The Future of Academic Freedom, edited by Louis Maynard (1998) - This collection of essays gives an enlightening overview of the current state of academic freedom across university campuses. Written by scholars and professors from a variety of disciplines, I read this for one of my classes this semester. While it does not, contrary to the rather grandiose title, offer much with regard to the actual future of academic freedom, it does furnish readers with an aggregate source of lucid perspectives on topics such as curriculum decisions, speech codes, and research pursuits.
Drood by Dan Simmons (2009) - I was enthralled by Dan Simmons'
The Terror this summer, so I was very excited to start his novel about Charles Dickens. Told from the perspective of fellow author Wilkie Collins,
Drood explores the last years of Dickens' life and the inspiration for his final novel:
The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Simmons' historical accuracy and fleshy characters were gripping in
The Terror. Here, however, the same attention to detail seems ponderous and overstuffed. The plot, which started off as taut as a wire, slackened off about two-thirds of the way through and as the book is a mighty 784 pages, that left a lot of meandering discourse. More than once I found myself wishing for more rigorous editing.
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh (2007) - Young adult fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially when there are elements of fantasy or science fiction. Marsh's debut novel takes on the myth of Orpheus and sets it in contemporary New York City. Though I appreciate its creativity, the novel's frequent clunkiness and lack of rich character development kept me from fully being immersed.
Summer Half by Angela Thirkell (1937) - Thirkell's barbed wit is set loose yet again among the British upper class, and the results are simply effervescent. She's never cruel in her assessments of people's foibles, which is perhaps what keeps her novels charming as opposed to snarky.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005) - This was my second reading of Kostova's novel, and it was just as suspenseful and fascinating as the first time I read it three years ago. I love adaptations of the traditional vampire myth (minus any and all glittering subspecies. yeesh.), and Kostova's highly historical take is an excellent addition to the Dracula bibliography. The frequent textbook-like exposition frustrated some readers, but I found her deeply detailed research fulfilling.
