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

 

Community of Readers

Title Star Wars: Tempest Author Troy Denning Rating Recommended Book Review Book 3 of the Legacy of the Force series. The Solos and Skywalkers become even more divided over the ever-increasing signs of the return of Empire-like ways. Family and trust are common themes throughout this series so far. Submitted By Carl Privette Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email privette@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title We'll Prescribe You Another Cat Author Syou Ishida Location Other Rating Somewhat Recommended Book Review This book was not the cat's meow. It follows the same format of interconnected stories with each person being prescribed a cat (or two) but lacks the heart of the first book.  Far too many pages were devoted to kitty litterbox activities (I get enough of that at home with 3 cats!) and I didn't feel like the mystery was ever resolved in a satisfying way.   Submitted By Ashley Bloomfield Department or Major Holocaust Library Status Staff Chapman Email ambloom@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers Title We'll Prescribe You a Cat Author Syou Ishida Location Other Rating Recommended Book Review Can cats fix everything? According to the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, you can bet your whiskers on it! This charming book follows several "patients" as they stumble upon a mysterious magical clinic in Kyoto. A cozy read with lots of heart and humor, too.   Submitted By Ashley Bloomfield Department or Major Holocaust Library Status Staff Chapman Email ambloom@chapman.edu

 

Community of Readers

Title Slither Author Stephen Hall Call Number N/A Location Other Rating Recommended Book Review Slither explores biological and cultural aspects of snakes. The book covers topics such as herpeto-sociology, venom, metabolism, sensation, reproduction, locomotion, and adaptation. This book is a good introduction for those who want to learn more about snakes, without being too heavy-handed with the scientific jargon. It can be an enjoyable read for those interested in biology and anatomy, as snakes really break every rule we know in those fields. I wish the author had included diagrams for some of the visual aspects. Submitted By Caylin Schmenk Department or Major Leatherby Libraries Status Staff Chapman Email schmenk@chapman.edu