Recommendations from our Classmates: 2006

Stephanie Ajudua

• This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  Fitzgerald's first novel. Originally set to be called "The Romantic Egoist." Set primarily at Princeton, about a poor little rich kid named Amory who is on a quest to find himself. Set in the early 1900's. My blurb stinks, but if you are into F. Scott Fitzgerald, a must read.

Lili Anderson

• A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
  (Also the author of Infinite Jest) This is a collection of seven pieces on subjects ranging from television to the Illinois State Fair to the "supposed fun" of traveling aboard a Caribbean luxury cruise liner. This book will leave you ROLLING on the floor laughing, guaranteed.

Matt Baird

• Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande

Carmen Barnes

• Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros
• Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
• Poisonwood Bible or The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
• Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

Chad Bingham

• Star Wars, episodes 7-9 by Timothy Zahn
  Ever wondered what happened after the second Death Star was destroyed and the Emporer died? These are pretty good and have some sort of approval from George Lucas.

Jim Carroll

• Neuromancer by William Gibson
  Gibson defined cyberpunk with this first novel, and narrative is sharp, driving, and prophetic. The man can write a sentence. Features my favorite female protagonist of all time.
• Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
  Boy loves father. Father poaches pheasants. Father falls in trap. Boy saves father. Features an Austin Mini, too. It's a children's book, but subtext endears it to adult readers (so I've heard).
• Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
  Literary masochists only. I've never finished it. I keep trying, but I always get beat down like some freshman English major. Notable for dense, lyrical prose that makes me dizzy and a plot that is inappropriate to describe in this context. Nonetheless, it seems to have a compelling point just around the bend (right?). If you read it, let me know how it ends.
• A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
  About a narc who's so deep under cover that he narcs on himself--the drugs, of course, make him deeply schizophrenic and split personality. Don't worry about the paranoia--it's only literature.
• The Chosen by Chaim Potok
  One boy has a photographic memory. The other has a pretty mean curveball. They meet playing baseball and the story traces their rivalry and evolving friendship in the context of family and religious differences.

Jinny Chang

• Persuasion by Jane Austen
  My second favorite Austen book behind Pride and Prejudice. The book was written just before Austen's death and published posthumously. If you loved Elizabeth Bennet, you'll adore Anne Elliot. It has been said that Anne was Austen's favorite heroine.
• How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
  This is a beautifully written book about life in the United States for the four de la Torre girls, who had to flee to the Bronx from the Dominican Republic because of their father's political affiliation. It perfectly depicts what it's like to adapt to a new culture and language and how someone's identity is shaped by "old" and "new" world influences.
• A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
  A bit Tolkien-esque, but it's more driven by political intrigue. It's the first of three books in print and three more are expected. They're long at around 1000 pages, but they are so good! I've got some of my friends hooked on it. The fourth one is due in July and I can't wait!

Brett Chevalier

• Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  I could barely put this book down. After leaving her abusive father, a young white girl finds a new mother in a black woman who is a beekeeper. This book has everything: humor, beautiful language, suspense, emotion and meaning.
• Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
  A young girl is murdered but looks out from Heaven to watch her family and their ability to cope with her death. Touching. NYTimes Best seller list for many weeks.
• Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History by Kati Marton
  A historical book that is easy to read which details Presidential couples. The Kennedys, Wilsons, Roosevelts, Fords, Carters, Bushes (41st and 43rd).... I enjoyed learning about how the relationships the Presidents had with their wives had a large impact on the national agenda.

Erica Chung

• A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
  You'll love Owen
• Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
  Beautiful short stories.
• Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
  You'll love Harold.

Christine Combs

• Davita's Harp by Chaim Potok
• The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese
• Sophie's Choice by William Styron
• Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Tom Curran

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  Very well known book about government and thought control. Short read-and just wanted to plug this...think of the war on Terror, Saddam and Iraq when the mechanical dog kills the unsuspecting citizen near the end of the book. (not meant to sympathize with Osama, but just think about similarities with the governments' strategy).

Greg Dadekian

• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
  This a truly touching story about a boy and the adventures he has with his two closest companions, his dogs. I read this for the first time in fourth grade so it is definitely an easy read but it is a great book. I rank it in my top 5.

J.P. Dedam

• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  Joe says "it's the best book in the history of books." It is the most truthful exploration of the human mind and soul I have ever read, diving deeply into issues of God, good and evil, family but not much romance.
• Thanatos Syndrome by Walker Percy:
  A book about a southern psychiatrist confronted with the ethical issue of whether people are better off happy but intellectually stunted by drugs or naturally tortured by our own fears and worries.
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  Just a good read.
• Ishmael by Danial Quinn
  An alternate perspective on civilization, as told by a gorilla who studied philosophy. Very, well written though, it's not cheesy or anything.

Geoffrey Douglas

• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• The Villagers by Jorge Icaza (called Huasipungo in the original Spanish language version)
• The Truth About the Savolta Case by Eduardo Mendoza
• The Harry Potter series and Tolkien's series are good too.

Joe Dwaihy

• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
  For my money, the best war satire ever (even over MASH). Also the funniest book ever.
• Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (or anything by Vonnegut)
  It's short and maybe his best.

Elizabeth Eisenhardt

• The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
• The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews

Carey Field

• The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• A Prayer for Owen Meany, 158 Pound Marriage, Hotel New Hampshire, any book by John Irving
• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Si France

• A River Runs Through It by Norman McLean
  An autobiography about Montana, fly-fishing, faith and family (and Dartmouth). A quick and rewarding read. The best book ever written.
• Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose
  The Lewis and Clark Expedition, with fascinating accounts from the trip's official journal and colorful narration by Ambrose.

Amanda Gann

• The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind

Marc Hohman

• Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams
  This book, by the hilarious author of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, chronicles a number of safaris made by the Adams and an accompanying photographer to see a few of Earth's more captivating and endangered species. Like the Discovery Channel, Last chance to See is both entertaining and educational.
• The House of God by Samuel Shem
  This is the story of a medical school graduate's adjustment to life as an intern. It's very funny but at the same time addresses the issues of relationship stability, desensitization to patients' plights and the bureaucracy of the health care system, treating them seriously and exploring how they alter the psyche of a brand new physician.
• The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
  You all know what it's about (the Ebola outbreak of 1989 in Reston, VA, which is incidentally 20 minutes from my house and right across the street from where my brother plays hockey). It's all true, and very well put together. Although we don't go into nearly as much detail on filoviruses in microbiology, you'll find this intro to virology informative, easy to read and quite chilling.
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  A fable about giving up the life you know to follow your dream. Highly relevant.

Scott Hughes

• Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer
  This is an outstanding book about leadership. It is a fictional book about two Army officers and follows their careers from WWI. This book is required reading at the Army War College but really looks at some of the fundamental qualities that make a great leader. It is not filled with military mumbo-jumbo either, which makes it an easy read.
• Endurance by Alfred Lansing
  This is the account of Shackleton's journey to the Antarctic. Quick read because you can't put it down once you start. Incredible story made better by the fact it is real.
• Slouching towards Gomorrah by Robert Bork
  This book is for those looking for a not so light account of the decline of our culture. Written by one of the most intelligent men of this century - prepare to be challenged.
• Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
  This is for those looking for a logical defense of Christianity and Christian faith. If you thought that there couldn't be a logical explanation for a religion, look at this book.
• Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton
  This is actually my wife's pick. On the list of the top 100 books of the century, this is NOT an easy read, so don't pick it up unless you have a solid block of time devoted to following this brilliant thinker's logical progressions. It is definitely worth it in the end.

Derek Jenkins

• Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman and the collected poetry of Robert Frost:
  I plan on taking these two with me on a sunny day and finding a nice piece of lawn and flipping through and reading. Whitman and Frost have a way of opening my eyes to the beauty of life that we all take for granted day to day.

Roman Johnson

• Chronicles of Tao: The Secret Life of a Taoist Master by Deng Ming-Dao
  Super cool book. To the best of my limited knowledge it accurately portrays Taoist philosophy. The author has penned a number of books on Taoism, as well as it can be translated to western thought/culture. The story follows the life of a Chinese aristocrat/monk/warrior as he finds his place in the world, and along the way reflects changing Chinese culture.
• Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
  Personally, I love it for its religious/spiritual point of view, which is a funny thing to say regarding a book about a man who was raised on mars, by Martians, and then travels to earth to confront his own society. Heinlein is of course a hero within the sci-fi genre.
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  Story told through the point of view of a 10ish year old heroine. She is just becoming old enough to understand some of the ugliness and brutality of racism in her sleepy Alabama town. As she begins to perceive some of the ugliness of 'normal' people, she also begins to see that not everyone is blinded by hatred, that there are many individuals who quietly try to make a change in the world. Along the way she beats up some boys, spies on her neighbor, and acquiesces to wear a dress.
• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
  The first two thirds of the book, are amongst the funniest pages I've ever read. The final third of the book casts the other two in a whole new light, and makes you realize it was actually one of the saddest books (pertaining to war) you've ever read. Absolute classic.
• Watership Down by Richard Adams
  Love, life, and warfare amongst the rabbits living in a glen.
• Sho-gun by James Clavell
  Great story, great great. Sorry, I have to go study- but you should definitely go read this. British colonialism meets Chinese culture. You might particularly like it if you like historical fiction.

Chris Jons

• Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams
  Please read this one. It's so good. About breast cancer, loss, birds at risk from losing their habitat to the rising waters of Great Salt Lake. It's honestly magical.
• The Magus by John Fowles
  This is about a guy who accepts a teaching job on a Greek island, and gets swept up into a crazy web/adventure with an old man on the island - it's freakishly enthralling, the mental games are fantastic, and there's some great insight into our condition as somewhat ungrounded twenty-somethings.
• The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
  A deceptively simple tale of a young man in New Orleans who goes on a diffuse yet consuming 'search' for something deeper.

Jodi Leverone

• An Unquiet Mind by Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison
  Dr. Jamison is a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins and has suffered from bipolar disorder her entire life. She describes the struggles she faced growing up with bipolar disorder, moving from base to base, as her father was in the military. She goes into depth about the problems she had developing relationships throughout high school and college. She further describes the problems she had with taking lithium to combat her disorder. In the end, she describes her experience as a doctor treating patients with bipolar disorder. It is a truly fascinating book. Furthermore, it is often recommended reading for patients suffering from bipolar disorder.

Rodwell Mabaera
These are the GREATEST books of all times - you will not get a list any more awesome than this.

• Goedel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter
• The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero by Robert Kaplan
• Math Gene by Keith Devlin
• Proof (a short play) by David Auburn
• The Emperor's New Mind by Roger Penrose

Sandy Maruszak

• DOC Guide
  Info on local climbing, fishing, hiking, skiing and kayaking.
• AMC White Mountain Guide
  Great for folks who are interested in great local hikes. Comes highly recommended.

Meghan McCoy

• The Alienest by Caleb Carr (sequel is The Angel of Darkness)
  Good historical fiction looking at the use of psychological profiling to catch a serial killer in turn of the century New York City
• Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley
  If you haven't seen this comic strip yet, you need to. It can be hit or miss as to when it's funny, but when it's funny it's really funny
• How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
  This book has a great rhythm to it, follows the life of a young boy as he grows up in the coal-mining region of Wales
• A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
  A fun book to have around and just read small portions out of every now and then -Seamus Heaney- Irish poet, love all of his works, also has a good translation of Beowulf
• Dave Barry Was Here by Dave Berry
  A funny look at Dave Barry's version of history
• Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
  A humorous novel, small autobiographical writings

Ashley Miller

• A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
  A great book based in my town, Exeter, NH. We actually took a field trip to the house the story takes place in. It will take you on a great adventure, and its pretty easy reading, by a great author. Irving also wrote Cider House Rules. An excerpt from the back cover, "Owen Meany, the only child of a New Hampshire granite quarrier, believes he is God's instrument; he is." A comedy, with a heartbreaking character. You can get the book for $1.49 used on amazon.com, or pick it up at your local library!
• A Separate Peace by John Noles
  Another great book written about my town, Exeter, NH. Based on the private school Phillips Exeter, these places really exist! I used to play lacrosse on the fields by the river where....well, I don't want to spoil the book for you! An excerpt from the back cover, "Gene was lonely, introverted, and intellectual. Phineas was a handsome, taunting, dared evil athelete." On sale for a penny, used, at amazon.com, or again, try your local library!

Katrina Mitchell

• And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
  I recommended this last year and everyone who read it, loved it. Exhaustively researched and filled with intriguing anecdotes, this book is an incredible political/social commentary on the start of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
• The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall
  If you like John Irving's characters, but are tired of his New England settings and purposefully placed references to Exeter Academy, you should give Brady Udall a try. He tells the clever story of Edgar Mint's childhood in a boarding school (thankfully, not at Exeter) and as a member of a dysfunctional foster family. As you follow Edgar on his ultimate quest to find the mailman who once ran over his head, you'll realize that he might just be a wackier protagonist than Irving's Owen Meany.
• Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
  This collection of essays offers an excellent reminder that clinical medicine is much more fascinating than DMS final exams.

Casey Olm-Shipman

• Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard
  This is a beautiful book, infused with philsophical reflections on nature. Dillard's style is aesthetic prose-she has an eye for amazing detail that captures the poetry of everyday life.
• Naked by David Sedaris
  This is a book of short stories/essays that will make you laugh and laugh and laugh. Sedaris hilariously flaunts his egotistical and sarcastic views with a blatant honesty, revealing the darkly funny but true sides of human nature.
• Out of Africa by Isak Denison
  Isak Denison is an amazing writer, and an amazing woman. This book recounts her time spent in Africa on a coffee plantation. Tremendous!

John Raser

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  It's short and fun to read...a little bit mystical.
• It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong
  It's very inspirational, easy to read, and medically relevant. And who doesn't love endurance athletics!!

Page 2 of the 2006 Student Book List

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