Delayed Response

Here are a few of the books I have been reading since the last time I posted.

The first one, Extremely Loud Incredibly Close, is about a boy whose father died in September 11. This was the second time I read this book. It is a poignant story that makes me cry every time. First of all, I think that Foer handles an emotional topic very well. The characters he creates are both appealing and interesting. I love the way Foer weaves together a story from multiple viewpoints. It is also interesting the way that he uses images in conjuntion with words. Foer includes photographs and graphics throughout the book. Creative and unique, this book was very hard to put down. I couldn't stop reading (even when I knew what was going to happen next!). I highly recommend this book.

The second book pictured above is another repeat read for me. This was the third time I read the graphic novel American Born Chinese. There is so much in it! The book is about a boy who is ethnically Chinese growing up in America and it focuses on identity issues. It has a lot to think about in it. I like the way that Yang pulls together numerous plot lines. I'm not sure I agree with many of his points, but it is a book that makes you contemplate a lot of issues. I would recommend this book- particularly to graphic novel fans or those interested in multicultural issues.

The third book above is The Pull of the Ocean. I read this book for a teacher book club. It is technically a children's book (though I would call it adolescent literature instead). It was originally written in French. It is a captivating tale of brothers who run away from home. I lvoe the way that this story is written. It is written from many perspectives which are pieced together into one coherant tale. The characters are interesting and likeable. I became invested in each one of them as their journey continued. The plot flowed steadily and the book was an easy fun read. I would recommend this book as well.

In sum: three good books. Three texts worth reading.