Review
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The novel "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" written by Katherine Boo provides an engrossing look at the terrible realities of life in Annawadi, a slum in Mumbai that is located next to a posh airport and a number of luxury hotels. Boo reveals the structural inequality and corruption that keep people of the undercity trapped in intergenerational poverty through the use of personal narratives that focus on a few different neighbors. Her nuanced portraits expose their humanity while simultaneously denouncing the systems that prey on the weak.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
Crying in H Mart
In the poignant book titled "Crying in H Mart," Michelle Zauner, an indie musician, offers introspective contemplations on her experiences as a Korean-American, the complex dynamics of her relationship with her mother, and the profound sorrow she grapples with in the aftermath of her mother's demise due to cancer. Zauner adeptly examines the profound impact of food on memory, skillfully navigating her bicultural identity by engaging in the preparation of authentic Korean cuisine. The narrative style employed by Zauner exhibits a remarkable level of elegance, as evidenced by the exquisite wording and vivid descriptions utilized throughout the book. This literary approach engenders a sense of intimacy for the reader, resulting in a lasting impact that extends well beyond the conclusion of the text.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
Invisible Child
The life of Dasani, an 11-year-old homeless girl who lives in New York's run-down Auburn shelter, is painstakingly chronicled in Andrea Elliott's novel "Invisible Child." Dasani's existence careens between hunger, violence, and rare moments of youthful bliss during the course of the novel. The compassionate storytelling of Elliott gives poverty and deprivation personal faces, bringing into focus the humanity that lies beneath statistics on injustice and failing social structures. Her in-depth reporting uncovered a broken system that failed the most helpless members of society time and time again.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
How the Word Is Passed
In his book "How the Word Is Passed," Clint Smith conducts a comprehensive investigation of the ways in which different locations in the United States come to terms with the legacy of slavery. Smith exposes the blatant inconsistencies in our approach to dealing with the repercussions of the past by conducting an analysis of the narratives that are woven across museums, memorials, and historical landmarks. From the estate of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello to the Angola jail in Louisiana, he compellingly reveals the mythology, erasure, and denial that continue to permeate America's national memory.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
Aftershocks
When Nadia Owusu was young, her Ashanti Ghanaian mother and Armenian American father separated, and she was left with her father's family in the United States. In her moving book "Aftershocks," she comes to terms with the ways in which these separations shook her childhood. Owusu travels from Africa through Europe to the Americas, spurred by the emotional earthquakes caused by their absence. Her in-depth account sheds light on the lingering effects of childhood trauma for migrant children.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, George Saunders
In my capacity as an author and professor of creative writing, I approached the opportunity to engage with George Saunders' perspectives on Russian literature with great enthusiasm, particularly through the medium of this exceptional new audiobook. Saunders' prowess as a curator and critic aligns seamlessly with his remarkable writing ability, a fact that I can personally affirm, given my longstanding admiration for his distinctive voice and sardonic humor. The author's engaging analysis of a collection of seven short stories authored by prominent Russian writers Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol provides an enlightening and instructive educational experience.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
Finding the Mother Tree
In the book titled "Finding the Mother Tree," Suzanne Simard, a distinguished forest ecologist, presents her extensive research on the remarkable interdependence between trees and fungi. Through a compelling combination of scientific discoveries and personal reflections, Simard offers a profound understanding of this interconnectivity. The groundbreaking research conducted by the individual in question significantly alters our comprehension of communication within the natural world and carries extensive ramifications for the management of forest ecosystems.
By Reinhold Lautner2 years ago in BookClub
FADING ROSES: A TALE OF LOVE AND BETRAYAL
In the picturesque town of WilTheir once shared dreams of a family and a life together now seemed like distant memories. She felt like a spectator in her own love story. Resentment began to fester, and doubts crept into her heart.One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Alice confronted Robert. Tears welled in her eyes as she poured out her heart, confessing her loneliness and her longing for the man she had fallen in love with years ago.lowbrook, nestled beneath the shadow of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, lived a couple whose love story was whispered about in hushed tones. Alice and Robert were the epitome of a fairytale romance.Their story began on a crisp autumn day when the leaves painted the town in hues of red and gold. Alice, a charming florist with an enchanting smile, caught the eye of Robert, a struggling musician playing his guitar on a street corner. The moment their eyes met, the world seemed to stand still.
By Rodah Moraa2 years ago in BookClub
One College Essay book changed my life
One college book that changed my life, started out with an introduction from a current serving member of the U.S. Congress. Nevertheless We Persisted; 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage - Forwarded by Senator Amy Klobuchar (279 pp.,2018) is original an topic. Covered under the classification of diversity inclusive, this book identifies with my generation. I was not assigned this book in my Women's Studies course. Yet, choose to read this book out of over 200 other titles for extra credit.
By Jenia Silver2 years ago in BookClub
The Worst of Us
My evaluation of a book that changed me led to this conclusion: it was two books. And the books are about the same thing...sort of. There is a singular period of time that must be learned in every history class. That is WW2 and the Holocaust. These two books are about that time.
By Bugsy Watts2 years ago in BookClub
