Layover by David Bell
It's no secret that I have loved Bell's work since I first discovered him a few years ago, but this one was not quite as good as all of his others.
It starts out in the Atlanta airport (which is where my own traveling debacle started while I was reading this). Joshua travels a lot for work, despite the anxiety that traveling by air gives him. While waiting in line to buy a book, he runs into Morgan, who intrigues him from the start. They end up going to a bar before their flights, and hit it off. Morgan gives him the kiss of his life before telling him he'll never see her again. This prompts him to change flights so that he can be with her and get to know her better. But, when he sees her on the plane, she denies knowing him.
Josh doesn't know what to make of this, but when he lands, he sees a news report for a missing person, and that missing person is Morgan. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse that involves theft and murder.
I don't know if this didn't hold my attention because the story was lacking something, or if it is because I read the first half during a series of flights to Europe and the last half on flights home a week later or what, but this just didn't grab me and hold on like all of his other books did.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Pretty Bois
Pretty Bois Have Sad Lives by Nicolas Serrano
As a teacher, I have to fulfill 30 hours of professional development every calendar year. Twelve of those hours I tend to get during the summer so that I can get all of my school holidays off. This past Monday, I went to PD, and the author of this book, who is a teacher in my district, was one of the presenters. He was told he should plug his book, and I am all about supporting people in my community, so I bought the book.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed by how short it is--only 38 pages--but I enjoyed the book, so I can't complain too much. Since I am still in a reading slump (and my impending divorce isn't helping with that either), it was nice to read something short to feel like I completed something.
Like most of the popular books of "poetry" these days, this is reminiscent of the author's life experiences. The poetry is relatable and deep, but my favorite part of the book was the introduction. What I got from this is: 1. I hope Serrano writes more of this and 2. I hope to get to see more of his work inside the classroom.
***This didn't get published when it was supposed to. This is from June 2019.***
As a teacher, I have to fulfill 30 hours of professional development every calendar year. Twelve of those hours I tend to get during the summer so that I can get all of my school holidays off. This past Monday, I went to PD, and the author of this book, who is a teacher in my district, was one of the presenters. He was told he should plug his book, and I am all about supporting people in my community, so I bought the book.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed by how short it is--only 38 pages--but I enjoyed the book, so I can't complain too much. Since I am still in a reading slump (and my impending divorce isn't helping with that either), it was nice to read something short to feel like I completed something.
Like most of the popular books of "poetry" these days, this is reminiscent of the author's life experiences. The poetry is relatable and deep, but my favorite part of the book was the introduction. What I got from this is: 1. I hope Serrano writes more of this and 2. I hope to get to see more of his work inside the classroom.
***This didn't get published when it was supposed to. This is from June 2019.***
Two Decades Later, A Companion
Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
When I was in grad school getting my MLS, I had to read Speak. I liked it. Earlier this year, I read the graphic novel of Speak. I like both. When I heard that Ms. Anderson was publishing a follow up to that book, I knew I would read it. It's rare, in my experience, for an author to write a memoir about their own sexual assault experiences after writing a hugely successful fictional book over the same topic. In fact, the only other author I can think of who has done so (and that I read both the fiction book and the memoir) was Alice Sebold. Being a victim myself, I find myself drawn to these books to see if the way I handled things is "normal." There is no "normal," by the way.
This book is in three parts. The first part is Anderson's background, her history. The second, is her response to sexual assault in general, rather than her specific experience. It also deals with people's response to her books, and people who have come to her with their own stories. The last is a way to tie up some loose ends. It's all written in free verse, which makes this a fairly quick read. I loved how open and honest Anderson was in these pages.
I liked this enough that I will likely buy a physical copy for the shelves of my classroom, and encourage students to read it.
When I was in grad school getting my MLS, I had to read Speak. I liked it. Earlier this year, I read the graphic novel of Speak. I like both. When I heard that Ms. Anderson was publishing a follow up to that book, I knew I would read it. It's rare, in my experience, for an author to write a memoir about their own sexual assault experiences after writing a hugely successful fictional book over the same topic. In fact, the only other author I can think of who has done so (and that I read both the fiction book and the memoir) was Alice Sebold. Being a victim myself, I find myself drawn to these books to see if the way I handled things is "normal." There is no "normal," by the way.
This book is in three parts. The first part is Anderson's background, her history. The second, is her response to sexual assault in general, rather than her specific experience. It also deals with people's response to her books, and people who have come to her with their own stories. The last is a way to tie up some loose ends. It's all written in free verse, which makes this a fairly quick read. I loved how open and honest Anderson was in these pages.
I liked this enough that I will likely buy a physical copy for the shelves of my classroom, and encourage students to read it.
Monday, May 27, 2019
Revisiting Some Recent Stories
Angry Management by Chris Crutcher
This book is made up of three novellas that are related to prior novels and short stories by this author, all related because they are part of Mr. Nak's Angry Management Class, which we first learned of in Ironman.
The first novella involves Angus Bethune from a short story in Athletic Shorts and Sarah Byrnes from Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. They become friends, go to Reno, and learn the truth about Sarah's mother. I read this novella before I finished the book that Sarah Byrnes is part of, which was both a blessing and a curse. I knew Sarah was going to be ok, but I ruined it for myself.
The second novella is about a young lady named Montana who takes on the school board in her town, the president of which is her adoptive father. I am not familiar with the story or book she comes from, but I want to know more about her.
The last novella reunites readers with Mr. Simet from Whale Talk, and Matt Miller, a minor character from Deadline. They are connected by a young man named Marcus James who is a gay, black high school student in a town where there might be five black people. Needless to say, this is a racially charged and heartbreaking story.
On the whole, I enjoyed this book. I am finding that I really enjoy anything that Chris Crutcher has written, and I hope he keeps it up.
This book is made up of three novellas that are related to prior novels and short stories by this author, all related because they are part of Mr. Nak's Angry Management Class, which we first learned of in Ironman.
The first novella involves Angus Bethune from a short story in Athletic Shorts and Sarah Byrnes from Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. They become friends, go to Reno, and learn the truth about Sarah's mother. I read this novella before I finished the book that Sarah Byrnes is part of, which was both a blessing and a curse. I knew Sarah was going to be ok, but I ruined it for myself.
The second novella is about a young lady named Montana who takes on the school board in her town, the president of which is her adoptive father. I am not familiar with the story or book she comes from, but I want to know more about her.
The last novella reunites readers with Mr. Simet from Whale Talk, and Matt Miller, a minor character from Deadline. They are connected by a young man named Marcus James who is a gay, black high school student in a town where there might be five black people. Needless to say, this is a racially charged and heartbreaking story.
On the whole, I enjoyed this book. I am finding that I really enjoy anything that Chris Crutcher has written, and I hope he keeps it up.
The Things You Do For Friends
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
Eric Calhoune is a swimmer. He really likes a girl named Jody, but Jody happens to be dating a douchecanoe named Mark Brittain. Eric's best friend is Sarah Byrnes, who is in a mental facility. He goes to see her nearly every day, and she just sits there. She won't talk. Sarah Byrnes has a lot going on and a reason for not talking; if she doesn't talk, she has to go back to her dad. Her dad is a psycho.
How do we know Sarah Byrnes' dad is a psycho? Well, Sarah Byrnes' face is disfigured. First we're told that it is because she pulled a pot of boiling spaghetti on herself when she was three, but we later find out that isn't true.
Eric does everything he can for Sarah Byrnes, all the while getting Mark Brittain riled up. This was a fantastic read, and I got to enjoy it with my 4th period PreAP class. I'd like to believe they enjoyed it as much as I did.
Eric Calhoune is a swimmer. He really likes a girl named Jody, but Jody happens to be dating a douchecanoe named Mark Brittain. Eric's best friend is Sarah Byrnes, who is in a mental facility. He goes to see her nearly every day, and she just sits there. She won't talk. Sarah Byrnes has a lot going on and a reason for not talking; if she doesn't talk, she has to go back to her dad. Her dad is a psycho.
How do we know Sarah Byrnes' dad is a psycho? Well, Sarah Byrnes' face is disfigured. First we're told that it is because she pulled a pot of boiling spaghetti on herself when she was three, but we later find out that isn't true.
Eric does everything he can for Sarah Byrnes, all the while getting Mark Brittain riled up. This was a fantastic read, and I got to enjoy it with my 4th period PreAP class. I'd like to believe they enjoyed it as much as I did.
Friday, May 24, 2019
Mercy Allows for All Things
Ironman by Chris Crutcher
This was one of the books I chose to read to my classes this year. This author is amazing, and writes about real issues facing teenagers these days. Even though there are aspects of this book which date it a little bit, the themes and situations are timeless.
In this book, a young man is training for a triathlon. He also is sentenced to anger management classes at school because he angered the football coach. This is meant to be punishment, but it becomes a part of his life that he cherishes. He is exposed to people who, although his peers, have things going on that help him put his life in perspective. And perspective he does gain. He also manages to make friends with people he wouldn't normally have bothered with, and that may be the best lesson my students could have taken from this book.
I would absolutely read this with my students again. The best comment I got when we finished was "Mrs. Parker, that was an AWESOME book!" If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
This was one of the books I chose to read to my classes this year. This author is amazing, and writes about real issues facing teenagers these days. Even though there are aspects of this book which date it a little bit, the themes and situations are timeless.
In this book, a young man is training for a triathlon. He also is sentenced to anger management classes at school because he angered the football coach. This is meant to be punishment, but it becomes a part of his life that he cherishes. He is exposed to people who, although his peers, have things going on that help him put his life in perspective. And perspective he does gain. He also manages to make friends with people he wouldn't normally have bothered with, and that may be the best lesson my students could have taken from this book.
I would absolutely read this with my students again. The best comment I got when we finished was "Mrs. Parker, that was an AWESOME book!" If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
It's Been a While
Period 8 by Chris Crutcher
I got it in my head that it would be fun to read to each of my six classes. It was. What was different is that I read six different books, all by the same author. I'd read three of the six before, but the other three were new to me. This is the book I read to my 5th period on level/co-teach class.
As is the norm with Crutcher's books, this takes place in the Pacific Northwest/Idaho/Montana area. It starts off in a hotel room with a woman buttoning up her blouse, so you know this is kinda sketchy to start with in a high school classroom. Thankfully, it did not dwell on that too much. Instead, we hear that a young man cheated on his girlfriend and they break up. We see that an "upstanding" young man tries to swoop in and take that girlfriend for his own. We learn about a girl who is referred to as the Virgin Mary fall from grace, and corrupt policemen. This book was a wild ride full of bad language an not so comfortable situations, but my kids liked it. I would absolutely read it again to my classes.
I got it in my head that it would be fun to read to each of my six classes. It was. What was different is that I read six different books, all by the same author. I'd read three of the six before, but the other three were new to me. This is the book I read to my 5th period on level/co-teach class.
As is the norm with Crutcher's books, this takes place in the Pacific Northwest/Idaho/Montana area. It starts off in a hotel room with a woman buttoning up her blouse, so you know this is kinda sketchy to start with in a high school classroom. Thankfully, it did not dwell on that too much. Instead, we hear that a young man cheated on his girlfriend and they break up. We see that an "upstanding" young man tries to swoop in and take that girlfriend for his own. We learn about a girl who is referred to as the Virgin Mary fall from grace, and corrupt policemen. This book was a wild ride full of bad language an not so comfortable situations, but my kids liked it. I would absolutely read it again to my classes.
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