Title: Purity
Author: Jonathan Franzen
Genre: fiction Continue Reading →
Category Archives: Staff News
What We’re Reading-Ghost Talkers
This book was read by Courtney Bippley-Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library
Why did you choose to read this book?
The premise of this book was intriguing to me. Using mediums to get intelligence from ghosts of soldiers seems like a logical tactic if ghosts were a real and reliable phenomenon.
What did you like about it?
I like that the book didn’t shy away from the culture of the time in regard to racism and sexism. The author worked these issues into the plot, characters, and setting in a way that felt real without overdoing it. I also liked that despite the WWI setting the book read more like a mystery than a war book. I wasn’t inundated with page after page of descriptions of soldiers dying in the trenches and other horrors of war. Instead, the author gives glimpses of this reality but stays true to the main plot.
What feeling did the book leave you with?
The ending of this book felt bittersweet to me, which is perhaps the best you can hope for from a book set in one of the world wars.
Who would you recommend the book to?
Anyone who likes alternate histories or fantasy books.
What would you pair this book with?
I would pair this book with a documentary on WWI spy tactics and a ring of salt around the house to keep ghosts away.
What We’re Reading – Fates and Furies
s and FuriesWhat Durham Tech Has Read: Homegoing (& more!)
This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the Orange County Campus (mostly) Librarian, and several Durham Tech faculty & staff over the summer.
Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation. (Description from Goodreads)
Why did you choose to read this book?
I’ve been reading reviews of it all summer and mentally putting it on my “to-read later” list, but when I polled Durham Tech faculty and staff about the best book they read this summer, this one kept coming up and so I picked it up. And it was amazing!
What did you like about it?
The story itself was powerful and, despite many of the settings being upsetting (as enslavement and its various repercussions should be!), it was hard to put the book down. I loved how, even though the point-of-view changed every chapter, it wasn’t hard to follow, either. You could also clearly see how the families’ histories were influencing their present–something I think most people know, but maybe don’t think about in their daily lives.
Who would you recommend the book to?
Anyone who finds the premise interesting! It really was great and incredibly thought-provoking.
What would you pair this book with?
A hefty dose of self-awareness– the past (and the societal forces that shape our families) heavily influences who we are in the present.
You can find this book and more in the downstairs display featuring the rest of Durham Tech Faculty & Staff’s Best of Summer 2016 reads! Check it out for yourself!
What We’re Reading-An Ember in the Ashes
This book was read by Courtney Bippley, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.
Why did you choose to read this book?
It sounded interesting and a book reviewer I follow said good things about it.
What did you like about it?
All the characters are very human, despite all of them being in very dehumanizing circumstances. I was able to understand the motivation behind each character’s actions even when the actions were terrible. The pacing was great as well. I devoured this book very quickly because I had to know what happened next.
What feeling did the book leave you with?
An urge to read the next book, which comes out on August 30th. It feels too far away! Also, I enjoyed that the book managed to stay hopeful even through the oppressive atmosphere of the assassin school.
Who would you recommend the book to?
Anyone who likes fantasy books with good world building and a nice blend of action, political, and interpersonal plots. Fans of The Hunger Games in particular.
Did it remind you of any other book, or a movie?
The assassin training school reminded me of the academy in F.M. Busby’s Star Rebel. They are both comprehensively brutal.
What would you pair this book with?
I would pair this book with its sequel. Because I need it. Right now. Get in my eyeballs!
Interested in reading An Ember in the Ashes for yourself? Check it out from the library!
Want to read A Torch Against the Night, the second book in the series that will be coming out August 30th? Use the book request form to ask the Durham Tech Library to buy it.
What We’re Reading – It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War
This book was read by Julie Humphrey, Assistant Director, Library.
–It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War by Lynsey Addario
Why did you choose to read this book?
I really enjoy nonfiction, biographies, memoirs, and reading about women’s lives. I am also interested in photography, photojournalism, and travel. This book about a woman war photographer sounded compelling to me.
What did you like about it?
I especially appreciated the author’s honesty and the vivid details she shared of living and working in conflict and war zones around the world. She has worked in Afghanistan, Iraq, Darfur, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Libya, etc… and lived in Istanbul and London. I was really glad the book included many of her photographs. These striking, award-winning photos really enhanced her story and brought it to life. I also liked learning about the logistics of this work and what happens behind the scenes with support staff like local drivers and translators. I have a new appreciation for everything and everyone involved in international reporting.
What feeling did the book leave you with?
Addario deals with sexism so often while working in the heavily male-dominated profession of war photojournalism. I felt really frustrated for her in many situations and admired her fight to be taken seriously. I also felt extremely afraid and disturbed when she shares her accounts of being kidnapped, assaulted, and abused while working. I ultimately feel a deep appreciation for the work of journalists around the world who risk their lives every day in order to document and tell important stories.
Who would you recommend the book to?
Readers who like a gripping and intense personal story. I would also recommend this to anyone interested in world politics and international conflicts. This is a must-read for aspiring journalists and photographers.
What would you pair this book with?
Fresh, cold water! She describes being severely dehydrated on some of her work assignments. Also, a bottle of cold beer, which she describes having from time to time, in order to unwind with her fellow journalists after an intense or grueling day of work.
Interested in reading It’s What I Do? Check it out from the library!
What We’re Reading – The Fire Sermon
This book was read by Meredith Lewis, a Reference Librarian at (mostly) the Orange County Campus Library.
The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig
Why did you choose to read this book?
If we’re being honest, the cover was impressive—a picture of a burned out Omega symbol with no other text and artistically “burned” corners. I picked it up, realized it was dystopian lit without a zombie apocalypse (nuclear destruction, yes) and not focused solely on romance (those are not my favorites), so I picked it up… and read it in two days. During the work week.
What did you like about it?
I liked that, despite being yet another book in a pretty common genre nowadays, it had its own vibe, and I wasn’t constantly comparing it to the other books in its dystopian genre. The twin idea that this world is centered around is unique—after a period of very few births post-nuclear blast, two twins are born in every birth. One is deformed in some way (missing leg, extra eye, etc.), the Omegas, and they are separated and subjugated in society run by the “normal” twins, the Alphas. I also like that I’m pretty sure Cass’s twin Zach is just simply evil (I don’t trust the guy), but I still, at the end of the first book, can’t quite tell. A little mystery is a good thing in the first book in a series.
What feeling did the book leave you with?
Eager anticipation for the next one in the series, which luckily will be released on May 3, so I don’t have to wait around very long for the next in the series. I’m also curious to see how the trilogy progresses—there was only one real plot twist in the first book, and I expected it, but not until close to the reveal. I don’t know where Cass, Zach, Piper, and Zoe will end up and if/how they’re going to be able to save this society from itself. (They have to, though. Right?)
Who would you recommend the book to?
Anyone who liked The Hunger Games or The Red Queen or The Queen of the Tearling other dystopian novels that deal with a broken societal structure becoming even more broken. Other reviews compare it to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, too, but not nearly as bleak. It’s a pretty fast and engaging read, too, so I’d also recommend it to someone who didn’t want a tough read.
What would you pair this book with?
Some fresh, clean water–this book did kind of make me thirsty. Maybe a good pair of walking shoes and fresh socks, too.
Interested in reading The Fire Sermon for yourself? Check it out from the library!
Want to read The Map of Bones, the second book in the series that will be coming out May 3? Use the book request form to ask the Durham Tech Library to buy it.
What We’re Reading – Independence Day
What We’re Reading: Gut
This book was read by Meredith Lewis, a Reference Librarian at (mostly) the Orange County Campus Library.
Why did you choose to read this book?
The Orange County Campus has a new small collection of medical and scientific nonfiction, and this one stood out because it was about an entire body system that, frankly, I realized I knew very, very little about. Plus, who doesn’t want to know more about what goes on inside their own body (presented in an interesting and easy-to-read way)? I’m also trying to read more nonfiction as a personal goal.
It’s also described as “A cheeky up-close and personal guide to the secrets and science of our digestive system.” Are you sold on it yet?
Did it remind you of any other book, or a movie?
It reminded me of a Mary Roach book— presenting science in a funny and interesting way so that a non-scientific, non-medical person (me) can understand and learn… while still being entertained. It also kind of reminded me of the Magic School Bus and Futurama episodes where they go inside a digestive tract (for obvious reasons).
Was there anything noteworthy about the book?
I’m just so amazed by how much I didn’t’ know and how much is still being discovered about the human digestive system, considering how much impact it has on our day-to-day and overall well-being. I also didn’t think much about spit before—did you know it’s partially made up of white blood cells?
Who would you recommend the book to?
Everyone? Anyone who wants to learn from a reputable source (the author has a medical degree and cites scientific studies to back up her facts)… but doesn’t want to have to read a textbook and decipher the complex terminology. Or someone who is cool with the terminology, but wants an easier, more engaging read.
What would you pair this book with?
Some probiotic yogurt… or yogurt in general. Healthier gut, healthier life.
Interested in reading Gut for yourself? Check it out from the library!
Check out the Science Slam Berlin video of the author about the charming guts (in German with English captions)!
What We’re Reading: Year of Yes
This book was read by Courtney Bippley, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
On Thanksgiving Day, 2013, Rhimes’ sister told her: “You never say yes to anything.” This became a wake-up call– and a challenge. Rhimes’ details her one-year experiment with saying “yes” that transformed her life. She reveals how accepting unexpected invitations she would have otherwise declined enabled powerful benefits. When she learned to say yes to life, she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self.
Why did you choose to read this book?
I’ve been a fan of Shonda Rhimes since the pilot episode of Grey’s Anatomy so I was happy when I saw that she now had a book. A glimpse into the mind of the writer who created some of my favorite characters of all time was not something I was going to pass up.
What did you like about it?
One of the things I liked about this book is that Shonda Rhimes owns her success. She owns the fact that she is Queen of Thursday nights on ABC and the fact that she is a creative powerhouse. However, she manages to be funny and relatable instead of arrogant or superior.
Did it remind you of any other book, or a movie?
This book reminded me of (surprise!) Grey’s Anatomy. I read the whole book in the cadence of the writing on the show. The flow was so similar and familiar that it almost felt like reading a friend’s journal.
Was there anything noteworthy about the book?
This might not be noteworthy to anyone else, but I was thrilled to discover that her feelings about the character of Cristina Yang are the same as my feelings about Cristina Yang. It is gratifying to have my reading of this character validated by the writer.
What feeling did the book leave you with?
As I finished the book I felt inspired to say a few Yesses of my own this year. I also have a strong desire to rewatch some of my favorite Grey’s Anatomy episodes.
Who would you recommend the book to?
Anyone who is a Shondaland fan, or anyone who feels like their life needs a change but isn’t sure how to make it happen.
What would you pair this book with?
This book practically demands a glass of red wine and the Grey’s Anatomy Season One Soundtrack.
Interested in reading Year of Yes for yourself? Check it out from the library!