School takes over and sometimes all you want to do is run from Van Pelt screaming about how you never want to read Kant or Shakespeare again. Lucky for you, Street understands your dilemma and is here to offer you advice on what to read when you need a break from the textbooks. So if you're looking for a good book to procrastinate with or a nice gossipy novel to read on the beaches of Acapulco, then we have you covered.
The Pact
By: Jodi Picoult
Picoult is a household name and New York Times bestselling author. Her books evoke emotion and self-reflection. The Pact is a searing envision of teenage love gone wrong. The book is full of twists and turns and takes a deep look into what it means to have loved and lost.
For the Penn student who just broke up with their longtime S.O. and needs a reminder of how petty their relationship drama when compared to Chris and Em's.
The Flanders Panel
By: Arturo Perez-Reverte
Who could be turned off by a book that includes art, chess and murder? Think Philo is pretentious? Obviously you have not read Perez-Reverte. This book screams for the educated aristocrat who wants to really look into the inner workings of sex and chess while following a mystery. This is a better written Dan Brown-type novel, with more intelligence and seduction.
For the enthusiastic art history major who has no outlet for their sexuality and needs this book to remind them of their inner desires.
Are Men Necessary?
When Sexes Collide
By: Maureen Dowd
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd is never one to give the male species any credit. Let's be honest: They never really deserve it anyways. This book is definitely a chick book with humor and wit, minus the cheesy romance. It explores the role of women in our post-Feminist Movement society, questioning how (or whether!) women differ from 50 years ago. This book is for smart women wondering how their high IQ and impressive job prospects will damage their chance of marriage.
For the future female donors of the Penn alumni society.
The Call of Service
By: Robert Coles
Here at Penn we do not necessarily like Harvard, but we can at least respect their professors. Coles is a famous child psychologist and has a personal interest in learning about college students and their experience with community service. So if you feel your tutoring sessions in West Philadelphia are getting you nowhere or you're disheartened about your lack of volunteerism, then read this book. Coles puts the idea of a college student who attends a prestigious university into perspective and makes you want to go out and be a better person.
For the activist who needs a reason why they should do community service to boost their resume for OCR.
All Souls: A Family Story from Southie
By: Michael Patrick MacDonald
This book gives an inside look into the Irish ghetto infamous for its racist and violent behavior. If you've heard of 'Whitey' Bulger and are curious as to why he has been on America's Most Wanted for the past thirteen years, then look no further. This book gives you a firsthand experience of what it is like to grow up Irish and poor in Boston. If the last name MacDonald was not enough to convince you of his Irish heritage, then the pages of this book will. Filled with drugs, fights and violence, this is a sad tale of how to escape a life of crime.
For all the Boston wannabes or those who just cannot wait for St. Patty's day.
Extremely Loud
and Incredibly Close
By: Jonathan Safran Foer
This book tells the tale of a not-so-average nine-year-old on a quest to revitalize his dead father, who passed away on 9/11. Along the way he ends up uniting people from New York City and creating a circle of comfort that he never imagined he had. Foer (who visited Penn's campus last year) is a quirky writer with a taste for the dramatic and whose material reads like a new Kurt Vonnegut.
For those who want to relive childhood innocence and have an existential experience.
