Stretching

My kids take after me and are all avid readers. Like most young people they have a favorite genre and most of the books they read come from that genre. I suppose many adults are the same way. My son enjoys fantasy and some distopian and devours books so quickly I can hardly keep up with him. He tells me quite regularly that other books just don't interest him. I can relate. I read everything but fantasy.

Just before school ended in June, the English teacher asked my son what he planned on reading this summer. He listed a few books - all in his regular genre - and his teacher was impressed with the amount of reading he thought he could do. Then she told him that he should stretch his mind and reach something that he wouldn't normally pick up. She challenged my son to read a few classics and let her know what he thought.

When he told me about the teacher's challenge, I just shook my head. This is the first summer he has worked full-time and I couldn't imagine him taking what little spare time he has and using it for something that doesn't interest him.

I was wrong. This summer he read Ben Hur and he just finished Great Expectations. He can't wait to report back to the teacher about his summer reading. He just started reading A Tale of Two Cities and was wondering what to read after he finished it. I told him he should read some Shakespeare, quite sure he would laugh at the idea. Tonight, I noticed my volume of Shakespeare was on the couch. Somehow this teacher inspired him to try something out of his comfort zone and, even though he probably won't admit it, I think he is actually enjoying the experience. At the very least, he is inspiring me. There are several classics I've been meaning to read and I think it is about time I start on them.

What books have you read lately that have stretched your mind?

The Englisher by Beverly Lewis

This is another book from my Fall into Reading list, and is the second in the series Annie's People by Beverly Lewis. It is the continuing story of Annie Zook, who struggles with her desire to draw and paint against her preacher father's orders and her love of an englisher or non-amish person. She sees how easy her father is on her brother's doings and struggles with wanting to please her family and feeling that life isn't fair.

I enjoy reading about the Amish people and how they deal with things in their own culture and how they interact with the outside world. Beverly Lewis writes about these people with understanding and empathy. She develops her characters well and uses great descriptions. In this story I find myself rooting for the characters and yet not sure how she will write the final book to get things to work out. I can't wait to read the last book in the series.

Grave Secrets by Marlene Austin

This book is on my Fall into Reading List and was also the book chosen by our book club for this month.

"On the day Bethany Carlisle receives her doctorate, she learns that her grandmother has died. However, Bethany’s dismay immediately turns to anger when she learns that the wealthy, eccentric, and distant woman who raised Bethany has taken pains to torment her granddaughter even from the grave. Now, in order to claim her substantial inheritance, Bethany must spend a year at an abandoned house in Maine — and write a book. But what book? In the course of making the old house livable, Bethany believes she’s discovered the answer. But the process of writing the now-important book soon becomes complicated by threatening messages — and the attention of three very different men. She wonders if any of their motives are honorable as it becomes clear that someone will stop at nothing to wrest away her inheritance. Now, Bethany must use every ounce of her faith and resourcefulness — if she is to survive."

I enjoyed this book and loved how the author wove the genealogy into the story. It was interesting to read how she searched back through different records to find the answers she was looking for. The book had a good combination of suspense and romance, which really is my favorite type of book. There was good character development and I loved the descriptions. Grave Secrets is not a difficult read and I look forward to discussing it with my book club when we meet again.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

When Jane's great-aunt dies and leaves her a trip to England, Jane has no idea what she is getting herself into. She travels to Pembrook Park, an estate that puts its guests back into regency times. Her plan is to give up her obsession with Mr.Darcy, get over several disastrous relationships in her past, and put the idea of true love behind her. She struggles to live in the era without letting her modern ideas get in the way, but keeps saying things that only the modern Jane would say. She finally decides to get into the charade and enjoys the last several days of her stay. Of course, during her time at Pembrook, two different men show interest in her, and she has to decide whether she really does want to give up on true love forever.

This is another book I chose for my Fall into Reading list. It was a light read and I got through it rather quickly. The premise of the story held my interest, but I found myself wishing the author would have spent more time developing the characters. Most of them fell flat for me and in the end when she goes off into the sunset with her new man, I decided I didn't really care. There was nothing to make me happy that she picked him, and I'd have been just as happy if she returned home alone. That said, I did enjoy the story and laughed out loud a few times. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

I finally finished the third book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. After reading the first two books, I wanted to find out how things were resolved. In this book, Bella's story continues as she tries to sort out her relationships with Edward and Jacob. As the characters in the book deal with their own feelings, there are outside influences causing other problems. Bella's life is in danger once again and the vampires and werewolves have to put aside their differences to protect her.

Like the previous books, I still had a hard time liking Bella and often found her whiney and far too dependent on both guys. Stephenie Meyer writes in a way that holds my interest and keeps me reading until the end, but in the long run, I wish she could have given me a character to root for. I liked Jacob the most and wished he could have come out happier in the end. It bothered me that Edward always spent the night, and always behind her father's back. This book is marketed as young adult fiction, but I wouldn't recommend it to my teenage daughter. But I do wonder what the author will come up with next.

My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright

Suzanne Quincy has spent most of her young life trying to escape from her abusive mother. Her usual method is drugs or alcohol. She feels this method is working until she finds out she is pregnant. When her mother kicks her out of the house, she decides her only option is to go to Utah and see if her brother and his new wife will take her in. Throughout the book, she struggles with her brother's new religion, new friendships and her turbulent past.

This is a well-written book dealing with repentance, forgiveness and adoption. The author has managed to create a character that I started out not liking, but as she learned to like herself, I learned to like her too. The subject of adoption is also dealt with in a sensitive and insightful manner. I enjoyed this book from my Fall into Reading list and will certainly read more by Julie Wright.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon is the continuing story of Bella, Edward, and Jacob. I enjoyed the read, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed the first book, Twilight. I found that I didn't like Bella's character, which bothered me. When I read a book, I want to like and sympathize with the main character. Both Jacob and Edward are likable in their own way, but I found myself wishing they would both leave Bella alone.

The middle of the book dragged a bit. It felt like too much time was spent in Bella's head without anything really happening. And I did wish that there was more about the werewolves and their background. In the end, the book left me wanting to know what will finally happen with Bella, Edward, and Jacob. I am hoping that Bella will somehow redeem herself and be someone I can actually cheer for. I guess that is where Stephenie Meyer really excels. She makes us love and hate the characters enough that we forgive the weaknesses in the book because we really want to know what happens to them.

This is another book from my Fall into Reading List.

Fall Into Reading

I have signed up to participate in the Fall Into Reading Challenge over at Callapidder Days. The Summer Reading Thing was fun and got me reading a few things I normally wouldn't have picked up. This time my list is long, but I tend to read lots and read fast. I will also probably read more books than I have listed. (My book club will add a few as well.) I will certainly have to focus better than I did in the summer and do better at reading what is on the list first so I don't get behind.

1. A Gift of Ice - James Dashner
2. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer *
   
3. Trouble in Palmyra - Rob Ficiur
4. The Foundling - Georgette Heyer
5. Ghost of a Chance - Kerry Blair *
   
6. Grave Secrets - Marlene Austin*
7. My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life - Julie Wright *
   
8. The Englisher - Beverly Lewis*
9. Kids are Worth It - Barbara Coloroso
10. Waltzing to a Different Strummer - Tom Plummer
11. Infinite Atonement - Tad R. Callister
12. The Princes of Ireland - Edward Rutherford
13. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austin
    
14. Tom Finder - Martine Leavitt *
    
15. Austenland - Shannon Hale *
    
16. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer *