Category: Books

Books

Author I Used To Love But Don’t Anymore

Anne Lamott

I fell in love with her in college when I first read Traveling Mercies, and even today, I think if I picked up that book, I’d still laugh.  But I’m not sure I would find it as inspiring now, as I thought I did then.  I started to lose interest with the second of this inspirational series, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith.  When the final book came out (Grace Eventually) I didn’t even finish it.  I’m not sure what it was.  She annoyed me.

I also remember laughing through Operating Instructions, and thought at the time how I would love to be Sam’s high school teacher, just so I could have a non-stalkeresque reason to meet the woman.  Now that I’m a mother, I wonder what my current reaction would be.  Strangely, of all the books I’ve ever read, Anne Lamott is my most read author.  I even tried some of her fiction.  (It also failed me.)

John and I were discussing this weekend, the way certain books hit you at just the right time in life, and they have an effect which is deeply personal but directly connected to circumstances.  There are other books that we feel certain we would love no matter when we read them (or how often).  Anne Lamott is obviously the former.

I should probably stop recommending her as a favorite to people.

30 Day Book Challenge, Books

Day 13: Most Surprising Plot Twist or Ending

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Given my more recent propensity for reading the end of books to see if they are even worth my time, it was hard for me to come up with a book that surprised me.  Hah.

From what I remember of this book (which I read several years ago, and only remember that I loved it, and then made John read it, and he loved it too), there is a huge buildup to the climax.  What is made clear throughout the novel is that Owen Meany practices a basketball shot over and over and over again with Johnny Wheelwright because he believes this is necessary for his destiny in life.  It is also very strongly suggested that the fulfillment of this destiny will result in Owen’s death.

Other than that, the actual moment of “The Shot’s” heroic appearance is bizzarre and completely unexpected.  I won’t spoil it.  Truth be told, I don’t remember enough detail to do a spoiler any justice anyway.  Just know that this was one book I did not read ahead and ruin in advance, and I was surprised.

Books

Most Surprising Plot Twist or Ending

Day 13: 

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Given my more recent propensity for reading the end of books to see if they are even worth my time, it was hard for me to come up with a book that surprised me.  Hah.

From what I remember of this book (which I read several years ago, and only remember that I loved it, and then made John read it, and he loved it too), there is a huge buildup to the climax.  What is made clear throughout the novel is that Owen Meany practices a basketball shot over and over and over again with Johnny Wheelwright because he believes this is necessary for his destiny in life.  It is also very strongly suggested that the fulfillment of this destiny will result in Owen’s death.

Other than that, the actual moment of “The Shot’s” heroic appearance is bizzarre and completely unexpected.  I won’t spoil it.  Truth be told, I don’t remember enough detail to do a spoiler any justice anyway.  Just know that this was one book I did not read ahead and ruin in advance, and I was surprised.

30 Day Book Challenge, Books

Day 12: Book that is Most Like Your Life

I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

No offense, me, but if we ever resort to reading books that are a lot like our life, let’s just take a full bottle Vicodin and fall asleep forever.

Sloane Crosley does not write fiction, and for the record (in case she catches wind of me one day), I’m in no way saying the two of us are alike.  Though we’re about the same age, she’s a Jewish girl from New England, for one, and well, she’s a published author, for another.

This book of non-fiction essays doesn’t remind me of my life.  But her voice reminds me of my voice, and her attitude reminds me of my attitude, and probably if we met in real life, we’d secretly hate each other.

She’s one of the few authors who managed to publish something in her 20’s that isn’t completely idiotic.  Though Dave Eggars could also be put into this category, I even got annoyed/bored half way through his manifesto.  Sloane did not bore me, and managed to keep me laughing until the end.  My two favorite essays in this collection are of course the one about her experience at an all girls Christian summer camp, and her take on being a maid of honor.

It was refreshing to know that I haven’t been alone in my utter inability to connect to any and all things wedding.  And I’m married, for crying out loud.

She’s funny.  I like her.  Her writing reeks of the same innocent and humorous take on everyday circumstances that I wish I could summon within myself with more regularity.

Books

Book That is Most Like Your Life

Day 12:

I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

No offense, me, but if we ever resort to reading books that are a lot like our life, let’s just take a full bottle Vicodin and fall asleep forever.

Sloane Crosley does not write fiction, and for the record (in case she catches wind of me one day), I’m in no way saying the two of us are alike.  Though we’re about the same age, she’s a Jewish girl from New England, for one, and well, she’s a published author, for another.

This book of non-fiction essays doesn’t remind me of my life.  But her voice reminds me of my voice, and her attitude reminds me of my attitude, and probably if we met in real life, we’d secretly hate each other.

She’s one of the few authors who managed to publish something in her 20’s that isn’t completely idiotic.  Though Dave Eggars could also be put into this category, I even got annoyed/bored half way through his manifesto.  Sloane did not bore me, and managed to keep me laughing until the end.  My two favorite essays in this collection are of course the one about her experience at an all girls Christian summer camp, and her take on being a maid of honor.

It was refreshing to know that I haven’t been alone in my utter inability to connect to any and all things wedding.  And I’m married, for crying out loud.

She’s funny.  I like her.  Her writing reeks of the same innocent and humorous take on everyday circumstances that I wish I could summon within myself with more regularity.

30 Day Book Challenge, Books

Day 11: Book From Your Favorite Author

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

This was a tough category, because it is difficult for me to say I have a favorite author.  Ironically, Eugenides has only published three novels, and of them, I’ve only read this one.  I loved this book so much though, that I’m feeling confident that when I get around to reading The Virgin Suicides and The Marriage Plot, I’m going to enjoy them.

As a pretty big reader and an English teacher, it is weirdly difficult for me to find books, outside of classics or things I read in college, that strike me, on their own, as good literature.   Middlesex was the first novel that did this since The Brothers K (read about seven years earlier).  Aside from the obvious controversial plot, this is a book that I would love to teach to the right class one day, if I thought I could get away with it.  Essentially, it is about a hermaphrodite named Cal, who is raised as a girl, but comes to realize at about fifteen that he’s probably a boy.  Cal’s story is interwoven with the complete stories of his parents and grandparents.   This book contains a complex plot that mixes (some ancient) Greek culture and humor with a modern-day medical phenomenon as well as the resulting cultural and identity issues.  It was the first book in a long time that I could not stop talking about while reading it and for weeks afterward.  (Thank goodness I was teaching public school at the time.  I cannot imagine how the administrative sit-down would have gone if this book was my main topic of interest the year I taught in a private Christian school.  Actually.  I can imagine it.  Let me just say thank goodness, again.)

Books

Book From Your Favorite Author

Day 11:

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

This was a tough category, because it is difficult for me to say I have a favorite author.  Ironically, Eugenides has only published three novels, and of them, I’ve only read this one.  I loved this book so much though, that I’m feeling confident that when I get around to reading The Virgin Suicides and The Marriage Plot, I’m going to enjoy them.

As a pretty big reader and an English teacher, it is weirdly difficult for me to find books, outside of classics or things I read in college, that strike me, on their own, as good literature.   Middlesex was the first novel that did this since The Brothers K (read about seven years earlier).  Aside from the obvious controversial plot, this is a book that I would love to teach to the right class one day, if I thought I could get away with it.  Essentially, it is about a hermaphrodite named Cal, who is raised as a girl, but comes to realize at about fifteen that he’s probably a boy.  Cal’s story is interwoven with the complete stories of his parents and grandparents.   This book contains a complex plot that mixes (some ancient) Greek culture and humor with a modern-day medical phenomenon as well as the resulting cultural and identity issues.  It was the first book in a long time that I could not stop talking about while reading it and for weeks afterward.  (Thank goodness I was teaching public school at the time.  I cannot imagine how the administrative sit-down would have gone if this book was my main topic of interest the year I taught in a private Christian school.  Actually.  I can imagine it.  Let me just say thank goodness, again.)

30 Day Book Challenge, Books

Day 10: Book That Changed Your Life

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I first read this version of the book in 7th grade, which could easily be categorized as a year that changed my life, as far as reading goes.  I had one of my best English teachers of all time that year.  Not only did this man change the way I looked at literature, but eleven years later, he would change the way I approached teaching literature.

I was chastised by my first principal in every single teacher evaluation for my first year of teaching about reading books aloud to my class (while they followed along).  Half-way through my second year I think his comment was something like, “You know how I feel about the reading to your students thing, but something seems to be working in your classroom so I’ll just leave you alone.”

Probably, this version of this novel was way too hard for an average 7th grader.  I actually ended up teaching it to one class of honors sophomores, and many of them had difficulty giving it a fair chance due to the language (so many French names) and length.  But I don’t remember having a difficult time with it.  I don’t remember disliking anything we did that year, because this teacher was so phenomenal.  (Or because I was such a dork.)  Les Mis still makes me cry every time I read it.  I saw the musical on Broadway and bawled through the entire thing.

I actually think an evangelist might have an easier time using this book over the Bible to explain unconditional love to an atheist..

I think I decided to become a teacher in 2nd grade, and of course, at the time, assumed I’d teach elementary school.  One summer during college, I re-read Les Mis.  I changed my entire idea (though not my elementary-ed major) and decided I would teach high school English.  This book, and the teacher who originally introduced me to it, had almost everything to do with my decision.

Books

Book That Changed Your Life

Day 10:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I first read this version of the book in 7th grade, which could easily be categorized as a year that changed my life, as far as reading goes.  I had one of my best English teachers of all time that year.  Not only did this man change the way I looked at literature, but eleven years later, he would change the way I approached teaching literature.

I was chastised by my first principal in every single teacher evaluation for my first year of teaching about reading books aloud to my class (while they followed along).  Half-way through my second year I think his comment was something like, “You know how I feel about the reading to your students thing, but something seems to be working in your classroom so I’ll just leave you alone.”

Probably, this version of this novel was way too hard for an average 7th grader.  I actually ended up teaching it to one class of honors sophomores, and many of them had difficulty giving it a fair chance due to the language (so many French names) and length.  But I don’t remember having a difficult time with it.  I don’t remember disliking anything we did that year, because this teacher was so phenomenal.  (Or because I was such a dork.)  Les Mis still makes me cry every time I read it.  I saw the musical on Broadway and bawled through the entire thing.

I actually think an evangelist might have an easier time using this book over the Bible to explain unconditional love to an atheist..

I think I decided to become a teacher in 2nd grade, and of course, at the time, assumed I’d teach elementary school.  One summer during college, I re-read Les Mis.  I changed my entire idea (though not my elementary-ed major) and decided I would teach high school English.  This book, and the teacher who originally introduced me to it, had almost everything to do with my decision.

30 Day Book Challenge, Books

Day 9: Book that Made You Sick

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

If you ever saw the movie Outbreak I believe it was based on this book.  This non-fiction account of an Ebola breakout in North America opens with a man puking up thick black blood clots on a plane.

Yes.  Gross.

I didn’t think I would actually enjoy this book, such subjects are usually of little interest to me, and as I often read before bed, I’m not especially keen on pre-dream images of nastiness.

John actually recommended this book within the first three days of knowing me.  As my trainer at Eckerd, he suggested that reading to kids before bed was one of the best ways to establish a good night time culture (he was right) and that every camp kid loves this book (he was right again).

I pretty much did everything John told me to do that year of life in delinquent ridden woods and I credit every ounce of my success to his advice and support.  (I’m sure he does the same for me, currently.)

Anyway, this was a gross book, but I ended up enjoying it.  This is probably due to the reaction of ten teenage boys who were going on six week stretches of no connection to the outside world.  They ate this book up.

Other books that typically “make me sick” the first time I read them are most books having to do with WW1 or WW2.  Included in this list are Night and All Quiet on the Western Front.  I can say after teaching both, multiple times, I am now over that feeling I initially got in the pit of my stomach at the descriptions of carnage and death (which, in both, is mild and very well done, on a literary level), but generally speaking, I’m not a big fan of reading about the same stuff that I can’t watch on TV.