How Does Your Garden Grow?

I spent the morning yesterday doing some TLC on my compost bin. Later in the day I couldn't pass the library without stopping in to snatch a few books on compost, organic gardening, and our ecological impact. There's nothing like sunny 50 degree weather to affect your reading regimen.

I finished Compost by Clare Foster this morning, excellent.

Please Bury Me in the Library

I spotted the book, Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis, in Village Books several weeks ago. I loved it so much I politely sent a little note to my mom suggesting it would make an excellent birthday present. Luckily, she agreed.

This book is so cute. It is a collection of poetry for children about books and reading. Some of these will definitely be posted in my classroom and around my library (when that joyous day comes).

Here's my favorite:

Great, Good, Bad

A great book is a homing device
For navigating paradise.

A good book somehow makes you care
About the comfort of a chair.

A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies.

Recommendation: If you have a soft spot for children's literature, or reading in general, you'll enjoy these cute little literature inspired poems.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

I knew it was a bad idea. But see, I'm doing this Numbers Challenge... and everyone else has read it. But really... I knew it was a bad idea.

So clearly, before picking up The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom I was biased. It just seemed so... Oprah's Book Club. You know, before she did the revamp and "discovered" Steinbeck. Plus, my horrible horrible roommate had it as a fixture on her desk in our dorm room. (Thank goodness those days are long over). This wasn't going to be a book I'd like.

But I had to try it because... 1. It was a national best seller / everyone's read it and 2. I did enjoy Tuesdays with Morrie.

Starting out I surprised myself. I didn't mind it. Lately there's been the circus/carnivale setting trend going around, I like it. (Water for Elephants, Carnivale, etc) I enjoyed hearing about the old time pier amusement park, all that. And I even started to wonder who Eddie would meet in heaven. But that's about it...

The second half of the book I had to force myself through. I actually set a time limit.

My complaints? ... I've been trying to figure that out. I think I felt like Albom was trying too hard. It was too sentimental? It didn't work for me. Sorry I can't be more eloquent.

Recommendation: If you are the one other person out there who hasn't read this book, skip it.

The Chocolate War

My first book crossed off the list of the Young Adult Challenge.

When I first heard about The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, I didn't realize it was a young adult book. It just sounded like a really good book. Maybe that's proof that people of all ages can enjoy really good literature. That being said, I guess I'm still pretty close to the age group cornered by "young adult" writers. Even so.

The Chocolate War takes place in New England at a Catholic private high school in the 1970s (at least the copyright is '74). The school is unofficially led by a secret society, The Vigils, and officially led by Brother Leon, the stand-in for the ill headmaster. When Brother Leon calls upon the boys to sell double the number of boxes of chocolates at double the price during the school's annual chocolate sale, things start to heat up. The magnitude of the venture requires The Vigils' participation. So what was Jerry Renault to do when The Vigils, infamous for giving out risky "assignments" to the student body, ordered him to refuse to sell chocolates? Furthermore, what's Jerry to do when his assignment is over and the words from his mouth continue to refuse to sell the chocolates? Finding inspiration from a poster hanging in his locker he ponders the question, "Do I dare disturb the universe?"

The Chocolate War is a quick read exploring powerful themes including: death, peer pressure, sexuality, violence, power, and personal identity. As a result, parents around the country have attempted to have it banned. What better way to encourage students to read a book than try to prevent them from reading it! Here's an interesting (if somewhat outdated) article explaining one circumstance of the book's controversy. My own opinion aligns with the authors: The bits of the book parents object to (swear words and masturbation), are the bits of the book that give validity to the characters. And heaven forbid young teenagers read a swear word or brief descriptions of masturbation... because we'd hate to "encourage them". But really... wouldn't we rather have them masturbating than potentially reproducing? Not to diverge too much here.

Another bit I learned recently is that the story was inspired by the author's own son.

(Just a brief note on the cover shown: This is not actually the cover of the copy I own. I only mention that because the cover on the copy I own is way better! It's a dejected looking boy (Jerry Renault) in football uniform alone on the ball field with the school looming in the distance.)

Recommendation: If you enjoy the setup of an all boys private school (which I seem to) and you appreciate young adult books that tackle tough themes, The Chocolate War will not disappoint.

Listening Is an Act of Love

You know when you read a really great book and want to stop people on the street to tell them about it? This is that book.

Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project is a phenomenal collection of stories gathered by the ingenius people at Storycorps. Storycorps sets up booths around the country and people make appointments to interview friends and loved ones about important moments in their lives. At the end of the interview, two cds are made. One goes to the participants, the other goes in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

David Isay, the creator (and editor of this book), takes the philosophy that history should be told from the bottom up (the lives of everyday people) instead of the top down (celebrities, politicians, etc.). I completely agree and it makes for amazing reading. It's like what it would be like if you could actually talk to all the people Howard Zinn references in A People's History of the United States.

Sometimes I feel like there's a lot to be down about in America these days. Want a few examples?
1. parking lots
2. housing developments with identical houses 3 feet apart from each other
3. million dollar condos blocking free views
4. consumption
5. library cutbacks

And I get really frustrated in general with people because if we could all decide to make small changes, we could change the world. I get frustrated with the apathy (I'm guilty too, I know!).

Reading the stories in Listening is An Act of Love reminded me of Anne Frank's profound quote, "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." And that's a wonderful piece of positive thinking.

I was especially moved by the stories in the last section of the book, "Fire and Water," about September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. I sat in a Starbucks (where you can buy the cd I believe) and cried through the last several pages. When I got back to work I quickly read the afterward and got that funny feeling in my stomach that I only get from holding back emotion.

And if a book can do all that...!

Recommendation: If you cry easily, grab a tissue. This book is full of touching stories to make you consider the elements of our everyday lives.

PS. Subscribe to the podcast!

Peter Pan

I can't say I'm a huge fan of Peter Pan. I mean, as a kid I enjoyed the story and watching various productions. But somehow, looking at it through adult feminist eyes... I don't see much appeal in a boy refusing to grow up and take responsibility while at the same time convincing a girl to take care of him and his friends. Like, what?

However, I am a huge fan of this cover.

Speaking with the Angel

I came across Speaking with the Angel edited by Nick Hornby while I was trying to find some light books for holiday reading. It proved to be a good find.

The book is a collection of short stories by several prominent writers in today's (well, late 90's early 2000) scene. Each writer contributed a story to make a collection that benefits Treehouse, a school for children with autism. Hornby's own son has autism and attends the school. In the introduction Hornby describes children who have autism and the amazing ways Treehouse is able to reach them. Worthy cause, right?

On top of appreciating the purpose of the collection, the stories were really great as well. The writers include Helen Fielding, Irvine Welsh, Dave Eggers, Colin Firth (yes, Mr. Darcy!), and Hornby himself.

Here's a recap of a few of my favorites:
Last Requests by Giles Smith is the story of a prison cook who prepares the inmates' last supper. It took me a few pages to catch on... and then the premise coupled with the cook's attitude struck me as so absurd and delightfully funny.

PMQ by Robert Harris is the hilarious explanation by the Prime Minister as to why his "mental breakdown" was not a mental breakdown at all... simply a series of coincidences and unfortunate events.

Catholic Guilt (You Know You Love It) by Irvine Welsh begins as a somewhat disturbing look into a young homophobic man's life. However, by the end, you'll be chuckling at his "Catholic" punishment and the scheme that he's laid out.

Recommendation: If you like the British literati and are impressed by unique points of view, you'll enjoy this book.