Recommendations from literate people
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
1. Brohaan: What type of people will enjoy it? Why?
Evilika: Everyone will like it because it’s a timeless masterpiece. It’s deep, raw, and everyone with a heart will feel for the protagonist. And cry, like I did.
2. Brohaan: Did you find yourself relating to aspects of it/did it change your views of anything?
Evilika: Hmm, I don’t remember, sorry. But probably and probably.
3. Brohaan: was it a required reading? if so would you have read it if it wasnt? if it wasnt, why did you read it?
Evilika: I was required to pick from about 100 books and picked it because it was the first one I found in the library. I’m so glad I did. I’ve read it since and loved it again. So yes. I’d read it now!
4. Brohaan: What else would you recommend to people who like it?
Evilika: Wall-e
Brohaan: …how about a book?
Evilika: Umm, I haven’t read anything like this book. It’s slighty sci-fi. Twilight, HAHA HELL NO. I really don’t know the answer to that. Something deep with a clever writing style.
5. Brohaan: If there was one thing you could say you took away after reading it, what would it be?
Evilika: Hmm, I guess for the first time, I learned to appreciate sad endings. They’re unconventional and sharply portray human cruelty, failure, etc that other scenes can’t. I actually crave for innovative novels like this.
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A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnoly
1. Brohaan: What type of people will enjoy it? Why?
Kait: Romantics, feminists, basically most teenage girls because it has a happy ending and it has romance and heartbreak and it’s about a smart and independent chick at the turn of the century.
2. Brohaan: Did you find yourself relating to aspects of it/did it change your views of anything?
Kait: I totally related. She fell in love with this guy she found really attractive but who was actually an asshole and then realized it wasn’t really love. She was also a good writer and I wanna be a writer. It didn’t really change my opinion about anything.
3. Brohaan: Was it a required reading? If so would you have read it if it wasnt? If it wasn’t, why did you read it?
Kait: I don’t remember why I read it, I like reading, I like books. I probably got it as a gift or picked it out at the library after reading the blurb.
4. Brohaan: What else would you recommend to people who like it?
Kait: Umm, stuff by Ann Rinaldi. It’s more girly historical fiction stuff.
5. Brohaan: If there was one thing you could say you took away after reading it, what would it be?
Kait: That being in love doesn’t mean your relationship is perfect, but it can still work, it can still be a forever thing. Because there’s this one couple and it’s like 1900 so they’re pretty young and they get married and she has a kid and after she has the kid things kinda fall apart and they’re overwhelmed, but after a few months they work things out and they’re in love and everything.
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The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas
1. Brohaan: What type of people will enjoy it? Why?
Michael: English buffs and people who know European history because of the context and the 19th century writing style.
2. Brohaan: Did you find yourself relating to aspects of it/did it change your views of anything?
Michael: I related it to the European history I studied when I read it sophomore year.
3. Brohaan: Was it a required reading? If so would you have read it if it wasnt? If it wasn’t, why did you read it?
Michael: I thought the movie was awesome and decided to read the book. The book was exponentially better than the movie.
4. Brohaan: What else would you recommend to people who like it?
Michael: Erm, not Moby Dick
Brohaan: Wow, helpful.
Michael: Oh! The Sound and the Fury (see next person’s book)
5. Brohaan: If there was one thing you could say you took away after reading it, what would it be?
Michael: The longer the book the more enjoyable it is if it’s good. Wait, no. Hmm. 19th century literature is sometimes great. Here, it is. Sometimes it sucks.
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The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
1. Brohaan: What type of people will enjoy it? Why?
Abby: Anyone can like it. Faulkner writes in a very nuanced way and his prose challenge you to rethink the way you previously view narration.
2. Brohaan: Did you find yourself relating to aspects of it/did it change your views of anything?
Abby: It definately changed how I viewed mentally challenged people because the narration starts off in a challenged kid’s point of view.
3. Brohaan: Was it a required reading? If so would you have read it if it wasnt? If it wasn’t, why did you read it?
Abby: It was a required reading but I think I would have read it anyways because it was my dad’s favorite book.
4. Brohaan: What else would you recommend to people who like it?
Abby: Ender’s Game. Yay!
5. Brohaan: If there was one thing you could say you took away after reading it, what would it be?
Abby: My perspective changed and my whole view of narration changed because it’s a stream of conciousness which I found really interesting.
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Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
1. Brohaan: What type of people will enjoy it? Why?
Eli: People who think and have an absurd sense of humor.
2. Brohaan: Did you find yourself relating to aspects of it/did it change your views of anything?
Eli: Yes, alot of things like human interactions and war.
3. Brohaan: Was it a required reading? If so would you have read it if it wasnt? If it wasn’t, why did you read it?
Eli: It was, but a friend of mine recommended it to me so I think I would’ve gotten around to it.
4. Brohaan: What else would you recommend to people who like it?
Eli: I don’t know, I’ve never really read anything like it before.
5. Brohaan: If there was one thing you could say you took away after reading it, what would it be?
Eli: That everyone on Earth is somewhat insane.
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!