The book was read by Meredith Lewis, a Librarian at (mostly) the Orange County Campus Library. The library copy of this book is available downstairs in the Main Campus Library.

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Why did you choose to read this book?

I read another one of Lauren Beukes’ books, Zoo City and really liked it. When I realized we had The Shining Girls in our collection, I went ahead and checked it out because I’d enjoyed her weird mix of fantasy-in-the-real-world and crime. I’ve been having a hard time getting into a book lately, so I wanted to stick with someone whose writing I was enjoying.

Plus the description was about a time-travelling serial killer. What’s not intriguing about that?

Did it remind you of any other book, or a movie?

It kind of reminded me of a fantasy-tinged book-length episode of Criminal Minds.

What feeling did the book leave you with?

Satisfied (as a reader). I like it when the bad guys get got in crime novels, so that didn’t disappoint, but the resolution of the story was complex and interesesting. I also thought that, for a story that jumps around in time (though not space), it was pretty well-organized.

Who would you recommend the book to?

Anyone who likes a crime novel, but may want to shake things up a bit. It is gory in some places, so heads up on that. (I mean, it is about a serial killer.)

The book was read by Courtney Bippley, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library. The library copy of this book is currently available on the New Book shelf in the library.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Why did you choose to read this book?

I watch The Daily Show on a fairly regular basis. When Trevor Noah took over from Jon Stewart I was unsure if this guy I’d never heard of before would be up to the challenge. I think he’s been doing a pretty good job so I wanted to know a little more about him.

What did you like about it?

All of the memories chosen for the book illustrated how and why Trevor became the comedian, and man, he is today. One of the chapters has the best Hitler story I’ve ever read; it was hilarious while also making me cringe in my living room. If that doesn’t make you want to read this book I’m not sure what will.

Was there anything noteworthy about the book?

I learned a lot about South Africa. I expected to learn about Trevor Noah, but his story requires some context of South African culture and politics that he provides in brief nuggets preceding each chapter. Now, I’m certainly not an expert after reading this book since the sum of what I learned about South Africa in school was:

• It’s a country that exists.
• It’s in Africa.
• It had Apartheid.
• Apartheid was bad.
• But it’s over now.
• Nelson Mandela was from South Africa.

Needless to say I didn’t have a whole lot of knowledge about South Africa to start with so your mileage may vary with how much you learn.

What feeling did the book leave you with?

Awe of Trevor Noah’s mother. Seriously. The whole book could be considered a love letter to her, and she deserves it.

Who would you recommend the book to?

Anyone who likes a good memoir, watches The Daily Show, or is just interested in South Africa’s transition to a post-apartheid country.

What would you pair this book with?

I would pair this book with a bowl full of Jell-O since its Trevor’s favorite food. And, a viewing of You Laugh but It’s True, a documentary about Trevor Noah before he became famous in the US.

This book was read by Courtney Bippley who is a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library.

Why did you choose to read this book?

A friend recommended this book to me and I trust her judgement. Also, I’d been meaning to read a book by this author for a while. She’s well known for being an award winning, female, African American scifi/fantasy writer. I’m sorry I didn’t read one of her books before she died in 2006.

What did you like about it?

I liked the realism of the time travel. Not in the sense that time travel made sense (because no explanation was ever really given for it) but that going into the past would, for many, be terrible. The heroine didn’t want to travel in time, why would she when going back meant that she would be forced into slavery. There are relatively few people who would be better off in a previous time period.

Was there anything noteworthy about the book?

This book was first published in 1979, and the heroine travels from ‘modern’ time to the antebellum South. It is interesting to contrast not only those two time periods, but also the ‘modern’ of that time and what is modern culture now. In that sense the book really leads the reader to look back at two different time periods in American history, though that was not the intent at the time of publishing.

 

Also, and this is nitpicking on my part, this is not science fiction. All the descriptions and materials say it is science fiction, and it is not. It is fantasy. There is no science-based reason for the time travel in the book, ergo, fantasy. This has been a PSA.

Who would you recommend the book to?

Fans of fantasy or time travel stories. Or, people interested in the antebellum South.

What would you pair this book with? 

I didn’t plan it, but the timing worked out that I read this book right before Martin Luther King Jr. day. That was a good pairing. I am not suggesting you wait a whole year before reading it yourself though.