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"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

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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 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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"Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed

12/2/2013

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Title: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Author: Cheryl Strayed
Genre(s): Memoir
# Pages: 336
Date published: March 20, 2012
5-star rating: 5 stars
Would you recommend it? Yes

Recently I was wondering through Barnes & Noble, when I stumbled across this book on one of the New York Times Bestsellers tables. In 2012, the book maintained the number one spot on the list for seven consecutive weeks. The book was also the first choice on Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 list in 2012. Since this is a book club memoir, it was an extremely fast read. I finished Wild in five days.

At age 22, Cheryl Strayed loses her mother to cancer. The events surrounding her mother’s death take an emotional toll on her. While Strayed’s mother is dying, her brother and sister distance themselves and continue to do so after the loss. Her stepfather also becomes completely absent from her life afterward. All of this forces Strayed to bottle in her emotions and leaves her feeling alone. Her husband, as hard as he tries, cannot provide enough comfort. They drift apart as a result from Strayed’s infidelity, heroin use, and lack of investment in the marriage.

As a result at age 26, Strayed wants to piece her life back together. She admits that she still loves her ex-husband when she sets out, but she now wants to find and love herself. The only way to find herself is to do it alone. While wondering through a gift shop one day, she stumbles across The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume 1: California. While she does not buy the book that day, the trail stays at the back of her mind. Eventually, after making the decision three times, Strayed sells the few things she owns, packs her backpack, and goes to the Mojave Desert to begin her 1,100 mile journey on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) north to the Bridge of the Gods.

The PCT is one of the toughest hikes in the United States. Strayed has no real or substantial experience hiking or living out in the wild. Most of the people she meets are groups of young men. While she is a woman traveling alone, by the end of her journey she exceeds others’ expectations and earns the hiker name “Queen.” Many times she declines offers to join a group so that her only companion becomes her backpack that she names “Monster.”

Strayed weaves together her past and the hike into a seamless tale of self-discovery. Her anecdotes make the story believable and relatable. In the beginning, she cannot even lift her backpack without falling down. By the end, she can hike 20 miles in a single day. While she is a bit arrogant in the first few days of her journey, the overall experience humbles her and helps her realize who she is on her own. Each day of her hike has a different event that keeps your attention so that you end up cheering for her as the story progresses.

I would recommend this book to anyone because it is a classical identity story. Since Strayed is in her late twenties, it is better geared toward women in college. Her reflections can provide insight into the reader’s own life. You do not need to be from the west coast or a hiker to enjoy this book. Strayed writes in a manner that makes the long journey seem to fly by for the reader.

Review by Liz Handler, A&S '15

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"Fool" by Christopher Moore

11/6/2013

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Title: Fool
Author: Christopher Moore
Genre: Comedy/Satire
Page # : 336
Date Published: 2009
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Recommend: Yes!

I first picked up Fool because I so enjoyed the humor of comic fantasy author Christopher Moore’s Lamb last year. Like his last work, this book makes for a quick and easy read – it only took me a week and a half to read.

The premise of the novel is William Shakespeare’s King Lear. In the first scene of the tragedy, Lear proposes to divide his kingdom between his three daughters based on how much they say they love him. Two of the daughters acquiesce and offer overblown professions of love, but the youngest finds the request absurd and refuses. In response, he banishes her and divides the kingdom between the older two, and so the tragedy begins.

Instead of the omniscient third-person point of view in the original play, Fool is told from the perspective of the court jester or fool, Pocket. Though set during the play, Fool is geared toward an American reader with modern British slang and footnotes to explain Shakespearian terms. While I have never read King Lear, I found a knowledge of the play unnecessary to appreciate Moore’s novel.

In contrast to the original tragedy, the new narrator puts a lighter spin on the story. Fool strays from the original King Lear with the over-the-top debauchery by Pocket and his assistant, and the narrator makes his own side comments throughout the novel, some of which actually made me laugh out loud. The humor made this book fly by, catching my attention from the start with its blend of Shakespearian and modern day comedy.

Any person who enjoys a comedy would enjoy this book, especially anyone who enjoys Shakespeare. I would highly recommend Fool to any BC student, or anyone looking for a hilarious, fast-paced twist on a classic play.

Review by Liz Handler, A&S '15

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"77 Shadow Street" by Dean Koontz

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

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

"Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed

"Fool" by Christopher Moore

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