THE HONORABLE SHYNE
Marcus Clarke
Director and producer Marcus Clarke ’05 has over 20 years of experience working in commercial production, television, and film. His latest project is the documentary The Honorable Shyne, which tells the story of Moses “Shyne” Barrow, whose promising rap career in the 1990s was cut short when he was charged in a New York club shooting along with Sean “Diddy” Combs. Convicted in 2001 and sentenced to 10 years in prison, Shyne returned to his native Belize after being released and sought a new career as a politician. Clarke tells Shyne’s story with precision and care as he unfolds Shyne’s incredible journey from days as a troubled teen in New York, who after getting shot on the streets turned to music to express his struggles; to his rise to fame in the world of hip-hop; to his days in jail where he practiced Orthodox Judaism; and finally to his life as the Opposition Leader in Belize’s House of Representatives and the leader of the United Democratic Party. Clarke is a natural storyteller, Shyne is a man whose story needs to be told, and this documentary is a film well worth watching.
MEN WHO WALK IN DREAMS
Marisa Labozzetta
In Men Who Walk in Dreams, writer Marisa Labozzetta, School of Spanish ’71 once again demonstrates her prowess at delving into all the foibles of human nature. This collection of short stories covers the ambitions, passions, struggles, dreams, and myriad emotions of men and women seeking to find meaning and consequence in their lives and understand the world they live in. Labozzetta writes deftly and powerfully to create a smorgasbord of tales that take you into the hearts and minds of such varied characters as a corporate worker who quits his job to make the world’s best mozzarella cheese; a young immigrant woman who takes a lover under her doting husband’s nose; or a boy who flees one dangerous country to start a new life in another. A talented short story author, Labozzetta can make you laugh, cry, gasp, or cheer for her unforgettable characters as she takes you on a journey through what it means to be human.
BIRCH, MIND OF THE DRAGONFLIES
Jon P. Roth
The debut novel of Jon Roth ’85, Birch, Mind of the Dragonflies, draws you directly into some of the most relevant and complicated worlds of today: artificial intelligence, genetic memory, big tech, and the military-industrial complex. The storyline follows two young men, who as college roommates coded software viruses they spread on the internet for the fun of getting away with it. But as they pursue their careers after graduation, their technological savvy lands them in the middle of a dangerous, high-stakes drama that takes all their wits and talents to survive. As they wrestle with the greed and corruption of big business, they arrive at a junction where power, control, wonder, and intelligence mix to not only destroy but create. This captivating tale of science and machines seems incredible at first but in fact is a reflection of modern technological elements that are already in production or soon will be.
THE ISLANDERS
Lewis Robinson
The latest novel by author Lewis Robinson ’93, The Islanders, is a coming-of-age story fraught with thrilling action. Main character Walt McNamara, a high school hockey star who suddenly finds his life spiraling out of control, joins an exclusive new leadership program on Whaleback Island, off the coast of Maine. Controlled by wealthy summer residents, the program reveals itself to be murkier and more menacing than it seems at first, and the group of teens entrenched in the physically and mentally exhausting exercises soon realize they need to use their new skills just to survive. Robinson has created endearing, believable characters who are brave and resourceful, and as the narrator, Walt faithfully relays their journey as they navigate what appears to be reality and what truly is happening. Suspenseful and riveting, The Islanders is a page turner you’ll find hard to put down until you’ve read the last page.
Leave a Reply