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)....
On one hand, The Iliad is an all-time classic which allows us to delve deep into the Ancient Greek psyche and examine their social, political, and cultural history through the lens of the poet Homer. But on the other hand, this is an awesome war book that is basically Percy Jackson for grownups! Battle, bloodshed, betrayal, and romance reign supreme in this novel, which is truly epic in every sense of the word. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
Oh yes. OH YES. Your eyes do not deceive you. This eighteen year old boy is imploring you to read Emily Bronte’s classic 1847 romance novel Wuthering Heights. English teachers love it, English students love to hate it, but I beg you humble reader, give it a chance. It is a classic for. a. reason.
This is the original soap opera, the revenge-tragedy to end all revenge-tragedies, and of course, one of the greatest gothic novels of all time. Reading this book is nothing short of an absolute rollercoaster, as its whirlwind plot takes twists and turns which puts most other novels to shame. It’s just a blast. With two Catherines, two Edgars, three Lintons, and an abundance of H’s (I’m looking at you Heathcliff, Hindley, and Hareton), you’ll need a three-generation genealogy map just to make it through the first few chapters! Trust me though, it’s truly worth it. Whether you need catharsis after a bad breakup (nobody’s love life is as disastrous as Heathcliff’s), you’re on a schadenfreude kick (so much misery, but it’s so much fun), or your power is out and you can’t watch your daily soap, Wuthering Heights will not disappoint. Trust me, after reading this, General Hospital will put you to sleep. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
What do 90s trends, syphilis, crime waves, and Paul Revere’s midnight ride have in common? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Seriously, they don’t share a single common trait. And yet in the first few pages of his book, Malcolm Gladwell foolishly tried to pull the wool over my eyes and hoodwink me into believing that all those random events are, at their core, the very same thing. I was not going to fall for it. Not this time.
Yeah no he convinced me. Trends of the 90s, crime waves, diseases, and even Paul Revere’s ride are all different forms of epidemics. Their spreads are caused, accelerated, and ended by the same core set of factors and by examining one epidemic, we can come to understand them all. Just that concept alone is fascinating, and this book’s exploration of viral events and their causes is riveting. If you have any interest in psychology, criminology, sociology, or marketing, this book is perfect for you. Or, if you’re like me and desperate to find out why fidget spinners and Silly Bandz (oh yeah) blew up like they did, then The TIpping Point has all the answers. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
Imagine what it would feel like to be a golden retriever riding shotgun in a Formula 1 race car: wind racing through your fur, eyes (and mouth) wide as you’re moving faster than you ever imagined possible. Don’t you want to feel like that?! That is how this book makes you feel.
They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but just LOOK HOW CUTE HE IS! That little pupper is a lovable race car-riding golden retriever named Enzo, and lucky for us readers, he’s also the narrator of this novel. The Art of Racing in the Rain far exceeded my expectations, and it was anything but “just another dog book.” In fact, it is my favorite book. Enzo and his owner Denny navigate life and loss in the Seattle suburbs together. Exploring themes of familial strife, grief, unemployment, and the difficulties of parenting, Garth Stein has expertly crafted a novel which frequently moved me to tears, but in a good way, I promise. You will fall in love with Enzo and his story, so hop along for the ride and pick this book up! ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
A thoroughly researched, brilliantly realized dive into the economic and political history of countries both rich and poor, all in an effort to answer the titular question: why do nations fail? Needless to say, I certainly found out why.
With each chapter, I realized how wrong my assumptions about the world were. This book took me by the shoulders and shook me, yelling “OPEN YOUR EYES FOOL” as it revealed the understory of the world’s economy before my very eyes. However, if you’re thinking economics is all well and good, but I’m more of a history buff, fear not! This book features many fan-favorite historical events alongside its economic insights. Black plague? Queen Elizabeth? Scramble for Africa? Check, check, and check! Not only are these things described in wonderful detail, but authors Robinson and Acemoglu demonstrate the ways in which these events from long ago still impact our modern economy today. It truly is fascinating.
In conclusion, if you've ever wondered why countries across the globe look and act the way that they do, this book has the answer for you. ~ Reviewed by Patrick Molluso
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