I'm not proud, but...

I had to abandon a book.  I tried with all my might, but no matter how much I read of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, my Kindle seemed to stay stuck on "13 % read."  I tell you this to show that it truly is okay to just let something go occasionally!  I am a person who is typically stubborn and wants to follow through with anything I start, but I just couldn't do it this time.  When I read for pleasure and enjoyment, I don't want it to feel like a chore.  I want to get lost in the characters and the plot, and to feel like I'm watching a movie in my head as I'm making my way through the pages.  With Unbroken, I couldn't make that happen.  That being said, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a history buff and enjoys getting a new perspective on significant historical events. 

Because I still want to expand my reading repetoire, I chose my next book to keep with my desire to read more non-fiction.  It's not terribly "literary," but I am currently reading Orange is the New Black, by Piper Kerman.  Here is the summary from amazon.com: 

 With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.   

I'm on page 35 of 295, and she just got to prison.  I have to admit that I'm enjoying it so far.  I've always being fascinated with the prison system as a whole (I took multiple Criminology classes in college and have a Sociology minor), so this book holds quite an appeal for me.  I'll keep you posted, but I think this is one book journey I should be able to complete! 

How about you?  Have you ever abandoned a book?  If so, why, and what was the book?  I'd love to know!

I'm trying...

I recently finished Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.  I read this book because it was one of the Alex award winners and was a summer reading option for students.  I mentioned in a previous post that I don't like reading sad books...and yet here I am again, reading another sad book.  The main plot line revolved around a young girl whose uncle had died of AIDS and her relationship with another man who was in the process of dying from it.  I wouldn't say I enjoyed reading this book the way I enjoyed reading, say, Harry Potter, because it was emotionally taxing.  However, I found myself very invested in the characters and their stories.  My favorite part of this book was that there were multiple subplots happening beyond the main plot line.  One of these was about the relationship between the two sisters.  The story was told from the viewpoint of the younger sister, and since I am the older sister in my family, I liked hearing a different perspective.  The sisters in this book struggle but their love for one another comes through strongly, and I can relate to that.   The symbolism of the painting recurred throughout the book, tying it all together, which was especially effective for me as a reader.  I would definitely recommend this book, but it's certainly not for the faint of heart or for someone who wants a lighthearted read. 

I have moved on to Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand, and this is where the title of this blog comes in.  I have wanted to read this book for a long time, and while I am not usually a huge fan of non-fiction, I thought I would enjoy it.  And I'm trying.  And trying.  I'm 13 % of the way through it on my Kindle, and I'm having a hard time getting into it (and it's really, really long).  The writing is descriptive (maybe overly so at times), but there is so much historical context that for me, the storyline seems buried.  I'm making sure to carry on, though, because the book has gotten so many great reviews that I know there must be a reason for that! 

What do you think?  Would you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction?  Has anyone read either of these books?  I would love to know!

Welcome to second trimester!

Hello, students!  Welcome to your Honors English IB class and your second trimester of blogging.  We have a few changes this trimester in regards to blogging, which can be found on the sheet provided in class.  But first and foremost, we are reducing the required number of blog posts to one per week.  We are also going to provide you with  multiple blog post topics, so you should never say, "I don't have anything to blog about."

Since today is the first blogging day of the new tri, you have a couple of tasks with your blog:

 1)  On my blog page, you need to click on "Enter your blog information here" located on the right-hand side near the top.

2) Enter your blog information.  (To do this you need to log in to Google, go to Blogger, and click VIEW BLOG).  Your URL is what you see in the top window.  It should NOT look like this:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8841072407200182#editor/target=post;postID=9509676772139
If your URL has the word "blogger" in it, you are in edit mode.  Your URL should look something like this:
http://brossclassroomz323.blogspot.com/
Enter the information and your class period.

3)  Log in to Goodreads.  Enter what book you are currently reading and update the page number.  Also, update your reading goal if needed.  (You may still be working on your reading goal from last trimester, and that is okay.  But if you exceeded it, please set a new one).

4) Friend Mrs. Bross in Goodreads.  To do this, click on the drop-down arrow to the right of your name.  Select "Friends."  Then,  on the right-hand side go to "find by name or email."  Type in "Mandi Bross."  I am the only person with that name on Goodreads, so it should be fairly easy to find me.  Friend a few other people in the class as well.  I can't WAIT to see your updates.

5) Your final task: write a new post!  Your topic idea can come from the handout provided to you today in class.  Or, you can tell me what your favorite book was from last trimester and why you liked it so much (you could even make it like a book review for your peers).  Aim for a solid two paragraphs and show me that you can do at least one of the following: insert a hyperlink to a webpage, article, etc.; insert a video; or insert a picture.

Once you have accomplished all of the following, I would like you to spend the rest of the class time exploring Goodreads, especially checking out your recommendations and adding books to your "Want to read" list.  If you don't have recommendations yet, spend some time going back and rating books you've read in the past so you can get recommendations.

Ready to Return

As I write this, I am getting ready to return to teaching from a five-month long maternity leave.  I am so excited and just a tiny bit nervous, since I have two children at home now.  I used my leave to catch up on a lot of reading, and I have to say that I probably spent more money than I should've on books (although any money spent on books is money well spent!).  Perhaps I need to do a better job utilizing the library's resources...

One of the books that stuck with me the most was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  Full disclosure:  I did NOT want to read this book AT ALL because I'd heard it was sad.  Honestly, I don't like to read sad books.  I have never been a Nicholas Sparks fan for this (and other) reasons. However, I like to be familiar with what my students are reading, and for this reason, I read the book.  And yes, it was SAD.  I read it on vacation in Disney World, and I cried my eyes out at the end (even though I could see the plot twist coming from a mile away).  I do have to say that I was impossibly drawn to both main characters.  Their voices were so distinct, witty, humorous, and engaging, and because of this, I couldn't stop turning the pages.  I've always been amused by kids who speak in a way that makes them seem older than what they are, and the protagonist(s) of this book are exactly like that.  Effective characterization occurs when the reader feels like he or she has a relationship with the characters in the book, and that was exactly how I felt.  But again, it was WAY too sad for me. 

I am currently 70 percent of the way through Allegiant (the final book in the Divergent series), and I was so excited to read this book, as I loved the first two.  And...I have been a little disappointed.  The book is written from the perspective of two main characters, and honestly, I forget who is narrating the chapter I'm reading because their voices sound exactly the same.  Is anyone else reading this book?  What do you think about the two different narrators and perspectives?  I would love to know your thoughts! 

Keep reading, and I'll talk to you again soon!