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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'Codex']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75896815
to: Codex (Paperback)byLev Grossman bookshelves: beth
This book started out as a 5-star page-turner and eventually downgraded itself to a 4, but I'd recommend it just the same. The rest of the book can't live up to the promise of the first few chapters, and the ending is ... unsatisfying. But the pacing is excellent, and bookworms and librarians alike will enjoy the research and detail that Grossman has put into the world of rare books, preservation, and cataloging. There have been a lot of these DaVinci Code-esque books written as of late, involving old manuscripts and historical mysteries, but Grossman imbues energy into the genre by introducing a mysterious computer game into the mix. Grossman explores the idea of technology (whether an old manuscript or a realistic video game) as escapism and the dangers of trying to escape reality. Available Cudahy Main Stacks, PS3557 .R6725 C64 2004.
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'O Pioneers!']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/63444382
to: O Pioneers! (Vintage Classics)byWilla Cather bookshelves: kim
This sat on my To Read list for 2 years before I finally pulled it off my shelf on a whim. And then I could not stop reading it. The back cover of my edition says something about the Nebraska landscape being as much a character as the characters, and that's part of what drew me in so completely. Cather's Nebraska is harsh yet beautiful, and her writing reveals a deep respect and love for the land she grew up in. And then there's how she handles the plot, interweaving multiple storylines that are tied together in the Big Picture. I often found myself pausing to reflect on the masterful storytelling. This is a new all-time favorite for me.
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'Travels with Charley: In Search of America']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58733235
to: Travels with Charley: In Search of America (Paperback)byJohn Steinbeck bookshelves: kim
I loved this book on so many levels. As a dog owner who adores her pup more than anything in the world, I loved Steinbeck's interactions with Charley, particularly the personification and invented conversations. Reading this made me want to hop in the car with my dog and take off to see the country.
This book also taught me something that reading Steinbeck's fiction hasn't: Steinbeck is a funny guy. The humor was perfectly observed. But what strikes me most about this book is how so much of what he penned in 1962 rings true today. All of his cautions, predictions, and observations about America and Americans have come true.
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'The Invisible Man']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59191009
to: The Invisible Man (Paperback)byH.G. Wells bookshelves: beth
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'The Road']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57291419
to: The Road (Hardcover)byCormac McCarthy bookshelves: kim
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'The Dark Side of the Universe: A Scientist Explores the Mysteries of the Cosmos']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58060194
to: The Dark Side of the Universe: A Scientist Explores the Mysteries of the Cosmos (Hardcover)byJames Trefil bookshelves: beth
Yes, I just read a book about science from 1989. I realize the information is totally outdated, but for someone who wants a basic introduction to the history of cosmology and some of the basic theories surrounding the origin and structure of the univerise, it's a great book. I happened upon it in the stacks, read the first paragraph, and promptly checked it out. Trefil is a fantastic writer, using lots of helpful analogies and witty asides while never speaking down to his audience. I'm looking forward to reading some of his other (newer) works. Cudahy Main Stacks: QB 14.5 .T74 1989
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'Marketing Today's Academic Library: A Bold New Approach to Communicating with Students']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56848440
to: Marketing Today's Academic Library: A Bold New Approach to Communicating with Students (Hardcover)byBrian Mathews bookshelves: beth
Clear, engaging, easy-to-read manual on how to target your marketing efforts towards today's undergrads. While traditional marketing strategies focus on the library itself, Mathews argues that it is more effective to highlight how the library, its services, and its products can fit within the daily life of the student. Lots of good ideas here for those interested in PR in the academic library.
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'The House on Mango Street']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53376370
to: The House on Mango Street (Paperback)bySandra Cisneros bookshelves: beth
I read The House on Mango Street as the Chicago Public Library's spring One Book One Chicago selection and enjoyed it very much. I found myself stopping frequently to re-read particularly amusing or evocative phrases ... Cisneros has a unique voice that is at once rich and spare. There is little sense of plot or chronology; I don't typically enjoy this kind of book, but the incredible language and relative brevity kept me interested.
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<![CDATA[new comment from Loyola University Chicago Libraries]]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/47959246
Loyola University Chicago Libraries's review of
A Rumor of War byPhilip Caputo
William wrote: "Caputo's Acts of Faith is outstanding, and at one point draws some interesting contrasts between Darfur and Vietnam though one of its characters. It's one of my favorite novels and you might love ..." Thanks, Bill! I've added it to my To Read list, which sadly these days is "to read between semesters." Bah! When will these profs stop telling me what to read? ;)
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<![CDATA[Loyola University Chicago Libraries added 'Franny and Zooey']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/47959362
to: Franny and Zooey (Paperback)byJ.D. Salinger bookshelves: kim
These two stories are perfection. My absolute favorite of Salinger's work. I've never identified with a character as strongly as I do with Franny Glass. I can't even think of anything to say as a book review; these stories speak for themselves. I love them.
If you are looking to read Salinger's Glass family stories but don't know where to start, start with these. These stories possess a depth that is lacking in The Catcher in the Rye, which is unfortunate for the multitudes who only read Catcher and think they know Salinger.
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