Born to Run
Christopher McDougall, © 2009
non-fiction; 290 pages
and
When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead, © 2009
youth science fiction; 199 pages
I just hit back-to-back home runs with my latest reads. The first, Born to Run, is a non-fiction account of a novice runner/journalists journey for the perfect stride while discovering the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico and helping "Caballo Blanco" organize the greatest race to never be seen. Fast paced, fact filled, and fun.
When You Reach Me, is the most fascinating and intelligent children's' fiction book I have read since becoming a teacher. Stead does an amazing job of dropping subtle hints along the way that there is more going on than just a drama about the struggles of a young girl and her single mother trying to survive in New York City in the late 1970s. I can best describe it as a contemporary version of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.
read them both
September 15, 2010
April 28, 2010
incredible
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War
Karl Marlantes, ©2010
Vietnam War fiction; 565 pages
This is the first Vietnam War novel I have read, and it was amazing. This book took Marlantes (a Vietnam Marine Vet) 30 years to write, and describes a marine platoon lieutenant's experience in one small corner of the war.
Christina Robb said, "Unforgettable...A beautifully crafted novel of unrivaled authenticity and power, filled with jungle heroism, crackerjack inventiveness, mud, blood, brotherhood, hatred, healing, terror, bureaucracy, politics, unfathomable waste, and unfathomable love."
That's about it, but better.
read it
Karl Marlantes, ©2010
Vietnam War fiction; 565 pages
This is the first Vietnam War novel I have read, and it was amazing. This book took Marlantes (a Vietnam Marine Vet) 30 years to write, and describes a marine platoon lieutenant's experience in one small corner of the war.
Christina Robb said, "Unforgettable...A beautifully crafted novel of unrivaled authenticity and power, filled with jungle heroism, crackerjack inventiveness, mud, blood, brotherhood, hatred, healing, terror, bureaucracy, politics, unfathomable waste, and unfathomable love."
That's about it, but better.
read it
March 20, 2010
third try
The Lost Tiki Palaces of Detroit
Michael Zadoorian, © 2009
short stories; 200 pages
It's been awhile since I've last updated. I've been reading a lot of children's fiction lately trying to find good reads for my students. Since The Last Olympian I haven't found anything good enough to write about.
Zadoorian's newest book is a collection of short stories. While these stories are good there isn't much new here. Many of the short stories are based on characters in his two previous novels: The Leisure Seeker and Second Hand.
Here is the big news concerning this read. This was my first time to request a book that I thought the Austin Public Library should carry. I placed an online request about 6 months ago, and it arrived at my local branch for me to have the first read. I was amazed and I love the library!
consider it
Michael Zadoorian, © 2009
short stories; 200 pages
It's been awhile since I've last updated. I've been reading a lot of children's fiction lately trying to find good reads for my students. Since The Last Olympian I haven't found anything good enough to write about.
Zadoorian's newest book is a collection of short stories. While these stories are good there isn't much new here. Many of the short stories are based on characters in his two previous novels: The Leisure Seeker and Second Hand.
Here is the big news concerning this read. This was my first time to request a book that I thought the Austin Public Library should carry. I placed an online request about 6 months ago, and it arrived at my local branch for me to have the first read. I was amazed and I love the library!
consider it
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