The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
As you may have noticed over the course of this blog, I enjoy Mitch Albom's books. The things he writes about heaven can be thought provoking and emotional. With that said, there are a couple of books, this one and For One More Day, that I am not sure I could deal with if they occurred in my life.
The premise of this book is that people in one Michigan town are receiving phone calls from loved ones who have passed on. Presumably, they are calling from heaven. Sounds great, right? The town is inundated with people hoping that, just by being in the proximity, they too will receive a phone call from a dearly departed loved one. So many people believe. There is, however, one who doesn't. Sully Harding. He has made it his mission to prove that these calls are fakes. He has his reasons.
This was a good book, but it made me think that I wouldn't want to receive a phone call from heaven. Crazy, I know. While I would love to hear from my grandpa, I think it would just be re-opening a wound. I still have a hard time listening to my grandma's answering machine message because it is my grandpa's voice. I can't imagine having an actual conversation from beyond with him. One part of me would love it, I think, but the other would be heartbroken all over again. Not sure I can do that.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
A Companion Book
Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
Five years ago, I was in my methods classes. We were on location in a high school, and I was assigned to a freshman and a senior class. My senior mentor was getting ready to begin a novel with her class, and asked me to create a lesson to introduce the characters to the class. That novel was Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. I enjoyed the book, which surprised me.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the school library, and a coworker was checking out Fallen Angels. We began to talk about what a good book it was, and the librarian mentioned that there was a companion book, told by the nephew of the narrator. I was sold. I checked it out, and now, nearly two weeks later (I know!), I finished. Sadly, it wasn't as captivating to me as the first book was.
Birdy is shipped to Iraq at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He sees some horrific sights, learns firsthand about IED's, and remote detonation. He makes friends with some of his comrades, and sees some die.
I don't know why I wasn't as taken with this one as I was its predecessor. I have to wonder if it is because I don't know much about the Vietnam war, whereas I was living during the time of Iraqi Freedom. All the media coverage, I think, has taken away from the book for me.
Five years ago, I was in my methods classes. We were on location in a high school, and I was assigned to a freshman and a senior class. My senior mentor was getting ready to begin a novel with her class, and asked me to create a lesson to introduce the characters to the class. That novel was Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. I enjoyed the book, which surprised me.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the school library, and a coworker was checking out Fallen Angels. We began to talk about what a good book it was, and the librarian mentioned that there was a companion book, told by the nephew of the narrator. I was sold. I checked it out, and now, nearly two weeks later (I know!), I finished. Sadly, it wasn't as captivating to me as the first book was.
Birdy is shipped to Iraq at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He sees some horrific sights, learns firsthand about IED's, and remote detonation. He makes friends with some of his comrades, and sees some die.
I don't know why I wasn't as taken with this one as I was its predecessor. I have to wonder if it is because I don't know much about the Vietnam war, whereas I was living during the time of Iraqi Freedom. All the media coverage, I think, has taken away from the book for me.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
T List #30
Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore
I think this is where the list ends for me. Sure, there are twenty-something books left on it, but this was a good number to end on. It's ten books more than last year, and will be duck number ten for this year when I go to the library tomorrow. It's been a fun journey. Most of the books were really good, and touched me in some way.
This last book on my personal TAYSHAS journey...The blurb on the inside of the book jacket made it sound much better than it was, in my opinion. Basically, it indicates that Daisy can "speak" to the dead, meaning that she aids law enforcement agencies, namely the FBI, in finding missing, dead bodies. She also uses her "gift" to determine, sometimes, how a person dies. In fact, that is how the book starts out. Then, she is kidnapped by a mafia family whose daughter is missing in order to help find her. Except that's not really what they need her for. They need her to raise a powerful dead guy. Yeah, not completely weird at all.
Anyway, I checked out this book because it sounded like I would be reading about finding missing dead people, which is mysterious and fascinating, not reading about raising the dead to god-like proportions.
I think this is where the list ends for me. Sure, there are twenty-something books left on it, but this was a good number to end on. It's ten books more than last year, and will be duck number ten for this year when I go to the library tomorrow. It's been a fun journey. Most of the books were really good, and touched me in some way.
This last book on my personal TAYSHAS journey...The blurb on the inside of the book jacket made it sound much better than it was, in my opinion. Basically, it indicates that Daisy can "speak" to the dead, meaning that she aids law enforcement agencies, namely the FBI, in finding missing, dead bodies. She also uses her "gift" to determine, sometimes, how a person dies. In fact, that is how the book starts out. Then, she is kidnapped by a mafia family whose daughter is missing in order to help find her. Except that's not really what they need her for. They need her to raise a powerful dead guy. Yeah, not completely weird at all.
Anyway, I checked out this book because it sounded like I would be reading about finding missing dead people, which is mysterious and fascinating, not reading about raising the dead to god-like proportions.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
T List #29
Wise Young Fool by Sean Beaudoin
Ritchie Sudden is in juvie. Why is he there? We don't actually find out until chapter 86. There are 90 chapters. Anyway, some of the chapters are told in the present tense, from juvie, but most are told in the past tense to show what got him there.
Ritchie has one really good friend, Elliott. They are in a band. They want to play at a gig that could further their careers. At the very least, it can get them out of their town. Ritchie is in love with Ravenna, but it seems he doesn't have a chance with her. Or does he?
Ritchie's mom is a lesbian, but she hasn't always been one. Her girlfriend lives with them, and tries to give Ritchie advice. Another girl is into Ritchie, but he's not really into her. He has a douchebag teacher, and some jerk wants to beat the crap out of his best friend. Basic teenage drama.
This was actually a fun read. More books should be like this.
Ritchie Sudden is in juvie. Why is he there? We don't actually find out until chapter 86. There are 90 chapters. Anyway, some of the chapters are told in the present tense, from juvie, but most are told in the past tense to show what got him there.
Ritchie has one really good friend, Elliott. They are in a band. They want to play at a gig that could further their careers. At the very least, it can get them out of their town. Ritchie is in love with Ravenna, but it seems he doesn't have a chance with her. Or does he?
Ritchie's mom is a lesbian, but she hasn't always been one. Her girlfriend lives with them, and tries to give Ritchie advice. Another girl is into Ritchie, but he's not really into her. He has a douchebag teacher, and some jerk wants to beat the crap out of his best friend. Basic teenage drama.
This was actually a fun read. More books should be like this.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Shamed by...everyone
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
My daughter is reading this in her seventh grade English class. My son read it in seventh grade. My husband read it in seventh grade. Nearly everyone I know, including my students, read this book in seventh grade. Do you know what it's like to be an English teacher, but have not read the book everyone else has? It's a weird feeling.
And, oh yeah? Apparently, it's everyone's favorite book. Pressure much?
Once I realized everyone I know has read this, I ordered it from Amazon. A mere three days later, it was here. I admit, it was an ok book, but not one of my favorites. Not sure even if I'll read it again. I've pretty much decided I have no soul because I am not enamored of this book.
My daughter is reading this in her seventh grade English class. My son read it in seventh grade. My husband read it in seventh grade. Nearly everyone I know, including my students, read this book in seventh grade. Do you know what it's like to be an English teacher, but have not read the book everyone else has? It's a weird feeling.
And, oh yeah? Apparently, it's everyone's favorite book. Pressure much?
Once I realized everyone I know has read this, I ordered it from Amazon. A mere three days later, it was here. I admit, it was an ok book, but not one of my favorites. Not sure even if I'll read it again. I've pretty much decided I have no soul because I am not enamored of this book.
Monday, April 7, 2014
T List #28
The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb
Pretty much what the title implies. This is an abridged, non-fiction account of the hunt and capture of Adolf Eichmann, one of the "big" Nazi war criminals. He committed atrocities against the Jews, and when the war was over, he fled to Argentina. Several years later, Israelis tracked him down. They then hunted him, captured him, smuggled him to Israel to be tried for his crimes, and hanged.
All of my friends who read this raved about it, so I wanted to read it too. I thought I would find in it whatever it was that fascinated them, but I didn't.
Pretty much what the title implies. This is an abridged, non-fiction account of the hunt and capture of Adolf Eichmann, one of the "big" Nazi war criminals. He committed atrocities against the Jews, and when the war was over, he fled to Argentina. Several years later, Israelis tracked him down. They then hunted him, captured him, smuggled him to Israel to be tried for his crimes, and hanged.
All of my friends who read this raved about it, so I wanted to read it too. I thought I would find in it whatever it was that fascinated them, but I didn't.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
T List #27
Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
Loved this book! 310 pages, started yesterday afternoon, after finishing #26. Read 104 pages last night before making myself go to bed. Read 66 today at school while acting as a bathroom monitor and during my lunch. Finished a few minutes ago. Did I mention I loved this one?
Mallory is a junior, in love with Jeremy. They make out A LOT. Mallory finds out that Jeremy has an online girlfriend, and breaks up with him. Mallory, while sorting through her grandma's things, finds a list her grandma made when she was Mallory's age. Mallory wants to find fulfillment, and vows to complete the things on her grandma's list. All of this involves Mallory giving up modern things, and living like she's in 1962.
On her way to fulfillment, she meets another boy, gets closer to her sister, and finds out secrets about her family. The journey is a fun read. More books need to be this fun to read.
Loved this book! 310 pages, started yesterday afternoon, after finishing #26. Read 104 pages last night before making myself go to bed. Read 66 today at school while acting as a bathroom monitor and during my lunch. Finished a few minutes ago. Did I mention I loved this one?
Mallory is a junior, in love with Jeremy. They make out A LOT. Mallory finds out that Jeremy has an online girlfriend, and breaks up with him. Mallory, while sorting through her grandma's things, finds a list her grandma made when she was Mallory's age. Mallory wants to find fulfillment, and vows to complete the things on her grandma's list. All of this involves Mallory giving up modern things, and living like she's in 1962.
On her way to fulfillment, she meets another boy, gets closer to her sister, and finds out secrets about her family. The journey is a fun read. More books need to be this fun to read.
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