. He forms an unlikely friendship with one of the stars of the New York Giants baseball team. This book is not written in prose, but rather notes, report cards, letters, reports, telegrams, post-its and more! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll appreciate the love of your very best friends and role models. It is an absolutely great read! – Cindy Ducich, sales consultant

• “Many Lives, Many Masters” by Dr. Brian Weiss: This book was life-changing and had a profound impact on me. I don’t know if it’s because of the timing in which I read it (with all kinds of soul-searching I was doing at that particular time in my life) or just how soundly it resonated with me. It helped me to see life more clearly in my own understanding, while giving an “explanation” of why I feel the way I do about all aspects of life and relationships. Not to mention it explained to me all those coincidences that happen in life — the reason why and how. It is a belief system I have had for many years before reading the book, but the book gave me an “OK” to feel the way I do and let me know that there are people all over the world who feel the same as I do. Like I’ve always said, “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual,” and this book put it all in perspective. – Marcie Shannon, creative artist