Patrick was born and raised in Upstate New York and is a proud member of the Saratoga Northshire team. He enjoys books on history, politics, economics, and maybe even a few classics (I’m looking at you Wuthering Heights)....
Goodbye, Hunger Games. Step aside Lord of the Rings. There’s a new trilogy in town. An Army at Dawn is the first entry in Rick Atkinson’s triad of books detailing America’s involvement in World War II, and though it is non-fiction, this work is packed with enough political intrigue and explosive twists to make Catching Fire quake in its boots. Atkinson brings the sights, sounds, and figures of the North African campaign to vivid life in this truly impressive work about a theater of war that has been unjustly ignored by most- myself included. If you have even a passing interest in history, I could not recommend this enough. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
Not your average “going away to college” story. Dripping with drama and intrigue, this modern gothic novel will draw you in deep and refuse to let go. With a dash of mystery, a sprinkle of romance, and a pinch of sci-fi, Catherine House is a slow-burning daydream of a novel that will keep you guessing to the very end. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
From brains to blood vessels, hearts to hormones, and everything in between, this whirlwind romp through the body and its organ systems is both informative and highly entertaining. Bryson’s musing digressions abound in this book, be it about murder or vitamins or how much a human would cost to build (hint: less than a house, more than a fridge). The Body will almost certainly leave you highly satisfied and with a passionate love for a random, very specific organ. Mine’s the liver. Man, that thing is cool. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
Set deep in the Russian wilderness, history and fairy-tale intertwine brilliantly in this tale of monsters, magic, and family. Not only is the story deeply compelling, but this novel’s colorful cast of mythical beasts and gods will surely send you deep into a Russian-folklore themed Wikipedia rabbit hole. Think of this as Medieval Russian Percy Jackson for grownups...what more can I say?! ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
Everybody grows old, but nobody wants to talk about it. In Being Mortal, physician-author Atul Gawande guides the reader through the poignant ups and downs of end-of-life care in the modern world. Sharing case studies from his surgical career as well as his personal life, Gawande makes a compelling case for the importance of a society-wide shakeup on how we think of and care for the terminally ill. I may only be nineteen, but I wish I had read this book sooner. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
