Book Recommendations – James Leung
Title: Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Interviewee: Francine Yung
James: When did you read this book?
Francine: Last Summer
J: How did you choose the book/pick it out from the library?
F: Well, my cousin told me it was really good and it’s the national best-seller. When I read the first chapter, which was two pages, I liked his writing style and continued reading.
J: Could you describe the writing?
F: The way he writes makes you seem as if you were in the narrator’s head. The narrator’s thoughts are very realistic and Hosseini isn’t overbearing in descriptions. Some authors describe the most trivial things, but Hosseini picks out the things that are really important and stick out, so you don’t need to skip over anything.
J: Can you give a short description of the book?
F: It’s about a young boy named Amir from Kabul. The first half of the book describes his childhood with his servant, yet best friend, Hassan. Assef, another young child in Kabul, bullies Amir, but Hassan would stand up for Amir. However, Amir betrays Hassan and they stop talking to each other. The second part of the book describes Amir’s return to Kabul when he is older.
J:What are your favorite parts of the book?
F: There are some scenes that just stick with you forever. There are a lot of haunting scenes and it’s better if you read it.
J: Would you mind describing one?
F: For example, in one scene, we see a man with his leg in his arms trying to feed his children.
J: Do you relate to the characters in any way?
F: I relate to the jealousy that Amir has for one of his friends. Amir’s father dislikes Amir’s fear of bullies and Amir’s wish to become a writer. Amir’s father calls him unmanly and, thus, shows less affection towards him and more towards others.
J: what techniques does the author use to keep you enthralled in the various characters and plotline?
F: The author reconnects previous scenes. For example, when Amir revisits Kabul, he can’t handle his guilt for betraying Hassan, so he places money under his bed in order to pretend that Hassan is stealing from him. Later on, when Hassan eats with his family, he hears his parents arguing saying that amir ate the children’s dinners, so how are they going to eat? so before Hassan leaves, he places money under his family’s bed.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
Title: Atonement
Author: Ian Mcewan
Interviewee: Pinky Chan
J: Why or how did you choose this book?
P: I like to read the books before the movies come out to see how the moviemakers mess it up. But in truth, the movie stayed to the book pretty well.
J:Can you give a short description of the book?
P: It’s set in england during the 1930’s. It’s about a girl genius named Briany who is from a rich family who writes scripts for plays. However, she doesn’t really know too much about the real world and is stuck inside her fantasy. Her older sister falls in love with the son of their housekeeper, who passes on a love letter to the older sister.
J: How does Briany’s immaturity affect the story? you seemed to emphasize it in the description.
When the housekeeper’s son asks Briany to hand a love letter to her older sister, Briany takes a peek at the letter. The letter turned out to be a graphic image, so Briany told her parents about it. The housekeeper’s son is then given no choice but to either go to jail or to the army. As a result, the lovers were separated because of this misunderstanding.
J:Do you relate to the characters in any way?
P: It’s a very strong love relationship in the story. I don’t think I would be able to relate. While the housekeeper’s son was at war, he kept every letter that Briany’s older sister sent him in his jacket pocket.
J: What does the author do to make his writing style unique or likable?
P: The beginning, when the author rewinded scenes. I liked how he showed both briany’s perspective of an event and what actually happened. The ending ties everything together really well. You should definately read it
Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Interviewee: Sylvia Wu
J: Why or how did you choose this book?
S:I read it in my sophomore year of High School, when it was actually assigned to me by my teacher, so I didn’t actually choose it myself.
J:Can you give a short description of the book?
S: The book is centered around the Bennet family, specifically Elizabeth Bennet. She is the most practical of the family and her father’s favorite. Her mother, on the other hand, is mostly concerned with marrying off her daughters in the hopes of gaining a high status and reputation. Austen goes on to write about the relationships the sisters undergo, most specifically the prejudiced one that Elizabeth has of Mr. Darcy. While her sisters go through much heartache, Elizabeth grows to like Mr. Darcy when she learns of the things he did for her family. She realizes her prejudices were based on misunderstandings.
J:What are your favorite parts from the book?
S: I loved reading about the things Mr. Darcy did for Elizabeth. My favorite part was when she finally realized he was a good person an accepts his marriage proposal.
J:How did these characters appeal to you?
P: I think of all the sisters, I’d relate to Elizabeth Bennet the most because of her practicality and common sense. I think she simply has to be more rational because her sisters are all very silly and foolish. Her common sense allows her to make better decisions for her life, unlike her younger sisters. Of course, I am not in the same situation as her so I feel my rationality affects me differently. It does, however, let me make smarter choices and not be as rash.
Name: Kirill Gourov
Book: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
How did you come across this book?
It was recommended to me by my friends and was often referenced in other works.
Could you give us a short summary of the novel?
A boy named Jim Hawkins lives at his parent’s inn in the 18th century. His father dies and leaves him with another pirate, who dies soon afterwards. Jim and his mother then raid the chest, finding a secret treasure map. He then boards a pirate ship looking for treasure and adventure.
What did you like about the novel?
It’s filled with adventure, love, lust, betrayal, and almost all facets of life.
which facet did you feel showed the most prominently? or which piqued your interest the most?
Adventure
How so?
I had a penchant for adventure ever since I was very young. I would have imaginary adventures with my friends. The fact that the main character is a child has a strong effect on me too, because I can relate to the dreams that Jim has as a little boy. I used to dream of grandiose journeys and action/adventure as well.
Name: James Leung
Book: The Spy by James Fenimore Cooper
How did I come across it?
For my Early American Literature class, I had to choose a book written by James Fenimore Cooper and read it. Upon reading the synopsis on the back cover of the novel, I decided that it sounded a lot like the historic version of the popular film The Departed.
Here is a short summary of the book
The novel takes place during the civil war when America was struggling to fight against its motherland Britain. Harvey Birch is known among Americans as a notorious royalist spy and had been captured many times, yet escaped mysteriously each time. The book then follows the path of the civil war with these characters, developing all of them amazingly.
What did I like about the book?
What I loved most about the novel was how the conflicts were set up to tests the strengths of the bonds of families and loyalties. The family that hosts Harvey Birch is divided among loyalists and Yankees as well, often causing conflict within it. A girl’s loved one rejects her hand in marriage due to differences in country loyalty.
In the end, we realize that Harvey Birch was actually an American Spy acting as a Royalist spy in order to get information from the Americans. He knew that even though it would cost him his life if he were discovered, he was willing to do spy for his own country. This was a time period where spying was seen as a sort of sneaky and underhanded tactic, so the harshest punishments were given to spies.
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!