Archive for April 7th, 2009
Name: Julia Cabot
Age: 18
Julia likes cooking and playing with her dogs. She likes cupcakes, coffee, and fashion and enjoys watching The Office and Project Runway.
1) What is your favorite book?
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.
2) Why?
Well, it’s from an interesting perspective. Even though it’s about an older guy who likes a very young girl, he doesn’t seem like he’s a pedophile. It doesn’t feel wrong.
3) That leads me to my next question, what is this book about?
It’s about a 40-something year old man who falls in love with a 12-year old girl. He tries to seduce her, but also needs to get rid of her mother.
4) What kind of person would like this book?
Mostly adults. I think teenagers would be grossed out. Teachers love this book. Intellectuals. I don’t think mothers would like this book.
5) How did you discover this book?
Well, it’s pretty well known. It’s famous. I think I read about it in a review and decided to finally read it.
Name: Helen Cabot (Julia’s twin sister)
Age: 18
Helen is an atheist who enjoys crossword puzzles, moccasins, and cardigans. She likes cupcakes and cappuccino foam. She enjoys listening to Andrew Bird, Ben Folds, and Modest Mouse.
1) What is your favorite book?
Hmm. Probably Lolita.
2) Actually, your sister suggested that already. Do you have another book?
On the Road by Jack Kerouac.
3) Why?
Well, I like books about America. I liked the idea of this book.
4) What is it about?
Its pretty much an autobiography of Kerouac’s road trip experiences.
5) What kind of person would like this book?
A free spirit. Thinkers. Anyone who likes poetry, smoking, and drinking tea.
6) How did you discover this book?
My dad brought it home for me. It’s also a popular book so I’m pretty sure my dad found it from a review.
Name: Sari Sharoni
Age: 17
Sari is extremely proud of being Jewish. She enjoys baking in her spare time and looking up random questions on the Internet. She likes hip-hop and reggae. Her favorite shows are Entourage and Heroes. Every now and then she likes a good trashy teen show about college Greek life.
1) What is your favorite book?
Duties of the Heart by Bahya ibn Paquda.
2) Why?
When I was reading it, I felt a deep connection to Judaism that so far, no religious experience has been able to create.
3) What is it about?
Simply put, a man’s relationship to God.
4) What kind of person would like this book?
Someone who’s interested in religion. Anyone who’s taking a comparative religion course.
5) How did you discover this book?
I was Wikipedia-ing Jewish philosophy and this book was listed as one of the most famous philosophy book.
Name: Maria Cimporescu
Age: 17
Maria likes doing yoga and shopping. Every weekend she goes up to her home in Connecticut, usually to tan (when the weather is nice) or to shop. She likes Whole Foods and little ethnic restaurants. Her favorite show is Flight of the Conchords. She can usually be found singing in the hallway.
1) What is your favorite book?
The Regulators by Richard Bachman. But it’s really Stephen King under a pen name.
2) Why?
It messes with your mind. My brain was scrambled after reading it.
3) What is it about?
A boy gains power to control reality. Things go terribly wrong.
4) What kind of person would like this book?
Someone that enjoys suspense. Anyone that doesn’t mind having their world tossed upside down.
5) How did you discover this book?
It’s a mirror novel to Stephen King’s other book, Desperation. The two novels have roughly the same characters but in different situations. They’re like parallel universes. I discovered Desperation when I was randomly in the bookstore.
Name: Inna Shteinbuk
Age: 17
Inna likes finding a good corner and sitting in it. She can usually be found with a cup of coffee in one hand, and perhaps a yoga mat in the other.
1) What is your favorite book?
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
2) Why?
Because it’s very cute. Since I read it when I was little, every time I re-read it, I’m reminded of my childhood.
3) What is it about?
It’s about a boy (the Little Prince) who leaves his asteroid and discovers the strange habits of other planets. It’s also a very good way of teaching children to never become narrow-minded adults who do not love and are consumed by their work.
4) What kind of person would like this book?
A cute person. Not an intellectual, but someone who likes short and sweet books.
5) How did you discover this book?
My mom bought it from Little Dinosaur Hill when I was little.
Lovell P Chang Reading Recommendations
Book details:
Title: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Author: Walter M. Miller, Jr.
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Year: 1960
Recommender’s Detail:
Grade Level: Senior
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
Interests: Video games, Food, Girls, Sleeping
Interview Questions:
1. What makes this book so unique?
The plot is what makes this book so great. “A Canticle for Leibowitz” is set in the post apocalyptic future where everything is destroyed and the world is left in a age where science and intellect is shunned. Only violence and religion remains. The book is split into three parts and follows the Order of Leibowitz, a group of Roman Catholics dedicated to preserving knowledge for future generations. In between each part it skips several hundred years forward and the book shows how the relationship between religion and science developed.
2. Who is your favorite character and why? If not applicable, what is your favorite part of the book?
My favorite character is Brother Francis Gerald because he’s so stupid it’s funny. He only appears in part one but he’s clueless for most of it. He accidentally found a fallout shelter containing notes that could have been written by Leibowitz, the founder of the Order he belonged to. The abbot hinted for Brother Francis to keep quiet about the “relics” but he didn’t get the hint and was beaten many times. From the beginning of part one till his death, his brain activity remained relatively low.
3. Who would you recommend this book to and why?
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction but I honestly believe that the average person can find pleasure by reading this book. I recommend it for science fiction readers because it is very well written and winner of a Hugo Award, an award given to the best science fiction or fantasy stories of the year. Anyone can enjoy the book but if the reader knows a lot about religion and science historically they will enjoy this book on a higher level.
4. How did you stumble upon the book and why did you read it?
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction but I honestly believe that the average person can find pleasure by reading this book. I recommend it for science fiction readers because it is very well written and winner of a Hugo Award, an award given to the best science fiction or fantasy stories of the year. Anyone can enjoy the book but if the reader knows a lot about religion and science historically they will enjoy this book on a higher level.
5. Why is this your favorite book?
The plot is unique and interesting, I have never read a book where religion and science were so intertwined. The book is also somewhat of a social commentary of today’s science oriented society and it hits close to home which is what makes it so powerful. Everything in the book seems plausible which makes it good science fiction. As a bonus the characters and events are quite humorous which just makes the book harder to put down.
Lovell P Chang Reading Recommendations
Book Details:
Title: White Fang
Author: Jack London
Genre: Fiction
Publication year:
Recommender’s detail:
Grade Level: 12th
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
Interests: Talking, Playing Video Games, Programming.
Interview Questions:
1. What makes this book so unique?
The unique aspect about White Fang is that the story is told from the perspective of a wolf. The story explores how a wolf feels as it goes from the wild to captivity to a domestic lifestyle.
2. Who is your favorite character and why? If not applicable, what is your favorite part of the book?
My favorite character is White Fang. I like how he puts forth a fighting spirit as he is captured. It is interesting seeing how his character is developed. He went from a docile, defenseless baby to a fierce and powerful beast.
3. Who would you recommend this book to and why?
I would recommend this book to whoever hasn’t read it and animal lovers. I found it to be pretty good and interesting.
4. How did you stumble upon the book and why did you read it?
I ended up reading White Fang as an assignment from Ivy Prep to improve vocabulary around 5th / 6th grade. In the end it turned out to be pretty good.
5. Why is this your favorite book?
This is ONE of my favorite books for all the reasons stated above.
Lovell P Chang Reading Recommendations
Book Details:
Title: Ishmael
Author: Daniel Quinn
Genre: Fantasy
Publication year: 1996
Recommender’s detail:
Grade Level: 12th
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
Interview Questions:
1. What makes this book so unique?
This novel provides a unique look into our society. It shows us the various problems that we face, our natural belief that we are superior to everything else, and much more. One example of the problems that humans have is the desire to fly. Ishmael takes this problem and shows the audience that when we desire to fly, we often try and fail. This is partly because of the inability to understand past trials. From there, Ishmael states that humans often make the same mistakes throughout history
2. Who is your favorite character and why? If not applicable, what is your favorite part of the book?
Ishmael because he is the one that is teaching the narrator about the problems with our society.
3. Who would you recommend this book to and why?
People who like reading about the problems with our world might like this, but I would highly recommend everyone to read it anyway.
4. How did you stumble upon the book and why did you read it?
This was a book I had to read in Freshman Composition, and I read it because it was an assignment.
5. Why is this your favorite book?
This is one of my favorite books because it presents various problems that we have in our current society. There aren’t many other books like this, considering that there’s logical explanations and intriguing ideas, as well as a major fan base.
Lovell P Chang Reading Recommendations
Book details:
Title: A Passage to India
Author: E. M. Forester
Genre: Modern fiction
Publication year: 1924
Recommender’s detail:
Grade level: 12th
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
Interview Questions:
1. What makes this book so unique?
This book discusses the cruelty of the British over its India country at a time when many in Britain felt it was their right.
2. Who is your favorite character and why? If not applicable, what is your favorite part of the book?
The expedition to the Marabar Caves was my favorite part. The long awaited trip had felt like an adventure for me. Its wonders could not be explained earlier in the story, so I was anxious to find out what it was. As I read it though, the reactions of the character became more of the focal point, drawing me further in the personalities of the characters. For example, when Mrs. Moore had passed through one of the caves, we were exposed to her inner thoughts that revealed that she hated it but had lied to not make Aziz feel bad.
3. Who would you recommend this book to and why?
I recommend to those who like to read.
4. How did you stumble upon the book and why did you read it?
Late British class and because I had to write an essay on it.
5. Why is this your favorite book?
It is very insightful into the role of dominance and infinity in humans’ lives.
Lovell P Chang Reading Recommendations
Book details:
Title: Anna Karenina
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Genre: Novel
Publication year: 1877
Recommender’s detail:
Grade level: 10th
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
Interview Questions:
1. What makes this book so unique?
It’s 900+ pages long, and despite its length, its interesting how Tolstoy incorporates 19th century Russian society, when there was a lack of a middle class, with the mindset of all these characters, who’s thoughts are often (but not always) restricted to their class. Also, the novel seems to start out with a common household argument and throughout the final sections of the novel, builds up to a decision of life or death. After this decision has been made, the final part (there are 8 parts in total) of the book rarely even mentions Anna Karenina, so it is ambiguous as to why the book is called Anna Karenina when in the end, it seems that a man named Levin is the protagonist
2. Who is your favorite character and why? If not applicable, what is your favorite part of the book?
Levin is my favorite character because I can relate to him in many ways. He is a hard-working man that has very critical views of the world. He has a nice personality, but gets slightly sometimes when things don’t go his way (especially in his work at the farm). In many ways he is like Anna, but his strong character allows him to survive in the end, whereas Anna’s indecisiveness leads to her death
3. Who would you recommend this book to and why?
I would recommend this book to seniors who have time to read books!
4. How did you stumble upon the book and why did you read it?
I read it because I was forced to do so in my European Literature Class.
5. Why is this your favorite book?
The way Tolstoy writes is very vivid and i can easily imagine most of the novel’s events, whether it is an argument between spouses, work on a farm, a massive political vote, or Anna’s suicide at the end. While educational, it is also very entertaining and it lasts a long time too since its 900+ pages. After such a long book, you really get a sense of the characters’ lives
1. What’s your favorite book?
2. What would you recommend to incoming students?
3. What’s the best book you’ve read in Stuy?
4. What book do you want to read next?
5. What’s your favorite genre?
____________________________________
Hesham Saleh
1. I don’t read, but i guess A Tale of Two Cities. It’s about the importance of friendship. That i guess, or Harry Potter.
No, probably A Tale of Two Cities.
2. Cold Mountain
3. Twighlight. Haha, not really, probably Watchmen.
4. Usually picture books. They’re a fast read.
5. Comedy
—
Paulina Baltazar
1. The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski. It was the trippiest book i ever read. It also made me think that my life isn’t that bad at all.
2. The Dubliners by James Joyce
3. The Stranger by Albert Camus. The idea of nothingness…
4. Probably 1984, or something like that.
5. Classics, definitely.
—
Satinder Singh
1. I’d have to say Freakanomics. It made me really want to read books. It deals with various social dilemnas, everything from abortion causing less crime to cheating sumo wrestlers. So I’d say, interesting phenomena?
2. I’d recommend reading a comple of non-fiction books just to get in touch with the real world events since most people are into Twilight and such.
3. Hmm, either Rule of the Bon, Angela’s Ashes, or The Stranger. I’d go with Rule of the Bone because I had Ms.Thoms =].
4. The Black Swan
5. I’d go with non-fiction.
—
Kevin Chin
1. I don’t like reading. It’s really hard for me to develop an interest in a book. But the Harry Potter series was able to hold my interest.
2. Beowulf. The only book I sort of liked in Stuy.
3. Beowulf.
4. King Lear. Because of Akira Kawasaki’s Ran, which is a film adaptation of the book. Sorta..
5. Fantasy
—
Faiyam Rahman
1. The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom. It’s about a guy who dies, and meets five people in heaven. The title is pretty self explanatory. That book fo sho.
2. The Last Lecture by Randy Paush.
3. The Importance of Being Earnest
4. A Brave New World
5. Fiction
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Paul Park (Senior)1) Did you see the world differently after reading the book? How?
I wouldn’t say my life changed after reading this book but I did try to be more observant of my surroundings so that I didn’t miss anything. This is because the book contained an exorbitant amount of details and it really made me think about how much I didn’t notice a lot of things in my life.
2) Why did you decide to read this book?
I’m a person who doesn’t read a lot of books and therefore I took writers’ workshop to help me get into reading and writing for my enjoyment, and not for prose essay classes. Ms. Thoms made me read this book.
3) If you could make this book into a movie, would you? Explain.
I would definitely NOT make it into a movie only because there is so much in it that you cannot capture in film.
4) Choose one word to describe the book. Why did you choose it?
Unconventional! Because it was really different from a lot of books I read. It was not just a continuous story line, but an amalgamation of a lot of different stories. And that was what made it really fun to read.
5) Can you relate to the story in any way? How?
The book is about Tim O’Brien’s time spent during the Vietnam War. There are a lot of things in the book that I can probably never relate to but that doesn’t mean I cannot enjoy it. There were a lot of things in the books that really made you stop reading, and just think about what was said.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Eunji Park (Sophomore)
1) Did you see the world differently after reading the book? How?
I didn’t necessarily see the world differently after the book because this book took place in the 1960′s but I was able to see the perspectives of different people and how they were treated back then, which was during the time of the civil rights movement. It opened my eyes up to see how much society had changed from back then until now.
2) Why did you decide to read this book?
I had to read this book for my English class.
3) If you could make this book into a movie, would you? Explain.
Well, this book is already a movie, which I have already seen. I feel like the movie and the actresses who played the characters captured the image and personality of each character very nicely. If there are some things I could change about the movie though, I would take out some scenes that weren’t quite as memorable as the other scenes that I read but were not in the movie.
4) Use one word to describe the book. Why did you choose it?
One word I would use to describe this book is smart. This is because the author used a lot of smart ideas for the plot and gave meaning to everything in the novel. Everything she has written has a purpose, even for an object.
5) Can you relate to the story in any way? How?
I can relate to the story because I personally know what Lily, a character in the novel, felt like to have the hospitality of someone other than someone from her own race.
Feast of Love by Charles Baxter
Sophie Yoo (Senior)
1) Did you see the world differently after reading the book? How?
After reading this book, I did not view anything differently. In fact, this novel was just a cute story that I enjoyed reading.
2) Why did you decide to read this book?
I was online, looking for a good book to read, when I fell across this book on someone’s webpage. After reading a little blurb about it, I went out, picked it up, and am really glad I read it. It was very interesting and I would recommend it to everyone!
3) If you could make this book into a movie, would you? Explain.
I’m not sure, but I think that it already is a movie. However, if I could make it into a movie, I would totally do it. I feel like the audience would be able to relate to the story very well since it is for the contemporary viewers.
4) Use one word to describe the book. Why did you choose it?
One word I would use to describe this book is touching! While I read it, there were many moments when I just put my book down and went, “Aww.” It truly was a heart-warming love story.
5) Can you relate to the story in any way? How?
I can definitely relate to the story. The novel was about people in love, and I know what it feels like to fall in love with someone.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Jenny Han (Senior)
1) Did you see the world differently after the book? How?
One of the main things I learned from reading this book was the harsh reality that there is a limit to human justice. People with power who are unpunished for their heinous crimes easily slip through the cracks and even if they are prosecuted for their wrongdoings years after they have slipped through, the extent of emotional and mental suffering that their actions have committed cannot compensate for their being punished later on. Thus, it may be that there are limits to human justice. The protagonist in the novel, Dante, struggles with this fact while he tries to carry out justice–rewarding the good, punishing the bad. I think n the end, though, he finally realizes that it is up to God, the supreme being to reward and punish, for there is a limit to human justice.
2) Why did you decide to read this book?
I decided to read it because my piano teacher recommended it. The first few pages were dreadful, but once I passed that stage, I couldn’t let go of the book.
3) If you could make this book into a movie, would you? Explain.
There is actually a movie already. It was pretty good, although as not as good as the book itself. I think it worked because the book had a thick plot.
4) Use one word to describe the book. Why did you choose it?
Adventurous. Reading the book was simply an adventure.
5) Can you relate to the story in any way? How?
There is a rampant corruption and class/power struggle in society so of course, I could relate to the story.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
Jane Moon (Senior)
1) Did you see the world differently after reading the book? How?
After reading this novel, I began to realize that although one’s life may seem perfect at the moment, one small thing can turn this established euphoria and lead to a path of turmoil. Also, it helped me to see that despite imperfections, we are all the same people, who all have emotions that are caused by the events that occur around us, and that we are all capable of living our lives to the fullest if we follow our instincts and do what we want to do.
2) Why did you decide to read this book?
I decided to read this book because my goal was to read all the books in my public library, and this happened to appeal to me, so I chose it.
3) If you could make this book into a movie, would you? Explain.
I would not make this book into a movie because t would actually be one of the longest movies ever made. The novel takes place in a changing world, with conflicts that span over a time period of 50 years. Also, I feel like if this book was made into a movie, it would be very uneventful and anticlimactic only because there are SO many conflicts to cover.
4) Use one word to describe the book. Why did you choose it?
Complicated. There were actually so many different conflicts involved in this book whether it was an internal conflict or an external conflict. Each character had to deal with many different issues that made it hard to keep track and follow completely. However, each conflict was interesting to read about and it made me want to know how they were resolved.
5) Can you relate to the story in any way? How?
I feel like I can relate to the story in many ways. First off, I know what it feels like to feel guilty after lying about something. In the novel, the main character was haunted by the one lie he made to his wife. Also, I know what it feels like to constantly doubt and fear the future, and to hesitate in following your dreams. In the novel, the nurse also constantly felt this way about taking care of her down syndrome daughter and with her career. Overall, I know what it feels like to have a united family that loves each other, just like the family portrayed in this novel.
MARCELA RODRIGUEZ ‘09
main activities: STRIVE (environmental club), tae kwon do, activism
Recommendation: Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card
What in particular do you think made it such an awesome book?
I loved how Ender was able to surpass the others by adapting and changing his strategy all the time. Oh and how he dealt with all the evil people In the Battleship
Would you recommend ender’s game to a Stuyvesant student? If so, to students of which grade?
YES YES YES
Every grade. OK, I would recommend it to ninth graders because it really is a book that should be read as early as possible, younger Stuy students can really relate to Ender and then reread it when they get older.
Why do younger students relate more to ender? How would re-reading be beneficial?
Well Ender goes from age 9 to 15 over the course of the book. And he grows up, learns Interesting life lessons. There are a lot of older bullies, so younger students especially would be rooting for Ender. He’s smart without bragging or anything. He’s like Milo.
What are some books that are similar to Ender’s Game?
Ender’s Shadow!
Also the “His Dark Materials” series by Phillip Pullman, especially the first book (The Golden Compass). I love when Lyra gets the kids to escape from the place.
A Girl Named Disaster
Artemis Fowl.
Younger students would like the Alex Rider series I think
Maximum Rider
For older audiences, maybe Dune. I didn’t like it though–too much destiny stuff. But it still has the precocious coming-of-age hero and stuff.
I love Garth Nix too. Not all of his, but seventh tower
Abhorsen trilogy
Sword of Shannara (by Terry Brooks)
It kind of reminds me of Lord of the Flies, except that people figure out how to get past everyone’s judgments and the system and they actually try to help each other secretly. Well they definitely try to break the system. And it’s awesome. The kids outsmart the system. That shows that you can never be too trusting or obedient – you have to question what’s going on around you. Like, why were they training them for all of this fighting? They got stuck in a place where they didn’t want to be at the end though. But Ender always resists and stays true to himself, even at the end
SYEDA HASAN ‘09
What book would you recommend to other Stuy students (particularly underclassmen/Incoming freshmen)?
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE (by Gabriel García Marquez)
NOTE: It does have some “weird” stuff in it (like incest and really weird erotic stuff and just weird stuff…) I guess it might be a bit too much for them at that point. It might not be appropriate for everyone.
What about the book makes you recommend it? (What did you like? What makes it unique?)
Well, the story traces the line of a family, and the way the author sets it up, the story is fast paced and you get to know all the family members, and all their flaws, and at the same time, how their flaws are connected to each other. Solitude is a repeated word and an important theme. All their troubles, once you get to the end, it’s just, overpowering
What are some books that are similar to One Hundred Years of Solitude? (students who read & enjoyed those books would be more likely to like 100 yrs, students who read 100 yrs might want to take a look at these books too)
In class, we also read Midnight’s Children, which was apparently largely influenced by 100 years and Midnight also touches on family, as well as history (like 100 years touched on “history” in Latin America). I personally didn’t read all of Midnight but I guess it would be a good “compatible” book for 100 yrs. Some might like it, others not. But both their endings gave me the same overpowering feeling.
Is there one word you can think of that represents/reflects the book (to you, at least)?
Reflection
Did you have any personal parallels to a character/situation in One Hundred Years of Solitude?
I don’t recall that much paralleling with me, because the family members were WACK (to put it mildly) buttt there were many times when the character would be in their “solitude” and I think everyone can relate to them somehow by going through their own “solitudes” just being confused about everything In life and not knowing what to do or how to feel and being lonely, knowing your kind of alone situation wise…
Is it a book to be read chapter by chapter, chunks at a time, or straight through? Is it a book that is better to buy & keep or best to get from the library?
Well, in my English class, I was getting a bit behind and wasn’t really motivated to read, and I started to buy books so Id force myself to read (which I don’t recommend) and what happened was I was like 100 pgs behind, but it seemed quite intriguing, since it was about family history, and I love family histories– they’re interesting to me. So I bought a copy of it, even though I had a school copy, and in just ONE day I read all 100 pgs. I am the slowest reader ever, so that was a MAJOR accomplishment. 100 pgs. In one day. I loved the book that much and I’m really happy I bought It, because its one of my faves now
One Hundred Years of Solitude is part of the AP Great Books syllabus; is it better to be reading it at the same time as other people so you can discuss it?
For me, reading with class helped me to verify stuff that was unclear to me, but you can find out answers to your questions even If you’re reading on your own. One of my friends Is reading It on her own, and she loves It. usually when the book gets closer to the end, If Its really good, I get quite impatient, and start reading fast (maybe skipping some “useless” parts) and 100 was def one of those books. I think you can read it anyway though. depending how much you love it (not everyone will love the book). In my class, I found many to have loved it.
NISA B. ‘10
Main activities: stuybo (buildOn), Spark
What book would you recommend to other Stuy students (particularly underclassmen/incoming freshmen)?
Watchmen
What in particular do you think made it such an awesome book? What about the book makes you recommend it? (What did you like, what makes it unique, etc)
It is an awesome book because it includes a lot of philosophy and a lot of character development. Plus, it is entertaining and makes the reader question their morals
To students of which grade would you recommend watchmen?
Probably to sophomores (there’s violence and some sexual content).
What are some books that are similar to watchmen? (ie students who read & enjoyed these books would be more likely to like Watchmen, students who read & like Watchmen might want to take a look at these books too)
V for Vendetta, Lolita, Mara: Daughter of the Nile
Is it a book to be read chapter by chapter, chunks at a time, or straight through? Is it a book that is better to buy & keep or best to get from the library?
It is best to read chapter by chapter, as the separate chapters are in fact separate installments. It’s best to buy and keep.
One word to describe Watchmen?
EPIC
JACOB K. ‘11
main activities: Baseball, tae kwon do
What book would you recommend to other Stuy students (particularly underclassmen/incoming freshmen)?
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction”
What in particular do you think made it such an awesome book? What about the book makes you recommend it? (What did you like, what makes it unique, etc)
Hilarious, yet informational.
To students of which grade would you recommend it?
All students should read it—it’s easy to understand but really effective in its point.
What are some books that are similar to “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction”?
I’ve never read a book anything like it.
Is it a book to be read chapter by chapter, chunks at a time, or straight through? Is it a book that is better to buy & keep or best to get from the library?
Straight through, but definitely should be re-read, so buy it. It’s worth it (and more interesting & useful than anything you learn in history).
Is there one word you can think of that represents/reflects the book (to you, at least)?
Enlightening
ELIZABETH KELMAN ’09
main activities: stuybo, tae kwon do, Model UN
My recommendation would have to be my favorite book (ever), Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer. I guess I had a connection to it because my family took a pre-WWII “reconnection” trip that was more than a little bit like the one Foer describes, but either way it’s really a fantastic novel. Yes, it’s a novel, even though it’s about a journey that he did take and the main character is Jonathan Safran Foer. The writing is so exquisite that one doesn’t even notice how unbelievably satisfying it is until after finishing the book and starting another one, only to realize the narration is too dry, or too detailed, or too monotonous. Foer’s prose is really balanced—there are light parts and really profound parts, but its all very natural, almost as if it was an easy conversation or even one’s own thoughts.
There’s humor throughout, particularly in the words of the interpreter, Alex, whose English sounds like every word was looked up in a thesaurus. For example, he refers to his dog as a “seeing eye bitch.” Her name is Sammy Davis, Jr., Jr. Foer’s journey is the opposite of epic in the best possible way, and there are scenes that touch on human emotions and thoughts that can only be described satisfactorily by an author as skillful as Jonathan Safran Foer, and he does so wonderfully. So wonderfully that the reader becomes accustomed to understanding the exact situation of every character, from the most arbitrary resident of the shtetl to Alex’s grandfather to the woman whose house is filled with little boxes of personal artifacts—the self-proclaimed historian and lone survivor of her village. And this feeling of seamlessly blending with the story one’s reading is addicting. The book is hard to put down (though as Stuy students it’s sometimes difficult to find a spare moment to relax), but the end is satisfying and the book feels complete.
Nevertheless, for fans of Everything is Illuminated, I would recommend Foer’s other book, which is completely different but equally excellent: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I would also recommend Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Don’t watch the movie until you’ve seen the book (the book is WAY better).
Book recommendations by Stuyvesant students for Stuyvesant students and readers around the world. Also known as Stuy Bookshelf/Book Box. Submissions are open—click on register below!