Book Review: Go Set a Watchman

Well, I’ve succumbed and finally read Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman. I’m not sure if I have anything to add to the multitudes of publicity and conversation around the “sequel” except that It. Was. Terrible.

Two prerequisites here: 1) I really like To Kill a Mockingbird and I teach it every year in 10th grade English and 2) Reading Go Set a Watchman does not change my perception of TKAM much except to confirm that the "only the white man can save the black man" narrative is one that we perhaps should not continue to perpetuate in school.

The only reason I gave this book two stars out of five on Goodreads is because I think it’s a fascinating as a historical document. No other published book has given us as readers the chance to look into the past and see what terrible writing editors are first given and then turn into masterpieces.

Because let’s be honest: this is not a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird and although I’m sure Harper Lee wrote it, it was never supposed to be published. Don't really care what Harper Collins claims about "discovering the manuscript"- it was not a ready-for-print draft.

What publisher in their right minds (besides knowing this would make a bajillion dollars) would advertise a sequel so blatantly inconsistent with the original piece and ignore the stylistic inconsistencies of writing in present and past tense and needlessly switching between first and third person?!

Gah.

The biggest disagreement I had with fellow reviewers is about Jean Louise (aka our beloved Scout). While many saw her as a selfish, narcissistic twenty-something, I guess the selfish, narcissistic twenty-something in me related to her a bit more than the average New York Times reviewer. She seemed to me to be the most consistent character from To Kill a Mockingbird and I loved that her feisty and at times bratty personality was still full-fledged as an adult. You go Scout (even if you sound just a little racist while trying to tell your dad that he’s racist)!

Even with the glimmer of tomboy Scout in its pages, Go Set a Watchman has little plot and long rambling flashbacks with zero connection to the main conflict and I would not recommend it to anyone anytime soon.

End rant.

Book Review: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

A quaint seaside town in Australia. Three kindergarten mothers. One death at Pirriwee Public’s Trivia Night.

Since Big Little Lies was published in the summer of 2014, I have seen it over and over again on Goodreads and Pinterest lists. While many may write this off as a “beach read” (as if that’s a bad thing), I highly recommend that you pick up Big Little Lies for not only its ability to touch on tough subjects with a bit of humor, but its clever plot structure and suspense.

The novel revolves around three kindergarten moms: Jane, a new single mom with a tough past, Madeline, the nosy and boisterous mom of the bunch, and Celeste, a beautiful and rich mom  that no one would envy if they knew her secret. Moriarty delves into each of these three women’s stories as it leads up to Trivia Night, a fundraiser at the school. From the beginning of the story, we know that someone dies, but we don’t know who it is until the very end. Each chapter ends with a testimony from various other minor characters in the book: Madeline’s ex-husband’s new wife, John the handsome stay-at-home dad, and other members of the Parent Organization (AKA: the “Blonde Bobs”). These testimonies are usually hilarious, but also make you eager to find out whodunit (and to whom!).

This book is sure to hook you from the first chapter and lead you through the sometimes tough, sometimes cute, and sometimes funny lives of Madeline, Jane, and Celeste. I loved the mystery aspect and thought the set up was very clever. I'd love to know what you think!

Finding Time to Read

On the side whiteboard in my classroom, I keep a running tally of how many books I have completed this calendar year, along with the title and author of the book I am currently reading. So far this year, I have read (or listened to) 24 books (and, in case you were wondering, I am currently reading Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty- a bit of chick lit with a dark twist, it’s consistently been on book lists this whole year). Inevitably, at least once a week, a student comments on my count in exasperation and disbelief that I have completed so many books (so far, about six per month).

Like many other teachers and for that matter, human beings, I am a pretty busy person. My husband will tell you that I’m the busiest person on the planet. If you’re like me (and you probably are), here are a few suggestions I have for you if you are trying to squeeze a little bit more time to read into your hectic lives. I should probably take a few of these into consideration myself, considering I’m halfway through about four books right now and can’t seem to finish any of them.

1. Find an excellent book.

If you like reading and you are not a member of the site Goodreads, you should probably join now. Goodreads is the social media site of book lovers. You can find books, read reviews, see what your friends are reading or want to read, and set goals for yourself. I love checking in to see what books are trending each week and I always read a few Goodreads reviews before starting a book; it either a) makes me super excited to read it or b) helps me to not waste my time on books that might not be great. I also love looking at what my friends are reading- I have found so many books to read by looking at others' recommendations and ratings!

2. Don’t be afraid to abandon a book.

The fact is, some books aren’t as good as others. My aunt will tell you to employ the fifty page rule, which works if you don’t want to waste any time before abandoning a book: read fifty pages, and if you’re not hooked, move on. Although I’m more reluctant to abandon a book, if it’s been awhile since I’ve thought to pick it up, or if it takes me more than two weeks to read, that’s a sign to me that it’s time to move on. On my Goodreads page, I have a list of books I’ve abandoned, and perhaps some day I will come back to them; then again, perhaps not. As the quote on the right says, with over 129 million books in the world, don’t waste any more time on a book that doesn’t interest you.

3. Read more than one book at a time.

For whatever reason, most people groan at the idea of reading more than one book at once. I prefer to read more than one book just because what I like to read so often depends on what mood I’m in. Another reason I read so many books is my use of Overdrive (see point 4); whenever a book comes in on my iPad, I have fourteen days to finish it, so I usually dive in regardless of whether or not I’m already reading a book. I usually read one book that my students are reading, one fiction book, and one nonfiction book at once. While some people may find this confusing, I find that I am in the mood for reading more just because I have more variety to choose from. When you’re watching House of Cards on Netflix, don’t you sometimes want to mix it up with an episode of The Office or Friends just to lighten it up? Same with books.

4. Make reading convenient.

While I feel like I own a ton of books, only a small percentage of books I read each month are ones I own myself. I read books from school, borrowed from friends, or checked out at the public library. My biggest recommendation is to get Overdrive. Anyone with a public library card can download Overdrive on their phone for free and check out audiobooks to listen to on your phone or ebooks to read in your browser through your library. This helps me because it’s convenient, and I can read anywhere- in the car, while in line, waiting for someone, and so forth, all without carrying around a hulky book. The most convenient (but also most stressful?) part of Overdrive is putting items on hold- every month or so I request to put the top books on my “to read” list on hold. When they come in, I get an email and I can then upload the book for a two week check out time. The two week deadline in some ways motivates me to read it faster, but I mostly like the convenience of having books on any device without having to go anywhere to check it out or pay for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love physical books, but Overdrive has changed my reading life for good. I would seriously seriously recommend Overdrive to anyone and everyone- audiobooks are great too since you don’t have to deal with CDs and you can listen to it in the car, while making dinner, or while working out. Have I convinced you to get Overdrive yet?

Reading should not a be a chore. It shouldn’t be something you feel you should “do more” of. Everyone has the same amount of time in their week, and how you chose to use your 168 hours is your choice! Reading should be fun, and I hope these tips inspire you find time to book it. Do you have any other tips? If so, put them in the comments below. Good luck!

5 Psychological Thrillers

Psychological thrillers are all the rage. These are the books that will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you throw your book across the room, and mess with your mind until the very last page. If you enjoyed Gone Girl and similar titles, here are five great thrillers to pick up- and soon! My suggestion? Don’t read them right before you go to bed: you won’t be able to put these books down and if you do, your dreams might get a bit wacky.

Defending Jacob by William Landay

When a homicide rocks his hometown, District Attorney Andy Barber is on the case. The fact that the murder is of one of his son Jacob’s classmates further complicates the issue, but when fingers start pointing to Jacob, specifically the discover of a fingerprint on the body, Andy Barber becomes more determined than ever to crack the case and ultimately clear his son’s name. While this book has its repetitive moments, don’t jump to conclusions until the very last page.

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

Working single-mom Kate receives a phone call from her daughter Amelia’s school informing her that Amelia has been suspended for cheating. However, when she shows up at the elite Brooklyn private school, she discovers something far far worse: Amelia has committed suicide. In the months following Amelia’s death, Kate tries to grapple with her new reality until one day, she receives a mysterious text: Amelia didn’t jump. What really happened to Amelia? Kate is about to find out.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Harkins

Wowza- where do I even start with this one? This book was one of my Spring Break Picks, and I gasped and yelped and huffed my way through this book more than any other book this year (which happened a lot considering I read this in just one day). This book, like a few on this list, is told from alternating perspectives between women in London, most notably Rachel, an alcoholic who cherishes her daily train commute. One morning, while staring out the window of her morning train, she is shocked to witness a sliver into someone else’s life that will change both of their futures forever. Be prepared to hate every single character in this book and not trust any of them until the very last page. I’ve also heard the audiobook is excellent!

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day is the sole survivor of a mass murder, in which nearly all members of her family were brutally killed. The only family member remaining is her brother Ben, whom she helped put behind bars as her family’s killer when she was just seven years old. Over twenty years later, Libby revisits the facts of the murder and comes face to face with the grisly reality of her family’s past. Told from varying perspectives in the past and present, this book is much more dark and grisly than Gone Girl (and written by the same author!), but just as tantalizing.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This book is targeted more toward teens, as our main character Cadence is a 16-year-old from an exceptionally wealthy East Coast family. Every summer, she vacations with her extended family at her grandparents’ private island of the coast. After Cadence gets into a serious accident, the sudden silence of her family regarding the incident alarms Cadence, so she seeks to discover the secrets her family and herself hold. While the story itself is haunting, gripping, and emotional, the craft of Lockhart’s writing just blew me away. Using fairy tales and references to King Lear, this book’s beautiful storytelling makes it one of the best written books I’ve read this year.

Spring Break Reads

Might be hard to believe with snow still on the ground here in Madtown, but Spring Break is around the corner or here for a lot of us and I couldn’t be more excited! Spring Break is a lovely time for me to catch on some books that have been on my list. I get a TON of recommendations from students, friends, and colleagues and I’m excited to dive in to those recs while I’m sitting poolside in Phoenix next week. In my opinion, the best beach reads are ones that you can read in one afternoon but still have relatable characters and a complex plot. A beach read calls for quick action, loveable but flawed people, and still needs to be a worthwhile read. With so many books to read in the world, no time to waste on the mediocre, amiright?

 So, here are my picks for reads over Spring Break:

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Professor of genetics Don Tillman is looking for love. He has never had a successful relationship, but has been told he would make a wonderful husband. Using his genetics background, he creates The Wife Project, a statistical system to help him find a wife. Then he meets Rosie. This novel is supposed to be hilarious, charming, and quirky, and seems perfect for an afternoon in the sunshine.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Harkins

Recently broken Rachel takes the same train to work every morning and watches the same people carrying on with their daily lives. One day, she sees something from her train that she will never forget. An emotional thriller, this book has been compared to Gone Girl, and was also recommended by a colleague with excellent taste, which puts this novel toward the top of my list.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Night Road is a book my contemporary literature class can read as a choice book and revolves around two very different women: Jude Farraway, mother of two teenaged twins; and Lexi, former foster child who becomes best friends with Jude’s twins, Mia and Zach. Like The Girl on the Train, one event will change the course of these character’s lives forever. This book is a lengthier read and might be a little intense for a beach read, but could be perfect for long car rides.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Fans of mysteries will love Ten, as it is based on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. A teen rager on Henry Island turns sinister when someone takes vengeance on the party-goers. This sounds pretty dark, so in my opinion, I’d love to read this in the bright sunshine rather than on a dark, stormy night all by lonesome. But maybe that’s just me! Either way, this sounds like a promising mystery and I can’t wait to read it.

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

I literally can’t wait to read this book!! Four women’s lives intertwine in a strange sisterhood of sorts, including a Pennsylvania housewife, the daughter of an addict, a hopeful mom and her surly stepdaughter. Many reviewers on Goodreads say they read it one sitting, which sounds like a promising poolside afternoon to me.

10% Happier by Dan Harris

My last pick is a non-fiction read. With every Spring Break or vacation comes a chance to rejuvenate, rest up, and distress from our lives. But what if we didn’t need to go on vacation to distress? What if our daily lives had less anxiety and stress in it? After having a televised panic attack, Good Morning America host sought out to figure out a life with more happiness and less stress. Couldn’t we all use a little more of that in our lives? Stress is definitely something I need to learn how to deal with, and I’m guessing we can all learn from Harris’s experiences in this book.

Here’s to hoping you have at least a few days off this spring, to sit back, relax and enjoy a good book with your dose of sunshine. Remember your sunscreen and happy reading!

January Recap

Better late than never for a recap, eh? While I've abandoned the blogging a bit in lieu of coaching and (let's face it) Breaking Bad, I still managed to read four books this January. Here they are:

1. Girl, Stolen by April Henry
Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of her stepmom's car waiting for a prescription when someone else gets in the front seat, turns the keys and drives away. Griffin had only wanted to steal the car, but instead he ended up with more than he had bargained for when Cheyenne raised her head. The big twist? Cheyenne is blind.

This book is one that I think my sophomores will really like- it has drama, suspense, action, and obviously lots of teen angst. It was a great read over Winter Break; a quick read and easy to get through

Similar Titles: Stolen by Lucy Christopher, Panic by Sharon M. Draper


2. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
I recommended this book in my last post. It is an amazing collection of letters from the advice columnist Dear Sugar and will make you grin, weep, giggle, and swoon. A classic for "Books to Read in your Twenties" lists- go read it! Now!

Similar Titles: Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Yes Please by Amy Poehler

3. Columbine by Dave Cullen
This audiobook really got to me. I wanted to write a blog just for this book for a long time, but I never knew how to start it. In short, this book is the quintessential story of the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Journalist Dave Cullen was a reporter on the scene in the days and weeks following Columbine, and dedicated ten years to reconstructing every detail from the 18 months prior to the shooting when Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris began their plans of destruction, to years afterward, following the lives of victims and families.

Obviously, this was a tough book to handle, but, as often is the case, it is a fascinating part of our nation's history and one that as a teacher I feel bound to read and learn from. The biggest takeway from this book was the newfound knowledge that most of the stories perpetuated by the media and still repeated today were fractions of the truth. The Trenchcoat Mafia, the violence of video games, even Cassie Bernall, the "girl who said yes" are all misconceptions based on misinterpreted stories that have blown out of porportion.

This story, I think, tries to set the record straight, and it was both captivating and horrifying to learn the truth.

Similar Titles: Hate List by Jennifer Brown, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

4. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Single mother Kate Baron gets a call at work one day regarding her daughter Amelia. She had been suspended from her private high school in Brooklyn. When Kate arrives, she is given even more devastating news: Amelia has jumped off the roof of the school and committed suicide. Reeling from this tragedy, Kate tries to piece together the last events of Amelia's life to discover what really happened to her daughter. This book is told from dual perspectives: Amelia before the incident and Kate afterward.

Reconstructing Amelia is a suspenseful thriller that will leave you guessing until the last page. While not without some holes, I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down!

Similar Titles: Defending Jacob by William Landay, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Happy Valentine's! I have some great titles coming up this month- stay tuned :)

Books for Every Resolution

About this time of year, we all start to struggle with our New Year's Resolutions. Why did I decide to work out 5x a week? you think. Why can't I just eat these cheetos? you whine to yourself. Why am I still so stressed? you cry. For resolution help from an author who truly understands your problems, check out the titles below.

For a healthy body:

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Famous omnivore Michael Pollan is the poster child of the local food movement. The Omnivore’s Dilemma has become a quintessential read for people hoping to reconnect with their food and find out not only where their food comes from, but quite frankly, what it’s actually made of. This book made me think more about growing my own food and supporting local farmers. For a shorter and more practical title from Pollan, check out Food Rules.

Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink

The mind is a terribly complex, wonderful, and smart organ. Unfortunately, we don’t always tune into what our brain is telling us. In Mindless Eating, food psychologist Brian Wansink outlines classic mistakes that we make that trick our brain and body into eating more food than we need. With topics like portion sizes, eating while multi-tasking, and the consequences of buffets, this book truly opened my eyes to being mindful of not just what I eat, but how I eat it.

Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs

A sillier take on living a healthy lifestyle, Drop Dead Healthy follows a year in the life of A.J. Jacobs, who has decided to live as healthy as a life as he can for a twelve-month period. He tries all sorts of exercise and diet regimens, but also focuses on less popular body parts, including ear, heart, mouth, feet, spine, and lung health. At times this book can get a little bit ridiculous, but Jacobs has a great sense of humor and also points out the silliness of trying to live a “perfectly healthy life”- as his title suggests, it could nearly kill you!

For a healthy mind:

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin began her year with one simple goal in mind: to end her year an overall happier person than when she began. She tackled one aspect of her life, one month at a time, and overhauled changes to improve her home, family, love life, body, and mind to make herself and those around her happier. After reading, take steps to create your own happiness journey here.

168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam

You’ve probably seen this quote floating around social media and Pinterest: “You have as many hours in a day in Beyonce.” 24 hours to be exact, and 168 hours in a week. How you use those 168 hours is almost entirely in your own power, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. While we might not be Beyonce, 168 Hours helps you figure out how you’d like to spend those hours in a week. Want to run a marathon? There’s time! Want to write a novel? There’s time! Want to sit on the couch and watch all 10 seasons of Friends? Might not be the best choice you'll ever make, but there is definitely time. I hope you use your 168 hours in a productive and happy way, and hopefully Laura Vanderkam will help you do just that (For my full review of this book, click here).

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Perseverance is not the easiest trait to achieve. We all have set resolutions or goals in the past and most likely, we have no achieved every single one. In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg takes a look at why some habits stick, and how small changes in your life could add up in a big way to achieving your goals.

For a healthy wallet:

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke by Suze Orman

Struggling with monthly rent/mortgage, student loan, cell phone, auto insurance and credit card payments? Are you resolving to save money this year? According to an article by the Huffington Post, 31 percent of New Year’s Resolutions revolve around money. Suze Orman’s read The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke, or YFBs as she likes to call them, is targeted to twenty-something females struggling to make their finances work. She offers practical tips including how to save money, pay off debt, start investing, and make wise money choices. Let’s be honest, you’re all young and fabulous, but it’d be nice if you ended the year without the broke title too!

Everything That Remains by the Minimalists

Minimalism is a popular growing trend. What a fascinating concept that people are discovering: if you buy less stuff, you will spend less money. If you spend less money, you will save more money. What an idea! Minimalists Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus were corporate drones until one day they realized they weren’t happy. They quit their jobs, downsized, sold many of their belongings and sought out a way to make their life happier without depending on stuff to make that happen. After all, that’s why we all want more money right? For happiness?  Everything That Remains helped me to take a step back from Target sprees and Amazon clicking and made me think about how I view money and possessions. Ultimately, what I do and am is more important than what I have, and this book served as a powerful reminder.

For a healthy heart and soul:

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler is probably the best human being on the planet. I love her and Tina Fey with my entire being. With confidence and humor, Amy Poehler’s memoir Yes Please is a must-read if you are looking for a friend to find the courage within yourself to be who you want to be. Poehler is a real person and shares her struggles candidly while still giving millions of pieces of sound advice that everyone should follow. One of my favorites: “The earlier you learn that you should focus on what you have, and not obsess about what you don’t have, the happier you will be.” Every girl needs a confident, self-accepting (and hilarious) role model, and yours should probably be Amy Poehler.

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

You’re all probably familiar with Cheryl Strayed after the bestseller turned Oscar-nominated film Wild. What you might not know is that author Cheryl Strayed also wrote a column for a website called the The Rumpus. The column, titled Dear Sugar, became a huge hit, and Tiny Beautiful Things is a collection of those columns. Cheryl Strayed is a beautiful writer and an unconventional advice-giver. She has a way of making you see all sides of an issue, and realizing that following your own inner light is the best decision you can make. Inspirational, funny, heart-warming, and powerful, I guarantee you will find yourself written somewhere in this book, and hopefully you will be a kinder, wiser, more confident person for finding it.

Good luck with your New Year's Resolutions and stick with 'em!