I have a ton of reading to do this summer. The curriculum guides I have to read for my new seventh grade social studies teaching assignment (YIPPEEE!!!… oh, sorry…) total something like 500 pages worth of stuff. And I’ll want to find some additional books to supplement that, I’m sure. Plus, there’s the reading I’ll continue to do for my book project.
BUT, beyond that, I’ve been collecting stuff on my little “save till summer” shelf, and here’s what’s there so far:
Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer by Chris Salewicz, which dubs itself as “the definitive biography.” We shall see about that.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A novel certain friends of mine have been bugging me to read…
The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam. Korea was my father’s war, and I know next to nothing about it.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. A number of you all have read this one, so I’m anxious to get to it. I may read this one first.
Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas. Loved the movie.
The Soloist by Steve Lopez. Mr. Lopez was a columnist for a Philadelphia paer for years, and I’m anxious to read this, before I rent the movie.
The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Soccer by David Goldblatt. Did I mention we have a new soccer team in town? This is a LONG one, so we’ll see: I may have to take this in pieces.
Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrara, which I didn’t get to last summer.
Lost Prophet: The Life & Times of Bayard Rustin by John D’Emilio.
Still looking for a good historical novel or two to break up all the non-fiction here.
I could also use a recommendation from someone out there for good one-volume introductions to both Islam and Buddhism. Not guides to practice, but books that discuss both the history and the basic belief systems of each faith. Otherwise, I may have to resort to those ….For Dummies books.
So, readers out there, what’s on your list?
Filed under: Books | Tagged: Books, Summer reading
Dave, you’ve set a truly ambitious agenda for the summer. I hope you’ll have time enough to blog (at least a little). I recently finished two excellent historical novels, both by Ken Follet–one is the sequel to the other. One is Pillars of the Earth and it’s sequel is World without End. Both are set in England at the beginning of the second millenium A.D. The prose is rich, but tight; the characters are thoroughly believable and engaging; the plot is rich; and the historical research is outstanding. These are both extremely well-crafted novels, but each is around 1000 pages. I’m not sure just how much time you have to devote. Then again, you may have already read them.
I have friends who’ve been bugging me to read Pillars for years. I may have to check that out. After I get through with these, I guess….
My wife was a religious studies major in college, with an emphasis on eastern religions. I wanted to learn more about Buddhism, and she recommended “Buddhism: A way of Life and Thought” by Nancy WIlson Ross. It was a pretty easy read and very helpful. There is also a good biography of Buddha by Karen Armstrong (one of my favorite religion writers). Further, you could do much worse than any of the books of Tich Nhat Hanh.
OK, I’ve read “Pillars”, but not the second. You must be warned that the women characters are caricatures of the fiesty kind who need to be broken. Why Follett thinks he needs gratuitous sex scenes (mostly rape) to engage the reader is beyond me! These scenes ruined an otherwise great read.
Good list. I just re-read Book 6 of the Harry Potter series, getting ready for the new movie’s release in July. Now maybe it’s time to consider what to read. My third child and second son gave me a Mother’s Day present this year, which is pretty unusual. So that’s what I am reading next: “Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of FDR” by H. W. Brands.
You might say that “The Book Thief” is historical fiction. It was certainly a very moving book, and has still no settled into my mind. Should you be interested in my review, it’s here – http://stilladreamer.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/the-book-thief/
Jeanne