Hilda C. Landers Library & Archives

I listened to Bossypants as an audiobook on my way to work and spent every commute laughing out loud. In her autobiography, Tina Fey discusses the significant moments of her life from childhood to writing this book and it is packed full of Fey’s wit and ingenious humor. From her Improve Rules to Live By to her thoughts on what is needed for true equality between men and women, Fey is able to cloak deep and powerful ideas in light humor. While Fey is clearly a feminist, I think that any fan of Tina Fey’s, male or female, will enjoy this book.

I also highly recommend listening to this as an audiobook, where Fey makes full use of the media with special comments and jokes that are added specifically for listeners.

Availability: SMCM Library and COSMOS (audiobook)
Review Submitted by: Lauren Grey, SMCM Alumn ’11
Rating: Must Read

This continuation of Angles in America takes up just where Part One left off. While I enjoyed the first part more (readers shouldn’t read Part Two unless they’ve read Part One, Millennium Approaches), I like the themes that Kushner brings up in this play: homophobia, the inevitable movement of time, and human decency. This play certainly isn’t for everyone, but fans of Angels in America will enjoy the second half of the story.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Lauren Grey, SMCM Alumn ’11
Rating:  Recommended with Reservations

This book was brilliantly spine-chilling. I don’t want to talk too much about the plot because the less you know going into it the more I think you will enjoy it, but the story follows Corky, a famous magician, and his most famous act. Written by the author of The Princess Bride (who also wrote the screenplay for the movie), Magic pushes the bounds between reality and magic and what can happen when you cannot tell the difference. In addition to a wonderful story, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of good writing. Goldman does a wonderful job of establishing strong characters quickly and giving everyone a voice of their own. The book also mixes first person diary entries with third person in a way that further twists the bounds between what is real and what isn’t. This is a quick read and one that I highly recommend.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Lauren Grey, SMCM Alumn ’11
Rating:  Highly Recommended

Catching Fire is the second book in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. It’s another great book, and I finished it quickly even though it starts out at a slower pace than the first. It can be found in the SMCM library.

Availability: SMCM Library and COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Heather Pribut
Rating: Must Read

Read Mandy Reinig’s review of Catching Fire.

I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in two days. I probably could have read it in one if I didn’t have to work! It’s an awesome book, and very fast-paced! Great for getting back into the habit of reading for pleasure if you haven’t done it in a while. A “must read”!

Availability: SMCM Library
Review Submitted by: Heather Pribut
Rating: Must Read

Read reviews of The Hunger Games,

Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng is an autobiography about the author’s experiences during China’s Cultural Revolution. Before I read this book, I knew next to nothing about the Cultural Revolution. She not only makes it personal, but she includes some of the other history and the politics, so you really learn something from your read. The author is amazingly brave but at the same time, very human and relatable.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Rebecca Thayer
Rating: Must Read

I picked up this book partly due to my interest in all things travel and I am always looking for new books discussing someone’s adventures abroad. This book was a little different since it was written in letter style. The main character wrote letters back to her best friend about her week-long cruise in Europe and talked about everything she did in general and how it related to the to do list her best friend gave her for her big adventure. Hijinks ensued and the book was a quick but enjoyable read.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Mandy Reinig
Rating: Highly Recommended

City of Fallen Angels is the 4th book in the Mortal Instruments series. Having just finished the 3rd book I was looking forward to continuing the story. However, while the characters were the same and the writing was still great the book started off extremely slow. It did finally start moving along about half way through the book but it took a few hundred pages to get to that point. The story and characters were developed further and a few surprises happened along the way. The book ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger so it will be interesting to see what the 5th book has to hold.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Mandy Reinig
Rating: Recommended

Read Mandy Reinig’s review of Cassandra Clare’s City of Glass.

It has been awhile since I have read any of the Mortal Instruments series and so it took me a little time to get back into the book since I was trying to remember what had happened that lead up to where they were in the story. However, this is a great series and the third book was no different. In City of Glass, the author develops the two main characters and several of the supporting characters even further. Additionally, you see several characters from the two previous books re-emerge. There is quite a bit of action and adventure as well as a little romance thrown which makes this book a great read for almost all types of readers. Overall, just as enjoyable as the others and can’t wait to start the 4th book.

Update from the editor: There is now a website for the Mortal Instruments film, City of Bones.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Mandy Reinig
Rating: Highly Recommended