Toni Morrison’s ability to transport her readers into the mindset of characters who are often plagued with essential questions surrounding race, acceptance and beauty makes her novels a must read in every home. This story is about a year in the life of a young black girl in Lorain, Ohio named Pecola Breedlove. Pecola’s obsession …
Over five million copies of this amazing book have been sold since it was first published by Dr. Peale in 1952. It teaches the reader how to have confidence and faith in his or her abilities in order to gain fulfillment in life. Dr. Peale calls out to the reader to fill his or her …
Whenever I finish one of Chekhov’s short stories, I always feel (briefly) that I am incredibly wise. His stories are often very short and many of his most memorable pieces don’t have much of a plot. Chekhov writes in light touches, usually telling us little about his characters. But the gentler and less forceful Chekhov …
Toni Morrison’s ability to transport her readers into the mindset of characters who are often plagued with essential questions surrounding race, acceptance and beauty makes her novels a must read in every home. This story is about a year in the life of a young black girl in Lorain, Ohio named Pecola Breedlove. Pecola’s obsession …
This summer, I’ve been introduced to the works of James Nelson, a maritime novelist and naval historian of the age of sail. I read first George Washington’s Great Gamble (2010), his history of naval warfare in the American Revolution, and in particular the decisive Battle of the Capes; now I’ve finished his Civil War volume, …
Continue reading “Herman Holbrook, Admissions Information Systems Coordinator”
Several years ago, I worked with a performer named Tom Bergeron in a physical theater troupe in Amherst, MA. The troupe was short lived, and we all dispersed to try our fortunes elsewhere. After several years of working for Boston-area television and radio stations, Tom made a career for himself as a television show host …
The Count of Monte Cristo is about an escaped prisoner who seeks revenge on the people who caused him to be wrongfully imprisoned. Set primarily in Marseilles and Paris, this book is a great summer read because it transports the reader into tumultuous yet whimsical 19th century France. Packed with adventure, romance and plot twists, …
Really, I don’t even know where to begin. I’m in awe of this collection. Its ambition and scope doesn’t surprise me, since I’ve known the brilliant whirlwind Camille Dungy for many years, but still, I’m amazed at what she’s accomplished here. This is an important book—there’s nothing else like it that collects and focuses on …
Continue reading “Matt O’Donnell, Associate Editor, Bowdoin Magazine”
This book characterized as “the best baseball book no one has read” recounts the death of Ray Chapman, the shortstop of the Cleveland Indians, in 1920. It also provides great insight into the very different nature of the game at that time and reveals how the players dealt with the sudden loss of their beloved …
I originally picked up An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England because its author, Brock Clarke, is teaching one of the classes I will take in the fall. What I found within was a compelling story about discovering the bonds which hold your relationships together. The unwitting hero of the novel, Sam Pulsifer, …