All posts by mspelmanlibrarian

Tolkien: A Biography by Michael White (review by Andrew R. ’17)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Tolkien: A Biography by Michael White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Michael White inserts his own interpretations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as he describes the life of their famed creator, J. R. R. Tolkien. From the death of his parents, to his distressing experiences on the battlefields of the First World War, to his tumultuous relationship with fellow author C. S. Lewis, Tolkien and his life are documented and analyzed in full in this biography. I found the explanation of Tolkien’s writing process, which he called “sub-creation,” particularly fascinating. Unfortunately, the author makes frequent references to his own opinions of certain events in Tolkien’s life, making the entire book seem slightly more subjective than one would expect of a work of nonfiction. Aspiring writers who wish to understand how Tolkien “sub-created” an entire new world may enjoy this biography, but devoted Middle-Earth enthusiasts who want to learn more about the fantasy realm itself may feel slightly disappointed. – Andrew R. ‘17

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Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (review by Andrew R. ’17)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In The Seven Dials Mystery, young Gerry Wade passes away suddenly and mysteriously in bed, just after writing a letter to his sister concerning a secret organization known as the Seven Dials. Days later, his close friend Ronny Devereux is discovered dying on the side of a forsaken road, muttering something about that same mysterious society. Separately, each death seems to be a tragic and unlikely coincidence, but taken together, the similarities are too obvious for the victims’ friends, Bundle and Jimmy, to ignore. Each chapter of this book, it seems, includes a new gunshot in the library or masked figure on the estate; neither the characters nor the reader could possibly complain of boredom until the last page is turned. While the plot seems clichéd at first, the author eventually takes it in surprising new directions that are sure to baffle even the most astute Christie fans. Still, any readers willing to try to solve the mystery before Bundle and her friends will have a thrilling challenge on their hands! – Andrew R. ‘17

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Requiem by Lauren Oliver (review by Karen T. ’16)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Requiem by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In a world where love is a disease that must be treated and eliminated, Lena Tiddle has joined the rebellion against the cure and its advocates. As regulators begin encroaching into the abandoned wasteland where the rebellion is sheltered, Lena and the other Invalids trek across the Wilds gathering supporters and converts alike in preparation for their retaliation. While the premise to Lauren Oliver’s Requiem is promising, the plot is slow to start and descends into the typical cliched love triangle that plagues many young adult novels. Additionally, the narration is split between two separate viewpoints that both break up the story line and confuse the reader. However, the buildup to the ultimate conflict and the dénouement are redeeming aspects of this novel. As the story line relies heavily on elements from the first books in the trilogy, only readers who have read Delirium and Pandemonium will fully enjoy Requiem. – Karen T. ‘16

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The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (review by Preethi K. ’17)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amy Tan’s inspiring story, The Joy Luck Club, looks into the life of four Chinese women and their American-born daughters sharing their tales of hardship from their past and present. The story starts off in San Francisco, 1949. Suyuan Woo has died two months ago and her daughter Jing-mei, “June”, joins her mother’s friends, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-ying St. Clair for a game of mahjong in place of her mother. The book is spread out into four allegories followed by stories from the mothers or their daughters. Throughout the book, their stories show Chinese culture, the strife they have suffered, hope for a better life, family, love, and despair. I would recommend The Joy Luck Club for its moving storyline and insight into the emotions and feelings of a mother and daughter’s bond. – Preethi K. ‘17

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Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (review by Camille P. ’14)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dave Eggers’ Zeitoun is the true story of Syrian Muslim Abdulrahman Zeitoun and his family, living in New Orleans between 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. In the midst of disaster and chaos, Zeitoun is forced to face social stigmas the American government has against him, and the consequences of its cultural profiling. This book sheds light on a number of social injustices many encountered after Katrina hit and the complete anarchy the city of New Orleans was in. The sentence structure is simple and effective, and the author portrays emotions and thought-processes well as he artfully weaves the past and present together. A page-turner, I was able to finish this book in three days. The powerful story of this family is touching, and as someone who does not often love non-fiction, I fully enjoyed reading this book. – Camille P. ‘14

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The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan (review by Anika J. ’17)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A compelling story about the unbreakable mother-daughter bond, The Bonesetter’s Daughter features Ruth Young, an adult living with her boyfriend and his two kids, and her superstitious mother LuLing. The women have always had an difficult relationship, usually filled with arguments. Everything changes after LuLing gives Ruth some papers that reveal her past. Ruth finds that her mother’s humble childhood has made her into the woman that she has become, and soon learns about a side of her mother that she never knew – one filled with kindness, bravery, and a bit of rebelliousness. The lessons that Ruth, and the reader, learn about living life as it comes are some that will never be forgotten. A unique novel full of the perfect mix of surprise, laughter, sadness, and love, The Bonesetter’s Daughter is definitely a must-read. – Anika J. ‘17

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Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (review by Anushka D. ’15)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every year, Sam switches form twice. During the few months of summer, he relishes being a human, but for the rest of the year, he lives as a wolf. Although Sam is desperately in love with seventeen-year-old human Grace, he is forced to keep his distance and watch her from afar. But when on one lucky day, they meet each other as humans, their lives are turned upside down and the only thing they can hold onto is each other. A classic story of forbidden love, Shiver explores paranormal story explores territory of a werewolf-human love affair. Although the story sounds cliché, Stiefvater manages to escape banality by infusing fine writing and well-rounded characters. Grace and Sam are both soft, yet strong and prove to be a lovely match. Combined with a consistently strong plot, Shiver is overall a good read. – Anushka D. ‘15

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Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett (review by Andrew T. ’17)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thief of Time‘s pantheon of characters, including Death, his granddaughter Susan, famed warrior monk and janitor Lu-Tze,and his disciple Lobsang Ludd, have a problem, namely, the apocalypse next Wednesday. Armed with an orange cream chocolate in each hand, the heroes must fight the Auditors, a race bent on the destruction of humanity. This hilarious, wacky fantasy novel strays from the well-beaten path of dwarves, elves, and humans, in favor of creatures such as history monks, yetis, and Igors. It reminds the reader at every step that nothing is what it seems in a way that is entertaining rather than cliché. Fans of the ongoing Discworld series will see some old faces, yet those unfamiliar with the books will not feel lost. Anyone wanting a good time and a good laugh should definitely read Terry Pratchett’s Thief of Time. – Andrew T. ‘17

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Dangerous Games by Margaret MacMillan (review by Ravi B. ’14)

August 19, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Dangerous Games: The Uses and Abuses of History by Margaret MacMillan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Dangerous Games, Margaret MacMillan presents history as an amalgamation of truth and manipulations. Although history is hardly ever accurate, it commands tremendous respect, allowing it to be a great tool of destruction and creation. The Chinese Communist Party, which once attempted to expunge a large amount of history, now embraces and celebrates Confucianism and the history of the Chinese Empire in order to equate patriotism with socialism. Additionally, history serves as a tremendous and often calamitous guide to decision making, in which the accuracy of the analogies is critical. Anthony Eden, a former British prime minister, compared Egyptian president Nasser to Hitler to justify rejection of the former’s demands. However, Hitler and Nasser were nothing alike. Nasser wanted a loan from the United States to build the Aswan Dam, whereas Hitler was looking to conquer his neighbors. MacMillan excites and informs the reader without losing sight of her argument. Anyone who enjoys learning about history and its role will love Dangerous Games. – Ravi B. ‘14

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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (review by Naomi M. ’16)

August 12, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian 1 Comment

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Terrorists have attacked San Francisco. The Department of Homeland Security takes a high school computer genius, Marcus, and his friends without any explanation to be brutally interrogated. Once released, Marcus finds that the government has turned his beloved city into a police state. Everyone is a potential threat. In order to bring down the paranoid authorities, he must figure out a way to bring the truth about the DHS to light. Armed with only his computer, Marcus sets a rebellion in motion larger than he could have dreamed possible. Reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, Little Brother is a novel of the future – where fighting is done through technology and anyone can change the world. Lovers of dystopian fiction, this is the one for you. – Naomi M. ‘16

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