The Burning Court by John Dickson Carr

A terrific detective puzzler with a "witchy" twist. Be sure to read the epilogue--AFTER you have gone through the story. It is a shocker, but worth the wait!!!

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3505.A774 1959
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Isa Lang, Head of Information Services, Law Library
Rating: Highly Recommended

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Florentino Ariza loved Fermina Daza with a passion that weathered all storms. When she married someone else, he waited and when she became a widow, he courted her all over again. This is true love at its best. Translated from the Spanish by Edith Grossman.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PQ8180.17.A73 A813 1988
2nd Floor Social Science Library
Review submitted by: Cathy Elliott, Business & Financial Technician, Law Library
Rating: Highly Recommended

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carre

Originally written and published due to the popularity that the early James Bond novels and movies generated in the early 1950s, this novel, like a few other contemporary stories, was meant as an intentional jab at the pulpy fiction of the Bond stories. The main character, Alec Leamas, is a deeply burned-out civil servant/spy who drinks too much, smokes too much and doesn't care who wins anymore. He is used by his superiors for one last desperate gambit against the Soviet Union that deftly shows how people are used up by the system and casually tossed aside when they are wrung dry. The novel is almost completely plot driven with Leamas' character the only properly fleshed-out one and it is firmly set in the early days of the Cold War. For all that, it has aged very well and is as applicable now as it was then. The novel is an absolute corker (as they used to say) and reads very quickly (I finished it in one sitting). So pour yourself a nice sherry, find yourself an overstuffed chair and let yourself glide back into the shadowy days of the early Cold War when people are never quite what they seem...or maybe they are...

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6062.E33 S6 1963
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Randolph Boyd, Gift Acquisitions, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Highly Recommended

Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell

This book is a collection of six essays on racism and social issues in the world. Each gives a different perspective on how we view racial and ethnic issues in world history. It shed light on many myths and ideas that I myself had about racism.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: HM1096 .S683 2005
2nd Floor Friedman Collection
Review submitted by: James McCulloch, Carpenter, Facilities
Rating: Recommended

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

I hope never to answer the question "where do babies come from?" with any reference to the first chapter of Huxley's book. In this satirical novel, Ford's assembly line theory for mass production has been extended to include the production of humans. The civilized world is no longer burdened by art or literature, people no longer suffer the pains of personal attachments and Ford is a god, if Gd was allowed to exist. Unlike other dystopian novels, Huxley's isn't dark and gloomy but is, instead, told with brevity and more than a little "snark."

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6015.U9 B65 1998
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Jessica Cioffi, Holocaust Education Coordinator, Rodgers Center
Rating: Highly Recommended

Destination: Questionmark by Curt Lowens

Curt Lowens' self-published book may not be the most polished example of writing available, but it is a remarkable account of his experiences during World War II. Lowens was a German-born, Jewish boy when the war began and found his identity in constant flux as he escaped to Holland, went into hiding and joined the resistance, and ended up working with the British Army. Told with honesty (and even humor), his story is quite extraordinary.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: D810.J4 L69 2002
4th Floor Holocaust Library (Book is for library use only)
Review submitted by: Jessica Cioffi, Holocaust Education Coordinator, Rodgers Center
Rating: Recommended

Stories from Life by Horace Bristol

This collection of photographs and essays examines the life and work of Horace Bristol, a photojournalist who documented such social conditions as those of migrant farm workers in the Great Depression, World War II, and the reconstruction of post-war Japan. It is interesting to note his often unacknowledged or underappreciated role in working with John Steinbeck and influencing the initial ideas for The Grapes of Wrath. While he socialized with members of a circle of photographers known as Group f/64, he never joined based on philosophical differences, but today his work could be seen as important as his colleagues, such as Dorothea Lange (and if you like Lange's work, I would definitely recommend checking out Bristol's work). So while Bristol's photographs did not follow the artistic practices of his day, they are very much the "social documents" he intended them to be.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: TR820 .B7424 1995
3rd Floor Science & Technology Library (Oversize Books)
Review submitted by: Andrew Tessandori, Cataloging Assistant, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Recommended

The Writing Life by Ellen Gilchrist

This is a highly enjoyable book for anyone interested in the craft of writing and teaching creative writing. Through dozens of short essays and journal entries, Gilchrist discusses how reading and writing have been central elements to her life. In “The Shakespeare Group,” she tells how a group has met at her home almost every Sunday for fourteen years to read Shakespeare’s plays out loud. Some of my favorite sections reveal Gilchrist’s struggles as a creative writing teacher, something she did not begin until she was approaching age 70. She writes with honesty and humility.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3557.I34258 Z477 2005
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Stacy Russo, Instruction Librarian, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Recommended

Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography by Peter Conn

Well researched and informative bio of the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She grew up in China and worked with Hollywood as a consultant in getting her Good Earth book made into a movie. Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Sanger were in her social circle. She was pursued and fell for an Authur Murray dance instructor thirty years her junior in her later years. Not a quick read, but I learned a lot about this very fascinating person.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3503.U198 Z624 1996
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Pam Ames, Purchasing Director
Rating: Somewhat Recommended

Good-bye To All That by Robert Graves

One of the definitive memoirs of the Great War, Graves applies his poetic sensibilities to his experiences as an infantry officer on the Western Front and how those experiences smashed his psyche and those of his compatriots (as well as their bodies). Read his war poetry at the same time to get a very intimate look at the reality of industrial war.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6013.R35 Z5 1957
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Randolph Boyd, Gift Acquisitions, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Highly Recommended

7th Heaven by James Patterson

This book was classic Patterson...enjoyable, easy to read and he offers up a couple of crime plots to follow. The verbiage used by Patterson is believable, so I find his books fun to read.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: McNaughton
1st Floor McNaughton Collection
Review submitted by: Linda Greeley, Assistant to Director, Anderson Center for Economic Research
Rating: Somewhat Recommended

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson (review #2)

The book cover says it all: "What if your imaginary friend from childhood was your one true love?" Jane is a lonely little girl and Michael is her imaginary friend who helps her cope with the pain of growing up. When she is nine he leaves, only to reappear when she is thirty to help her through another difficult period. Together they discover the magic of love.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: McNaughton
1st Floor McNaughton Collection
Review submitted by: Cathy Elliott, Business & Financial Technician, Law Library
Rating: Recommended

Sundays At Tiffany's by James Patterson

Sunday at Tiffany's is the touching story of young Jane Margaux and her imaginary friend, Michael. Unexpectedly, Michael informs Jane that he must leave. Years later, Michael returns in the most unpredictable way and now seeks to find Jane, whom he has never forgotten. Told from the perspective of both Jane and Michael, this heart-warming book reiterates the importance of friendship and finding true love.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: McNaughton
1st Floor McNaughton Collection
Review submitted by: Nadia Arriaga, Administrative Assistant, Political Science Department
Rating: Highly Recommended

What Matters Most by Luanne Rice

Great story of love and the value of life. The trials and tribulations of two people are detailed in a fun and invigorating and inspiring way. Luanne Rice is one of my favorite authors. There is nothing better than a good love story!

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: McNaughton
1st Floor McNaughton Collection
Review submitted by: Marilyn Potts, Executive Assistant, CUC
Rating: Highly Recommended

The Arabian Nights Murder by John Dickson Carr

John Dickson Carr is the author for diehard classic mystery readers. He is technically detailed and flawless, but requires the reader's focus and concentration to unravel the puzzle along with him. In this one, there are 8 suspects acting in concert, with the real killer materializing only in theory.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3505.A774 1959
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Isa Lang, Head of Information Services, Law Library
Rating: Recommended

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (review #2)

I must agree wholeheartedly with Jessica Cioffi's review of this book (see below under June 19). Christopher, an autistic teenager, narrates the story and frequently interjects random asides about his compulsions, his difficulties interpreting social cues, and his mathematical genius. Even though Christopher is a savant and excels in the field of mathematics, his autism makes it hard for him to relate to others and interact on an emotional level. Anyone interested in learning more about autism or searching for an engaging, amusing story need look no further.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6058.A245 C87 2003
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Ashley Bloomfield, Program Assistant, Rodgers Center
Rating: Highly Recommended

Sacred Stacks by Nancy Kalikow Maxwell

This interesting book looks at librarianship from a religious (primarily Judeo-Christian) point of view. Focusing on the idea of the library as both a sacred and secular institution, Maxell discusses how librarians and libraries perform sacred functions, organize chaos, impart immortality, uplift individuals and society, provide sacred space, support community, and pass on culture. The ideas presented in this book describe the significant meaning of unique roles that libraries play in society and the special services that are not provided by other societal institutions (thus, our libraries should not strive to be like Barnes and Noble or Borders and our catalogs should never strive to be like Amazon or Google). While it can be difficult and redundant in places, I would recommend this book to anyone involved in libraryland (at any level, not just librarians) as well as those interested in religious studies.

Leatherby Libraires Call Number: Z716.4 .M37 2006
2nd Floor Social Science Library
Review submitted by: Andrew Tessandori, Cataloging Assistant, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Recommended

The Luck of the Bodkins by P.G. Wodehouse

Having never read Wodehouse before (astonishing, I know, but there you are), I had no idea what to expect. Monty Bodkins loves Gertrude, who thinks Monty loves Lottie, who loves Ambrose (the Wrong Tennyson) whose brother Reggie (who, along with Ambrose are Gertrude's cousins) loves Mabel, the sister-in-law of a Hollywood magnate. These three couples populate this perfect farce full of misdirection, misinformation, and a Mickey Mouse. I can't believe this isn't a movie.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6045.O53 L8 2002
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Nancy Stenerson Gonzales, Cataloger, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Highly Recommended

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

This book reads like a blending of a murder mystery and literary novel with a large cast of characters. Atkinson opens the novel with three cases: 1) a missing child from 1970, 2) the workplace murder of a young woman in 1994, and 3) the murder of a husband by his wife in 1979. Private detective Jackson Brodie is the element that weaves the stories together. Atkinson often inserts humor into dark subjects, a style that will appeal to some readers.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6051.T56 C37 2004
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Stacy Russo, Instruction Librarian, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Somewhat Recommended

Longitude by Dava Sobel

If you've ever seen The Deadliest Catch, you know that ships at sea can be a bit dangerous. But imagine having no good idea how far east or west you are on the planet. That is what sailors dealt with before the invention of timekeepers that could keep reliable time in all weather and under unreliable (read high seas) conditions. John Harrison spent nearly all his life creating such a timepiece, and Dava Sobel tells the story in a sprightly and personal way.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: QB 225 .S64 1995
3rd Floor Science & Technology Library
Review submitted by: Nancy Stenerson Gonzales, Cataloger, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Highly Recommended

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Haddon's debut novel, at first glance, seems to be a murder mystery revolving around a dead dog and a would-be Sherlock Holmes named Christopher, a 15-year-old boy with autism. In order to learn who killed the neighbor's dog, Christopher uncovers the truth about goings-on in his own life. Told from Christopher's perspective, the narration is charming, clever and fascinating - beware of random mathematical equations! Is there a rating above "Highly Recommended"?

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR6058.A245 C87 2003
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Jessica Cioffi, Holocaust Education Coordinator
Rating: Highly Recommended

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

After witnessing the atrocities of World War II, Billy Pilgrim is convinced that he has come "unstuck" in time thanks to a race of aliens called the Tralfamadorians. Billy's spastic travels back and forth through time alter his perception of life and death which helps him cope with the transient nature of human existence. Although the non-linear storytelling takes some getting used to, Vonnegut effectively poses the question of whether or not free will truly exists.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3572.O5 S6 1969
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Ashley Bloomfield, Program Assistant, Rodgers Center
Rating: Recommended

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion

This book is a collection of essays written in the 1960s by the masterful Didion. There are three sections: 1) "Life Styles in the Golden Land," 2) "Personals," and 3) "Seven Places of the Mind." I found the first section, with a focus on California, the most interesting. The essay "Slouching Towards Bethlemen," which chronicles Didion's time spent with hippies in the Haight-Ashbury district, is the centerpiece. Other topics include a notorious murder case in the San Bernardino Valley ("Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream") and Joan Baez's Institute for the Study of Nonviolence in the Carmel Valley ("Where the Kissing Never Stops").

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3554.I33 S55 1968
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Stacy Russo, Instruction Librarian, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Highly Recommended

Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark

Ten years ago, Carolyn's brother Mack disappeared. The only contact is a phone call to their mother every Mother's Day. Determined to end the mystery, Carolyn starts asking questions that eventually lead the police to believe her brother is involved with the deaths of several young women. Is Mack still alive? Is he capable of murder?

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: McNaughton
1st Floor McNaughton Collection
Review submitted by: Cathy Elliott, Business & Financial Technician, Law Library
Rating: Recommended

My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir by Clarence Thomas

This is a great autobiography about how one man was able to pull himself up from uncommon circumstances to a position with the Supreme Court. It wasn't an easy road for him and he shared the struggles he had along the way. What an inspiration to read how he was able to achieve the things he did through honesty and hard work.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: KF8745.T48 A3 2007
2nd Floor Social Science Library
Review submitted by: James McCulloch, Carpenter, Facilities
Rating: Highly Recommended

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card

Bean, a three-year-old orphan living on the violent streets of Rotterdam, finds his life turned upside down when he is sent to Battle School, a space station designed to train gifted children to fight an approaching alien invasion. Orson Scott Card challenges us to reevaluate the way we perceive warfare as the constructs of what is "right" and "wrong" blur under difficult circumstances. Are the aliens really the enemies or are we the ones destined to destroy ourselves?

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3553.A655 E58 1999
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Ashley Bloomfield, Program Assistant, Rodgers Center
Rating: Highly Recommended

Making a Literary Life: Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers by Carolyn See

This is the most interesting and inspiring, but still practical, book on writing I have read. Although several sections relate to fiction with chapters on character; plot; point of view; geography, time, and space; and building a scene, See’s advice through most of the book can apply to almost any kind of writing (essays, non-fiction, magazine articles). Even if you are not currently a writer, you may feel like you are after reading Making a Literary Life.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3569.E33 Z47 2002
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Stacy Russo, Instruction Librarian, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Highly Recommended

L. A. Outlaws by T. Jefferson Parker

In his latest novel, two time Edgar winner, T. Jefferson Parker tells the story of high school teacher, Suzanne Jones, whose alter ego is the dazzling and daring thief, Allison Murietta. Hot on her trail is Charlie Hood, a rookie deputy with the LAPD. Will he convince her to change her ways? Read and find out.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: McNaughton
1st Floor McNaughton Collection
Review submitted by: Cathy Elliott, Business & Financial Technician, Law Library
Rating: Recommended