Summer: What I read.

Well, folks, we're about dang near half way through the summer and I've been reading up a storm.  There is something very romantic about summer nights where you don't have to wake up early and can stay up as late as you want reading.  (Except for that Greg keeps complaining that my light keeps him up and is begging me to switch to a nook or kindle instead of the old fashioned way.  I just can't bring myself to do it.  Am I being a stubborn mule?  Should I just convert?  I feel like the magic of books is lost when I'm reading on a tablet.... ah, but that's a whole nother topic, ain't it?!?)

Moving on... I thought I'd share with you what I've been reading and what you should be reading.  

1.  The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I first read this book three years ago, but it's one I have been so excited to re read because it is on my top ten favorite books of all time.  I'm so glad you all chose it for July's book club selection!  (If you haven't started reading, get cracking.  You've got 20 days- discussion is on July 31).  You know when you see a friend that you haven't seen for years, and you're just so dang excited to be hanging out with them?  And they start to tell you this hilarious story that you've already heard before but even though you know how the story ends, you're just so excited to hear the story again because it's them telling it?  Like the story itself isn't even that important, it's the telling of the story that's so magical?  That's how I feel with The Help.  I know everything that happens, but enjoying the way the story is told is what it's all about for me.  Five out of five stars for this bad boy!

2.  Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner.  This is the sequel to These is My Words which I read two years ago and LOVED.  The sequel's just alright.  It's kind of like the author just tried to cram every crazy thing that could happen in one person's life into one book.  It was too much.  And I hated the title of it.  Made me feel like a real sissy pants when I was reading it, you know?  Two and a half stars out of five.

3.  The House on Mango Street by Sandra Ciserneros.  This book I read because it is one of the options to teach at my new school next year.  The book is really short, which I know will win the students over.  It's basically just small sketches into the life of a Latina American as she tries to be true to her culture and heritage while living growing up in Chicago.  It's great for teaching because the chapters are uber short (1-2 pages), but it still gives you lots to think and discuss.  I didn't especially love reading it because it doesn't exactly have a plot... It's more like images or sketches.  I prefer books where it is building to something, but for teaching I think I will really enjoy this.  Three and a half stars out of five.

4.  The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver .  I also read this book because it was in the book closet at my new school, and I was trying to figure out if I would want to teach this to students.  The answer is no.  It is way too slow, way too depressing, and is basically only about women.  Now don't get me wrong, I love me a good girl power story, (The Help, for example) but I know enough then to make a bunch of 17 year old boys read a book about sisterhood and women finding their way and dealing with life's trials.  It was a chore for me to get through, and if I hate it then I know I won't be able to teach it worth a crap.  It's too bad because I love Kingsolver's other book, Poisonwood Bible, but The Bean Trees was just way too slow.  Two stars out of five.

5.  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.  This book is about Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley.  I love reading about this era (1920s... Great Gatsby and Midnight in Paris era) so just the setting alone was very interesting to me.  Some of the story is fictionalized but much of it is true... all based off of the history of these two.  Their marriage is SO interesting.  Ernest Hemingway is about a weird a guy as they come, (he had four wives, eventually shot himself) making this story was totally fascinating to me.  I couldn't put it down.  I recommend it for a vacation or book read because it is very easy to get through.  Four stars out of five.

6.  The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  I first posted about this here.  Basically the author works for a year on being happier in her day to day life.  Each month she focuses on a new area in her life like organization or marriage.  The first four months that she describes are SUPER interesting.  By about June, though,  it starts to feel kind of redundant and slow.  I got through it fine, but it did lag a bit at the end.  The part I always skipped over, interestingly enough, was when she would insert comments from her blog readers.  I don't know why that annoyed me so much because I love YOUR comments on my blog.  I guess I wanted to hear her research and thoughts on it, not a bunch of random blog readers.  I did take away a ton from that book, though.  The two things I always think about are 1) "Act the way I want to feel."  So even when I'm grumpy I still need to act pleasant and happy, and then I will start to feel more that way.  And 2) If it takes less than a minute do it now.  This has seriously changed my life.  I think of it in terms of responding to email right when I read it, washing the bowl right after I eat something, hang up my skirt right after I take it off..  It really adds up and makes me feel way more in control of my life. Four stars out of five.

Phew!  Now... What have YOU been reading?  Tell me some good summer reads.  After I finish The Help I plan on reading Beautiful Ruins which I picked up for no other reason than that I saw that E Tells Tales was reading it, and Z which is about Zelda Fitzgerald... F. Scott Fitzgerald's (Great Gatsby author) wife.  I sure do love summer when I can read books for ME to my little heart's content.

READ ON!

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!