Lois Boateng, Social Media Editor I had always heard about this book called “Homegoing,” by the Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi, but I never actually got the chance to read it. I was eventually gifted the book by my aunt, who is a book fanatic and is always recommending different ones to me. I recently gained a strong interest in reading African literature. So, I was … Continue reading Book Nook: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
María Castaño, A&E Section Editor “A Small Place” by Jamaica Kincaid situates you in the middle of Antigua, an island in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean known for its beautiful climate and beaches. It is a tourism haven for people around the world, and the book’s main critique is towards the systems that keep it that way. Kincaid offers a poignant critique of tourism … Continue reading Book Nook: A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
Marc Veldhuyzen, Contributor Do you hate yourself? Hopefully, no, and statistically the majority of the people reading this don’t. However, there always exists in every community the lowest experiences of human existence. You’re not alone, if your dice happened to land there. It’s not your fault either. One of the hard lessons of the school of life is that control is limited and often illusionary, … Continue reading Book Nook: The Power and the Glory
by Alexa Schmidt, Managing Editor “Rules of Civility” takes place in New York City in 1938. There are three main protagonists: Eve, Katey and Tinker. Katey and Eve are scheming roommates who search for the cheapest way to have fun, and Tinker is the mysterious man who falls into their lives. Author Amor Towles reconstructs our beloved city from scratch and makes plenty of references … Continue reading Book Nook: An Ode to New York City in “Rules of Civility”
by SHANNON GLEBA, Copy Editor The college experience and young adult years are a time for self exploration and finding a path in life. However, sometimes this path is not clear and the journey can be frustrating. Manhattan College requires all students to take a religion course called “The Nature and Experience of Religion,” which allows students to examine their own personal meaning in the lens of … Continue reading “Siddhartha” and “The Alchemist” Provide Relatable Self-Discovery Journeys
The 1960s were a particular time of upheaval for the United States. One of America’s most iconic presidents was gunned down in Texas. The Vietnam War began. And, of course, the extreme oppression that black and African Americans faced during the Civil Rights Movement. This is the world of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. The novel’s story is told from the points of view of three … Continue reading Stockett’s “The Help” Addresses Racism in Addresses Racism in 1960’s Mississippi
by Haley Burnside Asst. Editor Trevor Noah, a man best known in America for his current hosting gig at “The Daily Show,” recounts his life growing up in South Africa in the wake of Apartheid in this honest memoir. The tone effortlessly shifts from poignant to amusing, from bleak to blissful, as Trevor shares his struggles and triumphs with race, poverty, and childhood naughtiness. The … Continue reading Trevor Noah’s Memoir: “Born A Crime”
Title: Popular Author: Maya Van Wagenen Genre: Memoir If you care to think about your high school years, they might be cringe-inducing or they might include the never-ending struggle of trying to get in with the popular crowd. For teen Maya Van Wagenen, when she finds a popularity guide written by a 1950’s beauty queen, she sees the opportunity to make something special out of … Continue reading The Book Nook: Dec. 6, 2016
Title: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” Author: Mary Ann Shaffer Genre: Historical Fiction The art of letter writing has gone by the wayside as electronic communication has advanced in the last few decades. Mary Ann Shaffer writes her historic novel “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” in the form of a trail of letter correspondence and reminds us what … Continue reading The Book Nook
