The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (*****)

I am reading a book along with several students in a self-directed study class at school.  I chose the book because I thought they would like it.  I asked them to read up to chapter four for our first discussion.  They had several days to accomplish this.  The next day one of the young men in our group came to my class to speak with me.  "Mrs. Caffey, I came to say I am sorry."  "Why is that?"  I asked.  "I read half of the book when you told us only to read to chapter four.  I'm sorry, but I couldn't stop.  The story was so good and it was so much like my life."
Ah, one of the reasons I love literature so much is it allows us to recognize that there are others in the world who know our stories. When you read something that truly resonates with your own story, it's a pretty spectacular thing.  And so, for this week's read, I would like to recommend The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  Alexie is one of the most popular Native American writers of our day and his story of Junior, aka Arnold Spirit, is a beautiful tale. Junior struggles with the task of being a Native Amerian in a white man's world and the pain he feels will make you want to cry alongside him. 

This is a beautiful book that employs humor and sorrow as the story of Junior unfolds.  It is one of my very favorite books and a great read whether you are fourteen or eighty!  Take a look at it, you won't be disappointed.  And, as always, happy reading!

Room by Emma Donoghue ****(Four out of five stars for this week's read)

JackeyJack is a boy you will love forever.  He tells his tale from the eyes of a five year old child who has known nothing but Room.  This is a strange and wonderful tale that will capture your imagination and make you grateful for the space that you exist in. 

The narrator of a story certainly influences how a story is told.  I don't know that I have ever read a book from the perspective of a child as young as Jack.  His honesty and wonder in sharing his tale makes this book a great read.  The innocence of a child who has known nothing but Room is heart-wrenching, and yet, Jack knows nothing else and so his acceptance of his dilemma is complete.

Challenge yourself to read this unique text and I would assert, you won't be disappointed.  Recommended to me by several good friends, I was glad to have been introduced to a boy who will stay in my memory for a very, very long time.

As always, happy reading!

A True Tale of Horror: Frankenstein

I have to do it.  I have to recommend one of my favorite books of all time: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  That’s right!   It is a phenomenal story of betrayal, love, commitment, revenge, longing, and ridicule.  Who could ask for more? 

At the ripe old age of eighteen, Shelley wrote this story as her contribution to a ghost story competition between her, her husband Percy Bysse Shelley, and Lord Byron.  Both men wrote their stories quickly, but Mary could not conceive of a truly horrifying tale so easily, so the story goes.  Then one night she wakes after a horrible dream of a monster created from spare body parts knowing she had been gifted with a story to rival no other. Voila!  One of the greatest Gothic novels of all time was borne!

The story of Frankenstein was made into myriad movies, cartoons, dolls, and other medium and yet, few people know the true story of the unloved monster.  Be in the know and read this great novel.  I am beginning it this week with my AP Seniors and I am hopeful that they love it as much as I do.  There are few characters in literature that I have come to adore more than the monster created by an ambitious young man who had no idea that the work of his own hands would destroy his life.  LOVE IT!!!!

This Week's Read: Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Have you ever wondered what you would be willing to sacrifice to save another’s life?  What would you be willing to do to save someone from excruciating torture and death?  This is the question at the core of this week’s read: Little Bee. 

Little Bee by Chris Cleave is the story of a young Nigerian girl whose life becomes inextricably bound to a couple who live in Britain.  The story asks us to truly ask what we are willing to sacrifice for one another and if we are willing to forgive if others cannot sacrifice the same for us.

It is a beautiful story told in the voice of Little Bee and Sarah, a young mother and journalist from London.  Little Bee’s voice is powerful and introspective and reminds us continually of the blessings we daily take for granted.  It is a compelling story that is, at times, difficult to read, but by the end of Little Bee’s tale, you will be thankful for the time you have spent with her and the lessons this young girl has taught.  It’s a book well worth picking up. 

As always, happy reading!

The Best Nonrequired Reading of 2010, edited by Dave Eggers

So I continue my quest of reading fifty-two books in fifty-two weeks this year.  My recommendation for this week is a little unconventional.  It is an anthology of readings entitled The Best American Nonrequired Reading of 2010, edited by Dave Eggers.  It is an interesting anthology as it is put together by two groups of high school students, one in San Francisco and one in Michigan.  The students meet once a week in their respective states and read a variety of magazines, zines, and journals.  They then decide on what they believe is the best published reading of 2009 and publish it in this beautiful little volume.

The book includes such interesting sections as “Best American Sentences on Page 50 of Books Published in 2009,” “Best American Magazine Letters Section,” “Best American Fast-Food Related Crimes,” and “Best American Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak.” 

The majority of the book, however, is comprised of short stories, which is my favorite genre of literature.  There is a wonderful story by Sherman Alexie entitled “War Dances.”  Alexie is one of my favorite American authors and this story is reminiscent of other works he has written.  By the way,  if you have not read his young adult novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, shame on you!  It is a wonderfully told story of the lone Native American student in an all white school.  Poignant and memorable.  Consider this a bonus reading suggestion for this week!

Along with other wonderful short stories, the anthology also includes non-fiction essays such as “Like I Was Jesus” by Rachel Aviv.  It chronicles teens who spend their summers as missionaries in inner city housing projects in the South.  It takes a look at the results of proselytizing to young children and what happens to these kiddos.  Very interesting.

For many years I have enjoyed “The Best of” books, but I have seldom sat down and read one from cover to cover.  This is the type of book that is great to have on your bedside table so you can enjoy a short story or essay when you don’t have the time to commit to an entire novel.  However, in lieu of this year’s pursuit to read a book a week, I did read the book from beginning to end and it was not a disappointment.  Check out this lovely volume of writings and, as always, happy reading!

The Luxury of Reading

Reading is a luxury.  A luxury we take for granted.  Or perhaps I should say, a luxury I take for granted.  As a high school English teacher, most days I come home from school exhausted and ready for an evening of mindless entertainment, which sadly means I turn on the television and spend the rest of the night in a semi-vegetative state. 

I often wonder at what point in my life I stopped spending most of my waking hours reading a book and replaced that magical time with the inane experience of watching TV. As a child I remember visiting the library with my mother and being told I couldn't check out all the books I was balancing in my arms.  I was always disappointed as I knew that I would finish them all before our next trip to the library on the following Saturday morning. 

Don't get me wrong, I still read, and when I do, it is still magical.  I love delving into the world created by an author and getting to know characters whose dreams and joys and disappointments will unfold for me as I turn each page.  But somewhere, somehow, television began replacing the reading of books and I found that finishing a great book became a rare occurance.

 During this new year, I hope to change that.  I am challenging myself to read a book a week, that's right, fifty-two books this year.  In doing this I thought it would be fun to share those books with you.  Some will be new books as I adore contemporary literature, and some will be old favorites that I find myself drawn to revisit.  So each week, check in for a recommendation for a great read and share your thoughts on the book as well.

So for my first recommendation, I suggest a trilogy of books that have been on the New York Time's Bestseller list for some time: Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I just finsihed reading the last book yesterday and it was a fun journey into the life of a woman who lives in Sweden and experiences a life much more adventurous than mine!

This trilogy of action adventure is not great literature as I would posit that there is a difference between a beautifully told story that will change your existence and a good, old fashioned yarn.  This series of books provides us with a good read.  Stieg Larsson is a good storyteller and it won't take long before you are intrigued by the heroine, Lisbeth Salander.  She is punked out, irreverent, anti-social powerhouse of woman who finds herself in series of, well, rather unfortunate events.  By her wits and remarkable computer hacking skills, she manages to overcome most of these challenges and by the end of the trilogy, she has won over the reader as well as challenged us to find a little more gumption in our own lives.

The book has a fair amount of foul language and sex which may be uncomfortable for some readers.  However, I don't believe it is gratuitous as it is integral in developing the persona of our main character.  But, reader be warned if such things offend you.

Stieg Larsson, a Swedish journalist, wrote all three manuscripts, turned them in to his publisher, and died shorly after.  So the story of Lisbeth is told in its completion.  By the end of the book, I found myself wishing Lisbeth well and feeling a bit sad that I would not encounter her again.  I hope you find the same to be true.  Good reading to you!!!