Summer Reads

Well friends, in case you've been under a rock for the best few months, I will let you know that summer is now in full swing.  In fact, it's already a third of the way done!  And I have read a total of one book.

Yep.  Just one.

I feel like an idiot.  I have recommitted myself to reading up a storm these remaining two months of summer- both books that I like to read, and books that I need to study so that I can teach those bratty ingrates next year. (Oh, but they're not really bratty ingrates!  Students, if you're reading this, I miss you!  I really do!) Currently I am reading 1984.  I'm thinking about teaching it to my seniors next year, but can't decide if it moves fast enough to hold their attention.  I also just started Janet Evanovich's One for the Money.  It seems like an easy, fun summer read, and well, I'm always about fun and easy.

I hope you are all reading lots of quality literature this summer... but... in case you are in a total reading rut, I thought I might help you out a bit with some of my favorites.  Now, I know we all don't like the same types of books, so I've chosen my favorites from several different genres to help you out.  Wow, I really am a saint, aren't I?

Favorite History book: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Why you should read it:  The book is based on the true story of Olympian Louie Zamperini as he becomes a prisoner of war during WWII.  You'd think because it's a history book it would be a little on the boring, slow side, but it's not at all.  Hillenbrand tells the story with an astounding focus on detail, but not to the point where it bogs the reader down. The strength and tenacity of this Zamperini is amazing. His plane goes down and he is on a life boat with two other men for forty some odd days before they wash up on shore in Japan and become POWs there. I never wanted to put this book down and that's saying something because I am on a kick where I am totally sick of WWII novels.  Above all, the book shows the power of the human spirit to find goodness, even amongst the most evil of circumstances.  One of my top ten books of all time. Also, you get to learn lots of cool stuff like if a shark comes to attack you, punch him in the nose!

Favorite memoir: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Why you should read it:  McCourt did not set out to be a writer- he earned his living teaching, actually.  It wasn't until he was 66 that he actually published this memoir of his childhood (and then he won the Pulitzer Prize for it!)  Something about him publishing this at an older age shows how important it was to him and how much he felt like he needed to share it with the world.  Because of that, there is an incredible passion behind the book.  McCourt grew up in Ireland with a hard working mother and a mostly drunk father.  Although the memoir is heavy at times as he experiences poverty, death of loved ones, and constant disappointments, McCourt tells the story with humor and light heartedness.  That might be why I like the book so much- everyone deals with sorrow and disappointment- but I admire the way McCourt handles it all with humor and without feeling too sorry for himself.  The book is written in an interesting manner- it is in present tense and uses short sentences, short paragraphs, and no quotations for dialogue.  Although this kind of stuff normally drives me nuts, I feel like it really works for a memoir and it seems to speed the reading along.

Honorable Mention Memoir:  Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielsen.  

For a full review go here.  It's not the best written book by any means, but it just leaves you feeling uplifted and so much more grateful for everything in your life.

Favorite children's book/Young Adult:  Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Why you should read it:  I am ashamed of how little I actually remember about this book.  I read it six or seven years ago and can recall more than anything, being completely in love.  It's the story of a broken, somewhat dysfunctional family, and how they find love and hope out of it all.  It's got a crazy twist at the end- I finished the book on a plane ride to New Mexico and bawled through the last few pages.  I remember the men next to me saying, "Hey, you alright, sweetheart?  It's just a book!"  The characters are real and fun and easy to get attached to.  Also, it's a children's book, so it reads like candy.  You could finish it off in a day or two easily. (And apparently it's on sale now for $2.99 so you can't argue with that!)

Favorite Mystery/Thriller:  In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Why you should read it:  This is the true account of the senseless 1959 murder of a family in a small town in Kansas.  There is no motive to the killings, no clues, no suspects.  The book chronicles the town's reaction, as well as the journey of the two men who killed the family.  When Capote wrote this book, he spent hours and hours interviewing the two killers, who at that point were on death row.  As you read it, watch the way that Capote portrays the killers, Dick and Perry; he is hateful toward Dick, while almost sympathetic and loving toward Perry.  Capote was homosexual and there are lots of theories that he actually fell in love with Perry as he interviewed him for the book.  The book is fascinating because it is all true, but also fascinating because of Capote's portrayal of it.  It's well written with close attention to detail, and once you get into it, it's one of those that you don't put down.    

Favorite Foreign Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Why you should read it:  The book follows the lives of two Afghan women: Miriam and Laila.  They bother suffer immensely, oftentimes due to the men in their live and their requirement to be subservient and obedient.  Both women are strong willed and lovable.  The book has some exquisite imagery and there are sections that are particularly hard to read just because the imagery is so intense.  In one scene one of the women is forced to eat rocks by her husband, in another the woman must give birth via C section without any anesthetics.  These are the images of the book that still haunt me.  Although many would say the book is too sad or heavy, I strongly believe there is value in reading about these kinds of experiences.  Above all the book shows the ability to endure the unendurable and the strength of the female human spirit.

Honorable mention Foreign book:  Hosseini also wrote The Kite Runner which is every bit the book that Thousand Splendid Suns is.  I think I liked Thousand better the protagonists are female and such strong, admirable women, but Kite Runner is another huge favorite.

Whew.  Who knew it took so much energy to write about books?  Now, I'm off to the pool to relax and knock out some of my summer reading.  I hope you'll do the same.  And don't let me hear you complaining that you haven't go anything to read, you hear?!?


For more book reviews check out my top five favorite books ever, and my least five favorite books ever!

Books I Hate

Last week I did a post on my five favorite books, and what do you know, it was a huge hit!  I have heretofore (How's that for an awesome word?!) steered clear of writing about books because I was certain you would all think I am nothing but a big, fat book snob.  Turns out I was partially right.  You do all think I am a bit of a brat about literature... but you all LIKE it!  You like reading the opinions of a book snob!  So, I've decided to write more about books. Now, I ain't gonna go promising you weekly book reviews or anything like that because the minute I promise to do something is the minute I don't want to do it anymore.  Just know you will get random book posts whenever I feel so inclined.  Consider yourself lucky!

Last week we did my top five of all time.  This week I thought we'd go a little bit in reverse.  You know, the bottom of the reading totem pole.  As a rule, I always finish books.  I have finished absolute trainwrecks of books, believe you me.  HOWEVER, there are a few books that I just could not finish no matter how hard I tried.  There are also the ones that I will never finish because I never start them... you know, the books you have absolutely no desire to read.  And of course, there's the books I did finish but wish to all heaven I didn't because I will never get those hours of my life back and ain't that a crying shame?

So, without further ado, I present to you....

MY FIVE LEAST FAVORITE BOOKS

5.  Moby Dick.  Alright, here's a confession for you.  This is on the "I will never read" list.  I mean, the book's about a whale, for crying out loud.  I've never heard anyone say they like this book and it baffles me how it ever became a classic in the first place.  AND word on the street is that it's super long, and super thorough on the details.  AKA Slow and boring.  Is there anyone out there in the world that has read and liked this book?  If so, speak up now or forever hold your peace!

4.  The Time Traveler's Wife.  This one I actually started.  The funny thing is I saw the movie and really liked it so I figured I should give the old book a go.  It might have been the narrator's fault (I was listening to it on tape and boy, did he have an annoying voice!), but everything about the book completely creeped me out.  Like how he would talk and flirt with the little girl and tell her they were going to be married one day.  I get that the woman was his soon-to-be-wife and he knew it, but I just couldn't get over the weirdness of it.  And that the little girl hid him in a room, and that when he disappeared into a different point in time he never had any clothes.  All I kept thinking is, "Dang!  That man must spend a lot of money on clothes if they keep getting left on every corner."  I might've got halfway through before I realized that life is too short to read stuff like that.

3.  The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.  I started the book, got about 100 pages in, and then had to put it in my very small pile of "started-but-not-finished" books.  I thought it would be a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants type of book, light and fun, but instead it was just heavy and kind of weird.  I don't mind heavy reading at all, but I think the book was trying to be light and carefree and then it just came off SO heavy.  You know when you have a conversation with someone who appears to be very happy, but then all of a sudden she's telling you a bunch of awful, terrible things about her life?  But she's smiling the whole time and acting like she's fine, but it's pretty obvious there's some serious issues there?  That's what I felt like was happening when I read this book.  The main character is totally abusive and she's one of the original "Ya yas"... she was just so unlikable that I couldn't stand to read about her.  Actually, that's how I felt about all the "ya yas"... not much to like about them as people.  It also bothered me how their friendship seemed to come above all else... above their relationships with their spouses, their kids, their parents, etc.  Not my cup of tea.

2.  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  I have started and not finished this book not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES.  I was supposed to read it in high school and didn't finish it.  Then, a couple of years later I decided surely my reading tolerance had improved and tried it again.  Didn't finish it.  Finally, my senior year of college I was supposed to read it for an American Literature class.  I got 30 pages from the end and then just stopped.  I had no desire to read the conclusion.  THIRTY PAGES LEFT AND THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE ME WANT TO FINISH.  There were times the book picked up and I enjoyed it, but most of it is just slow and it doesn't feel like it's ever building to anything.  The dialect is hard to read, there's a couple of weird kings, and then all this stuff happens to them that has absolutely nothing to do with the plot.  This is a standard book that all high school juniors are supposed to read, but I haven't taught it yet.  I just can't subject my innocent little seventeen year olds to this stuff.  Plus, I'm a firm believer that I shouldn't ever teach a book I don't personally love because the kids will all hate it, too.  What I don't get is why the freak isn't Tom Sawyer the great American classic?  That book is bomb and Tom is way cooler than Huck will ever be and I think we all know it.


And now, my very very least favorite book....

1.  I've gone off on Twilight before.  Now, before I go any further I just want you to know this.  Hubs loves Twilight.  He read all five (six?) of them in record time.   He just gobbled them up, couldn't get enough of them.  I love Hubs more than anyone in the world and I totally respect that he likes this book, I just don't have to like it too. So, if you happen to be one who loves Twilight don't be embarrassed, don't hate me, and please don't think I'm a book snob... just know that we can have different tastes in books and still be friends.

That being said... I could only stomach the first book... I'm surprised I even finished that one.  There's a lot of reasons I don't like Twilight, but the main one is Bella.  I have always been taught that all great stories, literature, and movies have in common a likable protagonist.  You have got to like the main guy.  End of story.  You have got to root for them, you have got to want them to succeed.  Now, your protagonist could be doing awful things (Oceans 11 for example, they're stealing millions of dollars) but you like the protagonist so dang much that gosh, you'll root for them no matter what evilness they're up to.  Twilight is the only book I have ever heard of to just absolutely throw that rule out the window and be incredibly, ridiculously successful.  I don't care if Bella becomes a vampire.  I don't care if she ends up with Jacob or Edward.  I don't care if she has millions of vampire babies who try to kill her because I DON'T LIKE BELLA.  I DON'T CARE ABOUT HER.  I would never be friends with her in real life, she has no redeeming qualities, and I literally felt her sucking the life out of me as I read the book.

There are other reasons why I don't like Twilight.  Poorly written, too many stock characters, too predictable, too many holes, etc, but I won't go into the details.  I would have been willing to look past all that had Bella been a little more Katniss or Hermione-esque.  You know, a girl I can cheer for.  That's all I'm asking for.

NOW... Spill your guts!  What are books you couldn't finish, books the masses love but you can't stomach, and books you would rather die than ever read?  

My Top Five Fave Books... EVER!

I've been hesitant to write a post about books for a couple of reasons.  The first is that I'm kind of a book snob.  I find that the more I read, the less impressed I am by most literature.  The majority of books that the general population loves I find to be mediocre at best.  I have been afraid that if I posted about books I'd seem all hoitey-toitey and immediately drive my readers away, never to return to that book brat who thinks she knows everything just because she's taught English for a couple of years.

The second reason I've been hesitant is because... well... most people think books are boring.  I guess I've been surrounded by seventeen year olds for too long, but I keep thinking that everyone in the world besides me hates reading.  I guess I've just been afraid that the second I brought up books on the blog you'd all roll your eyes at me, secretly think I'm totally boring, and put your heads down on your desks.

But I'm afraid no more!  I've read a lot of books, dang it, so why don't I share that knowledge of books with the world?!?!?  And so, without further ado, here they are... my top five favorite books of all time!

5.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

How I sell it to my students:  The book's about a girl, Francie, growing up in New York, but she's dirt poor and she has all these crazy experiences.  She's madly in love with her dad, but he dies.  Then she has her first real love, and her first real heartbreak.  Also, she's got this crazy, scandalous aunt who gets married every year and calls all of her husbands "John" even though that's never their name.

Why I really love it:  This is the first book I remember really loving as young girl.  Any little girl can relate to Francie's story, no matter where or when they live.  Francie's emotions are so real- her heartbreak, her struggles, her passion. The book comes to life with details and has enough eccentric characters to keep you interested.

4.  The Help

How I sell it to my students:  The narrator is hilarious and full of sass and wit.  She's a white woman in the South who believes that the black maids, "the help",  aren't treated right.  So she tries to help them out, bu she's got all these really bratty friends who treat the help like crap.  Highlights include a bunch of toilets being left on a front lawn and someone eating a cake with poo in it.  Yes.  It really happens.  Also, the narrator falls for a totally hot guy, and who doesn't love a little romance?!?  Plus, they made a movie out of this.  DID SOMEONE SAY MOVIE?!?!

Why I really love it:  The pace of the book is fantastic, and even though it's 400+ pages, it never feels slow.  Skeeter is a perfect protagonist, courageous and lovable and just a little bit crazy.  Plus, it gives a look of life in the south that we don't see very much, and it's a great way to understand a lot of our nation's racial history. There are very few books that I literally lose sleep over- but this was one.  I stayed up until 4:30 am finishing it on a hot summer night and when I finally finished it I laid in bed, wide eyed, and replaying my favorite scenes over and over.

3.  Catcher in the Rye

How I sell it to my students:  First off, this book has TONS of cussing!  This kid has got a major attitude problem and he pretty much hates his life and every adult in the world.   He thinks everyone is a moron or a phoney. He gets kicked out of school, but he doesn't dare tell his parents, so he just hangs out in New York for a couple of days until Christmas break.  Although he acts like a major jerk, you can tell he's actually a real softie.  Oh and there's crazy stuff like prostitutes in the book.  Oh, and he cusses.  And cusses.  Cusses up a storm.  Oh, and did I mention there's a prostitute?!?

Why I really love it:  Holden Caulfield is one of the most "real" characters I have ever read about.  The first time I read the book I remember feeling so clearly that it was a real life, miserable, seventeen year old writing about his life.  And it is.  The book is clearly "immoral" (There's a famous story in my family where my grandpa marched down to the high school and complained that his daughter, my mom, should never have to read such filth ), but I believe that something can still be quality literature and still be worth reading even if it doesn't seem to be teaching good morals.  Holden really is a good kid, as evidenced by his constant worrying over his little sister and his references to his dead brother.  Above all, he's just a confused kid trying to figure out life and his place in it, and isn't that what we're all trying to do?

2.  To Kill a Mockingbird

How I sell it to my students:  It starts a little slow, but if you're patient with it you get to see this crazy court scene where a black guy is accused of raping a really poor white woman.  He totally didn't do it and everybody knows it but the town is so racist that they send him to jail anyway.  Then there's this crazy shut in, Boo Radley, who lives down the street and never comes out and the whole town gossips about why he's in the house.  Then there's this insane twist at the end- this book seriously has one of the best and most redeeming endings of any books I've ever read where someone tries to kill someone but someone else rescues someone else.  (Plus, the author herself is somewhat psycho.  She only wrote this one book, got way famous for it, and is now a total recluse and never comes out in public, much like Boo.)

Why I really love it:  Ah, where to start.  This book is pretty much the epitome of good literature to me.  The courtroom scene is awesome, of course, and no matter how many times I've read it (3 times in the last 3 years) I always cry in the last chapter.  The book teaches such a good lesson about people, and not judging, and letting people be more than you think they are.  There is such disappointment in the book, but also such joy and hope.  And the eight year old narrator, Scout, is absolutely hilarious.  I usually can't stand child narrators because I find them incredibly unbelievable, but Scout is so down to earth and so real to life you feel like she lives next door.  My favorite line "Pass the damn ham".  And of course, there's Atticus, the lawyer who fights for the black man.  Atticus is so humble, so unassuming, and tries so hard to teach his kids what's right.  He's one of my all time favorite book characters and I get all choked up everytime he gives his courtroom monologue.  One of the most quality books out there and if you haven't read it you are doing yourself a great disservice.

1.  The Great Gatsby

How I sell it to my students:  There's this psycho guy, Gatsby, who's been obsessed with this girl for years.  He dated her, but she wouldn't marry him because he didn't have any money.  Instead she married someone else and now Gatsby bought a house across the lake and just spies on her.  Well, he finally gets the nerve to talk to her again and they start this affair but it's ok because her husband is having an affair too.  Then all the shiz hits the fan when her husband finds out and he starts fighting with Gatsby in a hotel room, and then there's this big car accident and someone really important dies and then someone shoots someone and then someone else shoots themself and it's so dramatic and crazy!  Plus they all party and drink all night long and just live these super crazy lives and it's just so much drama, you're going to love it!  Oh, and there's a movie coming out at Christmas and Leonardo Dicaprio is going to play Gatsby oh la la! DID SOMEONE SAY MOVIE?

Why I really love it:  The Great Gatsby is one of the most brilliant plots ever.  Everything interweaves so perfectly and the timing is so crucial and just when you thought a character wasn't important they come in to show they are more important than you ever imagined.  The story in and of itself is crazy enough to make you absolutely love the book, and then on top of that Fitzgerald laces the whole scandalous story with eloquent, beautiful language.  Each sentence is like poetry and he uses words like languid, supercilious, and corpulent.  Every time I read the book I pick up something I didn't before because there are so many layers of beautiful text.  Call me crazy, but they don't make authors like Fitzgerald anymore.

Now, go enjoy one of these books, will you?

And please don't call me a book snob.

Oh, and do me a favor and tell me YOUR top five faves, will you?  I'm looking for some good reading this summer.