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"A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness

2/26/2014

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Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Genre: Fantasy
# pages: 579
Date published: 2011
5-star rating: 3 stars
Would you recommend it: No



When I began this book, I expected a light fantasy read with a lot of magic and mystery. The premise is not unique, but it seemed exciting enough: the story revolves around Diana Bishop, an academic doubling as a repressed witch, who rejects her powerful magic and background in favor of a normal, mundane life. She’s studying in an Oxford library when she accidentally summons forth a mysterious, long-lost magical text of great importance to the supernatural community (which not only includes witches, but also daemons and vampires). Suddenly her world is thrown into chaos when every supernatural being is drawn to her, wanting the manuscript. This includes a benign vampire and geneticist named Matthew, who says he has her best interests at heart and proceeds to follow her around.

                   There were a lot of elements of A Discovery of Witches that I enjoyed. For instance, the mythology of the supernatural beings was well fleshed-out and I especially liked the daemons (extremely creative beings with unstable personalities.) I also generally appreciated the writing style, especially the beautiful descriptions of the locations throughout the novel, Oxford being just one of several. The novel was also very easy to get into and despite the length (a hefty 579 pages), the plot was fast enough and the emotional shocks frequent enough that I didn’t find myself growing bored.

                   However, at its core this book is a paranormal romance between Matthew and Diana, and while I really enjoyed the mythos and plot the author created, I just couldn’t get over how unrealistic and even degrading the romantic aspect was. In the beginning of the novel, Diana is established as a fairly capable, intelligent protagonist rife with internal conflict. I found her likeable and complex. However, her character seemed to crumble when Matthew is introduced. In a matter of pages I went from reading something akin to The Da Vinci Code to something eerily similar to Twilight. Matthew seems too perfect in some ways – intelligent, rich, cultured, physically good-looking – and in others severely messed up –stalker tendencies, temperamental, controlling. Diana, who had initially seemed a solid character, crumbles into a dependent mess as the book progresses. And I tried to be fine with this development, because not every character has to be flawless or strong, but it’s hard to enjoy a story in which a dependent romance is so idolized.

                   Overall, I found this novel disappointing. Its premise, initial character construction, scenery and overarching sense of mystery drew me in and I was expecting a light, but entertaining read. However, the poor romance and aggravating characters prevented me from truly enjoying it. I would only recommend it if you happen to have a long-stretch of time with nothing to do or maybe as a beach-read. Anyway, I’ve finally learned my lesson: from now on, if there are any vampires in the books I’m reading, they’re going to be snarling, corrupt creatures of the night with not a sparkle or a charming smile in sight.


 Review by Julia Walker, A&S '16


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"In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin" by Erik Larson

2/26/2014

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Title: In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Author: Erik Larson
Genre: Historical Nonfiction
# pages: 464
Date published: 2011
5-star rating: 5 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes



I chose In the Garden of Beasts because I loved Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City. Although I normally shy away from non-fiction, Larson’s writing captures my attention by making history come alive, using the style of fiction to tell a historical story.

The book begins with William Dodd’s move to Germany with his family to fulfill his post as the first American Ambassador during Hitler’s rise to power in Germany in 1933.  His original mission is to ensure that Germany pays back its debts to the United States.  As time progresses and Hitler gains more power and support, Dodd strives to maintain the diplomatic relations between the two countries.  Everyone hopes that the Nazi government will grow more moderate and that the persecution of the Jews will stop, but for Dodd and his family, it remains unclear what will happen. 

This book provides a unique perspective of Nazi Germany from an American family, relying mainly of William Dodd and his daughter, Martha, who have more freedom than most foreigners do at this perilous time.  The direct quotes from their diaries give the reader a rare look into the calm before the storm of World War II. Both father and daughter meet the notorious future dictator, the father giving a political view of Hitler while his daughter provides a different perspective, as a woman propositioned to be the future tyrant’s girlfriend. Over the course of the book, Martha has relationships with many men, including the head of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels, and Soviet attaché and secret agent Boris Vinogradov.  In the beginning, she supports the Nazis, but as the number of attacks against Jews and other foreigners mounts, her opinion shifts.  At twenty-four years old at their arrival in Germany, Martha is not much older than most BC students, which makes her a relatable source in spite of her unique situation.

The short chapters and quick progression from one event to the other kept the action moving, even though most of In the Garden of Beasts takes place before the major events of World War II.  Personally, I have always been interested in the events in Germany during this era, and in particular how one man came to hold such power and instill fear in the hearts of his country’s citizens. This book offers insight into this build-up, in a way that keeps the reader flipping pages. I would definitely recommend In the Garden of Beasts to anyone who has any interest in World War II or Nazi Germany.



Review by Liz Handler, A&S '15

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"The Country of the Blind and Other Selected Stories" by H. G. Wells

2/26/2014

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Title: The Country of the Blind and Other Selected Stories
Author: H. G. Wells
Genre: Short Stories, Science Fiction
# pages: 432
Date published: 2007
5-star rating: 4.8 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes



H. G. Wells is most famous for writing The War of the Worlds, but to think that is the work that best describes him does the author a disservice. This collection of short stories, entitled The Country of the Blind and Other Selected Stories, is so diverse that it is surprising that their author is most well known for another work. There are definitely similar characteristics found among the stories, but the tales offer their own themes. General ideas seem to be more important than specific features in each story, and the overall focus of each one is usually philosophical. Although the stories are of varying quality, each offers an engaging message.

The Lord of the Dynamos,” for instance, is a nine-page story that comments on both religion and technological advancement. Short and powerful, it sticks with you. “A Slip under the Microscope” is an extraordinary piece that explores death and medical science.

Each story has something to say about the impact of human advancement and has much more depth than your average science fiction work. Technological themes in particular dominate the work, perhaps because Wells was born in the late 1800s, a time when technological advancements and speculation on what technology meant were at a high point.

Despite the aging science of the stories, Wells’s writing remains universal and explores the question of why humans change rather than how technology advances. My personal favorite out of the whole collection is “A Story of the Stone Age” which takes place, as the title suggests, in the Stone Age, and explores the relationship of two outcasts from their tribe. The story reveals how human nature has not changed all that much, regardless of our scientific feats.

Overall, I would highly recommend this collection to anybody who is interested in short stories. I also recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction, though it is very different from contemporary science fiction work. Although some of the stories are better than others, overall it is an excellent collection, and offers great insight into Wells beyond The War of the Worlds.



Review by Michael Solah, A&S '15

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"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

2/26/2014

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Title: East of Eden
Author: John Steinbeck
Genre: General Fiction
# pages: 640
Date published: 1952
5-star rating: N/A
Would you recommend it: Yes




I recommend East of Eden it to whoever wants to be engrossed in a fascinating story. The book’s true strength, though, lies in its characters, some of the most interesting ever written. Each of John Steinbeck’s characters works as a symbol, though this idea is enacted almost in a postmodern manner; these individuals seem to know that they are symbols, and it is extremely interesting to discover how they handle this realization.

In addition, the book is relatable because the characters are human as well as symbolic.  Many try to fight the symbolism attached to their name, and although their struggle between these identities reads almost like philosophy in places, sometimes to the point of being preachy, Steinbeck is able to pull it off without being in the readers’ face. I would argue that the philosophy is even one of the strongest aspects of the book.

In conclusion, I highly suggest this novel. Though many critics see it as an autobiography of sorts, I feel that it is more of an exploration on what it truly means to be free, and by extension, what it means to be human. I recommend it to anyone; Steinbeck is able to focus on a subject as broad as freedom in such a compelling way that it is something everyone can relate to.



Review by Michael Solah, A&S '15

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"Heirs of General Practice" by John McPhee

2/17/2014

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Title: Heirs of General Practice
Author: John McPhee
Genre: Nonfiction
# pages: 120
Date published: 1986
5-star rating: 4 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes





Originally published in the New Yorker in 1986, Heirs of General Practice is certainly an artful piece. I found a copy of Heirs lying around my house during winter break, so I took it to read on my flight home – and I finished it before second semester began. The book did not take long to read; it was amusing and informative. Heirs is based on a compilation of John McPhee’s interviews with a dozen or so primary care physicians. McPhee transformed the interviews into a narrative form that goes in depth with each doctor, allowing the reader to get to know them not only as doctors, but also as people.

McPhee explores how each doctor got into medicine, what their practice is like, and other general issues and encounters of rural family practice. All of the doctors come from various backgrounds. Some are from the city, some from the country; some wanted to do medicine all their lives and some decided to be a doctor after years of a separate career (one doctor even quit medical school before returning to do family practice).

Although this book was written in the 1970’s, the ideas are still very relevant because of the high demand for the less glamorous job of a primary physician and the new healthcare reform. The book explains how general practice fell from popularity, when medical specialties and subspecialties began to popularize and explains what medical schools did to combat this demand for doctors.

The book teaches the value and appeal of rural primary care doctors, as well as what it is like to be one. McPhee discusses the most difficult parts about being a family doctor and the most rewarding parts. The storyline basically takes place in doctors’ offices, documenting dialogues from patient visits and exploring the backgrounds of each doctor in between the visits. Physicians also discuss medical school, residency, and other issues with primary care, such as vaccinations and expensive testing methods and imaging.

This book would be especially valuable and interesting for people who are interested in medicine and healthcare systems like I am; however, the story was also very readable even if you just wanted to know more about what it is like to be a doctor or how healthcare system works in rural areas in the seventies. One critique I have is that the book consisted of only sketches of doctors in rural Maine, which might not accurately represent all rural areas of the United States. If the author had interviewed a wider population of family physicians, it would be more applicable to a wider population of people, but it was overall an informative, quick and interesting read!



Review by Colleen Brady, A&S '16

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"The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

2/17/2014

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Title: The Poisonwood Bible
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
Genre: Fiction
# pages: 576
Date published: 1998
5-star rating: 4.5 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes



            The Poisonwood Bible begins in 1959 when Nathan Price, a blindly devoted Baptist preacher, packs up his entire family to relocate from Georgia, USA to a small village in the Belgian Congo. Here, he plans to convert the local population, despite a less than enthusiastic response. The book focuses on the experiences of his wife and their four daughters, as they struggle to adjust to a society radically different from their own. They quickly learn that the few things they brought with them, from planting-seeds to cake mix, can’t survive in this new world and that conveniences and standards that seemed set in stone in their old home don’t exist here forcing each family member to deal with the changes in their own way. Meanwhile, Nathan Price develops not as the hero, but as a self-righteous antagonist. As time passes, political violence in the Belgian Congo erupts, threatening the safety of the Price family.

            I found the novel painful to finish. Not because it was poorly written or suffered from a lack of character development or an inconsistent plot (in truth, it’s quite the opposite), but because I found it excruciatingly heart-wrenching. On one hand you have Nathan Price, an ignorant character relentlessly trying to make his mark on the world and then on the other, you have the rest of the family, struggling to deal with a situation for which they are not at all prepared. The author manages, through her excellent writing and characterization, to make it almost impossible to not emphasize with or at least feel sadness for the mother and daughters.

             In spite of the many ugly moments in the novel, what that really made their struggle hit home for me were small, seemingly superficial things, like the mother not being able to bake a cake for one of her daughter’s birthdays because the American-made mix had been ruined by the climate. The author also frequently weaves in Western references, such as Betty Crocker or Coca Cola, which clash dramatically with the setting of the small, African town and left me feeling the same nostalgia that the characters experience. As the novel progresses and the political turmoil in the Belgian Congo begins to threaten the Prices, the author establishes a anxious, tense mood which had me almost skipping forward pages, just to find out what happened more quickly.

            But even I found The Poisonwood Bible heartbreaking, that should not deter readers, and instead serves to demonstrate how well-written the characters are. The narration switches throughout between the points of view of the mother and daughters, and although sometimes in novels with multiple narrative views, I find myself frustrated at how similar each “person” sounds, The Poisonwood Bible offers a host of characters each strong enough that the whole book could have rested on them alone. The setting is also extremely well developed, with vivid development between the initial descriptions and the later political turmoil.

            I would recommend this book to anyone, while bearing in mind the often-heavy subject matter. While it wasn’t an enjoyable read in the traditional sense of the word (at times I found myself wanting to go back to my badly-worn copy of Harry Potter), the character development and unforgettable plot make it worth the ensuing heartache.



Review by Julia Walker

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"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

2/16/2014

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Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Genre: Philosophical Fiction
# pages: 336
Date published: 1890
5-star rating: 5 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes

A few years ago, my mom insisted I watch the 1945 film version of The Picture of Dorian Gray when it was on television one night.  Since we usually have the same movie tastes, I agreed.  While the movie was obviously dated, the story of young Dorian and his personal quest for the immortality of youth and beauty ensnared me.  After it ended, my mom vowed that while the film was good, the novel was even better.  This semester, I finally had the time to read the book slowly and to give it the attention it deserves.

The novel centers around a young man named Dorian Gray, a young orphan who has inherited his family’s sizeable wealth and estate. The novel opens with Basil Hallward painting Dorian’s portrait while Hallward’s friend, Lord Henry Wotton, observes. As he admires the portrait, Lord Henry tells Dorian that he possesses the two most important things—youth and beauty—but that these will eventually fade.  This sparks Dorian to wish that he will never age, the desire that drives the horror to come.

Shortly after Basil finishes the portrait, Dorian begins to develop a strong and close friendship with Lord Henry, with whom he explores more worldly possibilities.  One day Dorian stumbles upon a low-class theatre where he meets actress Sybil Vane, falling in love immediately and proposing to her.  Dorian insists that Basil and Lord Henry see Sybil’s talents.  Unfortunately, after she falls in love with Dorian, she gives up her acting, and now Dorian does not see her as the girl he fell in love with and tells her to never speak to him again.  This tragic decision begins his downward spiral of sin.  When he returns home from the theatre, he finds that the painting has developed a cruel smile that was not there before.

This book faintly reminded me of other horror and fantasy stories I have read, especially those in which the main character searches to trade humanity for immortality.  Lord Henry’s anecdotes add some much-needed humor to the dark tale, and Oscar Wilde’s balance of horror, fantasy, sin, youth, and humor keeps the reader’s attention throughout.

In its unique way, The Picture of Dorian Gray explores the cost of youth and beauty. Although readers who enjoy classic literature would most enjoy this novel, the only full-length novel written by famed author Oscar Wilde, I would recommend it to anyone, particularly college students, for its unique perspective on the youth we value.



Review by Liz Handler, A&S '15

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"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult

2/16/2014

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Title: My Sister's Keeper

Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Fiction
# pages: 448
Date published: 2005
5-star rating: 3 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes


My Sister’s Keeper
: it’s a title I’ve heard over and over in the last five years, from insistent urgings from my family and friends to read the “outstanding” novel, countless utterings of, “Oh my gosh, you haven’t read that?! Well at least tell me you’ve seen the movie.” I even received a copy for my birthday, and then when it was lost somewhere in the black hole that is my room, received another for Christmas. This winter break I finally took the plunge; the time had come for me to read the book that was beloved by millions, if only to stop the constant pressings of my mother.

My Sister’s Keeper is the story about two sisters: Anna, conceived in order to be a bone marrow donor for her sister Kate, who was diagnosed with leukemia. But it does not end there. By age thirteen, Anna has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and other medical procedures all to save the life of her sister. Anna has never had a choice in any of these procedures—until now. This novel is primarily a story about family, pain, and the coming-of-age of a young girl who is not sick but might as well be.

I flew through this book; in fact, I couldn’t put it down. Jodi Picoult’s writing flows so easily and poetically, it completely absorbs the reader in the story, making it difficult to think about anything else.

That being said, I wasn’t blown away by My Sister’s Keeper. Perhaps it was the constant ravings of my family and friends that ballooned my expectations, setting the bar too high for any book to reach. Or maybe it simply isn’t an exceptional novel. I know this opinion is an unpopular, but let me explain. The idea behind the novel is definitely captivating and unique, but I found it to be improbable, even contrived. I could almost see Jodi Picoult’s mind at work, as she sat at her writer’s desk, crafting the story. As with poor acting in films, a contrived plot in a novel takes away the magic and the feeling that what you are reading, or watching on the big screen, is real.

Another complaint I have with My Sister’s Keeper is the dialogue. The profound musings of thirteen-year-old Anna seem too mature, not in a precocious way, but in a way that seems unrealistic and distracts from the novel. All the characters seem to speak in this same, highly intelligent voice, which suggests that Picoult simply gave each character her own voice and did not even try to distinguish between the differences in their ages or gender.

Overall, My Sister’s Keeper is a quick, well-written read that will entertain and engage. Even so, it doesn’t deserve the endless hype and fanfare that is has received in recent years; let along a major motion picture. Perhaps if this novel was less publicized and less popular, and I had lower expectations, this review would have been different. But sadly, I was disappointed. 


Review by Brittany Duncan, A&S '16

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"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman

2/12/2014

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Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
# pages: 192
Date published: 2013
5-star rating: 5 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes



This was a book I was sad to stop reading. I read the short novel in a few days just to savor the wonderful reading experience. The book was sad and happy and nostalgic and delightful. The Ocean at the End of  the Lane is a bit more personal and reflective than Neil Gaiman’s other novels, but if you are a Gaiman fan, you will not be disappointed.


 An older unnamed narrator returns to his childhood home and visits the Hempstock Farm down the lane, encountering the pond or “ocean” in the backyard. While he is there, he remembers everything from when he was seven years old, when he met Lettie Hempstock, an eleven year old girl who lives with the mysterious Hempstock women down the street. He remembers everything he was not supposed to remember. The seven-year-old narrator discovers the Hempstock Farm is not your mundane dairy farm. It is a land of fantasy, and the Hempstocks are not the average humans – they seem to live longer and have infinite wisdom. As a child, the narrator was an avid reader, which helped him escape the reality of his family and money issues. For him, the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred, and Lettie’s reality is his fantasy. The narrator has a housekeeper-nanny who he dislikes. This housekeeper is terrifying to him, but Lettie views the housekeeper as an evil flea who must be exterminated. The story is about the narrator’s adventure to “exterminate” the housekeeper and about the fantastical events that occur with the Hempstocks and his family that year.

This book is relatable, especially for adults who read a lot as children and could relate to the imagination of the narrator. The fantasy aspect was different, unlike anything I have ever encountered, which made me enjoy the novel more. It was actually quite strange, in a good way though, because it was ambiguous as to whether these events the narrator remembers actually happened. The tale also was really great at characterization. I could recall what it was like to be seven and selfish, yet beginning to realize that everything around me does matter.  Some other themes in the story are the difference between children and adults, coping with family problems, and the meaning of friendship from a child’s point of view.

This book captured me from the very beginning, with fluid prose and an intriguing narrator. As the novel introduced new characters, it kept my attention, because I was curious - I always wanted to know more about them. The Ocean was also thought-provoking, and I wondered if I would be able to face what the narrator faced. It made me feel very close to the narrator. I raved about this book to everyone I saw while I was reading it, so I think anyone would enjoy it. This novel is a step into childhood and I already want to read it again. 


Review by Colleen Brady, A&S '16

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"The Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri 

2/12/2014

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Title: The Interpreter of Maladies
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Genre: Fiction
# pages: 198
Date published: 1999
5-star rating: 4.5 stars
Would you recommend it: Yes


The Interpreter of Maladies, a Pulitzer Prize-winning a collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, sheds light on the complicated relationship between India and the United States. While some of the stories are light-hearted, others explore more the darker side of these relationships. The short story format allows readers to understand a variety of perspectives, avoiding the stereotype of one particular story or character as India, and the heart of the story lies in the depth of these characters. 

Given the focus on character, the stories focus primarily on relationships.  These relationships include a failing marriage, a new marriage, a young man new to America and his landlady, an American and her tour-guide, and a young American boy and his older Indian nanny. 

Through these twenty-page glimpses, this book captures a culture too often underrepresented in American media. Some stories are entirely set in India while others are set here in Boston. I found that these setting changes allowed me to feel very familiar with some of the stories while exploring the other side of the globe as well. The book touches on sensitive issues including the conflict between India and Pakistan, the treatment of immigrants in America, and the place of women in marriages. The theme of tradition against new culture ties the various stories together. 

In short, I would recommend The Interpreter of Maladies as a quick read. It’s also a good book to read as a group, as it is easy for anyone to find a character to identify with in the broad range of stories. 


Review by Caroline Grindrod, CSOM '17

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