Bluebeard

Contributed by Sophie, grade 12 -- June 2018

I found myself immersed in a fictional biography about an old veteran and painter named Rabo Karabekian.

The comedic, yet realistic aspect of this book is very present and the two characteristics worked well together to create an enjoyable reading experience. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who takes pleasure in reading fictional books about personal development.

Not only is this book interesting, but Kurt Vonnegut adds realistic events and people into his story. As a reader, I wondered, "Is Rabo Karabekian actually real?"

A Confederacy of Dunces

Contributed by Chris, grade 12 -- June 2018

A Confederacy of Dunces is an absurd romp through the lives of a handful of ridiculous characters, that made me laugh out loud at times, although I found it dragged in the middle.

Dunces initially revolves around the story of Ignatius Reilly, an obese resident of 1960s-era New Orleans who writes an elegantly worded masters degree thesis in red crayon. Soon, however, the story expands to a true confederacy, jumping between a dozen different, equally absurd protagonists all with interconnected stories.

This book is a slow burn, that, while often very funny, struggles with the amount of characters to track. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a humorous and different read, who does not mind a longer book.

Cat's Cradle

Contributed by Chris, grade 12 -- June 2018

Cat’s Cradle is a hilarious commentary on life during the Cold War, and a book that I would definitely recommend.

The story takes place in an alternate 1960s America, where the father of the atom bomb has created an even more powerful superweapon --simply because he was bored.

After entrusting the weapon to his children, the narrator, a journalist writing a book on the doctor, stumbles upon the secret and thus accidentally begins a quest to prevent life on earth from ceasing to exist.

I would recommend this book to fans of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books, as well as anyone who enjoys satirical and off-the-wall humour.

Book Bites: Humorous stories

Contributed by Jeffrey, grade 12 -- June 2018

The story line follows Dwayne Hoover, a car salesman, and Kilgore Trout, a science fiction writer on a journey for an eventful meeting.  Dwayne progressively acts more insane as the story progresses.  

This book was a fun read with a great sense of humor and tragedy. I would certainly recommend it because of its clever plot and interesting characters.  

Pride and Prejudice

Contributed by Samantha, grade 12  -- April 2018

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen  is a classic story the immerses the reader into the Georgian era. I found this book to be compelling because of the challenging dialogue and relatable characters. 

The book is filled with a surprising amount of comedy yet truths that are still relevant. This book will most likely appeal to young adult and adult females . The language in this book is definitely hard to understand for even a well-read person, but it you can get through the difficult dialogue you will be able to enjoy a timeless story with intriguing characters.   

Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems -- a collection of light, humorous poems about life

Contributed by Ms. Burleson, teacher-librarian -- Spring 2017

Have you had a "bad hair day"? Are you "allergic to time"? Do you think that adults are "A+ at talking and D- at listening?"

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’ll enjoy this collection of poetry.  These quotations represent actual titles of poems in this anthology, all of which explore relatable and annoying experiences to which most people can relate.  

However, instead of tackling these topics negatively, they poems use humor.  You’re meant to laugh – not cry or rant.

Moreover, the poems are highly visual pieces as “concrete” poems  -- poems that organize words into shapes that complement their content, like the unruly-looking lines in the poem "Bad Hair Day."

I highly recommend Blue Lipstick for students who appreciate the lighter side of life, literature, and who will appreciate a temporary escape from the serious side of life.