BC Reads! - Student Reviews

"Dubliners" by James Joyce

12/3/2014

Title: Dubliners
Author: James Joyce
Genre: Fiction/Short Story
# Pages: 256
Date Published: 1914
5-Star Rating: 5
Would you recommend it?: Yes

Dubliners is a collection of fifteen short stories by James Joyce, each story describing the lives of different characters in Dublin. With the variety of characters and situations featured, one could argue that the central character of the work is the city itself. This is not a cold and impersonal Dublin; the city feels alive in this book, like I could walk the streets myself, because each story was built from personal experience. With its unpredictable, emotional air, Dubliners feels both natural and authentic. There is an honesty in each of the characters’ experiences that feels realistic, even to those who have never been to Dublin or experienced Joyce’s twentieth century.

The book also offers insight into Joyce’s other work. For instance, “The Dead”, the final short story in the collection, describes the conflict between an intellectual and an Irish identity, a struggle Joyce himself felt.

I highly recommend this collection. Each story unfolds beautifully. Reading through them is like looking at a Monet painting; nothing in it seems forced, everything is smooth and natural, though unique as well. Though complicated, these vignettes are also fun to read; the characters are very curious and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Each story is wonderful, honest and beautiful and definitely worth reading.

Review by Michael Solah, A&S '15

"The Plague" by Albert Camus

12/3/2014

Title: The Plague
Author: Albert Camus
Genre: Fiction
# Pages: 308
Date Published: 1947
5-Star Rating: 4
Would you recommend it?: Yes

Albert Camus’s novel The Plague tells the story of Oran, an Algerian city overcome by a bubonic plague. This fatal illness first presents itself when hundreds of sick rats crawl out of the sewers, only to quickly die in the streets. From there, the illness spreads to humans, despite the efforts of a determined Dr. Bernard Rieux, the novel’s narrator, to battle the oncoming illness.

This tale, filled with sickness, death, and human weaknesses, is not for light reading. With his grave subject matter, Camus poses an even graver philosophical question: is the individual morally responsible for the well-being of the public? Each of the tale’s characters explores different answers to this question. Rambert, for example, is a young journalist preoccupied with his own suffering, whereas Father Paneloux is a didactic priest who blames the plague on people’s sins.

Adding yet another layer to this novel’s purpose, is its historical context: written during World War II, The Plague serves as an allegory for a German occupied Paris, and its 308 pages serve as a call to action. Camus, himself a leader of the resistance, urges people to act against German occupation.

This book, though quite grim, offers us a poignant examination of moral obligation that is well worth reading.

Review by Lauren Schlacks, A&S '16

"The Unnamed" by Joshua Ferris

11/22/2014

Title: The Unnamed
Author: Joshua Ferris
Genre: Fiction
# Pages: 310
Date Published: 2010
5-Star Rating: 4
Would you recommend it?: Yes

Tim Farnsworth walks for hours—miles and miles—in one direction. Even though he is a lawyer with places to go, he does not know where he’s headed or why. He will start without warning and end only when his body cannot fathom another step. Physically incapable of resisting, Tim is forced into continuous motion until his body decides it has had enough, and he collapses wherever he stands. This is the affliction of The Unnamed.

The disease seems benign, even commonplace. So what? He walks for a few miles and then falls asleep? Sounds like something a doctor would prescribe, not medicate. But Tim’s legs have a mind of their own, and no doctor or specialist can explain what motivates Tim’s body. No medicine or therapy can cure this affliction. It arrives at random, and there is no indication of when it will release him again. The unnamed disease does not care about the elements of nature or society, and Tim is lucky if he has time to grab his survival pack before he is thrust into the streets. He has no choice but to submit to its will, its power multiplying in its anonymity.

The desperate search for a name for his disease, some sort of legitimacy, plagues Tim and his family. As his wife, Jane, picks him up at odd hours from shady back alleys and random neighborhoods miles from their home, it is clear that Tim’s inexplicable affliction seeps into the lives of those around him. To his uninformed coworkers, Tim’s unannounced walking spells are rude egresses that lead them to question his status at the illustrious firm. Professional doubt only heightens Tim’s personal doubt, and his desire to prove himself as master of his own body and mind dominates the narrative. When it is clear that mental restraint is not the driving factor, Tim and Jane resort to physical constraints. How does a child forget seeing her father handcuffed to his bed, legs writhing in anxious pain—the only way to keep him from roaming the streets at night? Tim’s daughter Becka acts as a ghostly eye that absorbs her father’s illness and her mother’s anguish, watching as an unnamed disease consumes her parents’ lives and her childhood. The reader continuously asks the questions that leave characters desolate and isolated when they confront them themselves: What will they sacrifice? When will they break? Will hope eventually die?

While The Unnamed has moments of genuine connection, it will leave readers frustrated, questioning, and affected. The reading experience is one of focused immersion. Ferris pulls his readers into the trials of love, marriage, and family, and they will not be able to stop moving through the time and space of this narrative. They will walk with Tim into the wee hours of the night, watch as Jane sacrifices herself (sometimes out of love, sometimes out of matrimonial loyalty), and wonder if Becka can ever make peace with a disease that stole stability from her upbringing. The narrative’s emotional and physical demands will have reader questioning the mind, the body, and whether or not they are one in the same. The final pages are philosophical and haunting, and Ferris leaves readers with the harsh but realistic truths about closure and what one must endure in order to move on.

Review by Lauren Bly, A&S '15

"Breed" by Chase Novak

11/22/2014

Title: Breed
Author: Chase Novak
Genre: Horror/Thriller
# Pages: 311
Date Published: 2012
5-Star Rating: 2.5
Would you recommend it?: No

Breed perched jauntily on its own stand in the Pop section. The cover, entirely black except for a sensual red curve outlining the profile of a pregnant woman, along with the fact that I hadn’t read horror in a while, enticed me to pick it up.

Novak, the pseudonym for Endless Love author Scott Spencer, trying his hand at a different sort of novel, begins Breed by introducing the reader to the characters and their lives, allowing readers to delve into their world. The novel follows Alex and Leslie Twisden, a wealthy married couple with brilliant careers and a swanky apartment in New York City that has been in Alex’s affluent family for generations. Despite a significant age gap, they live a happy life, and seem very much in love.

When the time comes for children, they are distraught to find that they cannot conceive. The pair spends ludicrous amounts of money and travel all over, trying different methods. They are about to give up when they hear of the miracle doctor in Slovenia who, with one injection, can guarantee pregnancy. Despite considerable misgivings, Alex and Leslie allow the disturbing doctor to treat them and bang, success. Twins are born.

The novel then jumps forward 10 years to life in the Twisden house with their fraternal twins. But all is not what it seems. The children are kept from other children, rarely leave the house, and at night are locked in their rooms, cowering in fear, listening to the growls coming from the parents’ room. Finally, they decide they’ve had enough. From this point on, Novak tracks the disturbing effects of the mystery drug, the parents’ descent into something not quite human, and the frightening repercussions of the family’s decisions.

Novak writes well in some respects. His intimate portrayals of Alex and Leslie succumbing to their new natures are chilling, and he attacks grisly and terrible scenes with gusto. The fear the children feel seeps from the pages and taints you. The increasingly unpredictable nature of the parents unsettles you. You will be horrified and uneasy. With regard to the horror, Novak is excellent.

However, the plot meanders, and the children, charged with carrying the latter part of the novel, prove significantly less likeable and personable than their parents. In addition, the conclusion is unsatisfying and the truth is, I started skimming and skipping through the often unecessary exposition just to see how the story would end. Once I understood what had befallen the parents, I zipped through, hoping for some resolution, only to find that there was none.

Except for the interesting premise, the tortured emotions of Leslie and Alex, and the horror scenes, I found it a shoddy book. If you want a few thrills and don’t mind that there is little substance, Breed is a quick read, go ahead and try it. Otherwise, I would not recommend this novel.

Review by Anne Donnelly, A&S '17

"The Final Confession of Mabel Stark" by Robert Hough

11/22/2014

Title: The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
Author: Robert Hough
Genre: Historical Fiction
# Pages: 422
Date Published: 2001
5-Star Rating: 4
Would you recommend it?: Yes

I am always attracted to books with a captivating cover. I know, I know, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But I always do. Sometimes this tendency has led me astray, but more often than not, promising covers have led to rewarding reads. The Final Confession of Mabel Stark is one such novel. Reminiscent of old circus posters from the 1920s, the circus’s golden age, the cover features bright colors and bold graphics. In the center: a petite blonde in thigh-high boots and an ornate jacket directs a lineup of at least six tigers, all of which are double her size. They look ferocious with their mouths open wide and their claws bared. Who wouldn’t pick up this enchanting book?

A more fitting cover could not have been made for this novel as it captures all of the story’s major elements. The Final Confession of Mabel Stark is the story of the greatest female tiger trainer of all time, Mabel Stark. The novel covers the entirety of Mabel’s life, from her early circus days in the 1910s until her death in 1968, and all her husbands in between. Mabel married a whopping five times. However, her relationships with her beloved tigers always came first.

Brave and brazen, yet still insecure and lonely, Mabel is a fascinating character. Making her easy to relate to and even easier to love, Robert Hough mesmerizes his readers with his depiction of Mabel’s charisma and strength, just as she mesmerized her fans in the big tops so long ago. Not only does Mabel’s character come alive in this novel, so too do the characters of her many husbands. We meet all of them, each one as unique and eccentric as the last.

The circus age also comes alive in The Final Confession of Mabel Stark, with all the colorful side characters one would expect out of a circus story, and maybe even a few one wouldn’t. I found myself looking up facts and further historic details in between chapters, enamored of the rich and exciting world Robert Hough has crafted. Although Hough’s bountiful imagination makes this novel an entertaining read, his skills as a researcher and biographer are equally as impressive. The research notes he includes at the end of the novel are almost as entertaining as the story itself. He plainly lays out the historical facts within the book and draws attention to the areas in which he took liberties. From my own research, I found that most of the novel aligns quite well with the true events.

The only flaw I can see with this text is the length. It can drag in some parts and at 422 pages it is definitely a commitment. However, the richness of the story and the characters within it make up for that extra weight in your backpack.

Review by Brittany Duncan, A&S '16

"Crazy Rich Asians" by Kevin Kwan

11/15/2014

Title: Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Genre: Fiction
# Pages: 403
Date Published: 2013
5-Star Rating: 3
Would you recommend it?: No

Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians is the tale of Rachel Chu and her boyfriend Nick Young. The happy pair put their life in Manhattan on hold for a summer trip to Singapore in order to attend Nick’s best friend’s wedding and to meet Nick’s family. What’s the hitch? Nick belongs to the incredibly, ridiculously wealthy Young family and is likely to be the primary heir to an even vaster fortune owned by his grandmother. In a deliciously sensational fashion, both these facts are entirely unbeknownst to Rachel. As one might predict, drama ensues as Rachel’s western ideas clash with the equally modern, yet surprisingly traditional, forces of Nick’s family. As Rachel comes to understand the reality of the situation, Nick’s mother, grandmother, former girlfriend and cousin close in on her, driving her away, intent on keeping her common ilk out of this privileged family’s bloodline.

One of the novel’s particular strengths is its attention to detail. Kwan’s descriptions are exquisite, wonderfully portraying the luxury of this ultra-rich class. These are people who snap up couture clothing and premium real estate like kids in a candy store. When Kwan writes, a purse is not just a purse. It is a piece of art hot off the runway, designed by Louis Vuitton, created by the most skilled Italian craftsman and made from hand tooled leather reaped from a particular breed of cow raised only on one island in the Falklands; these descriptions prove a sumptuous delight.

Another of the novel’s strengths is its knowledge of the culture it describes. Kwan artfully dots Crazy Rich Asians with Malay and Cantonese slang, conveniently explained at the bottom of each page, that breathes life into his characters. His command over the informal language makes one feel as if they are living in and among these urban elite. It adds a charming quality that makes the story unique from other tales of incredible wealth and focuses on the whimsicality of this tiny yet powerful island on the end of Malaysia.

Despite my praise, I believe there is much to be desired in Crazy Rich Asians. If one were content with just a good, mindless read, then I might bump my rating up to stars, but I confess to seeking more. Kwan is praised for using this novel to satirically criticize the new class of super rich in Asia. However, I found that he never went far enough. Sure, there are enough coy and sardonic remarks to see he means to poke fun. Yet when Kwan approaches relevant topics, such as wealthy inequality, he avoids them like one of his novel’s dainty socialites might skirt a puddle when wearing her Jimmy Choos. As an author, he had the opportunity to examine what effects this insane inequality can have, but chose to bow out.

I found that because of this lack of depth, the story never rises above its surface level girl-loves-rich-boy-and–his family-hates-her trope. The soap opera-esque drama made me roll my eyes and I soon grew tired of the one-dimensional characters. I finished the novel for a sense of closure, to see what would happen to this silly family. I reached the final page only to discover that Kwan intends to make it a trilogy, what I consider an ill advised move. What was tolerable and quaint in one book will be tedious and painful when diluted and stretched into three. Amazon disagrees with me, citing the book as one of their Amazon Editors’ Favorite Books of the Year, so I would advise readers to decide for themselves.

Review by Anne Donnelly, A&S '17

"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking

11/15/2014

Title: A Brief History of Time
Author: Stephen Hawking
Genre: General Non-Fiction
# Pages: 204
Date Published: 1988
5-Star Rating: 4
Would you recommend it?: Yes

I picked up this book as soon as I saw the trailer for The Theory of Everything, a new movie based on Stephen Hawking’s first wife’s memoir about their life together. I figured that while understanding the mind of Stephen Hawking would probably be impossible, reading his incredible book on physics and the scientific understanding of a very complex universe would be a good place to start. It took me about two weeks to finish the book between classes. Because it is so dense, it is hard to pick it up for a few minutes here and there, so I had to wait until I had time to pay attention to every word.

I would recommend this book not only because it is interesting, but also because it is important. Even for science fans, A Brief History of Time would prove challenging, as it attempts to answer such diverse questions about the nature of the universe as black holes, the Big Bang, the end of time, the Uncertainty Principle. Even for less science-minded individuals, though, these are questions that capture the imagination. As an added bonus, for those science fiction fans going to see Interstellar in the coming weeks, this book articulates many of the laws of physics that the astronauts mention in passing throughout the film. The chapters are relatively short, making it is easy to read a chapter and move on later. Hawking also cuts through the sometimes dense, technical material with personal anecdotes and humor, keeping the reader from losing focus. The graphics and pictures are also especially helpful to a reader who might not have done so well in math and science classes.

Although the book is written “in a language we can all understand,” it might still prove a stretch for those who are not inclined to reading about very abstract mathematical concepts. Readers should be warned that although A Brief History of Time is fascinating, it isn’t a light read by any means. Regardless, this book is still a New York Times Bestseller, and it is considered one of the most important books, for the common reader, at least, about these complex theories. Anyone looking to understand these ideas should give it a try.

Review by Molly Saint, A&S '15

"Endurance" by Alfred Lansing

11/15/2014

Title: Endurance
Author: Alfred Lansing
Genre: General Non-Fiction
# Pages: 288
Date Published: 1989
5-Star Rating: 4
Would you recommend it?: Yes

After a long hiatus from reading anything historical, a friend of mine casually mentioned a man named Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Anglo-Irish explorer who made four expeditions to the Antarctic, and the story piqued my interest. After a bit of research, I stumbled upon what a majority of reviewers call the greatest account of his fateful voyage, a small paperback titled Endurance. This account by Alfred Lansing tells the entire story of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition with detailed descriptions and suspense that I have never encountered before in the non-fiction genre. I personally believe these type of books are only worth reading again if they are filled with riveting details while maintaining historical integrity. Endurance exemplifies the best of both. When the crew begins to experience difficulties off the coast of South America, Lansing provides engrossing and bold descriptions of the situation at hand.

In preparing to write the novel, Lansing consulted nearly every first-hand written accounts of the expedition to retain accuracy and provide the reader with the most authentic account of what these men faced. The final chapter of the novel, and even the final page, try to derive a deeper meaning from this expedition gone awry. In doing so, the final words offer a profound account of what the most successful people in history have done in times of crisis.

Endurance transcends age groups and personal preferences. It is, by all means, the greatest account of survival I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone who needs a break from trying to check off books from the New York Times bestseller list, or wants a break from fiction altogether. The book offers a true, deeply moving and powerful instance of heroism, and provides an illuminating account of what it was like to explore what most regard as “ the last unexplored region of the world.”

Review by Harrison Kenner, CSOM '18

"Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn

11/8/2014

Title: Geek Love
Author: Katherine Dunn
Genre: Fiction
# Pages: 370
Date Published: 1989
5-Star Rating: 5
Would you recommend it?: Yes

When I first picked up Geek Love, I thought I would be reading a love story about two computer geniuses. To a certain extent, I was right. Geek Love is a beautiful love story, but it has nothing to do with computers; instead, the term “geek” refers to a person who bites the heads off of chickens in a carnival side-show. Its 370 pages depict gory amputations, experimental drug use, telekinetic incest and dozens more unsettling scenarios. To say the book was shocking would be a gross understatement. But, in the two days it took me to read, I couldn’t put it down.

The book is narrated by Olympia Binewski, who tells the tale of her parents, Crystal Lil and Aloysius Binewski, who once owned a traveling carnival. The pair, desperate to drum up business after many of their carny workers abandon them, decide to create their own band of side-show freaks. Crystal Lil takes various drugs and exposes herself to radioactive chemicals all to successfully give birth to a slew of freakish children. Arturo, their oldest son, has flippers for arms and legs. Their daughter Olympia is a hunchback albino dwarf. Fortunato has telekinetic powers, and Electra and Iphigenia are Siamese twins. This family forms their own side-show of freaks. The story continues, focusing on Arturo, who starts a cult where he convinces “normal people” to cut off their limbs, and on Olympia and her relationship with her daughter.

The premise is as weird and creepy as it sounds, but the story that arises from it is just as extraordinary. Through Olympia’s narration, we see a dysfunctional family of supposed freaks face the same issues as more traditional families. The desire to be loved and valued, familial jealousy, familial loyalty and the search for identity, all recognizable in our own lives, are woven throughout the shocking and beautiful tale. In reading Olympia’s account of her astonishing life, we as readers begin to reconsider how we comprehend what’s “normal,” what’s beautiful, and how we perceive differences in our fellow human beings. Amidst the grotesque imagery, Geek Love forces us to reevaluate ourselves; perhaps we aren’t as normal as we would like to think.

Review by Lauren Shlacks, A&S ' 16

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt

11/8/2014

Title: The Goldfinch
Author: Donna Tartt
Genre: Fiction
# Pages: 771
Date Published: October 22, 2013
5-Star Rating: 3
Would you recommend it?: No

I picked up this book over the summer, excited to read Tartt’s newest Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and undaunted by the book’s tremendous length. Expecting it to be a fantastic work of fiction, I thought it would only take a couple weeks to get through its 771 pages. However, after three long months of summer, I found myself only barely past the first 400 pages, utterly disappointed in The Goldfinch’s inability to hold my attention.

This book, Tartt’s first novel in 11 years, begins on a strong note with Theo Decker’s account of the day his mother died. Her death, the result of an act of terrorism at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where the two live, is what spurs young Theo into a life of thievery and deceit. At the advice of a dying old man in the smoldering museum, he takes the painting “The Goldfinch” and escapes from the building. Despite warrants for the painting, Theo does not return it, and instead embarks on a journey, alternating between the custody of the family of a wealthy friend and his sleazy father in Las Vegas. While the depictions of the protagonist’s early teenage years are fascinating, Tartt spends the majority of the first 400 pages indulging in adolescent clichés and exaggerations based on unlikely premises. After spending some corrupting years in Las Vegas living with his father and beginning a life of dependence on alcohol and drugs, Theo returns to New York to reconnect with the business partner of the old man from the museum.

Upon Theo’s return to the East Coast, the book takes a real turn—Tartt jumps ahead about seven years with no explanation of the character’s most formative years, from fourteen to twenty. All of a sudden we are plunged into the life of a much different Theo Decker than the boy we left behind, weighed down by the burden of the painting. From this point on, the book is completely unrecognizable from the first half, and it is difficult to reconcile the disparate plots and characters. While Tartt excels in creating beautiful images and maintaining a voice that is uniquely Theo’s, she fails to create a cohesive plot that keeps readers engaged. She squeezes in only rare moments of action between pages of detail and difficult-to-follow tangents, and finally sums up the entire story in 50 pages. One can recognize her skill in manipulating language and story, but those talents are lost in this confusing and unrealistic novel.

Review by Anna Olcott '17