My Summer Reading...

I thought I'd mention some of the super awesome books I read this summer, in case any of you are looking for a good read.

I read The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, about a Baptist family who goes to the Belgian Congo to do missionary work.  The story is told through the voices of five females: the wife of the Baptist minster, and his four daughters.  It was a truly compelling read.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon is about two Jewish cousins who want to write the next great comic book in 1930s New York.  It is an epic story of their lives, their aspirations, and a country in turmoil because of the Second World War.  Amazing... just like the title states.

I decided to re-read Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, just for fun... because that's what nerdy English teachers do.  I appreciated it so much more the second time!  Salinger's ability to capture the voice of Holden - a teenager who questions everything about life, and relationships, and school, and himself - is impressive.

I jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon, too.  Though it was a looooong read, I did make it through book one, and it was much more engaging than I had anticipated.  There is a little of everything: violence, deception, murder, sword fighting, dragon eggs, dwarves... you know.  The usual.  Good stuff, though.

And The Walking Dead just gets better, and better.  If you like zombie comics, this series is for you.  I read book 16 this summer, and things just took a crazy turn.  In book 16.  I know.  I have the feeling there will be many, many volumes to come.

I just finished a book called The List last week.  It's about a list that gets printed up every year, during the first week of school, indicating the prettiest and ugliest girls from each grade.  Each chapter is told in the voice of one of the girls from the list, and we get to find out how each one reacts to being put on this list.  The author's style reminded me of Sarah Dessen - a quick, but engaging story.

Other books I read that you might want to check out: 

A Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelmen
The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton