Saturday, June 27, 2009

Looking for Alibrandi -Melina Marchetta & The Perks of Being a Wallflower -Stephen Chbosky



I have read eight books this month and am having a hard time keeping up with the blogging. Between torential rains and getting my daughter ready for summer camp, blogging has fallen aside. These two books, however, have brought me back. The Chbosky book was on my daughter's reading list last summer as a comparison to The Catcher in the Rye. I'm not sure where she heard about the Marchetta book, but it too is reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye. Both books were published in the 90's Looking for Alibrandi is already a movie. As a parent, my reading has grown with my children. I believe that The Catcher in the Rye will stand the test of time and deserves to be on every reading list. I am not sure that the Chbosky book deserves this status. Once again as the parent of two daughters, I find the reading lists at the school biased toward male authors. I loved the Marchetta book. True writing, great quotes and a great story. I found very little to like or appreciate about the Chbosky book.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Riding Lessons -Sara Gruen

I found this book at a yard sale for two quarters. I was reluctant as I didn't really care for "Water for Elephants" another title by the same author. I've learned over and over to give authors another chance, I really enjoyed "Riding Lessons". It is about a daughter coming home to her dying father's horse farm after a riding accident has kept her away from horses for 20 years. A horse comes to her attention that has been abused and has remarkable ties to her own past. It was an enjoyable story.