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A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin (review by Huck V. ’14)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

George R. R. Martin has rebounded with A Dance with Dragons, the fifth installment in The Song of Ice and Fire series. Many a die-hard Martin fan will rejoice as they reunite with their favorite characters. Jon Snow struggles with his new post of lord commander of the Nights Watch while Dany watches her dragons approach adulthood in the overseas city of Mereen. Martin’s vivid writing makes for what might be the most chilling set of character arcs that have appeared in the entire Song of Ice and Fire. While not all plot developments in A Dance with Dragons are interesting or relevant to the central action and main characters, the storyline is moved forward and will leave fans re-reading their favorite chapters to sate their hunger for Martin’s latest material. Those who endured the fourth book – which explored a tangential plotline – will be pleased that their favorite characters have returned. Multiple story lines end with cliff hangers all of which are underscored by an impending doom. The notorious and the long awaited winter, it seems, has finally come. Martin is back on track. – Huck V. ‘14

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Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden (review by Soham K. ’17)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A heart-wrenching and terrifying book, Escape from Camp 14 traces the life of Shin, a prisoner trapped in a “complete control center” hidden in the shadowy mountains of North Korea. His sole crime? Being the grandson of a man who fled south during the disastrous Korean War. The only documented escape and defection from a control center, Shin’s story is harrowing. Certain incidents are forever etched in my mind, such as when a starving five-year old girl, found with five kernels of corn, is brutally beaten to death by her “teacher.” Or when Shin—at age 13—is tortured when his mother and brother try to escape. Or his dramatic escape and triumphant repatriation to South Korea. Powerfully rendered through his spare prose, Harden vivifies Shin’s monumental struggles and his subsequent integration into the free world. The author’s ability to open musty doors and expose the carnage committed daily in North Korea makes Escape from Camp 14 an exposé extraordinaire. Those upset by horrific, albeit true, detail may wish to stay away. For those willing to bear witness, this is a must-read. – Soham K. ‘17

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The Luxe by Anna Godbersen (review by Samyu Y. ’15)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The year is 1899, and the place is New York City. A glimpse of satin, silk, taffeta, or lace is visible around every corner of each gilded mansion, and fine carriages dominate the roads where the wealthy live. Gossip follows every eligible young person like a cloud – a cloud that others are only too delighted to darken. Illicit affairs, social impropriety, and scandal are the entertainment of the day. In this world, the Holland family works to elevate two daughters to perfection: Elizabeth, seemingly pious but secretly defiant, and Diana, an outward rebel but romantic at heart. Godbersen’s language weaves its way elegantly around thwarted romances, atrocious rumors, and secret abhorrence to reveal the unhappily tangled lives of the 1900 New York elite. A light read, this first novel of the Luxe series is expressed in pretty but unremarkable writing — though the description of the dresses and the parties is extravagant. Readers of Gossip Girl and The Clique series or watchers of Pretty Little Liars will be swept away in this bracingly different version of catty cliques and damsels in distress. – Samyu Y. ‘15

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The Dinner by Herman Koch (review by Meilan S. ’17)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Dinner by Herman Koch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ready for a literary treat? The Dinner, by Herman Koch, follows two Dutch couples meeting for dinner to discuss a moral dilemma revolving around their sons. Reading about four adults eating for an entire book may not sound appetizing, but The Dinner is a riveting page-turner. In a style characteristic of the postmodern era, Koch focuses more on character development than plot twists like explosions and bar fights (not to say there aren’t any of those). Even though it takes place over a very short period of time, the book manages to stay interesting by incorporating multiple flashbacks. It even has humorous moments thanks to the narrator’s amusing view of the world, despite the heavy subject matter. The Dinner is a fantastic book full of surprises that will make you think. The Dinner will not entice everyone. Lovers of action/adventure/romance/fantasy may have difficulty finishing it. – Meilan S. ‘17

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Divergent by Veronica Roth (review by Anushka D. ’15)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine a dystopia in which everyone at the age of 16 must choose one of five factions: Dauntless, Amity, Abnegation, Candor, or Erudite. Created at first to balance and seam together society, the system soon threatens to fall apart because of greed and corruption. Veronica Roth frames the story through the eyes of Beatrice Prior, a girl who must choose her faction and deal with the decaying structure of her world. Beatrice captures the hearts of readers easily; she is incredibly brave, selfless, and intelligent. While the book presents a wonderfully unique and fascinating society that is struggling to keep itself upright, it also ensnares readers through the battles Beatrice fights with herself, her family, her friends, and the boy she grows to love. Divergent is beautifully written and extremely hard to put down. I am definitely looking forward to its sequel: Insurgent. Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games. –Anushka D. ‘15

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Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (review by Tiffany Z. ’17)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is the first book in a series that explores the life of Rose Hathaway, the guardian and loyal friend of royal vampire princess Lissa Dragomir. Rose and Lissa are just returning from an escape from their school for vampires, St. Vladimir’s Academy. Upon arriving, however, they face not only trouble with the school clique but also potential boyfriend problems. The conflicts heighten when Rose falls in love with her mentor Dimitri Belikov and discovers dangerous secrets about Lissa’s powers. Finally, the friends are suddenly faced with imminent danger from the evil Strigoi. The plotline is intriguing; circumstances and events flow together seamlessly, and characters are depicted fairly realistically, though near the end loose plot ends are tied up very hastily. Some elements of the book are bland or predictable. However Vampire Academy is a thrilling friendship drama and romance combined with plenty of action, and this first installment promises an exciting series. – Tiffany Z. ‘17

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Crashing Through by Robert Kurson (review by Zina J. ’14)

June 13, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Crashing Through shares Paralympic winner Mike May’s journey from blindness into a world of sight, the struggles of this journey, the science behind the surgery that made Mike’s vision possible, and his ultimate destiny. The book excellently increases the reader’s understanding of blindness both on a scientific and social level. Kurson thoroughly fleshes out Mike’s emotions, thoughts, and choices. On the flip side, the author spends about a third of the book explaining why Mike chose to have the surgery, yet determining Mike’s choice was pretty obvious just by looking at the cover of the book. The book did, however, become increasingly more interesting in the second half. Considering that Mike May’s story is rare, as this surgery has only been given to a selected few before, the book leaves an insight not only on blindness but also on the surgery. As a result, this book can appeal to any reader but is particularly interesting for those interested in blindness. – Zina J. ‘14

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Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

June 7, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Invisible Monsters follows a small group of fashion models trekking across the states trying to find themselves. The unnamed main character, a former fashion model, is disfigured — crippled by a mysterious accident. She hides under a veil and is known to others as a monster. In speech therapy, she meets supermodel Brandy Alexander, and the story unfolds from there. This book is fast-paced and not for the faint of heart. It starts with a house fire and only gains speed. The imagery is shocking and offensive with its brutal clarity. Palahniuk’s details land like punches without let up. His plots are artful and ingenious; the twists nearly impossible to see coming. Highly recommended. 5 – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

June 7, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Outsiders details the conflicts of adolescent Ponyboy as he and tries to find his way among the street gangs of his hometown. Hinton’s novel is weak. Artless prose replaces the jolting grittiness necessary to carry the toughness. The violence is bland and unrevealing. Hinton doesn’t convey the wrenching, heartfelt sentiment behind these events. The book ends up an expressionless shopping list of incidents of Ponyboy’s youth. The Outsiders may excite younger audiences, but will more likely irritate the more jaded readers. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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A Countess Below the Stairs by Eva Ibbotson (review by Sophia S. ’15)

June 6, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although Eva Ibbotson’s matter-of-fact writing takes some getting used to, I wish more authors would adopt her unique style of frank writing. The narrator’s humor is understated – not unlike a terribly funny joke delivered with a poker face. A Countess Below the Stairs delves into a servant’s world in the early 1900’s and revolves around Anna, an impoverished Russian countess posing as a housemaid in household of an engaged English earl. Unsurprisingly, the earl and the countess fall in love. In the meantime, the inhabitants of Mersham Manor discover that the earl’s fiancée’s glamor is only skin deep. The gem of the book is the delightfully wicked plan a determined butler concocts to drive the shallow woman away. Although the plot is captivating, the romance is not. Anna and Rupert’s love blooms from so astonishingly few meaningful encounters as to render it unreal. While it’s unlikely Ibbotson’s title will resonate for long, readers will enjoy the story. – Sophia S. ‘15

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