Blog Post 5 -- Acting on a Recommendation

Blog Post 5-- Acting upon a Recommendation

Part of being a reader enables us to interact with others as we share insights from books we have read and offer/take recommendations to and from other readers.  For this recent read, you were to act on a recommendation.  For this reflection and post, include the following:

Choice of Book--  Why did you choose to read this book?  Who recommended it and why did they recommend it?  In the end, was it a good recommendation?

Summary/Reaction to Book--  What was it about? (no spoilers!) What did you think?  Why?  Consider its strengths and weaknesses.

Recommendation-  Do you recommend this book to other readers?  Why? Why not?  What type of reader might enjoy it?


Offer a similar read if you can.

Quarantine Reading and Acting Upon Recommendations:

This past month has found us all in very different circumstances as we deal with a new norm of Remote Learning.  Now more than ever, I appreciate the value of a good read.  The act of reading can be a calming experience as it allows me to escape to different times, places, and situations.  My reading escape recently has been back into the world of detective fiction with particular attention to reading series. When I finished Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series in January, I looked around for other series and started to read Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti mysteries set in Venice.  I read the first three in the series. Then, Goodreads recommended I might like the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourne.  Acting on the Goodreads recommendation, I read the 5 book series featuring Veronica, truly a woman ahead of her time. Upon completion of the series which I enjoyed, I was going to return to Brunetti but veered into the Lady Julia Grey series written by the same author as Veronica Speedwell. Once again I found myself with a feminist protagonist trying to find her way in a male dominated world during the Victorian period. Reading both series, I was in two of my  comfort zones: it was as if Agatha Christie morphed with Jane Austin.  The novels of Austen are a recurring favorite of mine; I reread her books about every five years and I am constantly viewing film adaptations. Both of these recent detective series appeal to my love of detective fiction and and the feminist journey. However,  I am not sure that any of you would like these books so I will turn to some more relevant recommendations.

As you should be aware based upon my letter to my recommenders in the previous assignment on Classroom, I recently read I will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda. This book was first recommended to me by Ms. Gencarelli last summer when her daughter was reading it for school.  She found it very moving and relevant to the 9th grade curriculum as Martin grew up in Zimbabwe and talks of his experiences living in poverty in this emerging nation.  More recently, a student read the book during our quarantine and reached out to the administration because she was so affected by the book and its messages.  She wrote them to endorse the book as a possible contender for our One Book One School summer reading.  Intrigued by such a strong student recommendation, I purchased the book immediately and read it.  I was not disappointed.  The book tells the story of two pen pals.  During 7th grade English, Caitlin is asked to pick a country from which she will be assigned a pen pal.  She picks Zimbabwe, a choice she claims changed her life.  Her initial letter is given to Martin who is the top student at his school.  Her letter changes his life.  The correspondence between the two is the basis for a lifelong friendship and life changing differences for both Caitlin and Martin.  The book should appeal to many of you, as it explores issues that many of you are dealing with at this point in your lives such as college admissions, future goals, identity, etc.  Caitlin struggles with what is important in life and how she wants to proceed.  She allows her relationship with Martin to open her up to new directions in life.  Her assistance to Martin allows him to break out of the shackles of poverty and pursue an education that will better his life and the lives of his family.  I found the book to be inspiring and moving; in fact, I cried through a good portion of it.  Acts of kindness can certainly make a difference in this world and if anything this book demonstrates the value of kindness.



Reading I Will Always Write Back, I was reminded of two other books that I had read previously that might be of interest to people who enjoy learning of other countries and the power of the human spirit.  These two books are Strength in What Remains by Tracey Kidder and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba.  Both books follow the struggles on individuals trying to make something their lives in the face of adversity.  Similar to Martin's journey, Tracey Kidder tells the story of Deo who has survived civil war in Burundi and come to the United States in hopes of a better future.  He arrives in New York with $200 and no English.  Through his journey, he is is helped by the goodness of strangers and ultimately attends Columbia University medical school and devotes his life to healing others.  In the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, the story of how a 14 year old boy in impoverished Malawi is able to assemble a wind turbine to help his family and community is told.  Kamkwamba is now a recognized inventor and his book has been turned into a film.  I am attaching his Ted Talk to this blog post in case you are interested in his story.


As we build a community of readers, it is important to share our recommendations. By doing so, we can expand our horizons and inform and inspire others.  I know that I know what I like but I also know that I have grown and been enriched by listening to what other people have said to me.  There are so many books and experiences that I would have missed if I had not acted upon the recommendations of others.

Happy Reading!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

William Kamkwamba · Inventor

To power his family's home, young William Kamkwamba built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap -- starting him on a journey detailed in the book and film "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind."

https://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_how_i_built_a_windmill