The age-old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” is a good directive in general life, but Elias Diwan PO ’28 argues we can leave that judgement to the door when it comes to actual books. Book covers have become a site for formulation and homogenization, Diwan believes that we shouldn’t leave the cover at the door.
Tag: Books
Speculative Fixations: Who runs the world? In ‘Herland,’ it’s girls
What does Trump’s recent anti-trans executive order have in common with the 1915 feminist utopian novel “Herland”? Both explore what it means to be an ideal woman. Reading “Herland,” Vivian Fan PO ’28 examines this ideal and its present-day implications.
Word for Word: The allure of ‘Bonjour Tristesse’
After an improbable book recommendation from her grandpa, Anna R. Naigeborin PO ’28 wonders if a book written by a teenager in 1954 could move her teenage self in 2024. The charm of “Bonjour Tristesse,” she finds, holds true even 70 years later.
Lost in Translation: Embracing the violence of translation
Reflecting on the texts we’ve read in translation at the 5Cs, columnist Claire Welch SC ’27 explores the imperfect nature of literary translation and how it relates to learning new languages.
Word for Word: Dipping your toes into the stream of Clarice Lispector
Books translated into other languages are often described as being “lost in translation.” Literary columnist Anna R. Naigeborin PO ’28, a Brazilian herself, writes about the experience of reading the works of Brazilian author Clarice Lispector in English.
The Library of Translations: Reading Pop Culture – Book Recommendations from Iconic Moments
Ranging from reality tv scandals to petrifying politics, 2024 is off to a wild start. Columnist Caroline Kelly PO ‘27 highlights three iconic pop culture moments with corresponding book recommendations. Afterall, reading about the drama is far better than experiencing it.
The Library of Translations: The indescribably magical worlds of New York City’s best bookstores
In eight hours, book columnist Caroline Kelly PO ‘27 visited four of the most iconic bookstores in New York City. To her, each location offers a different literary world, realizing any and every bibliophile’s greatest dreams.
Let’s Go Local: Unpacking the Claremont Packing House
This week’s article takes us deeper into the Claremont Village by taking a stroll down First Street, where the road is lined with trees, bright neon signs and a host of businesses hoping to grab your attention. Walk up the wooden steps of the unmissable two-story, block-long building and through
The Prison Library Project at the Claremont Forum: Affordable, sustainable, charitable
Are you in need of a new book to read (or to decorate your dorm room with)? Read about the Claremont Forum, a used bookstore whose proceeds all go towards the Prison Library Project! Your new favorite Claremont Village spot!!
Queer Asian Reads: Why I struggled with Nghi Vo’s reimagining of The Great Gatsby
When book columnist Reia Li PO ‘24 first read Nghi Vo’s novel, “The Chosen and the Beautiful” (2021), she had mixed feelings. It wasn’t until she read Vo’s next book, “Siren Queen” (2022), that she understood why.