The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Why: my 3rd hour class chose for us to all read this together to start off second semester.

When: Start 1/11/13; End 2/4/13

Thoughts: This book is beautiful and painful and terrifying. Truly terrifying. The world of this book and me being lost in it with my child to protect is literally my nightmare.

How: I'm reading the copy I bought when I first taught this book a few years ago. It looks just like this image here, though my students' books have a still photo from the recent movie on the cover. I actually hate it when books do that. Then you're stuck with the movie maker's image of the characters in your head.

(click on the book image to get to the wikipedia entry for the book)

review haiku:

we all have a road
the trick is to stay true and
carry the fire

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Why: my 5th hour students chose for us to read this all together.

When: Start 1/11/13; End 2/4/13

Thoughts: I have to admit that I was surprised my students voted to read this out of the other choices. I love this book. So beautiful.

How: I'm reading the copy I've had since I taught AP English in Illinois, so it's full of my marginalia. The book mark/chapter summary card is a post card from the Grand Mesa. On the back is a sticker that says "I support smoke-free restaurants" (there was a campaign in the direction about 12 years ago in Urbana, Illinois).

(click on the book image to get to the wikipedia entry for The Great Gatsby)

review haiku:

the green light shining
stands in for all of us who
want what we can't have

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Why: book club

When: Start 1/20/13; End 2/2/13

Thoughts: This was beautifully written--loved how the Native American legends wove into the story. The main character as an adolescent makes for an intriguing lens on this book and the issues it takes on. I had no idea about the laws on reservations (imposed from the outside) and that they make it difficult to prosecute rape cases. That's where this story starts. The main character's (Joe's) mother is brutally raped and attacked by an outsider, his father is a judge, and questions about justice and revenge and what is permitted under the law swirl around the story.

How: as an ebook on my ipad

(click on the book image to read about the author)


review haiku

There's a line between
Revenge and justice and the law
But it's a fine line

Book Love by Penny Kittle

Why: My own professional development!

When: Start 1/20/13 End 1/27/13

Thoughts: This teacher shows me the path toward achieving with my students what I hope and envision for their reading.

How: I'm reading the hard copy of this one, loaned to me by a colleague. I'm taking notes on my ipad as I read so I don't forget all the things I hope to do in my classroom that I'm learning about in this book!

(click on the book image to get to the author's website)

review hiaku:

books books books books books
read read read read read read read
teach to craft readers

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson

Why: book club

When: Start 1/10/13. End 1/19/13

Thoughts: Am I a psychopath? I don't think so, at least not according to what I learned in this book.

How: as an ebook on my ipad, purchased through The Boulder Bookstore

(click on the book image to read about it on wikipedia)

review haiku:

if I wonder if
I might be a psychopath
than I am not one

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Why: This is the second in a series by Laini Taylor. I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone and had to read this when it came out.

When: Start 1/2/03; End 1/9/03

Thoughts: Whoa. This world is really very cool. There were some intense scenes here that went way beyond what I read in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I kept having to go back to the first book to remind myself of all the plot twists. There will be a third book by the way.

Oh, and I discovered this author because she came to speak to FHS last year. She had bright pink hair that day.

How: ebook on my ipad, purchased through The Boulder Bookstore (must support the local bookstore, people!)

(click on the book image to read the author's blog)

review haiku:

a parallel world
chimera and bad angels
and an epic war