During this winter break I’m trying my hardest not to waste my days in front of the T.V. or the computer screen. Shaking up your routine is not hard, call a few friends and get out and explore a bit. If you, like me, enjoy exploring just by opening a book, do I have a treat for you! I asked my fellow staff members about good books they have read recently and below are short reviews on a few books that would make a great winter read or even a savvy gift.
Mathematician’s Delight by W.W. Sawyer
Don’t be fooled by the tittle! It is probably on of the best and most enlightening book I have read so far. The main object of the book is to dispel the fear of mathematics, through this book Sawyer approaches from arithmetic to trigonometry and calculus in a different, more understandable way.
“So long as a subject seems dull, you can be sure you are approaching it from the wrong angle” – W.W. Sawyer
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
The best-selling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series wrote My Name is Memory in 2010 hoping to attract an older, more mature audience. The story follows a young man named Daniel who has the ability to remember all his past lives. He spends these multiple lives searching for his soul mate, a woman named Sophia whom he has encountered in various occasions but is always tragically torn apart from him. The book is constantly going back and forth through time showing readers the many special and often heartbreaking moments Daniel and Sophia have shared. If you believe in soul mates and are a hopeless romantic, this book is definitely for you.
Review by Adriana Colom
The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
If you are finding yourself a bit lost lately or you’re looking for way to grow as a person this is the book for you. Los Cuatro Acuerdos, its original tittle, is very short and easy to read but if given the opportunity it will change your life. The book is about four agreements the ancient Toltec culture lived by and how you can incorporate it in your life. Many people I know read it and re-read it every chance they get, it is a great pick me up and it is certainty cheaper than therapy!
“Happiness is a choice and so is suffering” – Miguel Ruiz
Man Repeller: Seeking love. Finding Overalls by Leandra Medine
Leandra Medine is a known fashion blogger, she is well-known and loved because of her fun and humorous writing style. The book is a compilation of essays where Medine narrates her life and how clothes have shaped her. A memoir by a 23-year old may not be so appealing but the book and she as a writer have received great reviews, it is certainly worth a look. You can also check her out at her blog manrepeller.com
man·re·pell·er [mahn-ree-peller]
–noun
she who outfits herself in a sartorially offensive mode that may result in repelling members of the opposite sex. Such garments include but are not limited to harem pants, boyfriend jeans, overalls, shoulder pads, full length jumpsuits, jewelry that resembles violent weaponry and clogs.
Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
Based on a blog with millions of followers, the photographer Brandon Stanton set out to the streets of New York to capture New Yorkers and their stories. The blog even has an Instagram profile! Reading about such odd and wonderful people make you feel that you are not that alone.
“So you’ve done a lot of these interviews, right?”
“Yep.”
“So just how neurotic am I?”
Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro by Bobbi Brown
If I have a penny for each time a friend tells me she doesn’t know enough about makeup I would be rich! Considering you are a collegiette who lives her mascara and lipstick this is a must have for you. In this book, Bobbi Brown puts her 25+ years of experience in the business on paper. She covers from skin care to how-to put on fake lashes; it is a great book for beginners with a lot of neat tricks and tips.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars is the type of read that will make you laugh and cry within the same chapter. The story unfolds through the eyes of a 16-year-old terminal cancer patient named Hazel Lancaster. While clinically depressed, Hazel meets what the author of the book describes as a “gorgeous plot twist” named Augustus Waters. TFIOS is an extremely intelligent and beautifully different love story. John Green has received numerous recognitions for the book, an overnight Internet sensation. TFIOS will pull tears out of your eyes and make you think about what really matters in life- life itself. Definitely get to reading as soon as possible, since there will be a movie based on the book coming out later this year.
Review by Deborah Alvarez
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
You may have seen the movie that was based on this novel by Jodi Picoult a few years ago but, truthfully, the book is ten times better. It’s a beautifully written story about family, sickness and the bond between two sisters. Jodi Picoult handles the moral dilemma that is present in the novel with great sensibility and makes you fall in love with the characters.
Warning: When you get to the ending, you’ll be in tears, even if you already saw the movie.
Review by Alexandra Ramos
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat Pray Love is a memoir written by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book is even better than the movie, and that’s a lot to say. Her honest and pure writing will capture you from the very start as you journey with her across continents. She will search and discover herself in this unexpected voyage through Italy, India, and Indonesia.
Review by Adriana Colom
“When you read a great book, you don’t escape from life, you plunge deeper into it”- Julian Barnes
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http://enredada-en-la-red.blog…
http://www.amazedmag.de/review…
http://blogs.osc-ib.com/2011/0…
http://www.bons-plans-voyage-n…
http://www.pittsburghmagazine….