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Title Star Wars: Fury Author Aaron Allston Call Number N/A Location Other Rating Somewhat Recommended Book Review Book 7 of 9 in the series. Similar to this author's other 2 books in this series, "Fury" is full of exposition that act more as filler pages than adding significantly to the main plot, which is basically one long rescue attempt. I found myself skimming pages due to the author's repetitive nature. Readers see further character development (or regression) in maybe 2 actors at most.   Submitted By Carl Privette Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email privette@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title Blood Bound Author Ellis Hunter Location Other Rating Not Recommended Book Review I think this book could be fun for some people but it really missed the mark for me. Many of the characters were immature despite being mid 20s and the entire thing read like YA. Actually, if you take out the one explicit scene in the book I think this could have been enjoyed more by another audience. The only aspect I liked what the concept of witches and dragons. Overall, fun idea but it would need a serious rewrite to work for me. 2/5 Submitted By Amanda Snow Department or Major Business College Status Staff Chapman Email hasnow@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title The book of were-wolves: being an account of a terrible superstition Author Sabine Baring-Gould Call Number n/a Location Other Rating Highly Recommended Book Review I was able to get my hands on this book, first published in the 1860s, through Chapman's Interlibrary Loan! It is one of the first and most thorough accounts of werewolves, and it is an interesting history. It has a lot of stories from medieval times, and attempts to cover all animal transformations across all cultures across all time. From Loki turning into a bird to ancient Greek werewolves, the book gives a thorough overview. I wish it had better citations, because there were some stories mentioned that I would love to read up on. It was also an interesting artifact of the author's own ideas, because there is a lot of focus on the religious nature of werewolves, and why people engage in cruelty. Submitted By Laura Neis Department or Major Business College Status Staff Chapman Email lneis@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title The Serviceberry Author Robin Wall Kimmerer Call Number N/A Location Other Rating Highly Recommended Book Review The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World is an essay that covers the ethics of reciprocity in a gift economy vs. a market economy. The author uses the serviceberry as an example of the full cycle of a gift economy and how individuals can participate on their own. It's short, sweet, and something everyone should read to reflect on how they can make a positive impact in their community and in their own lives. Submitted By Caylin Schmenk Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email schmenk@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title The Poet Empress Author Shen Tao Location Other Rating Highly Recommended Book Review Dark, anti-romantasy. A fantasy world where poetry can be used as both a blessing and a curse. My favorite of the year so far! Submitted By Julie Johnson Department or Major IS&T Status Staff Chapman Email juliejohnson@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title Mickey7 Author Edward Ashton Call Number n/a Location Other Rating Highly Recommended Book Review This sci-fi novel tells the story of Mickey Barnes, an "expendable" on a colony on a new planet. Mickey's job is to get killed whenever the colony needs someone to test a new medicine or perform a dangerous task, then have a clone with all his memories be re-copied. But a miscommunication leads to there being two copies running around, and how did his previous copies die? This fast paced book was a quick read, and had a lot of jokes I appreciated. Submitted By Laura Neis Department or Major Business College Status Staff Chapman Email lneis@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title The Count of Monte Cristo Author Alexandre Dumas Call Number PQ2226 .A35 1941   Location 2nd Floor Humanities Rating Highly Recommended Book Review This book is a classic for a reason. While the 1,200+ pages are intimidating, the payoff at the end is worth the extensive build up. Monte Cristo deals with revenge, mortality, happiness, and morality with skilled nuance. If you are even a little petty at times, this book will bring you joy while making you think. Submitted By Amy Telarico Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email telarico@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title Star Wars: Sacrifice Author Karen Traviss Rating Somewhat Recommended Book Review Book 5 of the 9-book series. Lots of exposition that leads into an end-of-book plot twist - which I saw coming based a few different types of foreshadowing - that left me upset. Submitted By Carl Privette Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email privette@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title Star Wars: Inferno Author Troy Denning Rating Highly Recommended Book Review Book 6 of nine. Best book of the series so far. Each page felt meaningful to the overall series plot progression. I'm still upset over the events that transpired in the previous book, but this book partially made up for my frustrations. Submitted By Carl Privette Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email privette@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts Author Margaret Atwood Call Number NA [read Orange Public Library copy] Location Other Rating Recommended Book Review A very long and detailed memoir by the Canadian author. I greatly enjoyed some of her novels, particularly The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake, both meticulously developed dystopian novels, calling readers' attention to "real world" dangers. Submitted By Art Blaser Department or Major Peace Studies/Political Science Status Community Member Chapman Email blaser@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title Chosen Land: how Christianity made America and Americans remade Christianity Author Matthew Sutton Call Number NA [read Orange Public Library copy] Location Other Rating Recommended Book Review A historian's detailed description of how Christianity has been used to rationalize hate and genocide in the US.  Ends with the Trump Administration, but also identifies many predecessors.  Also identifies religious leaders focused on justice, and criticism they faced. Submitted By Art Blaser Department or Major Peace Studies/Political Science Status Community Member Chapman Email blaser@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title Star Wars: Exile Author Aaron Allston Rating Somewhat Recommended Book Review Book 4 of the 9-book series I'm working my way through. The book is not as engaging and clear-written as the last 2 books. It's same author who wrote Book 1. Feels more like a filler book with some additional content, but at least it moves the overall plot along. Submitted By Carl Privette Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email privette@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Persons Guide... Author John Fugelsang Call Number other Location Other Rating Highly Recommended Book Review This guide describe how Christians can take back the bible from fundamentalists, fascists, and flock fleecing frauds. With it's contrasts and comparisons of consistently misconstrued bible passages with what Jesus really was saying, the author provides quotes and claims and many many examples that distinguish them from evangelical and pseudo Christian beliefs, Neo Nazi, White Supremacy groups and all haters. His final message is that love trumps hate. It's a good place to start. Submitted By Annalisa Goode Department or Major Law School Status Staff Chapman Email agoode@chapman.edu