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"The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

4/27/2013

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Title: The Devil in the White City 
Author: Erik Larson
Genre: Non-fiction     
Pages:
Date published:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended: Yes!





I read The Devil in the White City at the recommendation of my best friend; after a year of raving about this “must-read,” she finally convinced me this year,, and now I understand why she liked it so much. The book takes place in the late 1800s, during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, In the midst of this occasionally overwhelming backdrop, the story keeps its focus by centering on two men, an architect and a psychopath, who seem to have no relation to each other; but as the story unfolds, the reader discovers that their lives are become intricately tied together by the World’s Fair. The architect, Daniel Hudson Burnham, dreamed of designing a fair  that would rival the Eiffel tower and attract visitors from across the world, a dream that would challenge both Burnham  and his team of talented architects, including Fredrick Law Olmsted, Charles McKim, and Louis Sullivan. The psychopath, H.H. Holmes, used the excitement and attraction of the fair to keep his series of murders unnoticed, building a hotel where he could trap visitors and torture them. Larson’s characterization brings the history to life – the wholesome, driven Burnham and the charming but evil Holmes  both emerge as deep characters in an almost novelistic sense:,, historical figures, that the reader knows well by story’s end.

The Devil in the White City was not a difficult read and grabbed my attention from the very beginning with the introduction of Burnham and the World’s Fair. Since I grew up near Chicago and am familiar with the city, I was especially interested in the history of the fair and now I would love to visit what remains of the event. Even for those hailing from other states, this book  captivates because of the history involved; sometimes it seems hard to believe that these events really happened. I found The Devil in the White City impossible to put down once I picked it up. Apart from the  suspense, Larson’s decision to alternate between the perspectives of each chapter, kept me interested.

Ultimately, I would describe The Devil in the White City as nonfiction for fiction-readers. Anyone who enjoys art and architecture would also enjoy this book, as would those interested in psychopathology, murder mystery, or  the development of Chicago would also enjoy this. Pulling together all his research from primary sources Erik Larson created a unique and book. 





Review by Colleen Brady, A&S '16


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"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell 

4/27/2013

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Title: Outliers: The Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell 
Genre:     
Pages: 336
Date published: 2011
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended: Yes!


                This book, as its title suggests, is all about outliers; in this case, the author is referring to the people in society that stand out because of some remarkable accomplishment or quality that sets them apart. You probably already know some of Malcolm Gladwell’s subjects, such as Bill Gates and The Beatles, but he also brings some lesser-known “outliers” to the reader’s attention who have equally impressive stories.

                 Although I originally had to read this book for my Organizational Behavior class here at BC, my entire class loved it, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about understanding how we can come to achieve success, and how we have gotten to where we are today.

            After reading the novel, my professor asked us all to ask ourselves who has helped us reach the success we have achieved so far in our lives. Once we had written down who those people were, he suggested that we all write them a letter to thank them, to show our appreciation for their important roles in our lives.

            In the end, that is the take-away from Gladwell’s novel: we must all recognize that people do not rise to success purely by their own efforts and actions. While individual motivation and skill play a large role in outstanding success stories, Gladwell points out time and time again that the most significant factor in success stories is the external environment, circumstances, and support that a person receives along the way.



Review by Kristie Dickinson, CSOM '14


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"The Adults" by Alison Espach

4/27/2013

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Title: The Adults 
Author: Alison Espach
Genre: General Fiction    
Pages: 336
Date published: 2011
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Recommended: Yes- but with the warning that this isn’t going to be in the canon anytime soon               


            I’ve come to the realization that I love a good “coming of age” story, so it’s only natural that I was instantly attracted to The Adults. The novel follows protagonist Emily Vidal as she matures in suburban Connecticut during the 1990s. The author, Alison Espach, describes Emily’s life through her early teens until her late 20s, as she struggles to accept her father walking out on her family.

            Simply put, Espach is an incredible writer. She’s witty, sharp and poignant in her rendering of the inner monologues of a fourteen-year-old girl. She handles such topics as suicide, death and the pains of adolescence with a droll (yet endearing) twist. I found myself having flashbacks to my freshman year of high school due to the wit with which Espach recreates the tone of a young teenager. Her ability to empathize with her protagonist is astounding; I have never had anyone capture my thoughts at fourteen as clearly as she does.

            However, the entire book isn’t relatable. I understand that pedophilia and student teacher relationships have been discussed extensively in other pieces of literature. But in this particular story, it quickly escalates into intense creepiness. Yet this particular student-teacher relationship forms part of the main story line. I can’t divulge more without giving away the plot, but at times, it made my skin crawl and felt unnecessary.

            For the most part, The Adults kept my attention. The beginning of the novel seemed promising, but once I hit the ending, I found myself sorely disappointed. Throughout the first few chapters, I could relate to the character’s tone and perceptions of the world, but by the end, I became so frustrated with her and her decisions that I couldn’t sympathize.

            The other large disappointment is the lack of a definite ending. I’m fine with novels ending in cliffhangers so as to provoke thoughtful ideas and discussion after the novel has concluded, but this novel doesn’t even have a stereotypical cliffhanger. More than an unclear ending, the novel leaves Emily struggling with a multitude of self-inflicted problems and no solutions. I felt like I had invested a lot of time into a protagonist with whom I was aggravated by the end.

            The only reason I would recommend this book is the writing style. The plot is decent, and the ending frustrating, but Epach’s talent with words and descriptions is incredible. Her wit and incredibly poignant prose are what kept me reading until the last page.



Review by Hallie Sullivan, A&S '15


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"Everything is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer

4/27/2013

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Title: Everything is Illuminated    
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer    
Genre: General Fiction    
Pages: 276    
Date published: 2003
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Recommended: Yes


            After reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close last year (which is also an excellent book), Jonathan Safran Foer’s writing style intrigued me. While Everything is Illuminated is not in the exact same style per se, the tone has interesting similarities. 

            Everything is Illuminated is a unique and beautiful book that is initially confusing but ultimately fascinatingly touching. The story follows the protagonist, a young man named (like the author) Jonathan Safran Foer, who travels to Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. He hires a tour guide, Alex - a native Ukrainian who has not quite mastered the exact meaning of many words in the English language - and Alex’s grandfather. The book follows the story as it is happening from Alex’s point of view, contrasted with a revealing history written in Jonathan Safran Foer’s (the character’s) point of view, as well as letters from Alex to Jonathan. At the beginning the constant switching can be a bit confusing, yet once the reader understands where each piece is coming from the result is an incredible feat of storytelling that adds depth and emotion to the novel; as the story of Jonathan’s grandfather is discovered, the story of Alex and his grandfather is also revealed.

           Everything is Illuminated delves into the idea of who people are, as well as how much work they put into how they want to be perceived by others. Though the book is very enjoyable, it is a bit heavy with mature content throughout, so it would likely not be suitable for younger readers or people who just want something fun and light. Yet for those who are looking for something different and interesting, Everything is Illuminated would be a wonderful option.


Review by Caitlin Mason, A&S '16


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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

4/10/2013

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Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 560
Date published: 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Recommended: 



I first noticed this book during the summer before my freshman year of high school. It appeared alongside The Diary of Ann Frank on the English Honors reading list, and to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t very keen on the idea that I was being told what I had to read during my last two weeks of freedom (I’ve never been the type to spread out my summer homework. Why prolong the agony?) After slowly stumbling through The Book Thief’s confusing first chapter, I was even more indignant about the injustice that is summer homework and slightly worried that I wasn’t cut out for the rigors of high school. But my brief bout of pouting aside, I quickly became enthralled by the book, finishing off the remainder of my summer immersed in the world of Holocaust-era Germany.

The Book Thief follows the life of Liesel, a young girl living in Germany who is sent to live with foster parents right before World War II starts. The novel chronicles the small-town adventures she embarks on and the wide array of relationships she fosters, highlighted by the several times she steals books. Liesel’s relatively happy, uncomplicated life becomes dangerous when her family takes in a Jew – an unspeakable crime in Nazi Germany. The novel is narrated by Death personified, a point of view that enriches the story (but also was the direct cause of my confusion while reading that first chapter).

Of course, as can be expected from a story set in Nazi Germany narrated by Death, the novel is dark. Zusak excels, however, at putting a positive spin on the atrocities of the time without ever diminishing their weight. A major theme of the book is the power of words, particularly the immense weight Hitler’s words had over all of Germany, and the destruction that followed. By means of a beautifully crafted story within the story, a parable written by Max, the Jew Liesel’s family hides, Zusak explores the great constructive power words can have.

I have read The Book Thief probably around six or seven times since that first time almost five years ago, and each time I’m as emotionally invested in and as blown away by the story as I originally was. Even with Death’s affinity for spoilers (you’ll know the ending to the story about halfway through, but don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you), tears stream down my face every time I read the book. Yet this novel is so much more than a sob story: it’s a masterful destruction of stereotypes, a love letter to human nature, a case study of the purest form of friendship. This book truly makes me believe in the goodness of humanity, an incredible feat for a Holocaust story.

I would recommend this book to everyone: its uplifting message, unflinching honesty, and superb writing will forever keep it in my top-ten list. 


Review by Laura Baumgartner, A&S '16


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"All Souls" by Michael Patrick MacDonald

4/3/2013

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Title: All Souls
Author:  Michael Patrick MacDonald
Genre: Memoir

Date Published: September 1999
# Pages: 296
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended?: Yes

A chronicle of the tumultuous and devastating upbringing of Michael MacDonald,, “All Souls” is characterized by the blunt honesty and heart-wrenching anecdotes of MacDonald’s life in South Boston.  Michael and his 10 siblings were raised in Old Colony in South Boston, and it was a neighborhood of feigned closeness.  The apparent threats of poverty, drugs, and shadowy gangsters had a direct effect on  Michael, as he ultimately lost four of his siblings due to such violence. “All Souls” is a heart-breaking testimony of lives lost too early and a story of how a region with the poorest white population in the United States was nonetheless still blindly considered "the best place in the world" by those who lived there.  Additionally, for all of us here at Boston College, it is an absolute necessity that we learn about the inherent racism that permeated Boston’s past less than 40 years ago. “All Souls” serves as an up close and personal inside account of Boston’s deeply divided demographic and economic landscape. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Review by Morgan Healy, LSOE '16



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