The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for best novel for 2007.
The author is a professor at MIT - click here.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Ghost Map
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson was added to the list by 2 committee members who thought it looked engaging. Unlike most other books on the list, as well as the books previously selected by the committee, it is not an Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Three Cups of Tea
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson was suggested by a few students and faculty members. It has also been used by a few other universities. Unlike most other books on the list, as well as the books previously selected by the committee, it is not an Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Whistling Season
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig is a 2007 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Thirteenth Tale
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a 2007 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Spellman Files
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz is a 2008 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Night Birds
The Night Birds by Thomas Maltman is a 2008 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The God of Animals
The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle is a 2008 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Floor of the Sky
The Floor of the Sky by Pamela Carter Joern is a 2007 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Book of Lost Things
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly is a 2007 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis is a 2007 Alex Award Winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Run
Run by Ann Patchett was added to the list of books to consider because of the author and several members of the reading committee enjoyed it. Unlike most other books on the list, as well as the books previously selected by the committee, it is not an Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Mister Pip
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones is a 2008 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Eagle Blue ...
Eagle Blue: A Team, A Tribe, and A High School Basketball Season in Arctic Alaska, by Michael D'Orso is a 2007 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Color of the Sea
Color of the Sea by John Hamamura is a 2007 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Bad Monkeys
Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff is a 2008 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
American Shaolin: Flying Kicks ...
American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China, by Matthew Polly is a 2008 Alex Award winner.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
This book by Ishmael Beah was a 2008 Alex Award winner. This book had also been on display at Starbucks a while back.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
If you've read this book, please leave a comment with your review of it and whether you think other readers are likely to find it engaging (do you think they’d be eager to finish it and perhaps start reading another book when they are done). If you recommend the book, please also state any themes or topics that would be good for discussion. Thanks.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Selection criteria
Here is the criteria the SJSU Campus Reading Program committee uses to determine whether a book should be considered for selection as the book we'll ask the campus to read in summer and discuss in fall.
1. under 400 pages
2. not made into a movie
3. less than 5 years old
4. available in paperback
5. something likely to be of wide interest
6. some critical acclaim (well known author, award winners, etc.)
Past selections:
2005 - Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenriech
2006 - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
2007 - Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer
2008 - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
1. under 400 pages
2. not made into a movie
3. less than 5 years old
4. available in paperback
5. something likely to be of wide interest
6. some critical acclaim (well known author, award winners, etc.)
Past selections:
2005 - Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenriech
2006 - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
2007 - Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer
2008 - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Why this blog?
This blog of the SJSU Campus Reading Program Committee is an experiment in gathering and sharing reviews of books that we are considering for the following fall. It is also a place where SJSU students and employees and alums can suggest books for us to consider. There will be an entry for each book we are considering so people can easily leave reviews. There is also an entry with the selection criteria.
If you leave a book comment, please consider also stating your affiliation with SJSU.
Thank you.
Campus Reading Program website: http://www.sjsu.edu/reading/
If you leave a book comment, please consider also stating your affiliation with SJSU.
Thank you.
Campus Reading Program website: http://www.sjsu.edu/reading/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)