Readers United Book Reviews | All the Light We Cannot See and Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance

Skylar Hansen-Raj ’20 returns with two interesting and profound historical novels, one fictional and one biographical.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See is a beautifully written piece focusing on the effects of war on seemingly everyday people. Doerr’s gorgeous style of writing is both clever and unique, as it slowly unfolds a bittersweet story of two young adults during World War II. This book is a magical read, as it is able to pull the reader in. 

One of the story’s main features is Doerr’s use of time skips. He starts off the book with a vivid image of an airplane gliding over the coastline of the French port Saint-Malo just before liberation. “To the bombardiers, the walled city in its granite headland, drawing ever closer, looks like an unholy tooth, something black and dangerous, a final abscess to be laced away,” Doerr writes. The poetic language of the text allows the story to be one of grace and strength instead of grit and gore. Although a variety of tough subjects are brought up, Doerr’s careful insight and use of blank space allow the reader to pause and truly reflect.

The plot centers around two characters in very different situations. The first is Marie-Laure, a headstrong and resilient girl who happens to be blind. The other is Werner, an orphan with a knack for mathematics who was born in the wrong place and time. Marie-Laure and her single father, a locksmith, escape Paris just as it is occupied by Germany and flee to Saint-Malo where relative Etienne lives. The father is entrusted with the safekeeping of the Sea of Flames, a highly valuable diamond that supposedly allows the owner to live forever. However, it causes terrible things to happen to the people the owner loves. Over the course of the book Marie-Laure struggles for survival, learns to do what’s right, and comes to love the city.

In the beginning of the novel, Werner dreams of leaving the orphanage. He and his younger sister Jutta listen to the broadcasts on the radio. One broadcast specifically catches their interest: a Frenchman who plays the piano and talks about science. He is the one who inspires Werner to build and solve the mysteries of the radio. Werner is noticed for his skill of the radios and successfully tests into the Nazi academy. He leaves Jutta behind, but not before she demands, “Is it right to do something only because everyone else is doing it?”

At the academy, Werner’s skill is noticed and put to use. He also befriends Frederick, a kind boy who seems out of place. Throughout the book Werner suffers and regrets before he finally understands what it means to live.

I really loved this book. The imagery and writing style impressed me so much that it has inspired me to try some creative writing. The way Doerr articulates the meaning of living is especially profound. The book manages to not be heavy on war but instead on the small actions of people trying to live their lives during hard times. It is not just a tale of survival; it is a story of love and hope. Doerr successfully manage to place the reader into the mind of a Nazi and makes you challenge your own morals. Although I wasn’t completely satisfied with the ending, I feel as if I could read this book a hundred times more.


Verdict: I would strongly recommend this book to those who feel like a dark theme but a light read.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance by Alessandro Vezzosi

Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance, by Alessandro Vezzosi, is an excellent documentation of da Vinci’s background, private life, discoveries, and art. A dense but short read, it is extremely factual and surprisingly interesting.

One of the greatest figures of the Renaissance, da Vinci has long been idolized and studied. This book goes into deeper detail of who he truly was. Although best known for his art, da Vinci was so much more than simply an artist. He was a scientist, philosopher, anatomist, astronomer, engineer, courtier, and an inventor. In fact, his paintings were often ways of studying the human body and its capabilities. His spirited and active imagination led him to explore the mysteries of the world. He studied the heavens and designed several parachutes to get him there. Da Vinci also researched medicine, hydraulic, mechanics, painting techniques, architecture, warfare, and weaponry. Many of his discoveries were crucial to inventions made today.

This book is more than just a biography. It takes the reader on a journey through Florence, Milan, and France. Each setting is accurately detailed and represents the hardships da Vinci faced as he struggled to make a name for himself in the world.

This book was fascinating to read because I had never appreciated all the work da Vinci did. He was a true scientist. I loved the way the information was presented. Instead of cramming everything onto a page, the author created a fresh format to keep the book from becoming overwhelming.

Several prints of da Vinci’s paintings and notes are also included, which allow the reader to see the exact pieces the text references. I gained a lot of respect for da Vinci, as there is a lot more than the textbooks describe him to be. Although little is known about the true life of da Vinci, the book does a great job describing myths and also real snippets of his own works. My favorite quote of da Vinci’s is: “When I thought I was learning to live, I was learning to die.”

Verdict: I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for great and in depth information about both the Renaissance and da Vinci.

Readers United Book Reviews | Saving Capitalism and The Economist Guide to Financial Markets

In this installment, Imad Rizvi ’18 returns with two informative books that center around politics and economics.

Saving Capitalism by Robert Reich

In his book Saving Capitalism, Robert Reich provides strategies for reversing a dangerous trend that has accelerated rapidly in the past few decades: increasing income inequality in the United States. Reich makes a strong argument for the need for reform to ensure improving conditions for all Americans rather than an elite few. Reich argues for redefining the traditional debate between liberals and conservatives about the “size” of government and focusing instead on changing many of the rules that regulate interactions between workers and big corporations.

Reich begins by analyzing some of the trends in the last few decades that have led us to a situation where the wealthiest 1% of Americans own more than 20% of the country’s income. He focuses on the rise of the working power, the declining middle class, and the rise of the nonworking rich. Once he exposes how these trends have led to difficulties for millions of American workers, Reich argues that the problem isn’t the system of capitalism as a whole: rather, that the rules of the system have been dictated by a select few who have shaped regulation towards their own benefits. Through clear data, evidence, and analysis, he is able to show how regulation of businesses has been largely ineffective in preventing the drastic rise in inequality, using a few case studies to support his point with specific examples.

At the end of the book, Reich suggests a few mechanisms and policies — such as a universal basic income — that could be used to ensure economic prosperity for all Americans. Well-researched, interesting, and informative, Reich’s book is a great read for any progressive interested in hearing opinions on how to promote equal opportunities for all.

Verdict: I would recommend this book to anybody interested in politics or economics.



The Economist Guide to Financial Markets: Why They Exist and How They Work by Marc Levinson

For anybody with an interest in economics and finance, The Economist Guide to Financial Markets: Why They Exist and How They Work offers a quick introduction on these topics. The book provides an in-depth overview of the functions and operations of major financial markets and institutions. From topics ranging from the stock market to international currency exchanges, this book is a useful tool to grasp basic topics in finance. 

While it can be difficult to understand some of the concepts presented in the book, the use of data, graphs, and specific examples help simplify many complex ideas. 
The book is useful as a reference for anybody who wants background information on different financial markets. It is divided into different chapters and sections for each market that is discussed, including money markets, foreign-exchange markets, stock markets, and future and option markets. The book can definitely be dull and difficult to understand at times, but only because it has to explain complex information in a way that is easy to understand for people seeking an introduction to the field. The book is very informative, and the use of data and examples makes it easier to understand how many of the financial instruments that are discussed work.

Overall, this book definitely offers a broad but thorough introduction to some of the most important financial markets. The book is effective in providing a clear and comprehensive summary to help provide a basic understanding of the functions of many different financial institutions.


Verdict: While it may be difficult to understand without some background knowledge in finance, I would recommend this book to anybody interested in learning more about the field.

Readers United Book Reviews | If I Was Your Girl

CiCi Curran '20 returns with a romance that does not shy away from difficult topics. This book will tug at your heartstrings and is sure to keep you interested the whole way through.

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo



At the start of every school year, there is always a new girl or boy. Faced with immediate judgment, they either make friends or fall into the background of high school. In If I Was Your Girl, by Meredith Russo, Russo tells the story of Amanda Hardy, a transgender girl who's been through it all. She’s attempted suicide, been beat up, and can barely remember a time when she wasn’t bullied. Amanda switches school to have a new start, a new start where nobody knows about her secret. Things start well for Amanda. She manages to fit in by making friends, reconnecting with her dad, and catching the attention of guys.

Right off the bat, Amanda makes new friends and meets Grant.  Kind, socially smart, and athletic, Grant is the perfect guy for Amanda. Naturally, she finds herself falling love. There’s just one problem: how do you fall in love and have a relationship with someone you can’t tell everything?

Faced with the choice between telling Grant the truth and potentially ending their relationship or lying and being forced to live with herself, Amanda finds herself unable to make a decision.

Unlike other authors, Russo doesn't filter any aspect out no matter how dark. Amanda soon discovers that the truth demands to be known, whether she likes it or not.

Verdict​: Read If I Was Your Girl if you're in the mood for a romance that also addresses issues affecting our society every day. You won’t be able to put this story down until you know how Amanda's story ends.

Readers United Book Reviews | We Were Liars and The Sea of Tranquility

Aisha Pasha ’20 returns this week with two gripping novels full of mysteries and surprises.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a haunting story of secrets and the mysteries that surround a family. The synopsis on the back of this book is purposefully short and vague because, going into this book, it is best to know as little as possible. Whatever you do, don’t ask anyone about the ending before you finish the book.

We Were Liars is about a seemingly perfect family that gathers on a private island every summer. Every summer is the same for the Liars, a group of three cousins and a family friend. But after one destructive summer, everything changes and lies unfold into truths. The book follows Cady, a girl who tries to find out the secrets that surround her family and the summer that she doesn’t seem to remember.

I was absolutely amazed by the haunting beauty of this book and was covered in chills while I was reading. It contains time jumps from the summer before to present day throughout the book to make even more questions arise for the reader. The plot slowly unfolds before your eyes and soon you won’t be able to put it down. Every word, memory, and character was carefully crafted to fit the mysterious plot of the book.

Verdict: I give We Were Liars by E. Lockhart a full five out of five stars. I didn’t expect to love the book as much as I did, but as soon as I closed the book I knew I had made the right decision to pick it up. Go read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. It will stay with you forever and you’ll want to read it again.

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay remains one of my favorite contemporary books of all time because of its uniqueness and stunning writing.

Nastya Kashnikov used to be a pianist. She also used to have friends and a future. But that was all before. After moving to a new school, all she wants is to remain a shadow in the crowd and to get revenge on the person who took everything from her. She’s not all that different from Josh Bennett, a boy with a past full of grief and feelings that everyone that gets close to him will soon disappear. As Nastya barges into his life, he can’t ignore the mysteries surrounding her or how well she hides them. Part of him wants to find them out, but another part of him tells him that he shouldn’t.

Going into this book, I knew almost nothing about it and it was the complete opposite of what I expected it to be. There was so much more to each character than I anticipated and everyone had a backstory that haunted them.

I was stunned by how amazing the writing style was. The words were linked beautifully and the plot moved smoothly. Millay also was able to mix in some humor into the dialogue that had me laughing out loud. There is a major aspect of mystery in this book and I felt like Millay did a perfect job of revealing things at the perfect time. By the first few chapters, I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down.

Nastya was written beautifully as well. You could clearly see how broken she was and how intent she was on hiding it. I thought her character developed immensely by the end of the book. You could sense the change in her dialogue and the way she looked at life. She changed from being completely closed off to being ready to talk and reveal all the pain she had been through.

Verdict: I would recommend The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay to people who love a good mystery novel with a surprising twist. I would give it a solid four out of five stars. Go pick it up!

Readers United Book Reviews | Sophie's World and Dawn

Ava Hathaway Hacker '18 returns with two thought-provoking novels sure to keep you reading until the end. 

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

"The only thing that we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of wonder."

In Jostein Gaarder’s novel, Sophie’s World, Sophie Amundsen returns home from school one day to find two mysterious notes in her mailbox. Each notes has one question: “Who are you?” and “Where do we come from?” This begins a series of lessons between Sophie and her  teacher, Albert Knox, as the novel continues to, with Sophie’s own learning, explore the history of philosophy in a new and enlightening way: through the eyes of a fourteen-year-old girl.

Sophie’s World tracks the evolution of mankind’s philosophical thought, and, within that, makes the reader ask the same theoretical questions of themselves. Though the plot involving Sophie and her philosophy teacher Albert Knox, as well as well as other characters introduced later, grows more and more complex as the novel advances, part of the excitement of the story is not truly understanding everything, both about the characters and also about the lessons they are teaching. The realizations later in the novel about the nature of Sophie and her teacher themselves twists the book further from a straightforward story.

Sophie’s World is a compelling read. Though not a dramatic page-turner, it presents enough mystery and speculation to keep the reader interested. It is carefully written and the pieces fit seamlessly together. While some of the concepts of Sophie’s story might be complex, the writing is clear and simple.

Verdict: I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in philosophy and philosophical exploration who does not shy away from long reads.

Dawn by Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler's, Dawn, the first book in the Xenogenesis trilogy, tells the story of a Woman named Lilith who wakes up in an isolated compartment on a spaceship to learn that she has been in suspended animation for hundreds of years, ever since nuclear war destroyed life on Earth. She meets the Oankali, the alien race that has rescued her, and a few other humans, from the destruction. 

The Oankali are frightening in appearance, lacking facial features and sporting tentacles. They possess the power of genetic manipulation and there are three, rather than two, genders: male, female, and Ooloi. Though they have saved some remnants of humanity, it is not for unselfish reasons. They want to repopulate earth with a new phase of life, Oankali -human hybrid children.

Lilith is given the responsibility of training the other rescued humans, though she herself is disgusted by both the Oanlaki themselves and their plans for humanities future. The novel explores multitudes of complex themes: colonization, xenophobia, consent, sexuality, gender, human nature, race, and many more. 

Dawn is far from an easy read, it is complex and frightening, and, at times, graphic. However, for the readers who can handle the disturbing aspects, Dawn is one of the most compelling and thought-provoking examples of sci-fi speculative fictions of all time. Octavia Butler creates a story that will shock and amaze the reader. Truly, there are few books like it.

Verdict: For readers who can handle hard themes and sometimes disturbing scenes, Dawn is a fascinating novel from one of the greatest sci-fi writers of all time. The world that Octavia Butler has created will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, anxious to read the next page.

Readers United Book Reviews | The Nix and The Case Against Sugar

Caroline Rispoli '20 returns with two reads that will change their readers’ outlooks not only on the subjects of the books but on their own lives as well.

The Nix by Nathan Hill

The life of Samuel can only be summed up in one word: complex. Written by Nathan Hill, The Nix is the story of a boy who grows into an unaccomplished writer addicted to video games, and his mother, who becomes the headline of every news source in the world. It is her, and the rocks that she throws at a Republican presidential candidate, that begins the journey through time in the novel as Samuel explores both her past and his own.

Abandoned, betrayed, but intrigued when he has the chance to find out why she abandoned him all those years ago, Samuel is given the opportunity to write about this mystery woman, whom he doesn’t know well enough to call his mother, the face of whom has been on replay across the country. Hill tells of his childhood as Samuel, a delicate boy who would cry at anything and immediately grabs the reader as he zips back into the present.

The stories seem unorganized, discombobulated even, but it is exactly this confusion that leaves the reader wanting more. The Nix itself is a ghost, a spirit that finds a person like Samuel and never seems to leave, a reminder that things go wrong and never fully recover.

Verdict: A must read; Nathan Hill captures his readers and doesn’t let them go. Readers will be thinking about The Nix long after they reach the final page.

The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes

Sugar is a drug. Or at least that’s what Gary Taubes writes in his book, The Case Against Sugar. For most, sugar may seem like no more than a flavoring that brings memories of childhood, but Taubes makes a new connection as he sets sugar’s destructive potential not only equivalent to cigarettes, but to modern diseases. As he snakes through the history of sugar, and the increasing demand for it, he highlights that this villain is hidden everywhere and in everything.

An investigative science and health journalist, Taubes delves deep into the facts through an insightful analysis of today’s sugar-infested world and the effects of its consumption. While the thought that everyone’s favorite food could be the one thing hurting them the most may be depressing, The Case Against Sugar is not merely an attack on the food industry of today. Rather, it is an informative, yet thought-provoking, book that enlightens readers on the subject of sugar. There is no hiding from the truth: sugar is a silent killer that eats away at you as you eat away at it.

Taubes’ intellect and intense knowledge of the subject are evident through his thorough synopsis of the world of sugar today, the harm it brings to the health of those who consume it, and the ever increasing demand for what is becoming the main ingredient of more and more foods.

Verdict: Informative yet interesting, The Case Against Sugar is not at all what you would expect. Highly recommend for those who enjoying sitting down with a good book in hand, ready to learn.

Readers United Meeting Minutes | Monday April 10th

Monday, April 10th

Discussion of possible books for long weekend.

Preferred themes: contemporary, mystery

Option 1: Murder on the Orient Express

Synopsis: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for the time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. A passenger lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.

Option 2: Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Synopsis: Kerry McGrath is a dedicated prosecutor and a devoted mother. When her daughter's face is cut in a car accident, Kerry is relieved that the plastic surgeon who treats her is the eminent Dr. Charles Smith. Then Kerry notices something bizarre. Two of Smith's patients bear an uncanny resemblance to Suzanne Reardon, a young woman killed eleven years earlier. Why would Dr. Smith create look-alikes of a murder victim? A chilling tale of obsession by America's reigning queen of suspense.

Option 3: The Cuckoo’s Calling

Synopsis: A brilliant mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel's suicide.After losing his leg to a landmine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.
Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

Other options considered: The Hate You Give, Still Alice, Room, The Wonder

Decision: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie