For the Love of Books

There are so many good books on our shelves these days that we take for granted and I know I am not the only one who put “read more books” right under “lose weight” on my list of new year’s resolutions (a list that has stayed the same for the past five years I’ll have you know). Well this is the year and the time is now! I will not only be your guide for great classics and best-sellers (even though I have a list that would get you non-readers to commit), I will point you to the best bargains for your books-for-pleasure and the books you want to burn after you find out how much they cost—textbooks.  I will also be exposing some prime locations to get your read on or have a study sesh when the campus library isn’t enough. So meet me here for a library party and we can share some novel ideas and start marking off that list of resolutions! I’ll leave you with this:

Read more

10 Books to get your Nose Stuck in over the Holidays

By Vanessa Culpepper

Alumni ‘08

The holiday season is here.  It is finally time for a well-deserved hiatus from school and studying. But, for those who tend to get bored or restless after the first two weeks, here is a quintessential list of books you will actually enjoy reading. Fill your spare time flipping the pages of these highly recommended books.

The Christmas Shoes

By Donna VanLiere

One of the top selling books during the holiday season, this is a must read.  Nathan, the main character, is a young boy trying to save money for a Christmas present for his terminally ill mother.  He wants to buy her the most beautiful pair of shoes to wear to Heaven.  Besides being compassionate and compelling, this perfect holiday story is short and easy to read.  Good things do come in small packages.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

By Sherman Alexie

This illustrated short novel has already won a total of 18 notable awards (including a National Book Award), since hitting the bookstands last fall.  From the same author who brought us Smoke Signals, comes a hilarious and quirky, coming-of-age story about an Indian teenager growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation, while facing racism and poverty.  Things get interesting when he decides to attend an all-white high school.

The Pilot’s Wife

By Anita Shreve

How well do you really know someone?  Upon learning that her husband died in a plane crash off the coast of Ireland, Kathryn Lyons tries to find the reason for this sudden crash.  In so doing, she begins to unravel shocking secrets of her husband’s double-life.  An intriguing read, this book is hard to put down, and was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club selection.

Eating Your Auntie is Wrong

By Stephen Arnott

Did you know that Hungarians beat barren woman with sticks as a cure for infertility? This pocket-sized book gives a fascinating account of a collection of the world’s strangest and most bizarre customs.  You might want to read this before taking your next trip to a foreign nation.

The Shack

By William P. Young

This sleeper-hit novel is about a man who tragically loses his daughter.  Mackenzie Philips takes readers on a journey of questioning, discovery, and redemption as he comes to terms with what happened.  Originally intended to be a Christmas gift for the author’s children, popularity of his self-published book spread by word of mouth.  The Shack has been on the New York Times Best Seller list since June.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

By Patricia Schultz

Before you know it, winter will be over, and spring vacation will be right around the corner.  This book will definitely come in handy while planning your next trip.  Among the 1,000 places listed to visit are Robert Louis Stevenson’s home in Western Samoa and Count Dracula’s Castle in Romania.

The Lucky One

By Nicholas Sparks

From the same author who brought us The Notebook and A Walk to Remember comes another number one debut for the New York Times Best Seller list.  While stationed in Iraq, a US Marine finds a buried photograph of a beautiful woman.  This “lucky charm” convinces him to embark on a search for the woman in the photograph.  Read this book if you are in the mood for a good cry.

Breaking Dawn

By Stephenie Meyer

The fourth and last novel of the Twilight series, this book has been breaking records.  1.3 million Copies were sold within the first 24 hours of its release.  Breaking Dawn continues the story of Bella’s life as a vampire, and is told from her perspective.

Against Medical Advice

By James Patterson

A true story, this suspenseful novel presents to readers the struggles and triumphs of living with a “mysterious” disease.  Cory Friedman wakes up one morning with uncontrollable twitches.  James Patterson takes readers on a journey as Cory seeks answers from an infuriating medical establishment.

The Kite Runner

By Khaled Hosseini

A number one New York Times Best Seller, this novel tells the story of Amir, a young boy from Kabul.  Amir befriends the son of his father’s servant.  Set during the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan, this vivid tale is about friendship and betrayal during the rise of the Taliban regime.