May 2010
REVIEWS
25
A book for your thoughts ...
Make summer reading an enjoyable experience this year character and setting development and a unique twist on a seemingly typical murder mystery, Christie succeeds in challenging readers with an interesting and intriguing story.
MATTHEW LAWSON staff writer
With the specter of summer reading on the horizon, many students are left with limited ideas of what to read to fulfill their summer reading assignments. An engaging and entertaining book is essential to making this annual process as pleasurable as possible. Here are a few suggestions for the uncertain summer reader.
The Baffling Mystery - “THE ABC MURDERS” by Agatha Christie Agatha Christie has intrigued readers for generations with her mind-boggling murders. For a reader craving a challenging and exciting mystery, “The ABC Murders” is the quintessential book. In “The ABC Murders,” the immortal and cunning detective Hercule Poirot must solve the case of the ABC murderer who kills people whose first and last names begin with the same letter. Through remarkable
The Extraordinary – “MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT” by James Patterson The fantasy genre has been immortalized by series such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. For a reader in search of the newest thrilling and extraordinary series, I would suggest “Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.” “The Angel Experiment” is about a group of orphans who were altered genetically to have wings and the ability to fly. When Angel, the youngest of “the Flock” is kidnapped for more experimentation, the rest of the group must work together to save her from captivity. “Maximum Ride,” though seemingly bizarre, is a creative, action-packed book that keeps the reader immersed. The connection between the characters and
their desires to save a dear friend makes readers anticipate whether characters’ striving efforts will bring a happy ending.
The Forbidden Love – “HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET” by Jamie Ford As a guy, you wouldn’t expect me to enjoy a romance (and typically I do not choose to partake in their emotional storylines), yet this was one book that left me pleasantly satisfied when it was finished. “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” set in World War II era Seattle, follows the story of Henry, a Chinese man who reflects on his past after the discovery of old Japanese possessions reminds him of his childhood. The story centers on Henry’s relationship with Keiko, a Japanese girl he meets at his school. Henry falls in love with Keiko but this love is threatened by the prejudice and discrimination of 1940s America. Through excellent character development and an engaging and realistic setting, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” succeeds in getting even the most unconnected
reader involved in a story which explores the themes of prejudice, loyalty and devotion.
The Tear-Jerker – “TUESDAYS MORRIE” by Mitch Albom
WITH
Mitch Albom is best known for the book “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” but this is by far his best work of literature. “Tuesdays with Morrie” is a true story which centers on Albom’s relationship with his old sociology professor, Morrie. Recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, Morrie is nearing the end of his life but uses his final years on earth to impart a message of humility and love. The message of this story will touch readers of all ages and backgrounds. In “Tuesdays with Morrie,” Albom writes with such honesty and passion. This book not only tells a heartwarming story but teaches the reader about life from the perspective of one who is about to leave it. The lessons and love “Tuesdays with Morrie” shows brought me to tears and gave me a different view on what really matters in life. This is definitely one of the best books I have ever read.
reaches stardom with impressive style ‘Adventures’ provides innovative beats for music fans CARLY BESSER staff writer Considered a rapper, singer, instrumentalist and song writer, artist B.o.B brings positive attention, high listener requests and plenty of airtime with his innovative new sound. His album, “The Adventures of Bobby Ray,” was released on April 27, 2010, and is available on iTunes. Both “Airplanes” and “Nothin’ on You” have claimed spots on iTunes’ top songs list, which leaves listeners wondering if the rest of B.o.B’s work is just as impressive. For pure rap, “Bet I” is a good choice. The synthesized track fits perfectly into the equation for a good modern rap song. B.o.B appeals to alternative junkies and people who would rather listen to real
instruments instead of synthesizers. hesizers. His background beats for “Don’t on’t Let Me Fall” and “Nothin’ on You” feature him playing acoustic guitars and pianos. Many rappers have ave attempted to successfully rap ap with beats that are out of their ir elements, but B.o.B achievess this the most effectively. One notable element is the lyrics of choruses when B.o.B chose to sing instead of rap. His rapping skills are impressive, yet it sounds like someone completely different wrote his more alternativee pieces. In songs like “Don’t Let Me Fall” and “Haterz Everywhere,” B.o.B’s words
compare tto a disappointing elementary schoo school poem. Better developed lyric lyrics would allow for more resp respectable flexibility as an artist. He sacrifices meaning in order to rhyme, something that artists should avoid. His influences are m multifaceted, and it is obvious in his song, “Mellow Fellow.” The ragtime style of this track as well as B.o.B’s R&B and rap hybrid voice made it a fun and upbeat song that could easily be aired on public radio. B.o.B should collaborate m more alternative artists. This only occurred once in the song, “Nothin’ on You” with solo artist Bruno Mars. With his
rap expertise, and the established sound of another mellow band, B.o.B’s tracks could be twice as entertaining as they already are. Overall, B.o.B has proven his appeal to all kinds of The Verdict listeners. His tracks are attention-grabbing and don’t lose their creative appeal throughout entire songs. This album is great for just about any music lover, and is definitely worth the $11.99. If you liked B.o.B, try: Wiz Khalifa Kid Cudi The Cool Kids