Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Carry Me Home

My book club recently read and discussed Carry Me Home by Sandra Kring. A few years ago we read The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra so we were sure we would enjoy Carry Me Home also. I really enjoyed the book. The narrator, Earwig, is a simpleton whose older brother goes off to war during WWII. Kring did a great job not over doing the way Earwig misuses words or misunderstands things. He was quite funny and crude! This story is a glimpse into a small town whose sons went off to war. Everyone holds everyone else up and helps them through the long days of absence. Our group decided that the title was exemplified in each person helping another in need and "carrying" them. A quote from the book:

"You just walk through your days, Floyd," Jimmy says, and he's got teary eyes too. "And when you feel like you're going to fall on your ass again, you just grab tight to the first person that's nearby and you hold on until you steady yourself enough to take another step."
I felt Kring did a great job inserting historical facts without weighing down the story. I learned many new facts about the war and the treatment of soldiers when they came back. If you haven't read Sandra Kring yet, what are you waiting for?
Happy Reading!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Where Have I Been?

WOW! I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged about my reading. Don't really have a good excuse. I did read 11 books between now and then- some of the great, some not so much!

I just finished reading One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. I heard about it through a blog that introduces titles that could be possible Newbery Medal winners. I completely disagree about this book. I didn't care for it at all. Three sisters travel across the country to stay with the mother that abandoned them. She is involved with The Black Panthers. Much of the story deals with The Black Panthers and events around that time period. I thought it was very vague and scattered. In the end I didn't think there was enough that happened in the book or enough change in the characters.

Here are links to the other books I have read since my absence with stars next to my faves:


Now for what is on the to read list:

Tinkers by Paul Harding

Comfort by Ann Hood

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

I'm not sure which one to read first. I'm leaning towards Bonobo Handshake or The Other Wes Moore. They both sounds fascinating. Since it won't stop raining here in Texas maybe I'll get all of them read soon. I promise not to be gone too long this time!

What are you reading?

Happy Reading