Category: Fiction - BC Reads!

"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

"77 Shadow Street" by Dean Koontz

3/30/2014

Title: 77 Shadow Street
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Horror, science fiction, thriller
# pages: 451
Date published: December 27, 2011
5-star rating: 4.5 stars
Would you recommend it? Yes

I have been reading Dean Koontz’s books for over eight years. As I walked through the aisles of the used bookstore near my hometown, I picked up 77 Shadow Street because it was one of Koontz’s latest novels that I had yet to read. Once I began reading, I finished the book in less than one week – this is the sort of book you just can’t put down.

77 Shadow Street is the address of the former Belle Vista mansion, constructed in the 1880s by tycoon Andrew Pendleton and later transformed into a luxury condominium complex named the Pendleton. The building saw the abduction of Pendleton’s wife and children, the murder of the Ostock family by the butler, and the disappearance of a construction worker during the transformation to condos. The chapters switch points of view between the residents and employees of the Pendleton, a constant change that keeps the reader interested. You do not get too much of the same story line or viewpoint, which keeps the story moving, and each character has a different opinion of the bizarre happenings at the condominiums. Mysterious plants, people, and creatures appear and disappear for seconds to minutes to hours at a time.

Eventually the residents realize that they have been transported to the Pendleton in the year 2049 and have less than a few hours to live or find a way to survive the ominous “One.” This time crunch creates a fast-paced read, the chapters going by more and more quickly as time winds down and the perspective switches from character to character and from condominium to condominium.

Anyone who enjoys horror would like this book. Dean Koontz is a mix of James Patterson and Stephen King, telling dark tales of murder with supernatural elements that nonetheless seem believable, and his writing never fails to give me goosebumps, especially at night. 77 Shadow Street transports the reader away from his or her reality into the Pendleton with its residents and employees as they fight to stay alive.

Review by Liz Handler, A&S '15

"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy

3/30/2014

Title: War and Peace
Author: Leo Tolstoy (Anthony Briggs Translation)
Genre: Horror, science fiction, thriller
# pages: 1358, 1408 with notes
Date published: 1869
5-star rating: 5 stars
Would you recommend it? Yes

Perhaps it is the novel’s reputation as Tolstoy’s masterwork, to be referenced and reflected upon for a generation of Russian writers. Perhaps it is its girth, so sprawling that Tolstoy reportedly called it “not a novel” and “still less a historical chronicle,” but “what the author wanted and was able to express, in the form in which it is expressed.” Still yet it may be the title of War and Peace itself, a sweeping overview of the broad cross-section of the world it seeks to portray, and seeming to imply a philosophical inquiry into the nature of warfare and its effect on the societies involved, rather than a human story. Despite these and other red flags that might intimidate a modern reader, it would be a shame to dwell on them, because War and Peace ultimately proves emotional, compelling, and terrifically readable.

In spite of its sweeping title, and a smattering of rather metaphysical tangents along the way, Tolstoy’s work emerges as a distinctly affecting, even tender story. Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, though the central axis on which the plot turns, never overwhelms the far more intimate struggles in the daily lives of the characters. The dichotomies of love and loss, of nationalism and personal interest, of duty and desire, all manifest themselves not only in Tolstoy’s sweeping examination of the war itself but in the lives of the three major protagonists and their families. Natasha, Prince Andrey and Pierre emerge as human figures, inherently flawed and utterly relatable. Most of us can sympathize with Natasha’s confusion between infatuation and love in attempting to find a partner, or Pierre’s ill-fated philosophical experimentation in his quest to understand the meaning of life.

In short, War and Peace need not be so intimidating. Beneath the cacophony of names and places, of battles and cold history, lives a novel of people struggling with forces beyond their control; perhaps we can even call it a heart. And therein lies the reason to read War and Peace at all, if we put to rest our preconceived notions, our wider views of war and peace, and simply give ourselves up to the small victories, the moments quiet and monumental, the intimate victories that people Tolstoy’s world.

Review by Jennifer Heine, A&S '16

"A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness

2/26/2014

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

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

2/26/2014

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

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

2/26/2014

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

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

2/16/2014

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

"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult

2/16/2014

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

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

2/12/2014

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