The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

For Didion fans, this deeply personal chronicle of her immersion in grief is a must travel, road full of diamonds. Even as she doubts her powers, she brings fully to bear the intense scrutiny, relentless pursuit of the truth and candid irony that we've come to recognize as her signature to author an important addition to the discourse on death and loss. It's an emotional ride – I teared up nearly every time I picked up the book – that will summon and engage each reader's unique experience with trauma and mortality.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3554.I33 Z63 2005
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Chris Rynd, Senior Writer, University Advancement
Rating: Recommended

Lying on the Couch by Irvin D. Yalom

Who better to write a psychological thriller than a real life mental health professional? Yalom effortlessly utilizes his knowledge of psychoanalytic techniques and APA ethical considerations to grant the reader a view from the "other side of the couch." I found myself riveted by this voyeuristic look at psychoanalysis, watching helplessly as the webs of client deceit become increasingly entangled.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3575.A39 L96 1997
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Ashley Bloomfield, Program Assistant, Rodgers Center
Rating: Recommended

The Hakawati by Rabhi Alameddine

A hakawati is a storyteller who hails from the Middle East. Alameddine, an American hakawati with roots in Beirut, was a great pleasure to hear when he read at Chapman this past spring -- a personality full of wit and humor, sensuality and insight. The novel mirrors the man, a complex weave of classic and modern stories based around a contemporary Lebanese family, epic in scale and delightfully told.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3551.L215 H35 2009
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Chris Rynd, Senior Writer, University Advancement
Rating: Highly Recommended

The Island of Lost Maps by Miles Harvey

This is a fascinating exploration of a man who was systematically cutting maps out of rare books in university libraries for years. The author describes the case (which reads like a mystery novel) while also exploring the collection of antique maps.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: Z702.B58 H37 2000
2nd Floor Social Science Library
Review submitted by: Jennifer Bevan, Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Rating: Highly Recommended