http://www.litlovers.com/guide_histrylove.html
The link above has some interesting commentary and background on the story and from the author. It also includes the discussion questions below:
1. Leo Gursky and Alma Singer make an unlikely pair, but what they share in common ultimately brings them together. What are the similarities between these two characters?
2. Leo fears becoming invisible. How does fiction writing prove a balm for his anxiety?
3. Explore the theme of authenticity throughout the narrative. Who's real and who's a fraud?
4. Despite his preoccupation with his approaching death, Leo has a spirit that is indefatigably comic. Describe the interplay of tragedy and comedy in The History of Love.
5. What distinguishes parental love from romantic love in the novel?
6. Why is it so important to Alma that Bird act normal? How normal is Alma?
7. When Alma meets Leo, she calls him the "oldest man in the world." Does his voice sound so ancient?
8. Uncle Julian tells Alma, "Wittgenstein once wrote that when the eye sees something beautiful, the hand wants to draw it." How does this philosophical take on the artistic process relate to the impulse to write in The History of Love?
9. Many different narrators contribute to the story of The History of Love. What makes each of their voices unique? How does Krauss seam them together to make a coherent novel?
10. Survival requires different tactics in different environments. Aside from Alma's wilderness guidelines, what measures do the characters in the novel adopt to carry on?
11. Most all of the characters in the novel are writers --- from Isaac Moritz to Bird Singer. Alma's mother is somewhat exceptional, as she works as a translator. Yet she is not the only character to transform others' words for her creative practice. What are the similarities and differences between an author and a translator?
12. What are the benefits of friendship in the novel? Why might Alma feel more comfortable remaining Misha's friend rather than becoming his girlfriend?
13. The fame and adulation Isaac Moritz earns for his novels represent the rewards many writers hope for, while Leo, an unwitting ghostwriter, remains unrecognized for his work. What role does validation play in the many acts of writing in The History of Love?
14. Leo decides to model nude for an art class in order to leave an imprint of his existence. He writes to preserve the memories of his love for Alma Mereminski. Yet drawings and novels are never faithful renditions of the truth. Do you recognize a process of erasure in the stories he tells us?
15. Why might Krauss have given her novel the title The History of Love, the same as that of the fictional book around which her narrative centers?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Misreading Masculinity: Boys, Literacy, and Popular Culture by Thomas NewkirkMy review
please read this book if you have boys in your life.
View all my reviews.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Mar 2009 - The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan
Friends, Readers, Radicals...Lend me your eyes!
Following are the (unedited, it's late, sorry) notes I got. For the most part, this time I did not work hard to attribute remarks to a particular person, just spoke in general. Like, don't like?
As always, please comment and add what I've forgotten. :)
April 3, 2009
Host - Janell
Book - The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
Radical Chatter
- Janell’s house was a delicious setting of comfort and food and friends!
- So sorry Lisa (impending birthday party preparation) and Jade (fresh from the treacherous mountain roadtrip) weren’t able to join us.
- Welcome Sadie and Suzie, Kristen and Sarah’s friends from the Highlands area!
- Again, the buffet was a treat that merits mention: banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip ginger bread with “whipper cream,” grapes and cheese and crackers, Kristen (aka Chai Walla)’s incredible chai, wine, pepper-jelly cream cheese spread, and more???
The Middle Place
- It seemed almost everyone had read some of the book, and most of us had time to finish. When does that happen?? Comments I remember:
- The voice of the editor was strong within the book. Seemed like there was a desire (on editor’s part?) to build a parallel between author and father’s illnesses. Question: was the book supposed to be about father/daughter relationship or breast cancer? Answers: Both? Because it was her memoir, she could choose to do whatever she wanted.
- KC (Kelly Corrigan, author) imparted that support through her relationships were key to her recovery.
- People are so different. Many of us would not have had the first instinct upon diagnosis to send out a mass email to all friends and relatives sharing the news, upbeat as it was. Gregarious personality.
- She was so honest about her need to be worshipped. Got that from the way her father treated her growing up; and she needed to find a husband who could continue that treatment of her.
- Speaking of her father, Greenie, would anyone find his personality annoying? In the book, we think maybe his wife did, at times. And the cashier who didn’t care to banter with him (hear about how great his daughter was).
- The description of the genetic counselor who spoke to Edward (the hubby) when KC couldn’t provide answers was pretty narrow and negative. Not realistic, probably. But in those situations, people have to find a place to vent or release, and the counselor can often be that person. And sometimes they become “the messenger.”
- We talked about Kelly’s picking the fight with Edward when they were on their weekend away. She complained that he was in constant contact with his family, calling them the instant they got into the hotel at his alma mater. Is she resentful of the fact that he isn’t eager to move back to her home town so she can be close to her family?
- This book made us think about the health and mortality of our own parents. It’s hard for us to sit by and watch them make choices we don’t agree with; we want them to make them make healthier choices. When we worry about them, we have to accept that we can’t make choices for them, but we can take comfort in thinking about how much we love them.
- We touched briefly on the essay that Kelly read on YouTube. It’s beautiful how it speaks to the power of relationships between women. Many of us have watched it and forwarded it on to friends.
- Many of us related to the “mom” moments within the book. One radical’s mom had commented that it’s great when you can find a book that you can relate to. Is this one that our moms would enjoy as well? Though some anecdotes are funny to us because times and techniques have changed for mothering in our generation, we think our moms would enjoy this even if they might relate more to Kelly’s mom than to Kelly. And we think our moms might relate to Kelly as well.
- We remarked that Kelly’s mom didn’t have a big role in the book, wanted more on her.
- We talked about how some things that were essential for moms of earlier generations (spotless houses, home-cooked meals, etc.) are not maybe as obligatory these days. We’ve become more “relaxed.” Or have we? Are we just anal about different things now?
- That led us to the discussion of how much there is to do, especially since so many moms are working now, and we talked briefly about the ever-present dilemma of stay-at-home vs. working moms. There’s societal pressure and pressure from the family working on us as we make the choice to work or stay home or find some combination that works. We’re happy that there’s more acceptance of whatever-works-for-you is the right decision. More than before.
Etc.
- We told Suzie and Sadie about our most recent “book,” last month’s selection was Your Choice of Printz or Caldecott or Newbury award winners from the last three years. A few favs: Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (“wonderful! Must read!”), some Isabelle Allend books (esp for teen boys), How I Live Now, Spanking Shakespeare, Jellicoe Road (“this was difficult to read” “definitely some heavy topics addressed” “couldn’t put it down”).
- In general publishing tends to lean toward boys. (Not sure I got all of this. Anyone want to expound?) Reading to boys, Sarah often reads a lot of non-fiction, and even when reading fiction, does it through a NF lens.
- Sarah’s pick – still to be finalized, but maybe: Ann Fadiman’s At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays, She also loved her Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader. Also considering (or just mentioning, now I’ve forgotten) The Ladies Lending Library, as a “lovely cottage read.”
- Also mentioned: Bryce Courtenay’s Power of One, Jessica, and Tandia. That’s all I have on those. Were they also in consideration as SarahSelections? Oh, was this where we said maybe it’d be a choose-your-own Bryce Courtenay? Or was it choose-your-own Ann Fadiman? Bueller?
- How can we channel our creativity and inspiration from some of our book selections into some activism? One idea: Sign up for the Komen Race for the Cure, building on Kelly Corrigan’s battle with cancer. Also the sewers in the group might be able to stitch up some matching girl/doll skirts to donate to single mothers who will be able to give the gift of something handmade with love. Keep the ideas flowing!
- Next book: The History of Love, Nicole Krauss.
That should be followed by Maguire's Wicked, to be discussed in June since it's quite long. Then Brooks' People of the Book in July, and Gaiman's Neverwhere in August, Sarah's TBD selection in September, and Amber's choice of The Painter from Shanghai by Cody in October.
Following are the (unedited, it's late, sorry) notes I got. For the most part, this time I did not work hard to attribute remarks to a particular person, just spoke in general. Like, don't like?
As always, please comment and add what I've forgotten. :)
April 3, 2009
Host - Janell
Book - The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
Radical Chatter
- Janell’s house was a delicious setting of comfort and food and friends!
- So sorry Lisa (impending birthday party preparation) and Jade (fresh from the treacherous mountain roadtrip) weren’t able to join us.
- Welcome Sadie and Suzie, Kristen and Sarah’s friends from the Highlands area!
- Again, the buffet was a treat that merits mention: banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip ginger bread with “whipper cream,” grapes and cheese and crackers, Kristen (aka Chai Walla)’s incredible chai, wine, pepper-jelly cream cheese spread, and more???
The Middle Place
- It seemed almost everyone had read some of the book, and most of us had time to finish. When does that happen?? Comments I remember:
- The voice of the editor was strong within the book. Seemed like there was a desire (on editor’s part?) to build a parallel between author and father’s illnesses. Question: was the book supposed to be about father/daughter relationship or breast cancer? Answers: Both? Because it was her memoir, she could choose to do whatever she wanted.
- KC (Kelly Corrigan, author) imparted that support through her relationships were key to her recovery.
- People are so different. Many of us would not have had the first instinct upon diagnosis to send out a mass email to all friends and relatives sharing the news, upbeat as it was. Gregarious personality.
- She was so honest about her need to be worshipped. Got that from the way her father treated her growing up; and she needed to find a husband who could continue that treatment of her.
- Speaking of her father, Greenie, would anyone find his personality annoying? In the book, we think maybe his wife did, at times. And the cashier who didn’t care to banter with him (hear about how great his daughter was).
- The description of the genetic counselor who spoke to Edward (the hubby) when KC couldn’t provide answers was pretty narrow and negative. Not realistic, probably. But in those situations, people have to find a place to vent or release, and the counselor can often be that person. And sometimes they become “the messenger.”
- We talked about Kelly’s picking the fight with Edward when they were on their weekend away. She complained that he was in constant contact with his family, calling them the instant they got into the hotel at his alma mater. Is she resentful of the fact that he isn’t eager to move back to her home town so she can be close to her family?
- This book made us think about the health and mortality of our own parents. It’s hard for us to sit by and watch them make choices we don’t agree with; we want them to make them make healthier choices. When we worry about them, we have to accept that we can’t make choices for them, but we can take comfort in thinking about how much we love them.
- We touched briefly on the essay that Kelly read on YouTube. It’s beautiful how it speaks to the power of relationships between women. Many of us have watched it and forwarded it on to friends.
- Many of us related to the “mom” moments within the book. One radical’s mom had commented that it’s great when you can find a book that you can relate to. Is this one that our moms would enjoy as well? Though some anecdotes are funny to us because times and techniques have changed for mothering in our generation, we think our moms would enjoy this even if they might relate more to Kelly’s mom than to Kelly. And we think our moms might relate to Kelly as well.
- We remarked that Kelly’s mom didn’t have a big role in the book, wanted more on her.
- We talked about how some things that were essential for moms of earlier generations (spotless houses, home-cooked meals, etc.) are not maybe as obligatory these days. We’ve become more “relaxed.” Or have we? Are we just anal about different things now?
- That led us to the discussion of how much there is to do, especially since so many moms are working now, and we talked briefly about the ever-present dilemma of stay-at-home vs. working moms. There’s societal pressure and pressure from the family working on us as we make the choice to work or stay home or find some combination that works. We’re happy that there’s more acceptance of whatever-works-for-you is the right decision. More than before.
Etc.
- We told Suzie and Sadie about our most recent “book,” last month’s selection was Your Choice of Printz or Caldecott or Newbury award winners from the last three years. A few favs: Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (“wonderful! Must read!”), some Isabelle Allend books (esp for teen boys), How I Live Now, Spanking Shakespeare, Jellicoe Road (“this was difficult to read” “definitely some heavy topics addressed” “couldn’t put it down”).
- In general publishing tends to lean toward boys. (Not sure I got all of this. Anyone want to expound?) Reading to boys, Sarah often reads a lot of non-fiction, and even when reading fiction, does it through a NF lens.
- Sarah’s pick – still to be finalized, but maybe: Ann Fadiman’s At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays, She also loved her Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader. Also considering (or just mentioning, now I’ve forgotten) The Ladies Lending Library, as a “lovely cottage read.”
- Also mentioned: Bryce Courtenay’s Power of One, Jessica, and Tandia. That’s all I have on those. Were they also in consideration as SarahSelections? Oh, was this where we said maybe it’d be a choose-your-own Bryce Courtenay? Or was it choose-your-own Ann Fadiman? Bueller?
- How can we channel our creativity and inspiration from some of our book selections into some activism? One idea: Sign up for the Komen Race for the Cure, building on Kelly Corrigan’s battle with cancer. Also the sewers in the group might be able to stitch up some matching girl/doll skirts to donate to single mothers who will be able to give the gift of something handmade with love. Keep the ideas flowing!
- Next book: The History of Love, Nicole Krauss.
That should be followed by Maguire's Wicked, to be discussed in June since it's quite long. Then Brooks' People of the Book in July, and Gaiman's Neverwhere in August, Sarah's TBD selection in September, and Amber's choice of The Painter from Shanghai by Cody in October.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
True Blood Books
Hey (Blood) Suckers -
Before we dove into The Middle Place - and after we saw Kristen's new *sweet* shirt - we touched on the HBO series True Blood and that it was based on books. Here's a site that has some info on them.
I haven't read or seen any of it, but have heard rave reviews on both. Suzie and Sadie, hadn't you seen the shows, maybe? If anyone tries the books, let us know what you think! My money's on Kristen to kick us off.
Before we dove into The Middle Place - and after we saw Kristen's new *sweet* shirt - we touched on the HBO series True Blood and that it was based on books. Here's a site that has some info on them.
I haven't read or seen any of it, but have heard rave reviews on both. Suzie and Sadie, hadn't you seen the shows, maybe? If anyone tries the books, let us know what you think! My money's on Kristen to kick us off.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Book-Pusher
If I can be one, I'd now like to push the 2009 Printz Award winner Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.
From the Printz Award page:
Haunted by the past, Taylor Markham reluctantly leads the students of the Jellicoe School in their secret territory wars against the Townies and the Cadets. Marchetta’s lyrical writing evokes the Australian landscape in a suspenseful tale of raw emotion, romance, humor and tragedy.
Melina Marchetta lives in Sydney, Australia, and is the award-winning author of two previous novels. A former high school teacher, she is recognized for the authenticity of her teen characters’ voices.
“This roller coaster ride of a novel grabs you from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. You may not be sure where the ride will take you, but every detail—from the complexities of the dual narrative to the pangs of first love—is pitch perfect,” said Printz Award Committee Chair Mary Arnold.
From the Printz Award page:
Haunted by the past, Taylor Markham reluctantly leads the students of the Jellicoe School in their secret territory wars against the Townies and the Cadets. Marchetta’s lyrical writing evokes the Australian landscape in a suspenseful tale of raw emotion, romance, humor and tragedy.
Melina Marchetta lives in Sydney, Australia, and is the award-winning author of two previous novels. A former high school teacher, she is recognized for the authenticity of her teen characters’ voices.
“This roller coaster ride of a novel grabs you from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. You may not be sure where the ride will take you, but every detail—from the complexities of the dual narrative to the pangs of first love—is pitch perfect,” said Printz Award Committee Chair Mary Arnold.
I love it when I can't put a book down, and this was that way. If you try it, be sure to let me know.
Monday, March 23, 2009
One More for The Middle Place
This blog looks like what you were envisioning for our Radically Bookish blog, Kristen. One reader wrote a review and then others responded in their comments for that post. I haven't read through it yet. If you haven't finished the book, I'm guessing it might have spoilers.
http://everydayiwritethebook.typepad.com/books/2007/12/online-book-clu.html
http://everydayiwritethebook.typepad.com/books/2007/12/online-book-clu.html
Influential, Memorable Book List
Loved reading Kristen and Lisa's lists. I did have this prepared for the last meeting, but printer issues prevented my bringing it along. And, goodness knows I can't remember anything unless it's written down, so here goes:
From Childhood
Blueberries for Sal - One of my mom's favorites became one of mine, too.
Make Way for Ducklings - Ditto on the above.
Where the Wild Things Are - Such a childhood classic
Where the Sidewalk Ends - "I'm being eaten by a Boa Contrictor, a boa constrictor, a boa contrictor..." My mom's Russian teacher used to sketch our favorite illustrations out of this book. The Cat in the Hat - and all the rest of the Dr. Seuss books
1st Grade-ish
Little House on the Prairie and the rest
James and the Giant Peach - my 1st grade teacher read this to us, and I was enthralled.
Some collection of Halloween stories - I have a vivid memory of listening to scary Halloween stories at the end of the day, with the classroom lights off, munching on toasted pumpkin seeds while the glowing jack-o-lantern watched us. Such a warm memory of gradeschool for me.
Encyclopedia Brown - this was the first book I read cover-to-cover, in one sitting, all by myself. And I was so proud of my pace that I didn't take the time to sound out all the words, since the context seemed to make sense without that. On the last page, I finally sounded out a long word, de-tec-tive. Boy, that made the whole mystery story about the boy dective make even more sense!
2nd Grade-ish
The Secrets of Nimh - Or was it Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh? I remember this was scary. Would love to revisit it.
Nancy Drew series - Read this whole series, several more than once.
Hardy Boys series - Once I finished the Nancy Drews, I moved on to the Boys, and a few other kids-solving-mysteries series...can't remember them...oh, Trixie Belden?
3rd Grade-ish
Samantha on Stage - This little paperback was a gift for my birthday, in 6th grade I think. A Russian girl moves to the US and outshines the American in her ballet class. There's some teenage drama and then a friendship ensues. I loved it. It became my "comfort read." Anytime things went a little south, I'd pull out this book to bring things back to midline. I think I still have it in a box somewhere.
4th Grade-ish
Old Yeller - Bawl.
Nancy Drew Case Files - I remember being a total brat teasing a friend of mine who also loved Nancy, "So, have you read all the Nancy Drews?...What about Nancy Drew Deadly Intent?"
Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High, Cheerleaders - basically anything I could get my hands on
7th Grade
Where the Red Fern Grows - another one we read in class.
A Day No Pigs Would Die - the training of the puppy with the ferret in the whiskey barrel still makes my stomach drop.
Bridge to Terabithia - I vividly remember the cover of this book, the trees, though I don't remember the story from that time, except that I loved it.
Anne of Green Gables, and the rest - Anne was kind of my hero.
Johnny Tremain - I'd love to reread this one too. I had chosen it from the selection for our book fair projects, and it turned out that I liked it.
8th Grade
The Stand - I started in on Stephen King in junior high, and The Stand became "my favorite book" for a long time. I read it, then got the unabridged version and read that a couple of times too. Over 1,000 pages was a lot for a scrawny kid. I was SO disappointed when the miniseries was pretty miserable, despite having Gary Sinise cast as one of the leads.
High School
Treasure Island - I chose this as my "your choice" first book report book when I was the new kid in 9th grade. Can you say "geek?" All the other kids were reading John Grisham. Brown noser. But it turns out Treasure Island is a good story!
John Grisham - I quickly tried to get "cooler," and read through a bunch of his books. A Time to Kill was my favorite (and may have been his first book?), and most of the rest started to all sound the same.
A Tale of Two Cities - For "Reiser's" Honors English class, we read this one. I finished it in the conversion van we drove from IL to CA for Christmas in 1990. I LOVED it. Mme. Defarge knitting away her anger, the selfless love of Mr. Carton, the French Revolution...all of it so tragic and romantic and engrossing. I was again "surprised" that I'd love a classic so much.
Jane Eyre - I read the copy from my parents book-a-month club. Wish I could get my hands on those. Who knew that 20 years later, I'd be thinking back to Mr. Rochester because of a new, glittering hero partially based on him?
College
Maus - This was a text for one of my classes, then I taught it while student teaching 6th graders. It was my first experience with a graphic novel, and has a special place in my heart.
Dandelion Wine - An ex-boyfriend had loved this book. After we broke up because timing wasn't right, I read it in an act of contrition of sorts. Bradbury is typically known for his sci fi work, but this has just a taste of fantasy, and is mostly the story of a boy's summer. I reread at the end of every summer for several years because I loved how it seemed to wrap up the season perfectly.
Into Thin Air - I can't remember now if Krakauer's telling of the 1995 Everest distaster kicked off my Everest obsession, or just fed it. I love this book, and was thrilled to pick up a hard copy version at a garage sale last summer. The first time I read it was on the trip my family took to Australia. Since everything is better in Australia, I may have romanticized it a bit. But I don't think so. It's brilliant and compelling.
Angela's Ashes - Reading and doing a report on this book was an extra credit option for my Ed. Psych. class, but I was too busy drinking to read it while classes were in session. Instead I carried this hardcover across Australia too. I remember thinking that if I could ever write, I'd hope my style could be similar to McCourt's. I have 'Tis as well but haven't read it. I heard it wasn't as good. Anyone know?
Catcher in the Rye - I didn't read this 'til college. Loved it, and the hat in front / back became an inside joke between me and a friend.
Ender's Game - This was recommended to me by a friend, but I "didn't like sci fi." Eventually, in the midst of having to read and report on 40 YA books in a semester, I decided to give it a shot. Loved it. Turns out Orson Scott Card is another of Stephenie Meyer's inspirations. I'd like to read some more of Ender's stories.
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting - I read and took notes on a bunch of Milan Kundera's books. I thought I was deep.
The Giver - This was one of the required reads for the 40-YA -books semester. This was one of the few I LOVED.
Gosh, I know I've forgotten many, but I'm glad to have gotten a few down here for posterity.
From Childhood
Blueberries for Sal - One of my mom's favorites became one of mine, too.
Make Way for Ducklings - Ditto on the above.
Where the Wild Things Are - Such a childhood classic
Where the Sidewalk Ends - "I'm being eaten by a Boa Contrictor, a boa constrictor, a boa contrictor..." My mom's Russian teacher used to sketch our favorite illustrations out of this book. The Cat in the Hat - and all the rest of the Dr. Seuss books
1st Grade-ish
Little House on the Prairie and the rest
James and the Giant Peach - my 1st grade teacher read this to us, and I was enthralled.
Some collection of Halloween stories - I have a vivid memory of listening to scary Halloween stories at the end of the day, with the classroom lights off, munching on toasted pumpkin seeds while the glowing jack-o-lantern watched us. Such a warm memory of gradeschool for me.
Encyclopedia Brown - this was the first book I read cover-to-cover, in one sitting, all by myself. And I was so proud of my pace that I didn't take the time to sound out all the words, since the context seemed to make sense without that. On the last page, I finally sounded out a long word, de-tec-tive. Boy, that made the whole mystery story about the boy dective make even more sense!
2nd Grade-ish
The Secrets of Nimh - Or was it Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh? I remember this was scary. Would love to revisit it.
Nancy Drew series - Read this whole series, several more than once.
Hardy Boys series - Once I finished the Nancy Drews, I moved on to the Boys, and a few other kids-solving-mysteries series...can't remember them...oh, Trixie Belden?
3rd Grade-ish
Samantha on Stage - This little paperback was a gift for my birthday, in 6th grade I think. A Russian girl moves to the US and outshines the American in her ballet class. There's some teenage drama and then a friendship ensues. I loved it. It became my "comfort read." Anytime things went a little south, I'd pull out this book to bring things back to midline. I think I still have it in a box somewhere.
4th Grade-ish
Old Yeller - Bawl.
Nancy Drew Case Files - I remember being a total brat teasing a friend of mine who also loved Nancy, "So, have you read all the Nancy Drews?...What about Nancy Drew Deadly Intent?"
Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High, Cheerleaders - basically anything I could get my hands on
7th Grade
Where the Red Fern Grows - another one we read in class.
A Day No Pigs Would Die - the training of the puppy with the ferret in the whiskey barrel still makes my stomach drop.
Bridge to Terabithia - I vividly remember the cover of this book, the trees, though I don't remember the story from that time, except that I loved it.
Anne of Green Gables, and the rest - Anne was kind of my hero.
Johnny Tremain - I'd love to reread this one too. I had chosen it from the selection for our book fair projects, and it turned out that I liked it.
8th Grade
The Stand - I started in on Stephen King in junior high, and The Stand became "my favorite book" for a long time. I read it, then got the unabridged version and read that a couple of times too. Over 1,000 pages was a lot for a scrawny kid. I was SO disappointed when the miniseries was pretty miserable, despite having Gary Sinise cast as one of the leads.
High School
Treasure Island - I chose this as my "your choice" first book report book when I was the new kid in 9th grade. Can you say "geek?" All the other kids were reading John Grisham. Brown noser. But it turns out Treasure Island is a good story!
John Grisham - I quickly tried to get "cooler," and read through a bunch of his books. A Time to Kill was my favorite (and may have been his first book?), and most of the rest started to all sound the same.
A Tale of Two Cities - For "Reiser's" Honors English class, we read this one. I finished it in the conversion van we drove from IL to CA for Christmas in 1990. I LOVED it. Mme. Defarge knitting away her anger, the selfless love of Mr. Carton, the French Revolution...all of it so tragic and romantic and engrossing. I was again "surprised" that I'd love a classic so much.
Jane Eyre - I read the copy from my parents book-a-month club. Wish I could get my hands on those. Who knew that 20 years later, I'd be thinking back to Mr. Rochester because of a new, glittering hero partially based on him?
College
Maus - This was a text for one of my classes, then I taught it while student teaching 6th graders. It was my first experience with a graphic novel, and has a special place in my heart.
Dandelion Wine - An ex-boyfriend had loved this book. After we broke up because timing wasn't right, I read it in an act of contrition of sorts. Bradbury is typically known for his sci fi work, but this has just a taste of fantasy, and is mostly the story of a boy's summer. I reread at the end of every summer for several years because I loved how it seemed to wrap up the season perfectly.
Into Thin Air - I can't remember now if Krakauer's telling of the 1995 Everest distaster kicked off my Everest obsession, or just fed it. I love this book, and was thrilled to pick up a hard copy version at a garage sale last summer. The first time I read it was on the trip my family took to Australia. Since everything is better in Australia, I may have romanticized it a bit. But I don't think so. It's brilliant and compelling.
Angela's Ashes - Reading and doing a report on this book was an extra credit option for my Ed. Psych. class, but I was too busy drinking to read it while classes were in session. Instead I carried this hardcover across Australia too. I remember thinking that if I could ever write, I'd hope my style could be similar to McCourt's. I have 'Tis as well but haven't read it. I heard it wasn't as good. Anyone know?
Catcher in the Rye - I didn't read this 'til college. Loved it, and the hat in front / back became an inside joke between me and a friend.
Ender's Game - This was recommended to me by a friend, but I "didn't like sci fi." Eventually, in the midst of having to read and report on 40 YA books in a semester, I decided to give it a shot. Loved it. Turns out Orson Scott Card is another of Stephenie Meyer's inspirations. I'd like to read some more of Ender's stories.
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting - I read and took notes on a bunch of Milan Kundera's books. I thought I was deep.
The Giver - This was one of the required reads for the 40-YA -books semester. This was one of the few I LOVED.
Gosh, I know I've forgotten many, but I'm glad to have gotten a few down here for posterity.
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