The Library and ITS staff held their first “book party” on January 13. Below are brief descriptions of the books that were recommended.
Thiana
Falling through the Earth by Danielle Trussoni
A memoir by the daugher of a Vietnam War “tunnel rat.” Captures the nuances in this father-daughter relationship.
Kandyce
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Saga of a monk in 12th-century England who wants to build a cathedral. Skillman also owns the DVD of the recent mini-series based upon the book.
Ana
Without Sin: The Life and Death of the Oneida Community by Spencer Claw
History of the 19th century community founded by John Noyes that practiced “complex marriage” (i.e., marriage to multiple partners), mutual criticism, and a eugenics of spiritual perfectionism. The author resists the temptation to make 20th century judgements of the participants and the community.
Doug
Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age by Bill McKibben
Compellingly argues that we need to set limits on our uses of technology. A good counterpoint to What Technology Wants by Kevin Kelly and part of what Doug calls his “curmudgeon reading.”
[Doug also mentioned that he had spent yesterday’s snow day reading Light Boxes by Shane Jones, which Ana recommended to him. It’s a brief novel about a town that decides to wage war on February.]
Kay
Evening Class by Maeve Binchy
A novel about a Dublin teacher who starts an evening class. Not Kay’s usual fare (since it’s not a mystery). She was originally interested in it because it’s set in Ireland, but now she’s finding herself drawn in by the characters.
[Thiana remarked that Tana French’s newest novel, Faithful Place, is a mystery set in Ireland.]
Kay
The Lineup: The World’s Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives
Modern mystery writers explain how they got started in the genre.
Terese
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Recounts the remarkable stories of six North Koreans who defected and provides a view of what life was like in North Korea during the famine of the 1990s. Though it’s non-fiction and the topic is grim at times, it’s a very readable book.
[Both Doug and Ana remarked that this reminded them of The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves–and Why It Matters by B.R. Myers, which explains how racist propaganda has contributed to the strength and longevity of the North Korean dictatorship.]
Hannah
Muhammad: A Story of the Last Prophet by Deepak Chopra
Novel based upon the life of Muhammad. A great way to learn more about Islam. Chopra has also written novels based upon the life of Jesus (Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment) and Buddha (Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment).
Hannah
Fall of Giants by Ken Follet
Historical novel that follows characters from England, Germany, and Russia through World War I. The pace is like a walk in the park (rather than a page-turner). The first of what’s supposed to be a trilogy.
[Hannah’s] Christian
Lost Voices from the Titanic: The Definitive Oral History by Nick Barratt
Christian hasn’t read this yet, but is considering it since he’s been intrigued by the Titanic for a number of years.
[Kay thought he might then be interested in Clive Cussler’s works, which often deal with shipwrecks.]
Kandyce
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
The life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was drafted to fight in the Pacific during World War II and suffered horrific torture at the hands of Japanese soldiers.