Hilda C. Landers Library & Archives

Surprisingly, this was my first experience reading anything by Rudyard Kipling–I say surprising because (a) I majored in English and probably should have come across him in four years, but more importantly (b) his writing style reflects everything that I love about language. Kipling is constant character himself in these stories.* I was surprised that this book is actually a collection of short stories which all relate to animal characters in India (I am guilty of basing my initial opinion off of the Disney movie). Kipling is an active narrator in these stories, giving comments on Mowgli’s actions or thoughts, or to mention the bird who relayed the story he is telling of the current animal. In, “Her Majesty’s Servants,” my favorite story in the collection, the Kipling/narrator is relaying a conversation that he directly overheard from the animals used in the army. Anyone who has ever read A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh collection will feel a kindred spirit in the self-aware stories of The Jungle Book.

Kipling’s writing style is also just beautifully lyrical. His language flows with a whimsicalness that often made me think of T.S Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” Reading these stories I felt that Kipling appreciated the sound of language as much as it’s ability to convey a message.

I recognize that this is a children’s book and will not be exactly what everyone is looking for. But, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice summer read that will make you feel like a kid again.

*I should note that I cannot know that the narrator’s voice is supposed to be that of Kipling. I recognize completely that the narrator may be another character that simply uses first person narration. I suggest. however, that the narrator’s voice is, at the very least, based on Kipling’s own voice. The way the narrator expresses his thoughts is consistent with the tones of the stories without any mention of the “I” narrator. I have also started Kipling’s Just-So Stories (stay tuned for that review) which have a similar narrative style.

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

A must read, Never Fall Down: A Boy Soldier’s Story of Survival, the biography of Arn Chorn takes you on a journey of heart-wrenching tragedy and inspirational up-liftment. During the Cambodian genocide most of his family was murdered. Enslaved in a work camp he witnesses the starvation and the brutal murders of others. When the North Vietnamese soldiers invaded Cambodia, he was forced to become a Khmer Rouge soldier. Arn Chorn survived his horrific ordeal and devotes his life as a human rights activist and rebuilding Cambodia culture. Whether you are looking for a first-hand account of atrocity, for a good read, or for a hero, this book will not fail to disappoint you.

Availability: SMCM Library
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating:  Must Read

The Exiled Queen is a continuation of the Seven Realms Series that leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat. Read the review of The Demon King, the first book in the series.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Lisa Williams
Rating: Highly Recommended

I have always been a fan of illusionists, and a skeptic (though not cynic) of the paranormal. For the blog that I have with my local news source here in central PA, I was contacted by famous TV psychic medium John Edward’s PR group asking if I’d like to conduct a phone interview with him in preparation for his upcoming show here. I agreed excitedly—I hoped to get to the bottom of whether he was the real deal, or merely another style of illusionist.

John was very candid and amicable over the phone, but my published interview received some backlash (“shame on you for giving this hack one second of attention”). I decided to do some more investigation by reading Crossing Over (the book which shares the same name as his TV show which aired on SciFi from 1999-2004).

If the accounts he gave in his book are accurate, John may truly have the ability to “speak” with the dead. Some of the stories were fascinating, beyond the typical “I’ve got an older male figure whose name begins with an R and had heart problems in this section”— the “cold reading”-style for which he typically gets grief. I picked this book in particular (he has a number published) because it was more biographical—talking about how he got started, why he decided to begin a TV show, etc. To that end, it also read like “damage control” at times, firing back with explanations as to why the cynics are wrong. I found some of his philosophies a bit hypocritical, and some of his arguments got “old” after a while. If he is truly who he says he is, however, I’m sure HE gets tired of trying to convince others, too.

I’d recommend this book if you have an interest in this sort of thing, but if you’re more curious in his psychic readings and the “stories behind the stories,” this biographical account may not be for you. I still don’t know how I feel about the particular “life after life” he asserts. If you’re not interested in the subject whatsoever, it’s probably best it remains avoided—imagining your deceased loved ones watching over you in your not-so-finest moments is enough to make you think twice about how you spend your alone time.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Jordan Gaines (SMCM Alum ’11)
Rating:  Recommended with Reservations

Commander Kurt Lippold provides a gripping account of the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, which was bombed by Al Qaeda on October 12, 2000, off the coast of Yemen.  Commander Lippold leaves nothing out, he reveals the personal feelings of the crew, from the day of the attack to the political backlash of the incident’s aftermath, and delivers it all in a gripping narrative that doesn’t require military experience to understand. I could not put the book down. This book is definitely a must read.

Availability: SMCM Library and USMAI
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating:  Must Read

I found this book very intriguing and interesting. If you have any history of working in a kitchen, you’d love this book. This book explores the life and tribulations of restaurant (Prune) owner, Gabrielle Hamilton, from an early childhood in a very rustic home, through a confusing adolescence, and a rough adulthood, to finally finding her place, her home. The book shows the background, the exhaustion, the work, the satisfaction, and the life of someone who has given themselves as a cook, a mother, and, ultimately, a lover of food. It’s a must read.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Matthew Lachkovic
Rating:  Must Read

I’m not a huge fan of vampires and books about them, but this one was a great read. I honestly picked it up because the movie is coming out this summer, and I’m glad I did! It was a pretty easy read with a history lesson built in, which is what made it so fun to read. I felt like I was reading a non-fictional account of history. The vampires in this book were not romanticized. They were mostly vicious and blood-thirsty, as they should be, and that aspect helped create a lot of emotion in the story. Abe’s accounts mixed into the story as told by a secondary source really made you feel what he was feeling, whether it be happy or sad. Grahame-Smith did an amazing job of portraying Abraham Lincoln as I’ve learned about him with a little twist thrown in. The book even had pictures!

I would highly recommend this book, especially if you plan on seeing the movie this summer.

Availability: USMAI and COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Samantha Schwartz, student at SMCM
Rating:  Highly Recommended

Letters to God is based on the motion picture.  It is a heartwarming story about a boy’s journey and how his letters to God are used to connect to the questions and issues he is facing.  The letters also connect other people to the boy and his journey.  One thing I did enjoy about this book is that it holds an important message about connecting to people without solely focusing on the religious aspects.  This is a nice read for Christians and non-Christians alike.  All can grasp the message behind this family’s story and this boy’s journey.

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

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is the third in a trilogy, but while jumping right to the last book may have clouded my perspective this book certainly did not give me reason to start from the beginning. It started off with an intriguing opening which had me hook for the first few chapters, however the plot dragged on and about put me to sleep. Towards the end the book pulled together during the last 200 pages. I have mixed feelings about this book.

Availability: SMCM Library
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating:  Recommended with reservations

Read Jordan Gaines’ review of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

The Demon King is a great read if you like fantasy. It was really neat how the author kept switching point of views in each chapter between two main characters until they met. I had trouble putting it down!

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Lisa Williams
Rating: Highly Recommended