MAXnotes: a rival for Cliffs Notes

For students trying to trudge through "great" literature, there is finally an alternative to the familiar yellow and black guides. MAXnotes are a series of literature guides which have recently been released by the Research and Education Association of Piscataway, N.J. Carl Fuchs, head of media services for REA, explained that MAXnotes offer a more contemporary interpretation of literature than Cliffs Notes. They are also "student-friendly" -- more entertaining and easier to understand, he said. Fuchs added that a unique feature of MAXnotes is their use of pictures that illustrate important ideas. "They contain drawings and illustrations of key passages which convey the moods and spirits of the work," he said. Fuchs said one of the main goals of MAXnotes is to provide students with a modern understanding of literature that differs from earlier analysis. "They reflect more up-to-date versions," he said. According to the product's brochure, MAXnotes feature concise summaries, topic suggestions for papers and study questions. There are currently 32 titles available in bookstores. Five additional titles will be available each month, Fuchs said. They include both traditional classics and recently published works including Gone With the Wind, Hamlet, Of Mice and Men, and Les Miserables. Many students have never heard of MAXnotes. Others seem hesitant to purchase them. Engineering sophomore Steve Shiming Lu said he sees no reason to buy them since Cliffs Notes have been adequate in the past. "I wouldn't trust them because they are new, and Cliffs Notes have always been very dependable," he said. Still, others are willing to give them a fair chance. "I'd really need to see them to decide if they are more comprehensive than the other style," College sophomore Ayana Green said. College freshman Lindsay Lion agreed. "I'd have to check out the MAXnotes and compare them to the Cliffs Notes to see which ones were better," she said.

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