English Department Hosts “Middlemarch Madness” To Take Brackets Beyond Basketball

March 24, 2016

For those who haven't yet had their fill of brackets, the University English Department is hosting a Middlemarch Madness Literary Bracket Pick’em. Organized by English department academic advisor Shawn Adrian, this is the first literary bracket to be hosted here at the U. The game works like a March...

Five Books to Read Over Spring Break for Escape and Adventure

March 8, 2016

Now that Spring Break is just around the corner and there is finally some time to read for fun, you might find yourself at a standstill over what to actually read. With so many genres and so many authors to choose from, it can be overwhelming. Luckily, with all the time not spent in class, there's plenty...

Marriott Library’s Special Collections Showcases Works by Black Poets

March 7, 2016

The small, well-used and weather-stained book doesn’t initially seem very important. Then the librarian places it gently on the gray foam book cradle and you see that it is a first-edition copy of Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral, a poetry collection by Phillis Wheatley, the first pub...

ThriftBooks is Cheap, Easy Way to Fuel Your Book Buying Obsession

February 29, 2016

As any book lover knows, growing a library full of your favorite authors, bestsellers and random finds gets fairly difficult and expensive. Local thrift shops never seem to have just what you want, the big chain stores are pricy and shipping for some of the titles you want from online sources such as...

“Just Write”: U Senior Christine Kannapel Shares Her Journey as an Author, Poet

February 18, 2016

Christine Kannapel, a junior in English, has written seven complete books and nearly 60 poems. Her books range from 40,000 to 60,000 words, not including hundreds of pages of deleted scenes. Her novel, “The Kings’ Promise,” is available on Amazon.com as well as select bookstores including Barnes...

“Finding Jake” a Compelling Examination of Bias and Tragedy

January 22, 2016

It seems like every other week a mass shooting happens. It’s always devastating, but people often take to social media to air their grievances, usually blaming the government for their lax gun control laws, the mental health system or even the parents of the victim. However, Bryan Reardon’s novel,...

Kevin Cook Seeks to Understand 1964 Murder of Kitty Genovese in Game-Changing Book

By Megan Murri

January 15, 2016

Over 38 of her neighbors watched the murder of Kitty Genovese and did nothing. As multiple media outlets reported, humanity failed her on March 13. But should we believe, wholeheartedly, the media reports? What really happened that fateful night in 1964? Kevin Cook, award-winning author and successful...

Book Review: “At the Water’s Edge” Combines History, Fiction, and the Loch Ness Monster

January 3, 2016

Shame is a powerful thing. It’s one of the sharpest weapons, one of the deadliest diseases, and it can cause people to do irrational things to save their reputation. This is the premise of Sara Gruen’s At the Water’s Edge. The novel tells the story of Ellis, who is unable to serve in World War ...

Carrie Brownstein Memoir Has Wit, Honesty “Portlandia” Fans Love

November 18, 2015

I've read a lot of celebrity memoirs in my time. I mean, sure, I've read a lot of other books too — classics, contemporary fiction, piles and piles of picture books and a delightfully but painfully kitschy series about the young, rich and fabulous of Singapore — but I have found a hefty portion of my personal collection d...

Literary Review: “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”

July 26, 2015

Having primarily dealt in children’s books, Mark Haddon’s debut novel, which was immediately adapted into a hit Broadway play, came as a bit of a surprise. Unless, of course, you’ve read the novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. One of the most interesting and provocative books ...