For the Love of Reading

I just found these great blogs about two of my favorite topics: BOOKS and LOST.

BOOKS: http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/ is the ultimate book blog of lists -- all kinds of recommendations by well-read people. I will certainly be enjoying it!

LOST: Through the aforementioned blog, I found a list of "LOST Required Reading" and followed a link to we heart this. Not only does this blog combine my love of reading and the best television show of all time, it does so cleverly. The web site is also pretty snazzy. Highly recommend.

In other news, I am trying to finish "Emergence" by Steven Johnson (there comes a certain point where my taste for nonfiction wears). And I keep fighting the urge to go to Barnes and Noble or shop for ebooks...I find myself adding many, many books to the "To Read" list.

Next stop, more books:-) (and I'm thinking about watching some LOST...)

~MJ

Finishing a Book - The Impact of Stories

This is one of my favorite things. Call it a sense of accomplishment. I think the more important feeling is that not only is something finished, but a new sense of perspective comes. That landscape is altered just a bit, and for that, I also feel a sense of appreciation.

I just finished "The Green Mile," by Stephen King. Underneath the story of how a death-row prison guard deals with not only an innocent, but incredibly gifted prisoner is a strong meditation on the power of writing, of storytelling. Tim O'Brien had a similar reflection in parts of "The Things They Carried." It's so interesting to me that two very different writers (and who knows how many more) manage to reflect on their process in the midst of writing both fiction and nonfiction.

Both Paul Edgecome (King's narrator), and Tim O'Brien talk about storytelling being an outlet, a kind of therapy. That somehow, by telling their stories, by putting pen to paper, they can find resolution. I think sometimes readers feel this power, too, and they use stories for their own purposes. So, it seems we all have our own agendas, and the story's impact is in the eye of the creator and the beholder.

Now that I've read the book, I can see the movie (a principle of mine), but I know King's words will, in ways, never be fully conveyed on screen. I have heard the movie is good, but I highly recommend the book.

~MJ

Must Reads #1

This is an interesting piece from a NYTimes Magazine issue about my latest favorite series: The Hunger Games. This trilogy highlights all that I love about reading: I love books that are engaging, deep, and thought-provoking (but then again, who doesn't?). The article really discusses the books -- I'm here to tell you a little more about why I consider them "must-reads."

I couldn't put the books down! They tackled issues of war, rebellion, government control, friendship, romance, and still managed to make new and interesting commentaries on pop culture and media. I taught the first book in my 6th and 7th grade classes this year, and also recommended the books to many of my 8th graders. Just the interaction with the text prompted big discussions in my room on all of the above topics, and also got my kids making connections to current events locally and globally, as well as Greek mythology. Books that come with such dynamic results for the reader are why I love reading! I don't make book recommendations lightly -- but, you must read these books.

The biggest disappointment? The trilogy is over. And somehow, I want more...

~MJ

What a World

I'm currently reading "The Green Mile" by Stephen King. Like many of my books, I picked it up over a year ago, started reading it, put it back on the shelf, and was struck by something to pick it up again. I've raced through half the book in about two days, reading it by the pool or in the quiet moments summer vacation brings to my apartment.

In all of the books I read, I earmark pages where certain lines or short passages resonate with me. I usually don't highlight or underline; for some reason, 99 percent of the time at least, I am usually able to recall exactly why I folded the corner of a page, even if it's only because of a couple of words. Visual memory is astounding in this way.

One such earmark happened today because of recent conversations I've had with close friends. In this portion of the story, the narrator, Paul Edgecombe, is talks about an incident with death-row inmate, Eduardo Delacroix. Delacroix is being asked show prison administrators all of the tricks Mr. Jingles can do (he is quite the remarkable mouse). The situation is highly unusual, but that seems to be the point of Edgecombe's purpose in telling death row stories -- it's a highly unusual place. After being told to (basically) break a leg, Delacroix says, and Edgecombe reflects:

"You bet." A smile shone out of his face, so sudden and so simple in its happiness that I felt my heart break for him a little, in spite of the terrible thing he had done. What a world we live in - what a world!

It's in these moments that I realize making self-text connections isn't something just for the Language Arts classroom -- it happens so readily when we read all the time, for pleasure or for work.

I'm just about halfway through this story and have never seen the movie. But I get the feeling that one of the points King tries to make is about not judging books by their covers, or people by their crimes. The feeling Edgecombe describes about Delacroix in this scene reflects that despite everything, we are all human and have heart-strings that can be tugged.

I take this to heart because on the whole, I am the kind of person who gives others the benefit of the doubt. There are so many facets to an individual's character that one incident or event can't define them. This is usually why I have a hard time letting loose the close bonds of a friendship or relationship, even when that other person has damaged the situation in some way.

This is not always healthy or wise, but I think it helps me to be a better person overall. It helps me to value the little things, push myself to be more forgiving than vengeful, and also aids me in being more critical of motivations and choices. Sometimes, this just amounts to me being over-analytical, sometimes too worrisome, or even too trusting - but I think it's always helpful to remember that everyone has a story, a reason.

This especially helps in the classroom, not only to build a rapport with my students, but to remember that on those days when we just can't get along, there's a reason that probably has nothing to do with me. It's a fine line between personal investment in someone and enough detachment to not take negativity so personally.

In my personal life, it's a finer line to walk, especially with those who have betrayed or damaged my friendship with them or my trust. There's always a good side to remember or cherish about someone, even when the negative really left a mark. I guess I always want to believe in the redemptive qualities of everyone -- enough that I often feel the urge to overlook what took them down in the first place.

I've only truly held one grudge in my life and it's one I've lost the ability to reconcile fully. I still struggle with whether I should have done something about it before I couldn't, but there's a part of me that is comfortable with the fact that I didn't. However, it the discomfort is enough that I am propelled to ensure I never forget the good qualities of others in my life, and at least in my heart, acknowledge their goodness.

King often explores this issue to varying degrees in many of his stories (i.e., Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, Premium Harmony, A Good Marriage), which is probably why I keep reading them.

What a world, indeed. Funny how stories shed some light on it in these ways.

~MJ

Stephen King's Official Web Site

The Landscape's Changing

In Craig Ferguson's "Between the Bridge and the River," one of the many journey's chronicled is that of Fraser, a man in crisis. He is guided aptly by Virgil (yes, the Roman who also appeared in Dante), trying to find his way out of crisis. In one episode, they are walking a vast, empty expanse that is dull and unwelcoming; after V tells Fraser a story, Fraser notices the landscape is changing, as well as the look of his guide.

"Things are changing," said Fraser. "You look different, the lay of the land looks different. What's going on?"
"Ah," Virgil smiled, "You just heard a story, you are being affected by it. Nothing has changed. I am the same, the lay of the land is the same."
"But it all looks different," protested Fraser.
"That's because the story, like all stories, has altered you slightly. Everything will look a little different."

This is one of my favorite passages from one of my favorite books. It seems simple, yes, but I think it speaks to why I love reading so much.

I've loved reading ever since I first could, sitting on the kitchen counter at the age of 6 reading "The Great Kapok Tree" to my family as they prepared dinner. I've never been anything less than a bookworm - you can ask the friends I went to the pool with in the summer, who splashed around as I read in the sun. You can ask my students, who always heard how much I loved a book before I made them read it.

Call it the inspiration of summer break, or because I am yet again in the midst of great reading - but, I thought it was time to take stock of what I've read, what I'm reading, and why it matters (if to no one else, but me). I used the quote from "Angela's Ashes" with this in mind, knowing that minding what's on my mind about books can not only be a good reflective practice, but help me to find that resplendence that Mr. O'Halloran tells his students about.

Awhile ago I had a reading blog that failed -- I think because I tried to make it too routine and mechanical. For that reason, I am not sure what the format of this blog will be other that what comes to me in the moment I choose to add to it. I am constantly ear-marking passages as I read, so I'm sure some reflection related to those will come. I also envision reflecting on a recently finished book, the process of finding a new one to read, and my inevitable juggling of too-many-books-at-once. Mostly, I hope this will track how my landscape changes throughout the course of reading. It's also crossed my mind to invite some of my avidly reading friends and family to author on the blog. We'll see.

Ultimately, know this: the contents of this blog will largely consist of opinions. I never demand agreement with those, just that they are heard. Like Dumbledore said, "Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." So hopefully, like me, you'll see this as an opportunity to reflect on the landscape and its changes -- all because of books.

~MJ