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Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

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Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Hush, Hush may have the dubious honor of being one of the worst books I’ve ever read. While chock-full of mixed metaphors, corny fight scenes, unintelligent dialogue, purple prose, and pointless descriptions, the novel also embodies YA rape culture. The relationship between Nora, the main character, and her love interest, Patch, is built off of her being terrified of him, while he dreams about killing her. Nora is noticeably uncomfortable as he continues to pursue her, harassing her in the middle of biology class as those around her pay no heed to her complaints. A heroine in any genre should not have to be terrified that her love interest is going to rape her. The rest of the personalities are two-dimensional stock-characters at best and disastrous at worst. Marcie Millar is made out to be the classic “mean girl,” even though she is demonized for flirting rather than actually being mean. The plot is flat and uninteresting. I would not recommend anyone approach Hush, Hush with a ten-foot pole. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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The Elite by Kiera Cass (review by Nitya M. ’15)

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The Elite (The Selection, #2)The Elite by Kiera Cass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Only six of thirty-five girls remain in The Selection, the cutthroat competition to become the wife of Prince Maxon and princess of Illea. Yet America Singer holds the power in her hands to end the battle instantly by telling the prince that she can return the love he bestows upon her. Floundering in a sea of uncertainty, America is unable to decide between the dangerous romance and memories of Aspen, guard and longtime friend, and the breathtaking experiences that shape her relationship with Maxon. Each time she thinks she’s made up her mind, her world is brought crashing down. The Elite, the second book in Kiera Cass’s trilogy, continues the fast paced style of its prequel, but ultimately forsakes action for a love triangle that slows the story of The Selection to a crawl. While The Elite is still a page-turner, this second novel, like Suzanne Collins’ Catching Fire, loses its appeal to sappy romance. – Nitya M. ‘15

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City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (review by Lavinia D. ’17)

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City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Brooklyn teenager Clary Fray goes with her best friend Simon Lewis to a nightclub, the last thing she expects is to witness a murder – and to be the only one who sees it. Seeking answers, she meets Jace Wayland at the club, but suddenly, she is thrown into an unknown world fraught with danger, followed up with the news that her mother, Jocelyn, has been kidnapped by a man named Valentine in his search to find an object known as the Mortal Cup. Along with Jace and his adoptive siblings, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood, Clary starts to search for her mother and uncovers the truth about herself: she, along with Jace, Alec, and Isabelle, are part of a race called Shadowhunters – half-angel and half-human. In order to save her mother from Valentine’s evil clutches and retrieve the Mortal Cup, Clary must master her powers before it is too late. City of Bones was extremely riveting and had comedy thrown in at the perfect time. However, an overwhelming number of characters introduced in a short amount of time, made following along a bit difficult in the beginning. – Lavinia D. ‘17

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1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

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1Q84 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murakami may be one of the most talented storytellers alive today, and his genius manifests once again in this ethereal, lyrical magnum opus. The main stories are interwoven effortlessly; the novel details the life of aspiring novelist and math teacher Tengo, and Aomame, the secretive, justice-bent martial artist masquerading as a simple yoga instructor. Tengo assists a young girl named Fuka-Eri in the creation of his own literary masterpiece that will change both of their lives forever while also involving him in a bizarre religious cult that puts him in mortal danger. Aomame works for a dowager countess in eliminating perpetrators of domestic violence. The love story is touching and the entire novel surreal. Murakami’s prose is truly poignant and unforgettable. 1Q84 is a novel that will linger in the minds of readers for hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Highly recommended to bibliophiles who do not mind a tour de force that tops out at 1,184 pages. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and SweetHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This heartwarming novel’s chapters seamlessly alternate setting from the 1940s to 1986, describing the life of Chinese immigrant Henry Lee during World War II and his struggles in a time of hostility against all things and people labeled Eastern. Lee juggles a precarious relationship with a young Japanese girl named Keiko despite his parents’ protests. The novel also focuses on Henry’s past and present relationships — namely his Chinese parents who frantically urge him to become as American as possible and a local jazz musician, his wife and his son who has recently come of age. The novel’s evocative and sweet writing brings Henry and Keiko’s relationship into heart-wrenching detail and sheds a great deal of light on the American -Chinese point of view on the war. is highly recommended to both aficionados and casual readers of historical fiction as an accessible piece of writing that lives up to its name in evoking emotions both bitter and sweet. – Elisabeth S. ’16

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

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Tolkien: A BiographyTolkien: 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)

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The Seven Dials MysteryThe 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)

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Requiem (Delirium, #3)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)

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The Joy Luck ClubThe 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)

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ZeitounZeitoun 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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