Meme: What Are You Reading?

I came across this meme at Book Journey via my Feedly reader and Anita Loves Books blog.  With this being the last week of school, I am avidly planning some BIG reads...literally - The Way of Kings, Gone with the Wind, Moby Dick, The Goldfinch, and The Palace Walk...all 700+ pages.

To the present, though...I am currently reading the following:

For Me:

• Richard Paul Evan's Walking on Water:  I love this series!  Fifth and final in the collection, I look forward to finding out how Alan resolves his issues with loss that initiated his walk and those he's encountered along the way.
• Wm. Paul Young's Cross Roads:  A book chosen for our locally owned book store, this one I am behind reading due to a death in our family. 

For Professional Development:

• 20 Strategies to Meet the Common Core:  Increasing Rigor in the Middle and High School Classroom:  I am still reading this one. Organized by topic that reads like a how-to manual, this one has been too easy to put down.

For Church:

• Finishing up a Beth Moore's David study and looking forward to beginning her Children of the Day study.

I would be reading more...but for both book clubs, I have already read the chosen books (both my recommendations!):  A Year on Ladybug Farm (local book store) and Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (faculty book club).

What are you reading good this week?

13: The Fallen Snow

Our faculty book club read this novel, selected by our solo male English teacher...and in our attempt to not just read "girly" books!

John J. Kelly's novel The Fallen Snow tells the journey of a young man Joshua Hunter from the mountains of Virginia to the front lines of wars in 1918 and the months of recovery afterwards from wounds physical, mental, and emotional. Leaving his girl behind, he meets and falls for a partner that does not return from the war.  When we selected the novel, I did not realize the novel with deal with topic and, honestly, I might not have read it had I realized that for personal beliefs.  I did appreciate, though, the background knowledge I gained on WWI, a time period on which I have not read enough.

Much of the story was told via flashbacks, representing literally what was happening in young Joshua's mind.  A great technique, these flashbacks provided glimpses into the war, the relationships (both at home and abroad), and the growth of the characters as they dealt with a young man who had seen much and killed many.

This is one that both genders could read.  With male protagonists and plenty of female perspectives, any audience would feel included.

What have you read lately that challenged your belief system?

#12: Esther

For our local bookstore's book club, the chosen selection of the month was the book of Esther from the Bible.  According to the ladies, this was the first time a book of the Bible had ever been chosen.

The group did not focus on Biblical implications, instead focusing on the mystery and adventure within the story, for the story has it all...and then some.

One of only two books named for a woman, Esther, chosen by the King as his next Queen, soon becomes involved in a plot (or her destiny) to save her people from the evil fate determined by the King's right hand man.

A good read!

11: The Book Thief

Ever put off something for too long and then wonder later why?  With Markus  Zusak's The Book Thief, I did exactly that....plus, I had to read it before I could watch the movie and because this novel was chosen for our high school's students' book club's first read.

Death makes for an interesting narrator.  Though quite busy during the setting of Nazi Germany, Death, one who most would find rather morbid, proves to be rather human-like, one with a sense of humor who is often amused by those who view his trade as resembling the Grip Reaper, scythe and all.  Told through the first person point-of-view, the subject matter encourages one to feel sympathy for one who must work 24/7, as all have been impacted by his visit at some point in one's life.

The story primarily takes place on Himmel Street.  Learning that Himmel means heaven brought a smile to this reader's face, for paradoxically, heaven is what this setting represents for its many of its residents.  Though the situation was harsh, this street represented escape from The Visit from Death that so many experienced during this time.

Main character Liesel Meminger, determined, scared, lonely, faced unimaginable circumstances:  the loss of her family, many meals of the same soup her foster mother made, the inability to read, a stubborn streak much too long for her own good, a stubborn streak just long enough for her own good.  The reader experiences this very harsh time through the perspective of this young adult (when Death quietens and allows her tale to be told), seeing it through the ices of the innocent.

Besides Night, I have not read many novels about the Holocaust, preferring, I suppose, to remain far away from such harsh conditions. This, though, is a time in our world's history that we should never forget, learning from that history; this time not allowing history to repeat itself.

Definitely a five-star book.  Definitely.

#10: The House of Scorpion

This book I read for our high school's Media Center's Blind Date with a Book for Valentine's.  On the table, several books were wrapped with a big red heart on each with a short blurb about the novel.  Tempted though I was (for I have committed to read several other books) to pick the shortest, I chose the one that sounded the most intriguing.   Glad I did.

Nancy Farmer's The House of Scorpion, winner of numerous awards, takes us to Opium, located between the United States and Aztlan (once known as Mexico), where Matt lives.  Matt is a clone.  A clone of the richest and most powerful man of  the time.

Conceived in a petri dish, Matt grew to birth in a cow's stomach.  Yes, a cow.

Nancy Farmer's voice on cloning, drugs, immigration all came through and would make for great discussion starters as the reader remains engrossed in the maturation of Matt. This book, I would love to teach.  Better yet, this novel would be a great selection for a history/social studies class.

Full of action, dialogue, plot changes, conflict, the story line moves quickly, where we are introduced to mama Celia, bodyguard Tam Lin, girlfriend Maria.  Upon checking out the novel, the librarian told me she had read the book in one night.  Now, I know why.

Good news!  Farmer has written a sequel entitled The Lord of Opium, which continues Matt's story.

Next week, I will book talk this one in class, foreseeing its quickly being checked out again. Yes!

Happy reading!

#9: The Someday List

Women Bible Cafe's Fiction Book of the Month, Stacy Hawkins Adams' Christian novel The Someday List introduces the reader to the Jubilant Soul Series and main character Rachelle Covington who is struggling with her role within her own world.

When her husband goes on a mission trip to Uganda and her children travel to spend a month with the grandparents, Rachelle finds herself with the time to visit a dying friend, who inspires Rachelle as she wants to model a list of completed list of to-do's before I die.

Set in Texas, this novel challenges the reader to consider his/her views on drinking and driving when Rachelle's aunt is involved in an accident in which a young child is hurt.  Rachelle finds herself giving more than she is receiving, and, as she does, she realizes that her relationship with God is lacking, the same conclusion that her husband is discovering on his mission trip, a trip he originally took for positive impact it would have on his career.

Characters are developed and relationships grow as Rachelle faces a flame from the past and confronts who she is and the new role she will now play in the own drama of her life. Scene by scene, act by act, decisions are made and growth occurs.

A good read, a quick read, this Christian fiction was enjoyable and inspiring.

Happy reading!

#8: The End of the Affair

Graham Greene's novel The End of the Affair was author Gretchen Rupin's (The Happiness Project) eccentric book selection for January.  Of her three recommendations, I chose this one because I hope to read more classics this year, and I placed this one in that category when I happened to notice its original publication date in 1951...well, a somewhat modern classic?

First, I was all but offended from page one when narrator Maurice Bendrix, an author himself, denounces God; then, the reader quickly learns of his adulterous affair with Sarah Miles. Goodness!  What I had I gotten myself into?  Then, I recall Rupin's reason for selecting this category of books:  "an excellent book that I love, yes, but one that may not appeal to everyone."  Okay.

I had spent the money on the book, and I have a growing respect for Rupin and the purpose behind her best-selling book.  So page-by-page, I progressed through the novel.  What I found was...a story of reformation, of redemption.

Sarah Miles, unhappily married and seeking love, becomes a believer where she finds love with one whom Bendrix initially does not like because God becomes the one she loves.  This novel is her story and the influence that her belief has on others.  Does Bendrix become a believer?  You have to read to the very last page...literally...to find out.

The World War II setting was interesting, for I had not read a novel set here in some time, a time frame that must be a character, a minor character, but a character, nonetheless, for the setting affects these characters in a subtle way, always there, always present.

With all this swirling in my mind, I read some about the author.  Interesting.  Quite the successful author, Greene, a Catholic, was involved in various works, including the British secret service and journalism.  His biography is one I would appreciate reading.

For February, I chose Rubin's young adult selection Up a Road Slowly by author Irene Hunt...awaiting its arrival in the mail.  Thinking I may count this one as a classic?  It was published in 1967.  Maybe?

Happy reading!