About the Community of Readers

My photo
Established in 2007 by the Leatherby Libraries, the Community of Readers is the summer reading program for Chapman University. This program is open to everyone who has borrowing privileges at the Leatherby Libraries and a current library account, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Members select books from the Leatherby Libraries and receive prizes upon submission of their first review. The only requirement is that books must be obtained through the Leatherby Libraries.

Search the Library Catalog

Search the Library Catalog
Click to Navigate to the Leatherby Libraries homepage

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Never Go Back

Title: Never Go Back
Author: Lee Child
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: If you can wipe the image of diminutive Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher onscreen and focus on Cobin’s 6’5” retired MP Officer, this book is a thrill ride. It takes up after Cobin’s last outing, 61 Hours, where Reacher talked to the new head of his old unit, Susan. From there, Cobin doesn’t miss a step as he puts Reacher through his paces, making him the focus of a frame-up and allowing him to kick ass and take names while he solves a political mystery, faces the prospect that he may have a child, attempts to start a romance, and saves the day. It is great literature? No. Is it a great summer read with a charismatic lead character busting heads? You betcha.  
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By:Lugene Rosen

Magnificence


Title: Magnificence
Author: Lydia Millet
Call Number: PS3563.I42175 M34 2013
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: In Magnificence, Lydia Millett takes the reader on a ramble through the psyche of Susan, the narrator and self-proclaimed adulterous slut, who struggles to find meaning after the sudden stabbing death of her husband, Hal. Susan’s new life is a series of menageries, from the physical (she has inherited a mansion filled with taxidermied creatures) to the emotional (she creates bonds with a group of aging women who won’t leave her house) to the philosophical (her thoughts are like packs of wild dogs, snapping at the heels of the social norms). Among fur and bone and glass eyes, Susan comes to grips with her new life and the knowledge that preservation applies to more than the remains of animals; it applies to the human soul, as well.  
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By:Lugene Rosen

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Flowers for Algernon

Title: Flowers for Algernon
Author: Daniel Keyes
Call Number: PS3561.E769 F5 1987
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: Wow--what an emotional roller coaster of a book!  I find myself frequently revisiting the thought provoking and gut wrenching story of Charlie Gordon, a man with an IQ of 68 whose intelligence skyrockets following a controversial experimental procedure.  What follows is a beautiful and heart breaking exploration of humanity and the jumbled path of self-discovery.  
Department: Rodgers Center
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Ashley Bloomfield

The One & Only

Title: The One & Only
Author: Emily Griffin
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Not Recommended
Book Review: I was surprised at the story line and ending of this book. It was an unpleasant surprise considering I was a big fan of her previous books. I thought this book took an inappropriate turn into a strange dynamic of relationships.
Department: Social Media and Online Communications
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Michelle Leslie

Monday, July 28, 2014

The Son

Title: The Son
Author: Jo Nesbo
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: After his father's suicide, Sonny turns to heroin and ends up in jail. He is content to plead guilty to the crimes of others to ensure his drug supply, until he finds out more about his father's death. This knowledge sends him on a murderous spree to avenge the death and wipe out the past, but eventually the past will catch up with him, or will it?
Department: Law Library
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Cathy Elliott

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Matchmaker

Title: The Matchmaker
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: Dabney lives and breathes Nantucket. She knows, loves everyone, and they love her. She has the gift for matchmaking and it works-ask the 44 couples. Her own love life is a bit of a triangle yet she works through it in the only way she knows how, with Love; a real page turner especially towards the end.
Department: Center for Global Education 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Jean Lawson

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The First Phone Call From Heaven

Title: The First Phone Call From Heaven
Author: Mitch Albom
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor, McNaughton
Rating: Somewhat Recommended
Review: I have read other Mitch Albom books that were more entertaining. The end did surprise me a little, but for the most part I saw it coming. This can be a good and quick summer read.
Department: Social Media and Online Communications Coordinator
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted By: Michelle Leslie

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Siddhartha

Title: Siddhartha
Author: Hermann Hesse
Call Number: PT2617.E85 S513 1951a 
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: On his quest for enlightenment, a young Siddhartha abandons  all material possessions and adopts the life of a wandering ascetic.  Restless and yearning to learn more, he later immerses himself in the world of the flesh.  Hesse's lyrical and poetic story follows Siddhartha's spiritual birth, death and eventual rebirth--I would highly recommend this book to anyone on a journey of personal growth and transformation. 
Department: Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Ashley Bloomfield

Someone

Title: Someone
Author: Alice McDermott
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor, McNaughton
Rating: Recommended
Review: An interesting story about the stages of life and the role of family. Makes you think about what is most important every day.
Department: Law School Career Services
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted By: Joan Seguin

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Call Number: PR6068 .O93 H426 2005
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: In this sixth book of the seven-book Harry Potter boy wizard series, Harry is sixteen years old and enters his sixth year of study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Together once more since the bitter end of the previous school year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione continue to battle their studies and exams while also experiencing love and relationships. Harry discovers a very informative and unique potions textbook, whose only clue about its previous owner is the name Half-Blood Prince. This year, Harry enters into secret escapades with the school’s headmaster wizard, Albus Dumbledore, to search for a way to destroy Tom Riddle, also known as the infamous dark wizard Lord Voldemort, and save the magical world.  As Harry comes closer to discovering the power behind Lord Voldemort, he also comes closer to discovering how he and the dark lord are connected.
Department: Leatherby Libraries 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Cori Schmidtbauer

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Call Number: PR6068.O93 H37 2008
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: The first of seven books of the Harry Potter boy wizard series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduces magic to audiences’ non-magical world. Initially growing up as a “muggle” (non-magical person) orphan under the unsympathetic care of his muggle aunt and uncle, Harry discovers he is a wizard at age eleven, and that a whole new world awaits him as he sets off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With the companionship and encouragement of his new found friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and despite the antagonism from his archenemy, Draco Malfoy, Harry encounters ghosts and trolls, battles homework and exams, experiences the thrill of flying when playing the magical game of Quidditch, and searches for answers about his magical past.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted
 By: Cori Schmidtbauer 

The Ladies' Paradise (Au Bonheur des Dames)

Title: The Ladies' Paradise  (Au Bonheur des Dames)
Author:  Emile Zola ; introduction by Kristin Ross.
Call Number:  PQ2497.A8 E5 1992 
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: Every generation likes to think it's the first at everything, but this classic 1883 novel reminds us that clever marketing, branding and merchandising did not begin with the retail giants of today or even the Mad Men merrymakers of not too long ago. Zola's novel of class, romance and rising and falling fortunes set in one of France's first department stores is not just great reading, but surprisingly timeless.
Department: Strategic Marketing and Communications
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Dawn Bonker

Mr. Mercedes: A Novel

Title: Mr. Mercedes: A Novel
Author: Stephen King
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: Mr. Mercedes follows the merging storylines of its main characters: the driver of a stolen car who plowed through a crowd waiting to attend a job fair and the now-retired police officer who was unable to solve the crime before retiring. As always, the dialog is dynamic, but there is a slightness to this book that isn’t apparent in King’s usual work. The plot barrels along with the speed of a car on the autobahn, but the finish line becomes obvious too soon for complete satisfaction.
Department: Leatherby Libraries 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Lugene Rosen

Uganda Be Kidding Me

Title: Uganda Be Kidding Me
Author: Chelsea Handler
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor, McNaughton
Overall Rating: Recommended
Review: A witty view on travelling, spending time with friends, and making the most out of life. Handler takes you around the world with her humor.
Department: Law School Career Services
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted by: Joan Seguin

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories

Title: One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories
Author: B.J. Novak
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Somewhat Recommended
Book Review: B.J. Novak is a television writer and actor and a comedian. The pieces in his book range in length from one paragraph to several pages, and range in quality from amusing to boring. The book is worth picking up for some quick diversion.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Carolyn Radcliff

Monday, July 21, 2014

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches

Title: The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches
Author: Alan Bradley
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Somewhat Recommended
Book Review: This book is part of the Flavia de Luce detective series by Alan Bradley. The scene is set in England, 1951, with 11-year old Flavia and her family awaiting the return of her missing mother. Flavia is a delightfully precocious character who uses chemistry and reasoning to solve a who-done-it family mystery.
Department: Law School
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Ashley Kemp

The Book Thief

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Call Number: PR9619.4.Z87 B66 2006
Location: 3rd Floor Muth
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: Written from the perspective of Death, this book follows the story of Liesel, a young German girl who uses the power of words to survive the horrors of World War II.  Markus Zusak's innovative use of language helps create an emotionally immersive world; I admit that I may have had "dust in my eyes" during a couple of particularly poignant moments.  My only critique is that some of the themes might come across a bit heavy-handed because the book was written for a younger audience. 
Department: Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Ashley Bloomfield

Friday, July 18, 2014

Takedown Twenty

Title: Takedown Twenty
Author: Janet Evanovich
Call Number:  MCNAUGHTON 
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: Well, Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's bounty hunter, is at it again. While chasing down bad guys with her sidekick Lula, she winds up injured, totals a car or two, dangles upside down from a bridge and places herself in life threatening situations only to be rescued by the two, sexy, guys she's can't decide between; a light, funny read for summer. If you've enjoyed other Evanovich books, you'll enjoy this one too.  
Department: Center for Global Education 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Jean Lawson

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Shotgun Lovesongs

Title: Shotgun Lovesongs
Author: Nickolas Butler
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: This is a wonderful story about four friends who grew up together in a tiny Wisconsin town named Little Wing and are now in their mid-thirties. Chapters alternate being told from the first person perspective of the various characters. It is a beautifully written book with a gentle pace that I absolutely loved.
Department: Law School
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Ashley Kemp

Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America

Title: Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America
Author: Melissa V. Harris-Perry
Call Number: E185.86.H375 2011
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: Harris-Perry has woven a tapestry of the world of African American women today. The warp of her book is the sociological and political situation of African American women. Through this warp, she threads the woof, insights from diverse places, anything from the writing of Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker to the plight of the displaced citizens after Katrina to Michelle Obama. With its focus on shame and stereotypes, this book is not a comfortable read, but it is a reflection of the fabric of American culture and forces the reader to see that the fabric of our citizenry is in dire need of reweaving.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Lugene Rosen

After Dark

Title: After Dark
Author: Haruki Murakami
Call Number: PL856.U673 A6613 2008
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: Another great book by Murakami. I love his books because I feel like they give me a window into life in Tokyo, Japan. This book follows the story of two estranged sisters: Mari & Eri. Eri has been strangely asleep for a long time, and seems to be lost in a dream world. Mari can't sleep, so she wanders the streets of Tokyo at night. Read the book to see where the night takes these two sisters, and who they meet along the way.
Department: Library 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Jessica Bower

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The Longest Ride

Title: The Longest Ride
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Call Number:  MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor Mcnaughton
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: The Longest Ride...What does that refer to? Luke, Sophia, are two individuals who come from different walks of life and discover that The Longest Ride applies to real life, love, bull riding, and challenges. An easy, enjoyable read that switches back and forth between 3 separate lives that are somehow connected and affected by one another.
Department: Center for Global Education
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Jean Lawson

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Art and Creation of Walt Disney’s Classic Animated Film

Title: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Art and Creation of Walt Disney’s Classic Animated Film
Author: J. B. Kaufman
Call Number: PN1997.S6163 K384 2012
Overall Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: For an avid Disney fan and amateur historian, this gargantuan book was a trip to the ice cream parlor. Telling the history of Walt Disney's first motion picture, the novel gives insightful details and facts on each stage of the movie making process. From character design, layouts, script writing, to animation, this book was a joy to read and extremely interesting.
Department: Administration
Status: Student
Submitted: Melanie Duke

Edith Head: the Fifty Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer

Title: Edith Head: the Fifty Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer
Author: Jay Jorgensen
Call Number: TT505.H4 J67 2010
Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: Edith Head leading such a reclusive and quiet life, this biography gives an insight look into her career, her life at home, and how she became such a prominent costume designer in Hollywood. To those interested in costume design or the behind-the-scenes of the film industry, I highly recommend this enormous read.
Department: Administration
Status: Student
Submitted: Melanie Duke

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Evelina, or The history of a young lady's entrance into the world

Title: Evelina, or The history of a young lady's entrance into the world
Author: Francis Burney
Call Number: PR3316.A4 E8 1930
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: An epistolary novel, this book brings 18th century English society to life. The story follows a teenage girl, Evelina, who relates her entrance into society from the countryside to her adopted father through letters.  This book has a Jane Austen style as our heroine meets a dashing stranger at a ball and eventually falls in love him on her journey of self-discovery. With a mixture of English scandal and propriety, Evelina makes a good summer read.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Cori Schmidtbauer

A Princess of Mars

Title: A Princess of Mars
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Call Number: PS3503.U687 P65 1970
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: This title is a classic of the pulp genre. Confederate soldier John Carter finds himself on Mars fighting four-armed green Martians as well as fighting for the love of Martian Princess Deja Thoris. Given that it was originally published in 1917, it has aged rather well. I was surprised that I found the Martian characters more interesting and fleshed out than John Carter! That could be an ingredient of the pulp genre, I don't know. Otherwise, it is a good, mindless adventure novel for a summer read.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Rand Boyd

Bark

Title: Bark
Author: Lorrie Moore
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: Lorrie Moore’s writing is like a fine Mourvèdre, a wine known for its meaty richness and wonderful longevity. In this collection of eight stories, she shows that her mastery over words continues: they tumble over the reader like wine over an oenophile’s tongue, igniting images and emotions. Though the book is short, the themes are deep and touch upon the struggles people face connecting (Debarking) and disconnecting (Paper Loses). As always, Moore’s dark humor--with its aftertaste of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter-- is to be savored like a classic vintage.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Lugene Rosen

Monday, July 14, 2014

Dear John

Title: Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Call Number: PS 3569.P363 D43 2007
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: This book is best described as a tragic love story. John has a troubled past, but joins the army and becomes a better person. He meets Savannah while on leave, and she changes his life forever. Things do not turn out how you would expect. I recommend this book to those that want to read a story about life, and why every story doesn't have a happy ending.
Department: Library 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Jessica Bower

Friday, July 11, 2014

The Serpent of Venice

Title: The Serpent of Venice
Author: Christopher Moore
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: Christopher Moore's latest is a hilarious mash-up of one Edgar Allan Poe and two William Shakespeare stories set in "Venice, a long time ago." Even those not familiar with the original works upon which it is based will thoroughly enjoy it. A fun read!
Department: Law School 
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Ashley Kemp

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles

Title: The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles
Author: Bruce H. Lipton
Location: 3rd FL Science & Technology Library Books
Call Number: QH581.2 .L56 2012
Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: A cell biologist explains the beginnings of epigenetics, the role of quantum physics and how the community of a trillion cells which make up our bodies led him to find spirituality. We can all benefit from the understanding that our health and happiness are the result of how our environment, emotions and thoughts trigger the expression of our genes. Intriguing, educational and so very important for the human race.
Department: Crean School of Health and Life Sciences
Status: Faculty
Submitted: Jeannie Walker

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Stardust

Title: Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Call Number: PR6057.A319 S73 1999
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Recommended
Book Review: Charming and intriguing!  This is not as dark or complex as some of Gaiman’s recent novels, but the story is told beautifully and reads almost like a faerie tale for adults. A whimsical read for summer!
Status: Staff
Department: Strategic Marketing and Communications
Submitted By: Rebecca Green

Dr. Sleep

Title: Dr. Sleep
Author: Stephen King
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: For those of you wondering what happened to Danny Torrance of REDRUM fame, King’s follow-up is as satisfying as a scary story told around a campfire. A grown-up Dan finds that evil never dies, and it takes the help of a child, Abra Stone, to put an end to a pack of soul-sucking baddies, bent on breathing in the psychic steam from those with special gifts. As always, King’s dialog crackles and the plot races at breakneck speed.
Department: Leatherby Libraries
Status: Staff 

Submitted By: Lugene Rosen 

Organizing Exhibitions: A Handbook for Museums, Libraries and Archives

Title: Organizing Exhibitions: A Handbook for Museums, Libraries and Archives
Author: Freda Matassa
Call Number: AM151 .M345 2014
Rating: Recommended
Review: An exceptional contribution to the field of museums, libraries and archives. Correctly labeled as such, his novel is a step-by-step handbook that covers each stage of the exhibition process, expertly setting “out a time-line from initial idea to the final legacy.” With a background of professional experience, Matassa’s guidebook is an essential read.
Department: Library
Status: Admin. Student Assist.
Submitted by:: Melanie Duke

Monday, July 7, 2014

Cross My Heart

Title: Cross My Heart
Author: James Patterson
Call Number: McNaughton
Location: 1st Floor, NcNaughton
Rating: Recommended
Review: This is the latest in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series. When his family is kidnapped, Cross will go to any means to rescue them. One work of caution, don’t expect a tidy ending. This book will leave you hanging.
Department: Law Library
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted: Cathy Elliott

Something is out There

Title: Something is out There
Author: Richard Bausch
Call Number: PS3552.A846 S59 2010
Location: 2nd Floor Arts and Humanities
Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: A beautifully written collection of short stories about life and love. The richly-created characters will draw you in from the beginning and leave you wanting more.
Department: Strategic Marketing and Communications
Status: Staff

Submitted By: Sheri Ledbetter 

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Someone

Title: Someone
Author: Alice McDermott
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Overall Rating: Recommended
Review: Beautifully Written! The story follows the life of Maria, the ups, the downs, the heartbreak, the curiosity and more. The imagery throughout the book is fantastic. I felt like I was right there with her the whole time. The story goes back and forth from present and past and it flows so smoothly. The pace is slow, but this isn't a bad thing in my opinion but some may. A lovely read!
Department: Advancement
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted By: Jami McCoy

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

The Husband's Secret

Title: The Husband's Secret
Author: Liane Moriarty
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: If you found a letter from your husband marked “open in the event of my death” and he was very much alive, would you open it? One woman did. The Husband’s Secret is the story or three families and how their lives are forever altered by the contents of that letter.
Department: Law Library
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted By: Cathy Elliott

Still Foolin' Em

Title: Still Foolin' Em
Author: Billy Crystal
Call Number: MCNAUGHTON
Location: 1st Floor McNaughton
Rating: Highly Recommended
Book Review: This is Billy’s autobiography as he’s landing on his 65th birthday and I enjoyed the book a lot.  There’s a lot of name dropping but that’s to be expected because it’s Billy Crystal.  Overall, it is a very, very, funny read, and it seems like he writes truthfully - without sugar coating - the awkward experiences he had.  Secondly, I enjoyed his humor with his Jewish heritage; he is hilarious page after page.
Department: ACER
Status: Staff
Submitted By: Linda Corcoran

Gather Together in My Name

Title: Gather Together in My Name
Author: Maya Angelou
Call Number: PS3551.N464 Z464 1974
Overall Rating: Highly Recommended
Review: This book is the second in a autobiographical series by Maya Angelou. It picks up at the end of WWII, she is in her teens, has a new baby and is trying to make a place for herself and her baby. It is a dark time for her, but one that she not only survives, but comes out stronger for the experiences.
Department: Law Library
Status: Staff/Administrator
Submitted By: Cathy Elliott