About the Community of Readers

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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.

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Thursday, August 18, 2016

An anthropologist on Mars



Title
An anthropologist on Mars : seven paradoxical tales
Author
Oliver Sacks
Call Number
RC351 .S1948 1995  
Location
3rd Floor Science and Technology
Rating
Highly Recommended
Book Review
Oliver Sachs was perhaps the world’s most famous modern neurologist, at least to the general audience. His writing style is entertaining yet based in solid research. An Anthropologist on Mars is not exactly beach reading, but is written for a general audience. The footnotes and references are extensive and his observations are always tied to previous studies on similar cases. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these seven case studies, each of which focused on people with neurological conditions (i.e.., Tourette’s, autism, amnesia, and total colorblindness). Sachs writes not just about the symptoms of each person, but about their lives, their creativity, and the way people interact with the world around them.
Submitted By
Taylor Greene
Department or Major
Leatherby Libraries
Status
Staff
Chapman Email

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Breakfast at Tiffany's



Title
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Author
Truman Capote
Call Number
PS3505.A59 A6 1993  
Location
2nd Floor Humanities
Rating
Highly Recommended
Book Review
This is a great short novel about the story of Holly Golightly’s eccentric personality.  Holly is in her early 20’s and we see her live life as if the world will end tomorrow.  She dates older men, drinks, has sex whenever she pleases, shop lifts, rides horses in central park, and all that good stuff.  However, we all see it catch up to her and it leaves her soul lost.  This is a great escape story for anyone that yearns to be single, and somewhat intoxicated again. Interesting fact: Truman Capote actually wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly for the movie adaptation.  It would have been interesting to watch how that would have turned out!
Submitted By
James Taylor
Department or Major
College of Educational Studies
Status
Staff
Chapman Email

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

The Art of Fielding



Title
The Art of Fielding
Author
Harbach, Chad
Call Number
PS3608.A72513 A87 2011
Location
2nd Floor Humanities
Rating
Recommended
Book Review
This book is generally about the struggles of finding your way during the college years and the relationships that mark your time. Multiple characters centered around baseball and college life.  i feel the multiple story lines kept you involved, wanting to see them through.
Submitted By
Cynthia Johnson
Department or Major
Facilities Management
Status
Staff
Chapman Email

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child



Title
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Author
Thorne, Jack
Call Number
MCNAUGHTON
Location
1st Floor McNaughton
Rating
Highly Recommended
Book Review
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this follow-up to the Harry Potter series! It was a very enjoyable (and often nostalgic) trip down memory lane. I was delighted and surprised by how many familiar faces from the original books popped up along the way. While the script format was difficult at first to read, I was able to get into it as the story progressed. Since the majority of the story takes place in familiar locations that J. K. Rowling (and the films) have already richly described for us, my imagination was able to fill in a lot of the scenery around the otherwise sparse script prose. Overall it was a wonderful tale of bromance and adventure, and I definitely recommend it for any HP fan.
Submitted By
David Carson
Department or Major
Leatherby Libraries
Status
Staff
Chapman Email

Movie Storyboards : The Art of Visual Storytelling



Title
Movie Storyboards : The Art of Visual Storytelling
Author
Fionnuala Halligan
Call Number
NC1002.S85 H36 2013
Location
2nd Floor Fine Art
Rating
Somewhat Recommended
Book Review
Looking for an analyzation of movie storyboards to improve my own work, I received more a discussion on the politics of storyboard artists and a history lesson on different productions. Well written, it wasn't what I was expecting. Dissatisfied, I finished, feeling my boards hardly improved in the slightest.
Submitted By
Melanie Duke
Department or Major
Digital Arts
Status
Student
Chapman Email