Category: Book Reviews

Alyssa Tyler editor in chief 

Over spring break I was lucky enough to have more than enough time on my hands to sit around and read. One of the many books I finished this week was Blitzed, by Norman Ohler. This is a non-fiction novel that follows Nazi Germany and their many drug addictions.  

The book is in chronological order and opens discussing Germany post World War 1. The country was broken but after a while a party scene erupted from Germany. Which finally lead to many officials promoting a clean lifestyle. One free of all toxins and drugs.  

Adolf Hitler, the infamous dictator of Nazi Germany was one of the main promoters of this idea. However, he was sickly and found a doctor who gave him injections to cure his ailments. And while during this time the average working citizen was injecting a tablet version of methamphetamine to get through long working days. When Germany began invading countries the army started prescribing these tablets to the soldiers on the front line. Which explains much of their early success since these soldiers could not be stopped.  

This book reads like a textbook, which can be boring and monotonous at times. Usually, this kind of book would not grab my interest, however, I listened to a podcast over the same topic, and they recommended this book.  

For a nonfiction book, I still found this entertaining and interesting at the same time. The writing was well done and there was some dry humor throughout it. The knowledge was through and provided a much-needed insight on the delusion Hitler believed in.  

For nonfiction novels I have a less ‘strict’ scale for rating books. If I can sit through and finish the book, it almost immediately earns at least a 3/5. However, this book kept my interest the whole time and I did not find myself hating myself for choosing this as my next read. Overall, I rate this book a 4/5.  

Alyssa Tyler editor in chief  

Spring break is around the corner and with that much needed free time I’ve been planning the books I want to read during our week off. However, with my last semester of undergrad in full swing I have found myself in the always dreaded reading slump.  

Reading slumps are what they sound like, a point in time where an avid reader has no motivation to read and would rather spend time on their phone. Or maybe that’s just my personal experience with reading slumps. I’ve had them last days to weeks, and on one occasion I did have a reading slump last approximately three years, but I don’t count that one.  

Throughout that time, I have found countless books and tips that have helped me get past the always dreaded slump. 

1. Don’t be afraid to re-read a book or series. Many times, people will find themselves not wanting to read because the book they just finished was just that good. Don’t be afraid to grab a long time favorite of yours to dive back into. One of my guilty pleasures will always be Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. 

2. Don’t be afraid to take a break from reading, sometimes there really isn’t anything that fits what you’re looking for, and that’s fine. Take that as a sign to find a new tv show to get into or a new craft. 

3. When looking for books I will look for my childhood favorites including: The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter all help me get back into the reading groove. Any book series that you enjoyed as a kid can help remind your brain on why reading is fun. 

4. Depending on what book you may have just finished, there are many genres you can look to. When I finish a high action fantasy novel, such as Throne of Glass, many times I will go for a contemporary romance. A novel that does not require much thinking power and emotional attachment.  

5. If I’m struggling to get into a series, sometimes a high paced and action filled fantasy is the perfect way out of a slump. I will check social media, Goodreads, and ask other readers what they recommend to get out of slumps.  

Overall, these are just some of the tips and books that I have done and read to help me get out of my reading slumps. Everyone is different and readers will have their own ways.  

Alyssa Tyler editor in chief 

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls was published on Jan. 1, 2005. The self-memoir soon became a national best seller and then took on the movie world with a 2017 production. Brie Larson starred as the main character, the author and narrator of the story, Jeannette herself.  

The memoir opens with Walls first memory, burning herself as a toddler from boiling hot dogs. From there, the story continues at a fast pace. The Walls family is unconventional at best, by never living in the same place for long, not enrolling the kids in school, and getting by the bare minimum. Walls details the many times her family would get up and ‘skedaddle’ and then move onto the next place.  

Wall’s parents are interesting at best. They both struggle with their own issues, her father dealing with alcoholism and her mother suffering from some form of mental illness. Her father cannot and will not hold down a job, while their mother has a teaching degree but would rather do other things. All these factors lead to them living in despair, with no heating, plumbing, electricity, and overall, destitute ways of living.  

Walls continually describes her father as brilliant even with his alcoholism. Many times, throughout the memoir he outlines his plans for building machines that will change the world. However, his biggest goal is to build a glass castle for his family.  

As the family travels through the west coast, picking up random jobs and moving when the ‘mob’ is hot on her father’s tail, they eventually end up in their father’s childhood hometown. There, the family finally ‘settles’ down and the four siblings begin to grow into young adults.  

They continue to fall into despair as they fall deeper into poverty, the three oldest siblings begin to lose faith in their parents. Especially their fathers dream of building a glass castle. The three siblings begin crafting a plan to move to New York City, attend college, and get out of the small town they lived in for years. From there, their parents follow them to the big city, and begin to live off the streets by their own choice.  

Overall, this story was heartbreaking but inspiring in the same way. I do wish that the author went into further detail about her time at school. I would have liked to see more information concerning her career and the direction that it took her in. In the end, the title of the memoir really pulled the entire book together. Overall, I rate this a 4/5.  

Alyssa Tyler editor in chief  

In honor of Sarah J Maas releasing the third installment of the Crescent City series, I’ll review the series as a whole. The latest installment, House of Flame of Shadow was released on Jan. 30, this review will contain no spoilers for the latest book but will contain spoilers for the earlier books.  

The series begins with Bryce Quinlan, a party girl expert, finding her best friend, Danika, and her pack brutally murdered. Bryce then floats through the next two years dealing with her grief and guilt over the night that changed her life. Eventually, Hunt Athalar, also known as Umbra Mortis (it is supposed to mean something scary but after 1000+ pages people typically forget) finds Bryce and they begin to solve murders spanning across the entirety of the city.  

However, centuries before this, Hunt was a part of a rebel organization. The group had the goal of destroying those in control, and they lost. Hunt’s lover was killed, Hunt was tortured for years, taken in as a slave, and was put under the control under the woman that killed his lover. Since then, he had worked as the Umbra Mortis, doing whatever his owner told him to do. Although even his ‘boss’ was not in charge, she was under the control of the Asteri, a group of supreme beings that took names after major stars. So, the duo, Bryce, and Hunt, begin to attempt to solve the murders, all while attempting to untangle the web of lies and secrets Danika made before her death.  

All the above is introduced within the first book, leading to one of the main complaints of this series. Maas is known for creating complex and intricate worlds for her series. However, with the two other series, Throne of Glass and A Court of Thornes and Roses, the world building was slower and easier to understand. However, for this series the first 100 pages are chaotic and extremely confusing. As the book and eventual series goes on you can begin to catch on to what the different houses are and the differences between them.  

With the two other series, there is no technology. No phones, guns, nothing. They have complex magic to help them win wars but there is no social media to find their opponents. In Crescent City, however, technology is a massive part of the story. From finding their targets, ending the bad guys, and even just in day-to-day life. Personally, I found the difference to be refreshing, I thought that it offered a unique perspective and could add interesting plot twists to the future.  

Looking at the characters, the development for each character is top tier. The development isn’t perfect, which makes it easier to relate to these non-human characters.  

Overall, even with the confusing world building, the overall plot of this series is unmatched. Especially at the end of House of Sky and Breath, the second book. The final plot twist and cliffhanger was one of the best I have seen done. Overall, I rate this series a 4.5/5, mainly because I have not finished it. I would highly recommend this series to readers over the age of 16 due to its mature content.  

Alyssa Tyler editor in chief 

I spend many early mornings in Whitesitt Hall. Many times, I will go to the Student Publication office at four in the morning to start knocking out work. And when I do this, I start making coffee, tidying up, and attempting to get everything organized. Typically, I listen to an audiobook during this time, and let me say personally, do not listen to a horror novel while in a near century old building by yourself. 

This past week I read the book, How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. For the past few years, I have kept myself to a strict rule: only read the books on your ‘To Be Read’ list. However, when scrolling through Libby and Hoopla this book caught my eye, and I decided to cut some slack for myself.  

The novel opens with Louise, a basically single mother to a five-year-old, Poppy. Louise receives the call that both of her parents have died in a car crash from her brother Mark, who she cannot stand. Mark is a messy little brother while Louise is the most stereotypical oldest daughter to ever exist. It is her way or the highway; she must work harder than everyone else, and her younger brother, Mark, will never meet her expectations. However, now that they have entered their adult lives, they have essentially split ways.  

This news comes as a shock, and Louise then flies from San Fransico to meet her brother in a suburb of Charleston to go over the funeral arrangements. Almost immediately they begin fighting about anything and everything. From how to get rid of everything in the house, the funeral arrangements, to the will. 

One thing to mention before diving too farther into the plot is the sibling’s mother, Nancy, was an avid puppet owner. She inherited puppets, made puppets, lived puppets. When the two enter their childhood home they both find every inch filled with dolls and puppets, all that are extremely creepy. However, one tops them all, Pumpkin, Nancy’s childhood toy that Louise took a liking and sudden hating to as a child.  

As the sibling duo begin going through the house, they notice odd happenings. Dolls moving from one room to another, writing in the mirror, thumping in the attic, all the tell-tale signs of a haunted house. And one item seems to be at the heart of the issue, Pumpkin. 

The novel begins extremely slow, it is almost impossible to get through. As the oldest sister I understand not agreeing with your siblings, but there’s only so much complaining you can take about it. While Mark is beyond aggravating, everything he does will drive someone crazy.  

The writing, however, was well done. With horror novels I have a hard time finding myself ‘scared.’ If I want to be ‘scared’ of a novel it typically has to be a psychological thriller. However, there are a few scenes in this book that had me hooked. While in Whitesitt Hall I was double checking shadows and looking down on every hallway. The plot was interesting if anticlimactic and predictable, but there are some relationships that are saved which also warmed my heart. Overall, I rate this book 3.5/5.  

Alyssa Tyler editor in chief 

Over winter break I was lucky enough to have more time than usual to read and relax for a little. That being said, one book I read was Caraval. This is a three-book series with Caraval being the first book.  

In this world, there is one magical event every year, Caraval. It is said to be the most magical event in all of the world, and whoever wins receives one wish from the master of Caraval himself, Legend. For years this event mirrored a magical circus, however, after one of the participants killed herself years back, the event has since become stationary. Those who are invited have two options, watch or participate. Those who participate must follow a list of questions and hints and solve the mystery to win it all.  

Enter the main character, Scarlett and her sister Donatella, who goes with Tella for the rest of the series. Ever since their mother vanished years ago, Scarlett has been sending countless letters to Legend begging for him to come to their small island and host Caraval. Scarlett never receives a response from Legend, and finally after being engaged to a mysterious Count from across the sea, she sends one last ditch effort to attend Caraval.  

Scarlett finally receives a response and is gifted three tickets for Caraval. Two for her sister, one for her betrothed. However, leaving the island will be near impossible due to Scarlett and Tella’s abusive and overpowering father. So, Tella stages a kidnapping, and off they go to the magical island where Caraval is now held.  

Shortly after making it to the island, Tella is stolen from Scarlett. Then she receives her first clue and hint, to win it all, she must find her sister. Along with Scarlett there is Julian, the young man that helped them escape the island and is now pretending to be Scarletts fiancé. Together the two of them must work together to find Tella without succumbing to the madness of the game. 

Overall, I struggled to finish this book. It has an interesting idea and principle, however it’s just boring and nearly impossible to relate to the characters. Scarlett, for example, is the epitome of an older sister, however, she is so extremely anxious she essentially fails to do anything correctly the first time. So, there are many times in the first book alone where she overthinks things to the point of ruining the plan. Getting through around 400 pages of that is not the most enjoyable.  

However, it was slightly entertaining with the mysteries and the multiple relationships she had to balance. I did nearly did not finish this book multiple times, however I couldn’t find anything else to read and stuck through it.  

The next book, Legendary, features Scarlett, which was much more entertaining than the first. However, going in depth over the rest of the series will spoil the rest. Overall, I rate this book 2/5. It’s well written, but some of the character growth and overall development made it hard to get through.