What book are you reading?

[southwest88]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

I don't know if I'm the one who recommended Enrique's Journey, but I frequently do recommend it and it is one of those books that I think everyone should read. I've occasionally participated in reddit "Secret Santa" exchanges and they usually do a book one every year. I've sent Enrique's Journey several times to people, especially when they say just to send a favorite book or that they're open to anything.

…

Yes, an excellent book. I just read it recently - good background for understanding the details of the recent immigrant caravan from Honduras, & that entire phenomenon. There's a lot of history there - between the Central American states & the US & Mexico, & much of it isn't pleasant reading.

But it's important to get to the heart of things & understand them, as best we can. Otherwise, how can we make wise policy decisions?

[miguel's mom]

Originally Posted by BlueFebruary

I've seen Thirteen Reasons why while browsing through books on the internet a lot and was always curious, but end up disregarding it when I read in the summary that the girl who commits suicide is the protagonist's crush. I've read a bunch of YA books where the main character instantly falls in love with a girl/guy that doesn't have much depth, and then their whole world starts revolving around this person and it really detracts from the story. Now I'm wary of anything that even hints of romance or teen drama related to it.


Does Thirteen Reasons Why have a lot of unnecessary romance in it?

No, it doesn't have a lot of romance in it. ChicagoLiz is right. It's a true page turner and mostly it accounts that you don't know what effect words can have on others. Especially when you are a teenager and trying to come to grips with all that stuff happening in high school. I don't like romance stories very much and read them very rarely.

Originally Posted by Marlow

When I don't understand a book, I usually look it up on Wikipedia to get a head start. I find that even if I read some spoilers, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of it. Either that or I just give up.

Sorry about losing your grandpa. Wishing you peace and comfort.

I know what you mean. Basically I know what this book is about. I just don't understand why Mercier could find a publisher who would really issue this book since it absolutely has no meaning at all (for me).

Thank you all for the kind words!

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by southwest88

Yes, an excellent book. I just read it recently - good background for understanding the details of the recent immigrant caravan from Honduras, & that entire phenomenon. There's a lot of history there - between the Central American states & the US & Mexico, & much of it isn't pleasant reading.

But it's important to get to the heart of things & understand them, as best we can. Otherwise, how can we make wise policy decisions?

If you really want to learn the disturbing history of US interference in Latin America, read Bitter Fruit by Stephen Kinzer and Stephen Schlesinger. Another must-read. More academic than a book like Enrique's Journey, but fascinating nonetheless. I read it a while back, but I want to re-read it.

[chicagoliz]

Been a bad month for literary greats -- just read that we lost Philip Roth. :-(

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Been a bad month for literary greats -- just read that we lost Philip Roth. :-(

So sad! I recently read a few of his books -- a memoir about his father, Patrimony, which was beautiful; the other being Goodbye Columbus, which was a wonderful read (his dialogue and humor were both perfect).

There's a quote attributed to him -- "Old age isn't a battle; old age is a massacre." -- that's meaningful on this day that we learned of his passing.

There's another quote attributed to him that made me smile. The same is true for Jewish daughters. "A Jewish man with parents alive is a fifteen-year-old boy, and will remain a fifteen-year-old boy until they die."

[greatblueheron]

[quote=ylisa7;51972790]


I found him too stuffy to be enjoyable. so I never finished it. I know it has good reviews. Does he become more likable? If so I may give it another go at some point
____________________________________________
Apparently we just don't like the same books.... Nothing wrong with that.

[ylisa7]

Originally Posted by greatblueheron

Apparently we just don't like the same books.... Nothing wrong with that.

Agreed....otherwise we would all be bored with each other We do like "some" of the same books

[BlueFebruary]

Originally Posted by ylisa7

I liked Thirteen Reasons Why. I only gave it 3 stars but that doesn't mean I didn't like it I thought it was good for the people to understand how what you say or do affects others.

I wonder if any bullies who have read it had an epiphany and started acting nicer?

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

I recall reading this a while back, and thought I recalled that my feeling was one of being underwhelmed. I just checked my goodreads, and I did give it 4 stars because it kept me turning the pages,but I didn't find it overall completely satisfying and I put it on a shelf I created called "Over-hyped YA." I don't recall an excessive amount of romance, although i read it a while ago. In my review I thought it wasn't a very realistic portrayal, and the "reasons" didn't seem like reasons to kill one's self. But, I can't recall in depth why I thought this.

I'm curious about the "reasons"! I assume it's bullying, family problems and high school drama type stuff, but there's 13 reasons, which seems like a lot, so I'm hoping a few are less obvious. Even if the reasons didn't seem like reasons I would kill myself over, I think I might still be able to suspend disbelief since someone who's suicidal isn't going to be thinking totally rationally.

Originally Posted by miguel's mom

No, it doesn't have a lot of romance in it. ChicagoLiz is right. It's a true page turner and mostly it accounts that you don't know what effect words can have on others. Especially when you are a teenager and trying to come to grips with all that stuff happening in high school. I don't like romance stories very much and read them very rarely.

I think I'll just give it a try so I can stop wondering about it every time I see it. You and chicagoliz say there isn't much romance and it's a page-turner so I'll probably like it, and it's short so it won't be a big time investment if I don't like it.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by BlueFebruary

I wonder if any bullies who have read it had an epiphany and started acting nicer?






I'm curious about the "reasons"! I assume it's bullying, family problems and high school drama type stuff, but there's 13 reasons, which seems like a lot, so I'm hoping a few are less obvious. Even if the reasons didn't seem like reasons I would kill myself over, I think I might still be able to suspend disbelief since someone who's suicidal isn't going to be thinking totally rationally.






I think I'll just give it a try so I can stop wondering about it every time I see it. You and chicagoliz say there isn't much romance and it's a page-turner so I'll probably like it, and it's short so it won't be a big time investment if I don't like it.

It was so long ago that I read it that I honestly can't remember what the "reasons" were at this point. But if you've been wondering about it that much, you absolutely should read it to satisfy that curiosity. It's a decent enough book, and who knows -- you might love it. Plus, since it's YA, it won't take that long to read.

[miguel's mom]

Even though I was very tired yesterday I finished The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman. A very quick read and quite entertaining even though most situations were predictable and I was expecting how they went.