by Tomas Rivera (translation by Evangelina Vigil-Pinon)
I had the opportunity to read Rivera's short novel . . . And the Earth Did Not Devour Him in translation for a project I was putting together a couple of summers ago, and wished to share the wealth. Rivera's post-modern story centers on the lives of Mexican-American migrant workers in the early 1950s, told through the eyes of a child. Our protagonists endure and survive through horrific living and working conditions and brutal racism, from a country that demands and needs migrants' labor but denies them the right to even be in the country. Readers will be reminded not a little of Faulkner's storytelling style when experiencing this rich book. (O'Conner).

Aquamarine Blue 5: Personal Stories of College Students with Autism ed. By Dawn Prince-Hughes (2002)--Susan writes that she likes bright colors: "I experience synesthesia, which is a form of cross-sensory perception, enabling me to perceive music in color and certain shapes . . .in color . . .[M]y blue letters are 'n' and 's.' These letters are very pretty to me. I also like the freshly green number '2' [and] the aquamarine blue '5.'" Dawn Prince-Hughes, who has High-Functioning Autism, has collected unedited essays by autistic students who tell in their own words and in their own way what it is like to be autistic. The current essays are of varying length and in varying formats; some are distressing, but many leave one hopeful. Most are riveting. (M. Mihm)

Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How a Lone American Star Defeated the Soviet Chess Machine by David Edmonds and John Eidinow--Chess players, history buffs, Cold War junkies, and lovers of genius will love Bobby Fischer Goes to War , chronicling Bobby Fischer's pursuit of the 1972 World Chess Championship, the first non-Soviet to challenge for the title in forty years, the first and only American ever to win it. And he won almost single-handedly, with only one assistant for chess analysis, compared to Boris Spassky's team of grandmasters. "Their showdown, played against the backdrop of superpower politics, held the world spellbound for two months with reports of psychological warfare, ultimatums, political intrigue, cliffhangers, and farce to rival a Marx Brothers film." The book reaffirms Bobby Fischer's dazzling chess genius and details the oddness of his character. (Frech)

Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding--Warning: Rib breakage is v. possible from gratuitous amounts of laughter while reading Bridget's diary! Approach with caution and a v. open mind! Do you consider yourself to be a Singleton and/or all-around Love Pariah? Do you have the knowledge of fifty self-help books stored inside your head? Do you suffer regularly from unfortunate bouts of verbal diarrhea? Let's face it, this is the perfect book for you! Singletons unite! (Julie Trueblood)

Carnal Acts by Nancy Mairs--A fascinating collection of essays by Nancy Mairs discussing both the gains and losses associated with living with multiple sclerosis. Her descriptions of the way her body continues to be ravaged by her disease and the way her illness has affected her marriage, her children and her life as a writer are heart-wrenching. Mairs is brutally honest about her marital woes, her anger as her sight and fingers fail, and her ability to still find joy and humor in life. In one essay she assaults the politically correct notion that she is merely "differently abled" and asserts that her disability DOES interfere with a normal life and that she does want special consideration. The author never becomes maudlin or self-pitying as she opens her life and deepest feelings to her readers. (McKenna)

Collected Sonnets by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1988)--Millay's poems originally published in the 1920s and 1930s, are worth another look, particularly her sonnets. Her poems and lifestyle made her reputation as one of the leading feminist writers of her time. Sonnets like "I, being born a woman and distressed" still challenge conventional expectations about women's attitudes and lives (and men's egos). Read these poems with the recent critical biography by Mark Epstein (2001), the title of which is one of Millay's most famous poems--"What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why." (B. Mihm)

Cronopios and Famas by Julio Cortázar--Pablo Neruda once wrote that "Not to read [Cortazar] is a serious invisible disease which in time can have terrible consequences. Something similar to a man who has never tasted peaches. He would quietly become sadder . . . and, probably, little by little, he would lose his hair." Once you read Cronopios and Famas, you'll believe him. Cortázar is one of the most beloved writers in Latin America. Cronopios and Famas is an assortment of short and loosely interconnected pieces (many just a page or two long). The book is organized into four parts, "The Instruction Manual" (with such gems as "How to Climb a Staircase" and "How to Sing"), "Unusual Occupations" (tales of an "uncommon family"), "Unstable Stuff," (the most strange and surreal section), and the "Cronopios and Famas" of the collection's title. To say more may spoil it.   But this last section (about three fantastical but easily recognizable "types" of creature) is my favorite. (Poitevin)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time , by Mark Haddon (2003)--What would The Sound and the Fury be like if the whole book were narrated by Benjy? Mark Haddon's first novel is told by Christopher, an autistic teenager who fancies himself a detective. When Wellington, the neighborhood dog, is murdered, Christopher sets out to find the criminal--against the advice of the adults in his world. It is hard to imagine a more "unreliable" narrator than one who understands nothing about the story he is telling. Although his autism makes life baffling, Christopher follows all clues, wherever they may lead, even into the secrets of his own family. In the end, he goes on a harrowing solo train trip into the heart of London. Maybe his mother is not really dead. Haddon's portrayal is never condescending; Christopher is never pathetic. This is a touching story told with honesty and warmth. (M. Mihm)

Delights and Shadows by Ted Kooser (2004)--Recently named Poet Laureate of the United States, Ted Kooser writes "down home poems" from his many years in America's heartland. Kooser writes of "Applesauce," "A Jar of Buttons," "A Garage Sale," "Turkey Vultures." A retired insurance executive from Nebraska, he knows the moments, the metaphors, the sights and sounds of people's lives in small towns and rural families. Kooser's clear and straightforward style captures simple and not-so-simple human experiences. (B. Mihm)

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes--2005 marks the 400 th anniversary of this important book.   It's a chronicle of a rather ordinary but highly imaginative gentleman who, having read one too many stories about chivalric knights, decides to become one himself. After hiring a local peasant (Sancho) to be his squire and inventing a beautiful damsel to serve, he takes off on a series of crazy misadventures.   The real and imaginary become delightfully intertwined as our hero mistakes taverns for castles, windmills for giants, and peasant girls for bearded damsels. When he starts to come to his senses, you don't want him to. There's a lot of humor in this book, some of which seems to have found its way into films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but there's pathos, too. There are also 1000 pages, but the experience is well worth your time. (Poitevin)

Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series by Eliot Asinof - In 1919, the Chicago White Sox were widely considered the best team in the history of professional baseball. The country was shocked when the White Sox lost the World Series to the underdog Cincinnati Reds - and even more shocked the following year, when it turned out that several White Sox players, angry at the penny-pinching ways of team owner Charles Comiskey, had made a deal with professional gamblers to throw the Series. In what may be the best book ever written about baseball, Asinof provides details of the fix and shows how it traumatized the nation and almost destroyed major league baseball. The "Black Sox" scandal has a way of showing up in many novels and films - The Great Gatsby , The Natural , Field of Dreams. This book reminds us why players like "Shoeless Joe" Jackson occupy a unique and troubling place in American national mythology. See the great John Sayles film as well. (Haspel)

Gateway by Frederik Pohl (1985)--Another award winner, this one'll make you think, about the future, about our direction, about our society. (George)

Ghost Children by Sue Townsend--Disclaimer: This is NOT a ghost story! Also, this is not for the faint of heart, but don't let that big garbage bag of aborted fetuses scare you! This novel is one of the best you'll ever read. The story is gritty, it's realistic, it's touching, and it involves people just like you and me. And to top it off, we get a taste of that great British humor Townsend is most famous for! I was terribly sad to see the ending of this one. I wanted it to keep going, and going, and going... (Julie Trueblood*)

A Girl Could Stand Up by Leslie Marshal--A quirky tale of a young girl whose parents are killed in a freak accident in the Tunnel of Love on her sixth birthday. She goes to live with her uncles--one whose mysterious occupation takes him from home to exotic locations around the world and the other, an eccentric, but loving, transvestite. A wonderfully written story about grief, healing, love and forgiveness as family secrets unfold and the "girl" learns to stand up and claim her own identity. (McKenna)

The Giver by Lois Lowry--Is happiness without pain truly happiness? A boy in a small utopian society discovers the truth behind the bliss. (Nichole Coers*)

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (1999)--Not one to tackle the small subjects, Diamond sets out to cover the past 13,000 years of human history in fewer than 500 pages. Conventional history "focused on western Eurasian societies completely bypasses the obvious big question. Why were those societies the ones that become disproportionately powerful and innovative?" The answers come from biology, anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, ecology, epidemiology, and--fortunately--from 25 years of fieldwork in New Guinea. The real bonus is that this professor of geography at UCLA can write. (M. Mihm)

Haiku Guy by David G. Lanoue - David Lanoue visited Millikin University in 2000 at the Global Haiku Festival where he shared his research and translations on his favorite Pureland Buddhist haiku poet, Issa. In this novel Lanoue takes us on a wild romp as the haiku guy, Buck-Teeth, who goes on an aesthetic quest through time and space to learn the art of haiku from Issa and three other Japanese haiku masters. Each haiku master has found his own way to "get out of his right mind" in order to discover the art of haiku. Read the novel to find out if Buck-Teeth ever finds his way, even though he may get distracted in the French Quarter of New Orleans. (Brooks)

Hatteras Light by Philip Gerard--In 1918, the people of remote Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina cherish their privacy and relish their seclusion from the busy mainland. But their isolation is shattered in that last year of World War I, when a German U-boat begins prowling offshore and sinking American ships. This thinking person's beach novel combines suspense with social commentary, as both Bankers (the longtime term for residents of the Outer Banks) and outsiders must question their traditional ways of thinking and learn to work together in order to combat the submarine menace that threatens them all. (Haspel)

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams--"It said, 'Don't panic' in large friendly letters on the cover... Earth-mostly harmless." Read the book before you watch the movie! This is a great short book and Adams has a wonderful sense of humor. A perfect quick summer read. (Nichole Coers*)

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor--If Nobody Speaks... won the Booker Prize, the Betty Trask Award, the Somerset Maugham Award, and was short listed for the 2003 Times Young Writer Award and is McGregor's first novel. It is an intricate storyline that follows a day in the lives of the residents of a quiet street in England, whose lives are shaken by a terrible accident. It tells of love and hope and brings to light all of the tiny details we so often miss. The style of writing used is absolutely glorious. "If nobody speaks of remarkable things is a haunting and important book- a reminder of what it means to be human in cities where so many live and die unnoticed." -Peter Orner. (Jenna Roberts)

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk--To describe this book using one word, I'd say, "indescribable." Here is my very lame attempt: In a tiny nutshell, it's a fast-paced whirligig filled with models, shot guns, drag queens, and some of America's most famous landmarks! Chuck will leave you in a daze quoting him incessantly and attempting to write just like him! Amazingly clever! :-) (Julie Trueblood*)

The Jack Tales Collected and edited by Richard Chase--Richard Chase sets down a collection of folk tales about one of America's most popular culture heroes--Appalachian Jack. These tales are meant to be read aloud to children and adults alike. Enjoy them on the back porch, at a picnic or in the car. (Braniger)

Let's Do by Rebecca Meacham--Rebecca Meacham was one of our featured visiting writers at the Spring 2005 Millikin Literary Festival. This collection of stories explore the underbelly of ordinary Midwesterner folks, who despite their quiet humility, tend to make the wrong decisions no matter what advice or help others attempt to provide. What can go wrong will go wrong in these stories of drunks, dreamers, stalkers, and loners who struggle with life's inevitable changes. Meacham is wonderful at humor in the face of calamity and moments of realization as her characters seek what endures beyond moments of chaos. (Brooks)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou : Wes Anderson's latest film is great sea--and life--adventure with Bill Murray (Steve Zissou) and a crew as peculiar as the passengers on Melville's Fidelé . Panned by some critics mostly for its eclecticism, this film reminds us that even when people change only subtly, it still makes a big difference, though Hollywood might not notice. Bill Murray has said "I don't think most people know what's happening to them while they watch [Wes Anderson's] movies" (Tyrangiel). If the idea of Bowie songs done in Portuguese piques your interest in the least, it's worth your time to let this film work on you. The DVD comes out 10 May. (Sullivan)

Links by Nuruddin Farah--Nuruddin Farah, the acclaimed Somali novelist who now lives in exile in South Africa, tells with sympathy and honesty the stories of ordinary Somalis caught up in crisis, conflict, and chaos. Living in the midst of a violence-riddled society, Farah's characters seek to discover their identities and negotiate ancient tribal and modern political relationships, all the while maintaining hope for a fair and just future. While any of his titles are worth seeking out, Links , his most recent novel, has been received enthusiastically by readers and critics around the world. (Anne Matthews)

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk--Chuck Palahniuk's imagination and style are addictive. If you have read Choke and Fight Club then you have probably read Lullaby. And if you haven't, you should. Follow Carl Streator as he abandons his role as journalist and follows the most mysterious, deadly and never-ending lead of his life. Carl's quest brings him back to a destructuring of the idea of self through a confrontation with his history and that of those around him. Dark, humorous, joyful, sad-- Lullaby will bring you to your knees. (Braniger)

Making Movies by Sidney Lumet--One of Hollywood's most gifted and prolific directors, Lumet has achieved distinction in the field of American film through pictures such as Fail-Safe (1964), Serpico (1973), Network (1976), and The Verdict (1982) - stories of the honest individual in conflict with a corrupt system. In this memoir, Lumet reveals that the director's attempt to achieve a cinematic vision is just as grueling and lonely a struggle as the situations in which Lumet characters often find themselves. How does one bring together the contributions of quarreling cinematographers, editors, composers, and actors, and fend off money-minded producers, while trying to turn out a good film in the process? Read this book and find out. (Haspel)

The Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich--Set in Argus, North Dakota (a favorite location for many of her novels), Erdrich spins out a rich tale of love, struggle, strength, and survival as main character Fidelis Waldvogel with his wife Eva leave their native Germany after WWI to pursue the American Dream. Erdrich's myriad characters are unforgettably vivid, her Ojibwa-German background is apparent, and the surprise ending ties the story together as seamlessly as the songs which echo through the text. It's truly one of her best. (Crowe)

A Mediterranean Feast: The Story of the Birth of the Celebrated Cuisines of the Mediterranean from the Merchants of Venice to the Barbary Corsairs, with More than 500 Recipes by Clifford Wright--There's no better time to eat and cook Mediterranean food than the summer. The recipes I've tried are delicious, but the book is also--and more interestingly-- a cultural history of food and cooking of the entire Mediterranean region (Algeria, Egypt, Turkey, Spain and France, as well as Italy and Greece) from Roman times to 17 th century. The history behind those recipes makes for great dinner party conversation. (Poitevin)

Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire is a fascinating retelling of the Snow White story set in the 1500's involving the famous Borgia family from Italy. Lucrezia Borgia becomes the custodian of five-year-old Bianca de Nevada when Lucerzia's power hungry brother, Cesare, sends Bianca's father on a journey to find the magical fruit from the garden of Eden. Told from many different points of view, we see the struggles of all the characters not only the Snow White figure. (Dwiggins)

Native American in the Land of the Shogun: Ranald MacDonald and the Opening of Japan , by Frederik L. Schodt. This is a biography of the first recorded translator of the English and Japanese languages, Ranald MacDonald. MacDonald is an important historical figure, having been one of the first glossarists and translators of the Japanese language for the west. He was a young man living in the middle of the 1800s who made an adventurous journey to Japan of his own volition--allowing himself to be captured and incarcerated--so that he could become familiar with the Japanese language and culture, and help further familiarize the east and the west. If you are interested in Asian Studies, or have a fondness for discovering the source of the barriers in language comprehension, then this biography may be of some interest to you. I have read much of the book, and have spoken with and interviewed author Fred Schodt earlier in the 2005-year, and the experience has left me with much appreciation for language interpreters and the cultural border which they must cross. Fred Schodt is a professional Japanese language translator and interpreter, and is well versed in Japanese culture and history. (Aaron H. Bynum*)

No Way to Treat a First Lady by Christopher Buckley--No Way to Treat a First Lady is a light and funny novel about murder in the White House. When First Lady Elizabeth MacMann discovers her husband has been "entertaining" in the Lincoln bedroom, she hurls a priceless antique at his head. The next morning the President is dead and the First Lady is charged with his assassination. Buckley pokes fun at politicians, the Clinton sex scandal, Congress and just about every other Washington institution as well as the public's fascination with celebrity trials. A witty and engaging read that is perfect for a day at the beach. (McKenna)

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth--Philip Roth, who long ago and far away, gave us Portnoy's Complaint , demonstrates that he has not lost his ability to weave a great tale. In The Plot Against America , we find an alternate universe, a sort of "what if?" novel, where Lindberg runs for President and wins, which leads to a pro-fascist American government, with the inevitable anti-Semitism that follows. This story makes one wonder not "if it can happen here" but, perhaps, consider if it isn't already happening here. (O'Conner)

Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews--Donna Andrews writes award-winning, humorous, mystery novels based on two narrators: the contemporary blacksmith and metalwork artist, Meg Langslow; and the artificial intelligence computer sleuth, Turring Hopper. Revenge takes place during a re-enactment weekend of the Revolutionary War battle at Yorktown, Virginia. For a fun mix of anachronism policing during the re-enactment and traditional murder mystery sleuthing by Meg and her quirky father, check out this novel. Her novels read like a trip to the candy store, especially if you like those double-dare candies like super-hot tamales. (Brooks)

Ringworld by Larry Niven (1985)--Winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards, this is a classic sci fi novel. Engaging, intellectual, and wonderful, this one's a must read. (George)

Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books by Paul Collins--I've often wondered what happens to the myriad of old books that are either out of publication, outdated, or otherwise "lost" to us. In this wonderful nonfiction account, Paul Collins recalls his time--as a potential permanent resident, as a writer, and as an "organizer" of American literature in a used book store-- in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, and who also finds the final, sad, resting place for many of these disappearing literary treasures. His travelogue-style tale is both engaging and informative, and how can you not fall in love with a town of 1500 residents and 40 bookstores? (Crowe)

Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut--This book has everything- romance, war, aliens, schizophrenia, and peace. (Nichole Coers*)

Spoon River Anthology by E. L. Masters--Revenge, murder, regret, denial- All from six feet under. (Nichole Coers*)

Testament: A Soldier's Story of the Civil War by Benson Bobrick--A riveting true story of the Civil War as experienced by one of its participants - the author's great-grandfather, Benjamin "Webb" Baker, who left his Charleston, Illinois, home and joined the 25 th Illinois Infantry Regiment in 1861. Baker experienced major battles (Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Atlanta, the March to the Sea), suffered arm wounds from which he never fully recovered, and dealt with awful food and worse medical care; yet he maintained a spirit of composure, cheerfulness, and optimism throughout. Many years later, Bobrick published his ancestor's wartime letters, interweaving them with fascinating details regarding the daily life of the ordinary Civil War soldier. A moving and sobering reminder that the life of the soldier, in all times and all places, remains much the same - going to an unfamiliar place and living long days of boredom interspersed with moments of absolute terror. (Haspel)

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien--"A work of fiction" about O'Brien's real experiences in the Vietnam War. His storytelling style is amazing and you never know just what is real and what is not. (Nichole Coers*)

Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book by Maxine Hong Kingston. The story about a twenty-something Chinese-American whom, after graduating from the University of California Berkeley, is seeking to find himself amidst the wary times and circumstances of the late sixties; Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book is about Wittman Ah Sing whom as a poet, playwright, genius, and nutcase, must overcome the complexities of reality in order to construct the epic theater production of his dreams. I read the first chapter of this book in my 20th Century American Literature course with Dr. O'Conner and was blown away. Kingston's narrative structure is all consuming and will envelop you with its incredible density. (Aaron H. Bynum*)

Uncommon Clay by Margaret Maron is a thrilling murder mystery. Judge Deborah Knott is involved in an investigation of a series of murders involving the Nordan family who have owned a ceramic shop for two generations. Someone is out to get the family as, one by one, family members are picked off. As an added interest, Maron weaves the details of ceramic pottery making as well as the legal profession as she follows the crisis of this family. (Dwiggins)

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys--If you liked Jane Eyre , you need to read Wide Sargasso Sea . This book, the prequel to Jane Eyre, is the story of the Jamaican madwoman, who lives in the attic at her husband's English estate. Antoinette Cosway was born and raised in the Caribbean and Wide Sargasso Sea is about her life in Jamaica and Dominica before being moved to the attic at Thornfield. (Zelhart)

Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare , by Stephen Greenblatt--I found this book wholly absorbing, even magical. A down-to-earth, lively, and psychologically astute account of Shakespeare's world, his theater, and some possible connections between his life and work. The material doesn't exist for a conventional biography, but Greenblatt's speculations are a lot of fun. (Andy Matthews)