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Supreme Conflict, 368 pgs.

The quietest but perhaps the most powerful branch of our government, the judicial branch, has been making serious waves lately. The United States Supreme Court, which currently has a conservative majority, recently issued a ruling that essentially identifies money (specifically, campaign contributions) as free speech, meaning the amount of money lobbyists and corporations can throw behind candidates is virtually unlimited. This interesting decision sparked an interest for me in the Supreme Court and how the current members came to be there, so my lawyer father recommended Jan Crawford Greenburg’s book Supreme Conflict. The book analyzes the evolution of the Supreme Court in the past few decades, and specifically the Bush appointments of Alito and Roberts (and his failure with Harriet Miers).

Greenburg’s book is stacked with information and provides lots of behind-the-scenes snippets, but you can feel her grasping to create excitement in what is an – at best – mildly intriguing process. When she writes about “the battle for Supreme Court’s future” or alludes to certain legal cases resembling wrestling matches, it feels like overreaching to create interest. Yes, the politics behind placing a justice on the bench can often be brutal and challenging, but Greenburg’s writing occasionally bordered on hyperbolic. Additionally, her extensive use of definitive adjectives to describe subjective events – such as the “openly hostile” looks on the faces of Democrats listening to Justice Alito speak, or the “enmity” of Scalia – are questionable journalism, at best. But her observations about Justice Sandra Day O’Connor are insightful and impactful. Greenburg examines how O’Connor, though often conservative-leaning, was often the justice who spoke against clear-cut laws in defense of the minorities they could hurt. One such interesting example of this is described in detail, when O’Connor questioned whether Maryland police should be allowed to detain a passenger and order them out of a car that had been pulled over for a traffic violation , even if they were not the driver and had done nothing wrong. The examples she brought up – a pregnant woman, an elderly person suffering from dementia – literally incited laughter in the courtroom. Greenburg’s thoughtful analyses of situations like this, and how they affected the political leanings of the court, were intriguing.

This book is certainly not for everyone. The material is often sluggish and dry, and Greenburg’s occasional inability to be objective can be irritating. But for those interested in how today’s Supreme Court came to lean in the direction it does, there are lots of solid examples and interviews to choose from. Greenburg is obviously passionate about her work, and her ideas are definitely concise and well thought-out. I would definitely recommend giving this book a shot.

Angels and Demons, 569pgs, Dan Brown

The Dan Brown novel, Angels and Demons, (569 pages) is a mystery thriller set in Rome and the Vatican. Full of art history and fancy words, Angels and Demons is extremely action packed and contains many facts about renaissance painters and sculptors. The protagonist, Robert Langdon (it helps to imagine him as Tom Hanks) is an art historian from Harvard that begins his adventure when a religion-sympathetic scientist is brutally murdered at science facility CERN.

The first of the series (Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol) it was the last that I read and by far the best. Robert Langdon uses his knowledge of art symbolism to stop a killer loose in Rome. As boring as it sounds to have a smart-history-person to catch an assassin, it actually creates great insight and depth to what goes on inside the head of Langdon.

The novel is written as a soap opera, cliffhanger type of style. The reader rotates through the mind of the assassin, Langdon, and various other individuals throughout the story, but only really sees as Langdon. This provides an interesting point of view, because we know what is going through on the head of the assassin as he kills people, but really it’s only as much as Langdon suspects. All in all, Angels and Demons is a good, exciting read.

Pirate Latitudes, by Michael Crichton, 312 pages

This novel is a gripping tale of a sailor in the times of colonies and pirates. As the story begins we are introduced to the characters and the small Port Royal on Jamaica. Also very early on we are introduced to the concept of privateering. This is when a ship that is funded by the government sets out and is essentially a state backed pirate ship. In this case the ships are sent out to raid Spanish settlements.
The main character, Captain Hunter, assembles a crew of some of the most ruthless sailors on the island and sets out for a heavily fortified Spanish settlement. Throughout the novel there are countless twists and turns in the plot. Constant action and excitement are a huge part of this book. The book is very descriptive and at some times very graphic. It shows what it was probably like to be the captain of a ship on a raid in the 1600’s very well.
Crichton is very good at describing things so that the reader knows exactly what he means. Especially when he is describing the conditions on the Spanish island. His descriptions are so vivid it makes you feel like you know the place that he is describing.
This is a book that anyone who enjoys action will enjoy. The book is action-packed and it has a lot of exciting twists.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Hold still, by Nina LaCour, 229 pages.

Hold Still is about a girl named Caitlin, whose best friend Ingrid committed suicide, leaving Caitlin feeling lost with no one to turn to. Caitlin wants to take back some things that she has said that could have hurt Ingrid’s feelings, but now she can’t. The book is about what it’s like to lose someone close to you, and how different people choose to deal with it.

One of the themes of this book is friendship, and Nina LaCour does a great job of expressing the characters feelings toward one another. Caitlin remembers Ingrid as a fun, energetic person, who would do things like jump up from a formal restaurant to dance to a song by The Cure. But we see the other side of Ingrid’s personality through her journal entries, which Caitlin finds and reads. Ingrid describes herself as pretty and sad, “getting sadder and sadder all the time as the pretty layer comes off in strips.” Caitlin is devastated to find out through Ingrid’s journal that Ingrid thinks that Caitlin could never understand her.

The author is trying to show how people can hide their feelings from the world, and how hiding can affect someone in the long run. This book is a great book to read for people who can relate to how teenagers deal with their pain. Some of the people we see every day may have hidden lives, just like the characters in this book

Neenah I.

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein, 321 pages:

Garth Stein’s captivating novel is told through the eyes of a wise and faithful golden retriever, Enzo. Enzo is the beloved pet of Denny Swift, the struggling race car driver who understands that his dog is more than just a pet, but also a best friend. Enzo reflects on his life with Denny and the hardships that they have experienced together, the night before Enzo’s death. Living with Denny through the most trying of years, Enzo knows his owner better than anyone else. The charming canine looks at life in a philosophical manner making one wonder how much our dogs can really understand.

This bittersweet tale will leave you quickly turning pages in pursuit of the plot’s resolution. Readers who do not own a dog, such as I, will still be able to connect and relate to the recollection of an average man’s life through the honest eyes of his companion. Because Enzo lives with Denny, Enzo sees Denny in his darkest hours and his finest moments. The dog tells it like it is and doesn't try to sugar coat anything in order to make his owner appear more noble and perfect. From the devastating changes in Denny's home life to the wonderful relationship with his daughter, Zoe, the book’s strength is an even balance between happy memories and painful experiences, making it believable and realistic.

My favorite parts of the book are when Enzo relates life to racing a racecar; “Yes: the race is long-to finish first, first you must finish” (pg. 206). Stein’s ongoing theme is that friendship is important to everyone and it can come in all different shapes and sizes. This book will be enjoyed by all because it has many different elements including sports, family, love, and friendship.

Olivia M

Lion in the White House, by Aida D. Donald, 285 pages

Lion in the White House, by Aida D. Donald, 285 pages

The Lion in the White House, by Aida D. Donald, is about the life of Theodore Roosevelt. It tells about his love for science and his families travels. In the beginning of the book it tells about his asthma and all of his other illnesses. Later on his family decides to live in Europe for a year; while they were in Europe their house in New York was being built. Later in his life he went to Harvard and graduated at the top of his class. He was always interested in politics, so after Harvard he became the assemblyman of New York. Soon after, he moved onto becoming the assistant secretary of the Navy. After a while of doing that he became the governor of New York. He later becomes the president of the United States and dies before his term is over.

The book is very good and informative, but it does tend to jump back and forth a lot. For example it is going on about his asthma and then very abruptly it goes on about his presidency and how great he was during it. It was not that thorough of a book, it went into some details but not a lot. For example, the author spends a brief moment on Theodore’s mother. Other then that, it was a good book and an enjoyable one too.

One very exciting moment in the book is when the author tells about Theodore’s hunting trip in British East Africa. Exciting because he was hunting and came across an elephant and decided to shoot and kill it. This was exciting because it was one of the few times that the author described something in a lot of depth, also because he shot and killed an elephant.

The author wrote this book so people could fully understand what Theodore Roosevelt’s life was like. Also the author wanted to show Theodore’s courage, brains, wits, and heart. This book is for anyone who wants to learn more about one of our great presidents and his life.

Go Ask Alice, Author Anonymous, 185 pages

Portrayed as the actual diary of a fifteen-year-old girl, Go Ask Alice, follows the young teen’s journey from innocence to the torture of being in a living-nightmare due to her fall into the world of drugs. Taking place in the late 60’s, a time of heavy drug popularity, the diarist, (who never reveals her name) starts off writing in her diary as a slightly awkward young teen, trying to deal with normal teenage issues of boys, popularity, and insecurity. She is soon taken from these simple problems when she’s introduced to her first experience with drugs; LSD. She took the drugs unknowingly, as they were put in her Coke can at a party. In this first trip, she begins to hallucinate, seeing shifting patterns and colors. All her senses become intensified , and she feels uninhibited and at peace with the world. She thinks she has found “the perfect and true original language” and feels that she possesses the “wisdom of the ages.” The girl quickly falls deeper and deeper into drug usage, and her life starts to spiral out of control. There are times where she struggles to stay straight, and it appears she can even do so, but all turns in a second, bringing her life back to a desperate search for her next fix. Over about two years, she narrates her struggle with fighting drug use, through the high, almost optimistic times, to her absolute lows of utter hopelessness.

Through the eyes of a teenage drug addict, the diarists gives a first-hand view into the chaos and hell brought on by drug abuse. Horrifying yet captivating at the same time, the events as seen through the girl’s journey and her struggle with drug use shocks and compels readers, ensuring a definite page-turner. The story stays true to its subject, as it does not just show the terrifying problems of drug use, but as some would find controversial, the appeal and attractiveness of drugs. After her first use of marijuana she writes, “I finally smoked pot and it was even greater than I expected” (49). She evens writes that “After you’ve had it, there isn’t even life without drugs. It’s a prodding, colorless, dissonant bare existence” (83). However, the diary can get graphic and even disturbing at times. During some times of drugs use, the girl is sexually abused. During one especially bad trip, she scratches off her own face and tears out her hair. With such graphic detail, there are parts that may be hard to handle for some. In addition, there is also an issue with the authenticity of the book.

There is somewhat of a controversy over whether or not Go Ask Alice is really an actual diary, or whether it is a work of fiction to push an anti-drug campaign. The book almost discredits itself, making it appear more like fiction being portrayed as something it’s not. Much of the content seems unrealistic, as some of the entries and events in her life are overdramatic and exaggerated, almost to make for a better story and especially drive in the message of the horrors of drugs. Although the overall tone of the book is written like a teenage girl, the grammar and vocabulary does not match the bare thoughts one would write in a personal diary, but instead like the edited works of a person trying to write like a teenage girl. The book is slightly disappointing if it is being promoted as something its not to just promote an anti-drug campaign.

Fiction or non-fiction, the story is still compelling, edgy, and a very good read. It conveys to teens the consequences and the allure of a life with drugs. It shows there is not always a happy ending in reality and that life may sometimes be cruel and hard. Any teenager, as long as they are not easily distressed, would not only enjoy this book, but would benefit from hearing the heart-breaking story of what drugs did to a young teen’s life.

No Limits: The Will to Succeed

For any dedicated swimmer, Micheal Phelps's No Limits: The Will to Succeed is a truly memorable book. Anyone who watched the 2008 summer Olympics and saw Micheal Phelps win eight gold medals, undoubtedly remembers at least a few of his world record swims. This book relives the Olympic experience through the mind and eyes of Micheal Phelps himself. As the reader, we see what he is thinking before each race, how he prepares for each race, the pressure of winning eight gold medals and how he copes with the pressure. As a very serious swimmer myself, I found the book most intriguing. If swimming is your sport, then this book is a must read!
Phelps's story has significant strengths and weaknesses. There are quotes and sayings that I can remember to this moment that make this book stand out from other autobiographies. For example, "You can swim as fast as you want. You can do anything you want. You just have to dream it, believe it, work at it, go for it" (18). This is an extremely inspiring quote. So many athletes are put down and discouraged by their coaches. To here something as encouraging as this can really change how an athlete views their sport. I know I look at swimming totally different now, my goals are higher as well as my standards of the sport. Another very simple saying from this book, "W.I.N.: What's Important Now" (131). I often find myself in the pool during a hard practice or a at a swim meet when I just don't feel like swimming and the I remember this saying, "W.I.N." It helps push me through rough spots in swimming. On the down side of the book, it is not written very well at all. The wording and just the writing in general is very ammature. The writing could really use some help.
No Limits: The Will to Succeed has almost all the excitement of the Olympics themselves. In fact, Phelps gives us incite that we never would have known if it weren't for this book. One of the memorable chapters is the 400 Free Relay. The relays are perhaps the most nerve racking events for Micheal because they aren't entirely in his control, he must rely on three other swimmers. In the 400 Free Relay, the fourth and final man of the relay, Jason Lezak, dove into the pool behind the French. At the flip turn Jason is still losing. on the last lap Jason miraculously out touches France to win the relay by eight hundreths of a second. Almost every chapter of the book will have you on the edge of your seat, always chearing for Micheal Phelps and U.S.A.
There are many purposes or themes that Micheal may be trying to get across to the reader. one of the most important themes in this book is to never give up. Just as every great athlete, Phelps has had to deal with pressure and losing and critics. The one thing that separates the weak from the tough is mentallity. Micheal Phelps has the right mindset, as proven through this book and all his gold medals. Micheal teaches the importance of being mentally tough and determined. Giving up is not an option. This book is mainly targeted at swimmers, but it is also simply a great book for any athlete searching for a source of inspiration. If you are into the Olympics, I would suggest this book. Micheal Phelps has made Olympic history, you don't want to bet the one person out of the loop on todays greatest athlete. The book gives the reader a feeling of accomplishment. I finished the book feeling that I was bound to succeed in something great. Hopefully you will enjoy a similar experience if you read this book.

Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks, soft cover, 335 pages

This novel is about a boy, John, who is in the military and on his leave he meets the perfect girl, Savannah, at the beach of his home town. John was a “bad boy” in high school and ended up being in the military because he felt he had no other choice at the time. After meeting Savannah and getting close to her he realized that it would be hard to leave but he couldn’t resist spending every second possible with her because every second they spent together they fell more and more in love with each other. John had one year left in the military so they agreed they would wait for each other, yet after 911 John was stuck for two more years. Their relationship stayed sturdy, for a while at least. The more time they spent apart the more distant they became. It was their fist serious relationship and they didn’t know how to deal with their ups and downs, they both wanted completely different things in life, but they both wanted to be with each other.

Nicholas Sparks is an amazing author, the reader gets drawn into the book and the more you read the more interested you get. The detail he gives for every character gives you such a great idea of what they actually look like. Its such a unique story, it’s a twist to the usual love stories, but in a good way. I love how when the characters are happy you smile but when they’re sad you cry, you just cant help it. The best part of the novel is when Savannah tells John, before he goes back to the military base, to look at the moon every night so that they will both feel like they are still together and close. I definetly think that Sparks was inspired and used events from his own life to incorporate into the book. This book is obviously for both men and women but is probably more appealing to women. The novel gives you a different view on love and makes you appreciate what you have.

Nicolette B.