Saturday, June 21, 2008

What to read?

Several people have asked me for more recommendations for summer reading. After all, it IS my favorite thing to do. Not just during the summer, but anytime of the year, anytime of the day. So…I’ve created a relatively random list separated into semi-accurate categories. As far as rating the books: Here is the key.

Ending: Was the ending worth it?
Characters: Do I still think about the characters?
Engagement: How easy was it to put the book down? (out of 3, 3 being hard to put it down)
Theme: Was there a moral/societal issue worth exploring?
Rating: Overall rating? (out of 5, 5 being the high score)

And just to qualify some of my ratings, sometimes the theme is stronger than the characters, or the ending is better than the character development or even the plot. Sometimes the characters out-weigh all. So take it for what its worth. I love all these books and would read them all again this summer if I didn’t have so many other books on my list yet to read.

Young/adolescent

Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull –
Ending: yes
Characters: sometimes
Engagement: 1
Theme: nothing major
Rating: 3
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 2
Theme: yes
Rating: 4
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 2
Theme: absolutely, so many levels
Rating: 5

Women/coming of age

These Is My Words by Nancy Turner
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 3
Theme: yes
Rating: 5
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Kidd
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 3
Theme: yes
Rating: 5
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Ending: ended too soon, in a good way. I just wanted more, more, more
Characters: absolutely
Engagement: 3
Theme: yes
Rating: 5

Adventure/sci-fi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Ending: great for a discussion
Characters: not really
Engagement: 2
Theme: sort of, sure
Rating: 4
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Ending: yes
Characters: not really
Engagement: 2
Theme: yes, great discussion
Rating: 5
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Ending: yes
Characters: no
Engagement: 2
Theme: everyone should be thinking about this
Rating: 5
Pope Joan by Donna Cross
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 3
Theme: yes
Rating: 5 – this book really has it all.

Classic

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 3
Theme: yes
Rating: 5 – it just doesn’t get better than this. It really doesn’t.
Oedipus the King by sophocles
Ending: yes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 1 – its challenging to read Greek theater prose, it just is.
Theme: yes, yes, and yes
Rating: 5

Series
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Ending: sort of, but its not over yet
Characters: yes
Engagement: 3
Theme: love story
Rating: 4
Books: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn
Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
Ending: yes
Characters: no
Engagement: 2
Theme: yes
Rating: 4
Books: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King
Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card
Ending: not really – I want to read about the 12 tribes
Characters: yes
Engagement: 2
Theme: yes
Rating: 4
Books: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah
Feel free to share any of your good reads in the comments. We would all benefit! Happy Reading!!!!

3 comments:

  1. Wow - what an amazing post. How long ago did you read all of these? That's a lot of remembering. The big surprise is the glowing recommendation of Twilight. Fortunately, you've favorably rated other more classic reads, showing not all is lost.

    Hopefully, we can get more detailed reviews in the future a la Count of Monte Cristo. Not that I am complaining.

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  2. Great post Karin -- I've loved all the books you have recommended to me. One I think you should add is "Cry the Beloved Country" - a beautiful and poignant book.

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  3. I agree. "Cry the Beloved Country" is the type of book that is powerful enough to actually inspire true change in your life. It is a touching story of gross sin, repentance and beautiful forgiveness. Not necessarily an easy read, but worth it.

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