Book: “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini
“One of my favorite novels of all time. … Even if you’re not a reader, the book will pull you in with its heart wrenching story and beautifully crafted language. It revolves around the life of a young Afghan girl and the relationship she has with her family, and how all of it is influenced by the culture at the time. If you’re looking to feel something, this is the way to go.”
– Julie Freijat, Collegian copy chief and sophomore in journalism and mass communications
Show: “Modern Love”
“Part of the reason that I like it I think is because it’s based off of a New York Times column series. The show depicts love in a way that I think is really realistic and special. It also isn’t just about romantic love. There’s a couple going to therapy trying to save their marriage. There’s a couple trying to adopt a baby from a homeless woman. There’s a single mom who finds a friend in her building’s doorman. It’s a bunch of slice of life stories that have generally happy endings.”
– Kaylie McLaughlin, Collegian editor-in-chief and junior in journalism and mass communications
Podcast: “Science Vs”
“Though I wasn’t a big fan at first, this podcast has grown to be one of my favorites. It delves into the science behind topical, often political, issues. Backing up each episode with a litany of sources, ‘Science Vs’ manages to convey facts in a way that is formidable without taking itself too seriously. Each episode is full of expert interviews and cheesy puns, a signature of the series. I highly recommend the episode ‘PANDEMIC!!!’ from October just last year, it explores the impacts of a potential pandemic, before the spread of COVID-19 even began.”
– Rebecca Vrbas, Collegian culture editor and senior in journalism and mass communications
Video game: “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”
“So with the importance of self quarantine and the strong want to avoid doing productive things, I have been pouring hours of my life into ‘Animal Crossing’ and I’m loving every minute. The good vibrations and happy-go-lucky spirit is taking what could be a pretty drab time and making it enjoyable. There are so many details that the creators of this game thought about and it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite games of all time. I just love how all the little things add up over time to make your island so unique to you. 10/10.”
– Abigail Compton, Collegian multimedia editor and senior in fine arts
