Blog Post 3 -- Review of Free Pick

Topic --  for Blog Post 3 you will be reviewing your free pick book choice.  Inform your readers of what you have read and what you thought of it.  Give your personal response, make a recommendation as to the type of reader who might like it, tell of its unique qualities, don't reveal any spoilers, compare the book to others like it.



My Recent Read-

 Since Readers' Choice started this semester, I have been hearing students talking about a book called This is Where it Ends.  I had not heard of the book before and had no idea what it was about.  After book talks the other day, I had a couple of conversations with students who had read it and highly recommended that I read it too. So yesterday I read it.

This is Where it Ends  by Marieke Nijkampe, captures the 59 minutes in which a school shooting takes place.  It is told from the points of view of several of the students who are at the school and follows their thoughts and actions for those 59 minutes.  The book is suspenseful and kept me reading; in fact, I started and finished the book in one day.  The emotions are intense as is the overall topic.  The book does make a reader question how a school shooter is created and what each of us might do to end this threat to our daily existence.

The characters whose points of view we see include Autumn, the sister of the shooter;  Sylv, her girlfriend; Tomas, Sylv's brother; and Claire, a senior who is outside of the school when the shooting begins.  Each of these characters is linked to the shooter in some way and each experiences the tragedy in a different manner.  The author uses flashbacks to tell the story of these adolescents and the problems that each has experienced leading up to this shooting.  Keeping the different characters straight at times proved difficult and the structure of the book limited the author's ability to fully develop these individuals, but I would still recommend this book to readers of YA literature with a warning that the subject matter is intense and the killing is disturbing in its extent and cruelty.  Tyler, the shooter, has lost touch with his humanity.

It is a sad commentary on modern society that Goodreads  has classified books like this with their own heading, School Shooting Fiction.  Other books with a focus on a school shootings that I have read and would recommend are Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and Finding Jake by Bryon Riordan.  Unfortunately, school shootings have become part of our world, but that does not mean we must give up hope.  Nijkampe tries to instill hope and redemption in her book through the heroic and human actions of various characters.  Raising awareness about a serious topic, This is Where it Ends makes readers question, "Where does it end?"

Blog Post 2-- Books of My Life

Post 2 will explore the books of your life.  These are the books that have significance to you for various reasons over the course of your life.  Refer to the assignment and the model that were shared with you on Classroom.


Below is my model to get you started.  Notice how I have tried to "customize" some of my favorite categories

Books of My Life

Favorite Book to Read to My Son --  Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak's monsters were a favorite of my son's and mine when he was growing up.  Every night we would reenact Max's journey as he sailed to the far away land and danced with monsters. But the underlying message was that he always wanted to return home to his family where he was loved.  The combination of carefree monsters in a land without adults and the reassuring presence of home and a meal waiting from his mom make Where the Wild Things Are an entertaining read for a child(and his parent).  

Favorite Book Read for School-One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

During high school and college, I read many of the books that I currently teach.  I enjoy reading so I remember liking most of the books, but the one book that stands out is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  It was my first taste of protest literature and the use of the medium to highlight ills of society.  McMurphy's antics and sacrifices are definitely thought provoking.  The popular film is also a favorite but does not capture the perspective of Chief Bromden who is just as much a presence in the book as McMurphy.  This is the book that has caused me to question the norm and recognize the power of an individual.

The Movie Was Better than the Book-- Forrest Gump

When I speak of books that have been turned into movies, I could say that I always mention the book was better if not for my having read Forrest Gump.  As is often the case, after seeing a good movie that was adapted from a book, I will often find and read the book.  Forrest Gump was not different. When I found out that there was a book, I quickly obtained a copy and began to read.  Shock and disappointment followed.  I love, and continue to love, the film, but I hate the book!  The affable character portrayed by Tom Hanks is not the Forrest Gump within the pages.  Instead, the book Forrest Gump is arrogant and foul-mouthed and his journeys are more far-fetched than those in the film.  This book keeps me from saying, "The book is always better than the movie."

Top Book on my Must Read List --   Night

I read Night when I was in high school and it had a tremendous effect upon me.  Since my first reading, I have heard Wiesel speak on numerous occasions and appreciate his message that we can never forget.  Too often I hear and see young people assume racist attitudes and I think that they really don't understand the implications of what they are saying.  To remedy this ignorance, Night is a must read.  Wiesel's memoir demonstrates the horrific effects of man's inhumanity to man.  The beauty of Wiesel's prose and the power of his messages make this book an essential read.

All I Need to Know I Learned from Atticus -- To Kill a Mockingbird

When asked what my favorite book of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird is my response.  The story and themes are timeless, but more importantly the character of Atticus serves as an important role model.  If we were all a little more like Atticus the world would be a better place.  His courage, commitment to justice, and open-mindedness inspire readers to be better versions of themselves.  Robert Fulghum wrote All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten claiming that the social lessons taught in kindergarten are all we need to know as we traverse through our lives.  Reading To Kill a Mockingbird could have the same effect-- like Night it is a must read.

Books That Inspired Me-- Boys on the Boat

Boys on the Boat may not be for everyone but the story of Joe Rantz and the members of the 1936 US Olympic Crew is truly an inspirational story.  Rantz embodies the American dream and those qualities which we attribute to everyday heroes.  His story parallels that of the crew team's journey for the gold in the Berlin Olympics of 1936.  Brown has created a work that informs while it inspires.

Another book that has inspired me recently is Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy.  The book chronicles the work of Stevenson as he has worked with death row inmates.  He has argued before the Supreme Court and has pursued justice and mercy for minors convicted of capital offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment without the chance of parole.  The case of a real-life mockingbird threads throughout the book as Stevenson, like Atticus, tries to free an innocent man.

Books that Make Me Cry --  Orphan Train and Tale of Two Cities

I must confess -- lots of books have made me cry.    Orphan Train receives this heading because the story of its two protagonists had me crying as I say on my coach one Saturday morning last year.  I was a little embarrassed and was glad that I was alone.  Despite the my tears, Orphan Train gives readers a glimpse into a little known segment of American history.  Christina Baker Kline links the struggles of orphan train rider Vivian with those of modern day foster child Molly. Both young women endure and overcome many ordeals providing inspiration for readers.

Tale of Two Cities also falls under this category in the books of my life.  The book is a long time favorite, and I reveled in following the footsteps of the characters when I travelled to Paris a couple of years ago.  Dickens' depiction of Sydney Carton's life and ultimate sacrifice still bring tears to my eyes no matter how many times I read the book. 

Book that Gets Better with Every Reading --  The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a throwback to my junior year in high school when I read the book for the first time.  I read it again in college and then did not pick it up again until 5 years ago when I was assigned to teach English 12.  The book evolves with each reading.  Fitzgerald's eloquent language and imagery bring scenes like Gatsby and Daisy's first kiss and the Valley of Ashes to life.  Fitzgerald's novel has stood the test of time and its themes still hold relevancy today.

My Comfort Zone -- Detective Fiction

 

I have mentioned in class, I have liked to read detective fiction since I was a young girl when I read  the Nancy Drew mystery series.  I particularly like to follow a detective over a series of cases.  After Nancy Drew, I graduated to Agatha Christie reading any book I could get my hands on.  I enjoyed the contrasting styles of her two detectives, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.  This love of the detective novel has stayed with me as I have grown older.  Recent series that I have read and recommend to people are those by Robert Crais  and Kate Atkinson.  Crais' Elvis Cole is a humorous and wisecracking detective who works with a stealthy focused Joe Pike.  I especially enjoyed Atkinson's Jackson Brodie who was flawed but intelligent.  I am always looking for a good detective series.  I am currently reading Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti Series.