PUT THESE ON YOUR TBR LIST FOR FALL 2014

First, some YA books by well loved authors . . .

The Infinite Sea

by Rick Yancey  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Sequel to The 5th Wave--a series that will appeal to a wide audience--not just fans of dystopian like Hunger Games. Think of handing this to readers who love scifi (aliens!) apocalypse fiction, and some romance readers. Although lets be clear, The Infinite Sea is not full of romance--there's lots of action, twists & turns, and lots of what I love in YA--dire dilemmas the characters have to face that force them to ask the tough questions. Not a disappointing sequel at all.

The Young Elites
by Marie Lu  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
From author Marie Lu of the Legend trilogy-- some survivors of a blood fever have talents that make them more then normal, which in turn makes them powerful enemies that have dark secrets of their own. Expect nothing less than great world building and characters from this author & new series!

Atlantia
by Ally Condie  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Betrayal by a twin sister, treachery surrounding her mother's death, and making a plan to cross the divide between land and Atlantia, the sea, where the main character Rio lives. Matched triliogy fans will be excited for Ally Condie's next book, and in skimming the reviews, reaction seems mostly positive and excited for this standalone book.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue
by Maggie Stiefvater  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
I feel like I have to be rather vague in order to not give away spoilers . . . we'll just say that the story of the search continues--only there are more things to search for now, including Blue's missing mother. More Gansey & Blue moments, great character development, poetic writing, and the fascinating myth that this is all based on brings you closer to the moment of truth & death that was predicted in the first book.

Illusions of Fate
by Kiersten White | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Another standalone from a best selling author. The marketing blurb "Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare" seems like a tall order to fill, but reviews have been positive! After leaving her home, main character Jessamin feel like an outcast until Finn. He introduces her into circles of nobility--and all that comes with it, which means she must rely on her own strength to navigate the secrets, the power, and the danger.

The Contract
by Derek Jeter | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
I love that Derek Jeter--the New York Yankee with five World Series appearances, thirteen All-Star nominations, membership in the 3,000 hit club, the legend-- now has his own publishing imprint. This is the debut book and first in a middle grade series based on Jeter's childhood. Hard work and goals are running themes throughout. I love this niche of sports and based-on-a-true-story fiction that this book fills! Jeter's nonfiction title was also a best-seller.

A taste of nonfiction . . .

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall Munroe | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
The subtitle gives you a good idea of what this is about. Former NASA, currently running the website xkcd.com, Randall Munroe takes on questions about pools & thunderstorms, Star Trek, energy producing capabilities of people exercising, and much more. I can think of such a diverse audience that would love this book! I'm excited to recommend it to people.

Some majorly anticipated fiction by big name writers . . .

Lila
by Marilynne Robinson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
So if you haven't read Marilynne Robinson's Gilead (won her a Pulitzer) or Home (Orange Prize & National Book Award Finalist, you probably should. If you have, and you found out that she wrote another book set in the same town and revisiting old characters, your heart is probably beating really fast.

The Bone Clocks
by David Mitchell | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Hearing that David Mitchell also wrote another book might cause some of your hearts to beat a little fast. Shifting between different points of view, several characters receive an in depth study through a smaller portion of their life story. Each of the characters in some way ties back to Holly Sykes, who throughout her life has been involved--willingly or not--with supernatural happenings and in a few dangerous circles.

And something to think about . . .

The Learning Habit: A Groundbreaking Approach to Homework and Parenting that Helps Our Children Succeed in School and Life
by Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman, Rebecca Jackson, & Robert Pressman
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
This book talks about the most essential learning habits in the face of the Common Core State Standards, large amounts of standardized testing, screen time, and more.

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REVIEW: THE BOHEMIANS

The Bohemians
by Ben Tarnoff

Penguin Press
Release Date: March 14, 2014
Genre: History, Nonfiction, Biography
Pages: 336
Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Synopsis: 
The unforgettable story of the birth of modern America and the western writers who gave voice to its emerging identity: The Bohemians begins in 1860s San Francisco. The Gold Rush has ended; the Civil War threatens to tear apart the country. Far from the front lines, the city at the western edge roars. A global seaport, home to immigrants from five continents, San Francisco has become a complex urban society virtually overnight. The bards of the moment are the Bohemians: a young Mark Twain, fleeing the draft and seeking adventure; literary golden boy Bret Harte; struggling gay poet Charles Warren Stoddard; and beautiful, haunted Ina Coolbrith, poet and protectorate of the group. Ben Tarnoff’s elegant, atmospheric history reveals how these four pioneering western writers would together create a new American literature, unfettered by the heavy European influence that dominated the East. Twain and the Bohemians find inspiration in their surroundings: the dark ironies of frontier humor, the extravagant tales told around the campfires, and the youthful irreverence of the new world being formed in the west.

At once an intimate portrait of an eclectic, unforgettable group of writers and a history of a cultural revolution in America, The Bohemians reveals how a brief moment on the western frontier changed our country forever.

While it did focus largely on Twain and Harte, they were the more prominent and influential writers. The friendship and later rivalry between Harte and Twain plays out like a good drama, and the interaction between all of them allows you to see how they developed as writers. Mark Twain's personality really came to life by examining this period of his writing and personal development that made him the famous writer that he is, and seeing his rough and tumble character against the backdrop of the west, and later trying to refine his rougher edges to appeal to wider audiences is really funny at times. It gives you perspective on Twain and the culture of America at the time--constantly trying to define itself and be successful.

One thing I noticed was that the descriptions and portrayal of Ina Coolbrith seemed one-sided--she was always brooding and sad about her life circumstances, and seemed like a much lesser artist than Twain or the others. I don't think this was entirely accurate, at the least it didn't seem like Coolbrith was realistic or rounded as an artist or person.

The highlight for me was the absolutely fascinating setting of San Francisco and California during that time. I loved how he discussed California and the West as having their own identity and making some important cultural contributions to America, while at the same time not forgetting the dynamic with the New England literary scene where they still sought attention and approval.

An advanced copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

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REVIEW: THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teachers, Administrators, Parents, Anyone Who Cares About Education: read this!

I really liked this book because I've seen a lot of the research and articles before as an educator. It's fairly common knowledge that the US is struggling with learning, especially when measured against other countries. While the facts were familiar, the insight that Ripley provided into not just our education system but other successful education systems worldwide was revelatory and sometimes unsettling.

Some might take issue with some of the things she says about American education (like when she calls some teachers "middling professionals" !! (but maybe true in some cases)), but while some parts might be a little loose,
some of the things she says are hard to hear because they are true. She does acknowledge that what works in other countries may not work in the US; we have more diversity and a different kind of government--but excuses like these are not going to be enough to stand on.
Ripley presents some lessons learned from other countries as achievable actions for US education:
      1-High expectations for students
      2-Raising the standards of teacher selection & education--but also giving teachers more autonomy
      3-Making tracks of gifted, vocational, remedial education available much later or not at all
      4-Tougher curriculum that has more depth than width
      5-Easing off spending on technology

It's hard for me just to review this book because I want so badly to discuss it's ideas! But I'll just say that Ripley has done some great storytelling and analyzing of the facts and ideas, and come up with something that is hopeful and informative. As a teacher, this sparked reflection on my own teaching practices, making me want to raise expectations and standards for my students and for myself, grading on results and really investing time and effort into an effective curriculum. I've seen the bored students, the students who could do more but don't feel that any more is expected of them, and I agree, things are at a turning point. This book adds something valuable and worthwhile to that discussion.

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REVIEW: BRAIN ON FIRE: MY MONTH OF MADNESS

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In keeping with journalistic style, Cahalan's writing is straighforward, making this telling of her incredible story a quick read. She evokes the feeling--that I'm sure she and others felt--of hardly being able to believe what was happening, The quick pace matches her swift descent into sickness, and likewise making things fast for the reader too. It was a bit like watching something terrible happen that you can't prevent, but can't look away from. There is a good amount of medical explanations, nothing overwhelming, but sufficient enough to really understand what happened.

This is really a story of strong people--Cahalan herself on some base level, her family and her boyfriend. And of course the amazing doctors . . . it's incredible that they are discovering and diagnosing and accomplishing so much.

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SHORT REVIEWS: THE DREAM THIEVES & MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH EATING

 Two books--two very different genres! A little something for everyone, right?

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A sequel that really picks up steam about halfway through. Even though it doesn't feel like a whole lot of progress is made toward the conclusion of the quest, it's still incredibly fascinating to read. The depth of imagination and storytelling is well layered and the writing is so wonderfully descriptive.












Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris by Ann Mah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love reading about food, and this book has some tantalizing passages about food. Exploring the inseparably connected region and landscape in France, the origin, and the ingredients of each dish was fascinating and conveyed expertly. This book felt like a good meal and a bit of wanderlust wrapped up together. I skimmed over some of the more historical parts--I was more interested in the food.

I also really appreciated the way that she perfectly conveyed what it feels like to be a spouse in a foreign place, following after their husband/wife's dreams/career, and the lonely but incredibly valuable, adventurous, and self-defining experience that it is. Having had a somewhat similar experience, I was able to relate to the spot-on way she conveyed the feelings of those times. While this was well done, at times her exploration of these feelings was too repetitious, and in comparing herself to Julia Child and Abigail Adams, the tone became a little flat and complaining. With that exception, the blend of food and memoir was a success.

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SHORT LIST 04: BACK TO SCHOOL BOOKS

The Boy on the Wooden Box
by Leon Leyson
This memoir is from one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust. His incredible story involves being on Schindler's List and some unimaginable amounts of courage and strength. I have a feeling that fans of The Boy in The Striped Pajamas might like this one too.











The Bone Season

by Samantha Shannon
A futuristic dystopian society exploits those with supernatural powers--the "voyants" are used, hunted, imprisoned, and killed. The main character works for a secret crime organization, until she is captured and must try to find a way to escape. Some great plot twists and great writing are promised in this big release of the season, and this new author has been compared to Suzanne Collins and even J.K. Rowling. This first book in a series of seven also has the honor of being the first pick for the new Today Show Book Club. A series, and author, to watch??

 The Smartest Kids in the World: and How They Got That Way
by Amanda Ripley
Three American teenagers spend a year attending school in some of the world's best public school systems, and investigative journalist Amanda Ripley reveals the insights into failure, persistence, hard work, and resilience that these top-performing students and schools have achieved. Let this review in the NYT get you interested.

Night Film
Marisha Pessl
The beautiful writing and gripping plot promises to have the perfect touch of noir and suspense. The main character in this thriller is an investigative journalist who looks into the death of a young woman, and in the process has to deal with a cursed family dynasty, a reclusive cult-horror filmmaker father, and a lot more to lose than he thought. This is the second book from this bestselling author. 

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SHORT LIST 02: LATE SPRING READS

A few new & can't miss books for this lovely late spring season:

YA

 The 5th Wave 
by Rick Yancey

Alien invasion, but not as you've seen it before. Post-apocalyptic world, but not as it has been written before. If you're a fan of The Hunger Games, you'll probably like this one. Cassie is running from Them, looking for her brother and trusting no one--there is no one to trust. Evan Walker might be able to help find her brother, but trust is still an issue, and so are a lot of other things, like not being found by Them--who look just like everyone else.

Read the first 70 pages here. You'll like it. (Review coming soon!)

Eleanor & Park 
by Rainbow Rowell

This is a great spring pick because it has all of the light-heartedness and humor of a new relationship and unique characters, but also has a serious, though-provoking side. Set in 1986, Eleanor and Park are an unlikely pair who met on a bus ride to school. She's the quirky new girl, and he's some kind of incredibly sweet secret ninja kind of guy.
This is perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or Stargirl. 

See my review here.





Fiction

TransAtlantic 
by Colum McCann

If you liked his earlier, award winning Let The Great World Spin, then you are sure to love this. Once again, the writing will carry you away--this time through a series of stories from 1845, 1919, and 1998 that blend real events and people with fiction. The stories are all connected through time and different places in the world, and told beautifully. There's a lot to look forward to with Colum McCann--his writing and masterful storytelling make the world seem small and big at the same time. This is exactly what I want to be reading right now!

Nonfiction 

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work
by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Another selection that I'm excited for based on the author's previous books. Made to Stick and Switch are must-reads, so here's hoping that this one turns out great as well!

It turns out that making a decision isn't a simple thing--there are a lot of factors that influence our decisions--some of which enhance or take away from the effectiveness of the decision and outcome. Decisive looks at these factors, as well as current research on the matter, and offers ways to make the making of decisions more effective.

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REVIEW: FRENCH KIDS EAT EVERYTHING

French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters
by Karen Le Billon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't pick this up because I'm any kind of Francophile (although I read & enjoyed Bringing up Bebe), but I read it because my friend recommended it to me, saying it made her and her family eat healthier.

Peppered with some great research to back up these principles, the ideas really make sense, regardless if you're French, American, Canadian, etc. I do think that the contrast between two cultures (French/North American) put things in perspective, even if it was a little sad to the North American who isn't doing things "right". It allows you to really examine your own food culture as the author is examining hers. While it felt a little repetitive sometimes, the thorough explanation of the principles, and how the author autobiographically describes them as she encounters them in French culture, was smooth and easy reading. She is very open about things, especially her mistakes, which is helpful when she's trying to make a point.

And in the end, I'm pretty convinced to adapt to some of the healthier ways of eating that she talks about, like no snacking, eating real food, and eating together as a family (love that!)--some of my favorite "rules". The fascinating, in-depth look into French food culture and the recipes in the back that look easy and delicious are all things that bring this book together nicely.

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REVIEW: FLAWLESS: INSIDE THE LARGEST DIAMOND HEIST IN HISTORY

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History by Scott Andrew Selby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Being largest diamond heist in history- really, one of the largest heists ever, this book is inherently interesting. It answers the burning questions like, how did they do it? Did they get caught? Although we don't really know exactly how they did it (nobody talked), the fast paced action of this book takes you through the process and gives you a taste of the excitement that the thieves must have been feeling as they went through it.

At 230ish pages, it is pretty fast paced. Lots of nonfiction like this can get slow, but I thought that really the only slow part is when the author describes the streets of the Diamond District- but even then, it's good to be able to visualize. This is like the real life version of Ocean's Eleven--sorry, can't escape the comparison, especially since it's a little ironic that that movie came out while the thieves were in the middle of planning the heist. The straightforward writing complemented the action of the story. And kind of crazy-- I don't know if the authors were trying to do this--but I found myself cheering for the thieves a lot of the time!

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CAN YOU SELL READING? PART 2

See Part 1 of this post here. Continuing with ideas from Section 2, How to Be:

Framing information: seeing/finding problems, curating information, asking questions. SO important in our day of information overload. And especially applicable to reading! A few useful frames:  Experience frame (try suggesting a book in terms of the experience you have when reading it. As in, WOW! This book gave me the shivers the whole time, and even though it was so haunting and horrifying I couldn't put it down! One of the great joys of reading is the experience of it, and playing that up will attract people to reading), and the Label frame (positive/negative labels affect behavior; don't ever label someone as a "non-reader". This can have a HUGE effect on their reading!).

"Clarity on how to think without clarity on how to act can leave people unmoved." (142) Sell that book/reading all you want, but make sure you have the goods (books) right there to put into their hands. Take kids to bookstores. Or the library. Go.

Section 3
"How to Do". Here, I handpicked a few of the ideas that I think had the most application to selling reading.

Pitch: a Rhyming pitch works well because of how our brains work (Helpful when learning how to read or learning reading strategies. Makes it more fun too). A Subject Line pitch should (according to research) "be either obviously useful or mysteriously intriguing, but probably not both" (167). I can think of any number of books that I read based on recommendations that made the book seem imminently useful, or mysteriously intriguing. So when trying to push a book on someone, that might come in handy to remember.

Serve: "We do better when we move beyond solving a puzzle to serving a person" (212). This reminds me that ultimately, I want someone's life to be better because of something that they read. That's one of the best things about reading, right? To come away a better, changed person? So rather than think of literacy and reading as a do-or-die skill (which really, it is), maybe we would be able to sell someone on reading or on a particular book if we remember, and emphasize, that they will be better off having that powerful, wonderful experience of reading.

Have you read this book yet? What did you think?

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CAN YOU SELL READING? REVIEW: TO SELL IS HUMAN (PART 1)

So, I don't read YA lit all the time, you guys. I venture, quite frequently actually, into nonfiction. I wanted to review this book on Enjoy A Book because I feel like a lot of the ideas in here are applicable to my main cause: literacy and the love of reading. So the ideas that I mention below are from To Sell Is Human, but are remarkably transformative when you think about them in terms of reading, getting someone to read, or really--selling reading. This book really pointed out some fabulous things about living and working in today's world. It's a world of sales! Not too surprising, when you think about it, as practically all of us do things to get other people to buy into what we've got, but this book presents some memorable ideas.

Section 1
This book was divided into 3 parts: "Rebirth of a Salesman", "How to Be" and "How to Do". The first section, "Rebirth of a Salesman", took me the longest to get through, because early on I bought into the idea that we are all in sales of one kind or another, so I felt like this section spent a little too much time trying to sell the reader on that idea. However, he did effectively point out that sales are different nowadays--not only because everyone from teachers to medical professionals are "selling", but because everyone has access to information that affect the sale, where previously only few had that information (information asymmetry).

 One other thing in this section I found valuable was the idea of "moving people." The author interviews Ferlazzo, an educator, who helps brings to light a crucial  aspect of present day sales, "The challenge is that to move people a large distance and for the long term, we have to create the conditions where they can move themselves." He also shares another gem: "It means trying to elicit from people what their goals are for themselves and having the flexibility to frame what we do in that context." Ferlazzo then goes on to use this genius concept to move one of his students to write essays, when the student had never written one before in many years of schooling. This is where the power of this book lies for me: in the idea of moving people--using their own goals and interests and framing/creating conditions or a context for them to move themselves. In this idea, "selling" someone can lead to them moving themselves. How important is this in reading?! You don't want reading to be a one-time sale, but rather a sale that starts them moving in a permanent, literate direction!

Section 2
"How to Be" had a number of valuable ideas. Part of the value of this book is when the author provides "sample cases" after each chapter on how to apply those concepts. There's a ton of great stuff in there too, but for sake of brevity and because you'll get more out of it if you read the book for yourself, I only want to highlight some of the ideas he presents, especially the ones that apply to reading and literacy. Here's a few for you:

Perspective-takers do better. Use this when you're selling reading by understanding what that person's interests are, and cater your reading suggestions to them. They're more likely to enjoy reading and come back for more.

Interrogative self talk (asking questions) is the most effective. The author framed this in the context of making a sale or getting ready for a pitch, but I found the other way to be the most useful: in terms of evaluating yourself. This is a great reading strategy for comprehension. I suppose if you want to stretch it to apply to buoyancy (like it was in the book), then you could say that it would help a reader keep going if they're struggling with a text. This interrogative self-talk is especially useful, like the book points out, because it gives the person using it reasons or ways to complete things, rather than momentary, fleeting statements of positive or negative self-talk.

Positive emotions broaden perspectives, lead to creativity, and can be contagious!So while this might apply more tangentially to the selling of reading, I believe that all of those things still play a part in a good reading experience. I felt like this idea was one of the best in this chapter.

The "mindset" idea applies to sales too! Ok, so the author didn't label it as "mindset" or use those terms, but have you read that book? Basically the idea is to not think of things in a "fixed" mindset--because then you'll have a hard time dealing with failures and will usually see yourself and other things as set, or permanent. A "growth" mindset is better because you can deal with setbacks, learn, and become better. Very applicable to sales, because everyone faces rejection and failure. So don't take things personally. If you're reading a book you don't like, it's ok to move on and not get hung up on finishing it. Or if you're struggling with reading, you need to be able to struggle (lots of good readers face text that challenges them!) and progress.

Don't worry, I know how to count to 3! Come back tomorrow for the second and final part of this post! Some great gems of ideas for selling reading! 

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HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED: A LITERACY LOOK AT SUCCESS (PART 2)

When talking about managing failure, it would be wrong not to mention motivation. Failure in reading can be devastating, especially because reading is such a huge part of everyday functioning, and struggling readers are likely to be reminded of failure at nearly every turn, in almost every class at school, and in many workplace situations. How many children, or adults, even, have a hard time motivating themselves to try when they are met with failure, especially in reading? The research and insights into motivation that HCS discusses are enlightening. Tests given with and without extra motivation (bribes, rewards, etc.) show how powerful character is by showing something very interesting: that the low stakes/low reward tests are the best indicators of how well children do later on in life, "They may not have been low in IQ, but they were low in whatever quality it is that makes a person try hard on an IQ test without any obvious incentive" (69).

This goes hand in hand with conscientiousness--a quality that best predicts workplace success and truly, "success across the lifespan" (71). I liked that conscientiousness was described as a "go-getter" quality. But how could you help someone become a go-getter? I found that many poor readers don't have this motivation or conscientiousness and have a hard time because of that. You get better at reading by reading, so how are they going to do that if they aren't motivated or inclined to do so by an innate push (conscientiousness)? Perhaps, I think, this goes back to managing failure--overcoming the obstacles and focusing on the successes can help to motivate. Additionally, finding books that struggling readers can have success with--these are books that are very interesting and not to difficult to read--can serve as that spark to fire up the motivation and go-getter engines when it comes to reading. I wish that HCS could have discussed more case studies where conscientiousness and motivation was involved, because it plays a part in literacy.

From the beginning, one of the main ideas of this book concerns the part that parents play in a child's success. Studies in neuroscience, brain functioning, and stress physiology show that parents who respond to children's needs/stress have children who are "more independent and intrepid" (33).This of course leads to attachment theory and shows how that helps kids develop more of these things: curiosity, self-reliance, calm, ablility to deal with obstacles, assertiveness, and a resilience in the face of stress (37). This idea of parental involvement can likewise be seen in reading. Parents and caregivers who read with their children from a young age, and who are also seen reading by their children, will have successful readers. However, just as Tough explores how important this parental involvement is in a child's development of these qualities, he also does not fail to emphasize, through numerous case studies, how these qualities can be developed later on in life-- especially during the teenage years. Just like reading. Just because a struggling reader has reached their teenage years, it doesn't mean that they can't still benefit enormously from some reading help.

The how and where of that help is also addressed in HCS. The research that Tough discusses shows that the most capacity for change--and having change be effective--happens at home or within the family structure (43). That can be hard for teachers because not much of anything can be done to change those things. But the door isn't completely shut: "executive functions" can and must be improved over providing "cognitive interventions". Cognitive interventions have less of an effect on later success anyway, while executive functions (meaning emotional, psychological, and neurological pathways) are things that can be changed at home and at school, or in a sports team setting, and many other places where learning takes place .

Bottom line of this book: character matters, as it is developed in childhood and even later in the teenage years. What this means for literacy: struggling readers always have a chance, and character improvement will also directly benefit reading abilities.

What did you think of this book? 

See part 1 of the series here. 

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In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences by Truman Capote

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A sad but intriguing story. And yes, a bit dark--honestly creeped me out in several places. I loved it mostly because of the writing. . . I found myself feeling sorry for Perry and realized that it is because of how the author describes him- delving into his past and uncovering so many horrific things there. Very clever, Mr. Capote. Excellent depiction of the characters all around.



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SuperFreakonomics

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes And Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven D. Levitt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Very engaging! Loved all of the play with words and language-- well written. Loved the topics too, and the new way of looking at things that is a undertone to the book. Some of the stats and interpretations made me wonder how truthful things were, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this very much. Reminded me of Gladwell often, so if you liked his books you'll like this. (Note: more for mature readers.)



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In The Garden of Beasts

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I absolutely love Erik Larson. He has a talent for cliffhangers, and I have a weakness for history books. Very excited for this one and it's great so far.

Didn't disappoint. I love how Larson focused in on this one family, and the events leading up to WWII. The perspective of this family was great, because I think so many times--how could people let so many horrible things happen? but Larson revealed the climate in Berlin at the time; the climate that was the precursor to what we all know in retrospect as one of the worst times in history. I was so impressed with the writing . . . always am with Larson. Also, this was great insight into some of the major players of that time- lots of shocking details and stories that made me stop and say WHAT? that really happened?

Also, don't skip over the notes at the end- Larson loves to hide juicy bits in there that you won't want to miss . . . (Note: This is real history, more for mature readers.)



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Laugh Out Loud

So every so often when I read something that is funny, I have no self restraint that keeps me from laughing out loud. Sometimes, VERY loud. And yes, I do get funny looks. But I'm not embarrassed--if someone hears me laughing, they might ask "what are you reading?" which is a wonderful way for me to share a funny moment and a book with them.

So here are a few that made me laugh out loud, that I think a lot of people will enjoy.

Marley & Me by John Grogan. Such a sweet story! makes me want to get a dog . . but also was great at telling about the lives of young married couples and how having a pet can be such a rewarding experience (on the whole . . .!) This book is so funny--especially some of the things that Marley the dog does, and you can't help but laugh out loud and fall in love with him a little bit more.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I laughed my head off! I love this book not only for its humor, but also because I felt like it was a real portrait of a real boy and real feelings. Mild content issues, but nothing major that should be worried about. This book honestly dealt with the way people feel. Life is funny sometimes, as well as sad, and so was this book! Loved it!

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Simply Amazing

Since beginning this blog I have realized how impossible it is to talk about all of the wonderful books out there! But I still feel strongly about sharing the books that have touched my life, and books that I think would touch the lives of others. Here are a few that I have read recently that are simply amazing and eye-opening:

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. This book blew me away. I learned about and came to love these Mirabal sisters for who they are and what they have done. An amazing and moving story that also made me grateful for the freedoms I have in this country. This is the story of the Mirabal sisters, real people who lived in the Dominican Republic. Together they were a large part of the rebellion which brought the horrible dictatorship of Trujillo to an end. They are brave, strong, and beautiful, and just like all of us, scared sometimes, and love their families.

Amazing Grace by Jonathon Kozol. This is an absolutely incredible look at a place so different from mine- the ghettos of the Bronx. It was incredibly enlightening. It was hard to find hope in their situation, except for in the futures of the children. Shocking in the way that life is in the Bronx, and the realities that these children and people have to deal with. VERY powerful.

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For all those . . .

. . . who will ever read to their children or want their children to enjoy reading:

How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell

Written with the knowledge, creativity, experience, and wisdom of a mother, teacher, librarian, and book worshipper, this is a wonderful How-to on reading. It addresses all different aspects and genres of reading. Such as: reading with your baby, small child, teenager, and also mysteries, historical fiction, and much, much more.

In reading this book I found countless useful things for me as a future parent and future teacher. Reading is so important and powerful in a child's life, even in anyone's life, no matter their age!!

This book is full of fun activities, book suggestions, and insights into a psychological aspect of reading-why a child might like or dislike it.

Definitely one of the best of the best out there as far as How-to books, and ideas, advice, and suggestions on getting anyone to love reading.

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Check out these two (Philbrick & Hale)

Shannon Hale is a SLC local author, and winner of a Newberry Medal for Princess Academy. Her books often feature triumphant female protagonists and a magical element. Princess Academy is about a young girl who is fairly normal, but when the chance to become a princess comes, she must be competitive, yet kind, and do something much bigger than herself.

She creates strong characters that face normal (and sometimes not so normal) conflicts that we can relate to our own lives. I love Shannon Hale!! Here's another one of her titles:

The Goose Girl based loosely on a classic tale- about a princess who gets switched and learns who she is and how to rescue herself. Excellent!

ALSO:

Nathaniel Philbrick

Author of In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower. Both are excellent- I would recommend the first for anyone who likes survival tales and is at or above a high school reading level. It's about the sailors on the whaleship the Essex in 1819, were shipwrecked by an angry whale, and had to survive. Lots of interesting and sometimes gruesome details flavor this book, along with a clear look at the nature of man in extreme circumstances. This book is so good it made me want to read Moby Dick!!!

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