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Spillover by David Quammen (review by Akshay B. ’16)

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Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human PandemicSpillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Award-winning travel writer David Quammen brings you along on his latest fantastic journey across the world, documenting the origin and emergence of dangerous zoonoses, viral infections that come to humans from other species. Quammen is a brilliant narrator, combining humor with intellectual information to trace the spread of viruses like Ebola, AIDS and H1N1 as well as lesser known but no less frightening varieties. Unfortunately, he can only go so far, and readers who are not ardent fans of biology may find the narrative, at times, boring. However, readers will be pulled into the globe-crossing journey as Quammen gives a first-person perspective of his travels and hands-on experience with researchers. Fans of biology and people who like reading about worldly issues will find Spillover a fantastic read. – Akshay B. ‘16

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A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (review by Preethi K. ’17)

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A Long Way GoneA Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Ishmael Beah’s, A Long Way Gone, Beah describes the hardships he suffered as a child, fleeing from rebels in war-stricken Sierra Leone as he tries to preserve the remainder of his innocence. Beah writes his traumatic autobiography so honestly and humbly that one is captivated till the last page. Moving at a steady pace, he thoroughly describes his feelings and emotions, which keeps the reader connected to his story throughout the book. Although it is a deeply serious issue, it is a story everyone should read. His insight and the way he is able to weave his culture into every scene brings the book to life.

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Marked (A House of Night Novel) by P.C. Cast (review by Meilan S. ’17)

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Marked (House of Night, #1)Marked by P.C. Cast
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Although I loved this book in 5th grade, I decided to revisit it now that I am in its target audience. Unfortunately, my impression of it has changed vastly with age. Meet Zoey Redbird, a teenage girl with no personality whatsoever. After being marked as a fledgling vampyre, she is shipped off to a school for other vampyres, called the House of Night. Sound familiar to anyone? Before long, Zoey is embroiled in conflict with the resident mean-girl, Aphrodite, after Zoey starts dating her ex-boyfriend. Said ex-boyfriend is inexplicably drawn to Zoey because… it’s inexplicable. Each character in this sad excuse for a book is a cardboard cutout, from the “hot guy” to the “gay best friend” to two characters whose only identifiable character trait is their love of shoes. Zoey is worst of all: an annoying, unsympathetic protagonist who embodies the worst of teenagers. Honestly, this book confuses me. The plot and character development are on an elementary school level, but the unrelenting bombardment of adult content makes that impossible. If anything, this book is so comically awful that it makes a fun read. The rest of the series is no different, though Zoey gets a new character trait: inability to comprehend monogamy.

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Ringworld by Larry Niven (review by Meilan S. ’17)

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Ringworld (Ringworld #1)Ringworld by Larry Niven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Considered one of the classics of science fiction, Ringworld follows the journey of Louis Wu, an aged explorer bored with life on Earth. On his 200th birthday, an alien named Nessus (whose race has supposedly been extinct for centuries) invites Louis to join an expedition to a new world. After recruiting two other crewmates, Speaker To Animals (a huge, carnivorous cat) and Teela Brown (a young human), the motley group sets out towards a strange, ring-shaped world. Ringworld is science fiction at its best, with an enticing and unusual concept and a richly detailed world. Its three-dimensional characters and constant surprises make Ringworld more than just another exploration story. A twist ending forces readers to reconsider the entire book. Niven is fastidious about tying up loose ends; seemingly inconsequential details often end up being instrumental to the plot. Ringworld’s pace can be slow at times, but for stylist reasons rather than bad writing. All in all, Ringworld is a fantastic read, and well worth the time it takes to track down in a used bookstore (or your local library).

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The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (review by Preethi K. ’17)

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The Five People You Meet in HeavenThe Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On Eddie’s 83rd birthday he goes to Ruby Pier, an amusement park, for his job as the maintenance man. When an attraction malfunctions and he tries to save a little girl, he dies. After he arrives in heaven, he meets five people who each had an impact in his life—some he knew, and some he didn’t—and they explain how their lives connected with his, telling him stories about his life on earth. The Five People You Meet In Heaven, is a wonderful book and I would suggest it to people of all age groups due to its interesting storyline and engaging, accessible narration. Albom handles the hardships of life, sacrifice, and why people do what they must with the utmost sensitivity. This heart-touching book gives readers valuable insight into the bonds that make up life.

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When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle (review by Stephanie S. ’17)

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When You Were MineWhen You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When You Were Mine, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, opens with Rosaline Caplet and her two best friends hoping for the perfect senior year. Rose has had eyes for her neighbor and best friend, Rob Monteg, for years and hopes he’ll finally return her feelings. At the beginning of the summer, before Rob left for camp, Rosaline thought their relationship was evolving into something more. She is thrilled when school starts and their flirting continues. When Rob kisses her on their first date, Rose believes that everything is falling into place. Soon afterwards, however, Rosaline’s cousin Juliet moves to town. In less than two days Juliet has claimed Rob as hers, and he seems to have forgotten all about Rose. Rosaline’s friends tell her to ignore them, but she cannot. Soon rumors start circulating about Juliet’s mental instability, endangering Rob and his future. Will Rob make the right decision and leave Juliet, or will she take him down with her? This book may not be for everyone but I enjoyed this story and found it to be unique take on Shakespeare’s original, with a couple unexpected twists.

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Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (review by Ravi B. ’14)

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Cloud AtlasCloud Atlas by David Mitchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell creates a universe in which multiple characters from various past and future settings fight against repression. The book follows an unconventional narrative construct with six story lines, beginning with an American notary in the 19th century and ending with a child in a post-apocalyptic future. The stories are initially told in chronological order, but each, except for the last, is interrupted at a critical moment. Following the last story, the book continues in reverse chronological order. I found Mitchell’s technique gave me a greater sense of closure and empathy for the characters as I finished the book. Although the book is especially challenging to start because each ending of a chapter feels somewhat intrusive, completing the novel was rewarding. Additionally, one of the stories is a hilarious relief from the rest of the novel. Someone who enjoys sci-fi fantasy and dystopian novels will find this to be refreshing change of pace. – Ravi B. ‘14

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The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (review by Sean K. ’14)

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The Count of Monte CristoThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dumas’ second masterpiece is a work of gothic brilliance and has become the quintessential novel of revenge. The eternal protagonist, Edmond Dantes, begins as an ambitious, accomplished sailor in the service of an esteemed trading company in France. He is brutally betrayed, resulting in a wretched 14 years of imprisonment, only to escape, stumble upon an immense fortune, and return to France to pursue a ruthless path of retribution against his perpetrators. Originally written in French, the English translation is in itself a display of eloquent language. A certain level of density accompanies this sophistication, through which some impatient readers may have difficulty traveling. However, action and adventure abound, and the long-awaited moments of revenge stemming from Dantes’ tortuous plans imbue a vindictive ecstasy unsurpassed in literature. Furthermore, Dumas’ periodic philosophical questions on power, fidelity, and revenge offer pensive breaths in between sequences of high suspense. The Count of Monte Cristo is a lengthy read, and many will have to persevere to traverse its many rich pages. But those who do will be enriched by one of the greatest novels of all time and the lessons that it relays. “Only one who has undergone ultimate suffering may experience ultimate bliss.” – Sean K. ‘14

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The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche (review by Sean K. ’14)

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The Tibetan Book of Living and DyingThe Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rinpoche introduces and applies the values of Tibetan Buddhism to the Western world in a revolutionarily practical way, drawing from his lifetime experience as a monk. Contrary to many religion-oriented texts, Rinpoche’s spiritual classic does not attempt to convert the reader. Rather, it seeks to draw from Buddhist teachings and texts (primarily The Tibetan Book of the Dead) to create a guide to life and death from which people of all religions and faiths can draw upon for peace and consciousness. Moreover, Rinpoche’s frequent excerpts from the lessons of his teachers add a charming personality to his own wise writings. His use of modern scientific research and acknowledgement of current global realities make the book accessible to even the most skeptical Westerners. To the reader who must cope with a recent or near death, or just to someone who might appreciate a refreshing approach to dealing with the stressful ordeals of our materialistic society, I highly recommend this book. – Sean K. ‘14

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The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

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The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastards, #1)The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Lies of Locke Lamora involves author Scott Lynch taking the classic fantasy tropes of rugged thief and medieval Venice and going for a joyride. The protagonist and antihero, Locke Lamora, delights in totally robbing members of the Venice-like Camorr’s noble class, assisted by his companions and best friends. He participates as part of the city’s mafia, yet he doesn’t steal to get rich — he steals because it’s “heaps of […] fun!” One day, he gets in way, way over his head. The voices Scott Lynch has crafted for each of his characters are so unique that they linger on and make dialogue tags almost unnecessary. The book was snarky, smart, and written with a skilled hand, yet remained surprisingly poignant and touching at key points. This book is highly recommended to fans of fantasy, or anyone who is looking for a fun read. (If you are not comfortable with strong language, this book is not for you.) – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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