Version 2.0
From the category archives:
Mesmerizing
Reviewed by Alan Quale
March 21, 2009
From the moment I saw the cover on this book, I was mesmerized by the rice patties in the foreground, the mountains in the background and the smiling young woman in the cone-shaped hat. The lush green landscape looked eerily familiar. So did the young woman. Last Night I dreamed [...]
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One Man is an Island
Reviewed by Ben Gardiner
September 23, 2008
Into the Wild, as the title suggests, not only portrays a physical interpretation of that, but also the experience of a young man who has difficulty understanding modern society and embarks on a quest to better understand himself as a person. Of the plethora [...]
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Star Wars + Monty Python + Slaughterhouse Five = The Hitchhiker’s Guide
Reviewed by Andrew Curran
May 5, 2008.
While still sticking by science fiction standards Douglas Adams creates funny scenes not only to make us laugh but to give us different perspectives on life itself.
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An American Dragon
Reviewed by Larry Li
May 5, 2008
This heartfelt book explores the conflicts between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-raised daughters, as well as the hardships which come from adjusting from one culture to another. Once engaged into the plot, the book is a relativity fast read and spell-binding to the end.
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The Absolutely Best Book in the Galaxy
Reviewed by Danny Zeff
May 5, 2008
This humorous science fiction novel may be one of the best ever written. The adventures of Arthur Dent and his alien companions are completely absurd, which makes the story very enjoyable to read. It is a true laugh-out-loud adventure.
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Luck, Money, Fame, and Greed: A Foreshadow of Tragedy
Reviewed by Raheem Huseinbhai
May 5, 2008
This action-packed story regarding MIT students gambling is both exiting and well written, having the nonfiction plot and story line with the fictional dramatic elements. The story of a double life, millions of dollars, and consequences of fame and popularity, Bringing Down [...]
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Provocations of Discontent
Reviewed by Alexandra Johnson
May 5, 2008
Amidst the harsh social climate of the early 20th century, Richard Wright dictates his struggle to sustain life. Although he aspires to become a writer, he is met firstly each day with the predominant plague of hunger and the overwhelmingly severe, unwritten laws that subject him and all [...]
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How Purple Came to Be
Reviewed by Bao Dao
May 5, 2008
This epistolary novel will take you back in time and show you what is was like living in an oppressive and sexist society. It tells of an African-American woman living in the early 1900s and her struggles of trying to find herself in such a society. [...]
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I Stand Up Next to a Mountain and I Chop It Down With the Edge of My Hand
Reviewed by Karina Chahal
May 11, 2008
Krakauer tells his true account of what happened during his riveting ascent and descent of Mount Everest. He even says that many events were hard to remember due to oxygen depletion and shock, [...]
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A Tale of Two Women
Reviewed by Katherine Lee
February 25, 2008
If you thought The Kite Runner was good, A Thousand Splendid Suns is better. Khaled Hosseini thrills us again with his second novel about Afghanistan. Hosseini expertly weaves together not only the lives of two very different women but also an exciting fictional story with the [...]
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Life’s Second Chances
Reviewed by Navneet Mattu
January 8, 2008
Khaled Hosseini’s powerful debut novel fulfills every requirement for an extraordinary book. The novel revolves around family relationships, guilt, atonement, the price of betrayal, the inhumanity of a class system, and unforgettable images of a war-torn country. This novel will take you on a roller coaster of emotions, [...]
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The Sun Rises in the East, but the Favela Rises in Brazil
Reviewed by Jonathan Wong
March 3rd, 2008
An insightful documentary, this is an expertly created film that raises the hair on the back of your neck with its intense filming and conflict. It follows an inspirational story that has at some times supernatural overtones, but all [...]
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Love and Conflict
Reviewed by Raheem Huseinbhai
May 22, 2008
This compelling novel, narrated in the first person, shows how political and social turmoil in Afghanistan separated both family and love. Beautifully written with compassion and emotion, this book can be read no matter the situation or location. However, before beginning the novel, be prepared to isolate yourself [...]
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Arachnofever
Reviewed by Anonymous
January 11, 2008
This modern-day folklore is a wonderfully written mixture of magical fantasy and hilarious mix-ups that give a romantic-comedy-like feel to an intriguing plot and an all-around pleasant read.
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. . . or is it the other way around? I wonder which Borges’ stories these movies remind you of? There are six in all, so click on the “continue reading” at the bottom to, well, to continue reading, but really to continue viewing.
The Fall, directed by Tarsem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvU3PMFo6ek
Pan’s Labyrinth, directed by Guillermo [...]
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