August Reads

43. The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer ****

(New Haven, Connecticut - Memoir)

This was such an interesting memoir... a man looks back on his childhood and his search for male role models. In his uncle's colleagues of bar tenders, JR finds fatherhood by committee. He describes each man and the impact he had on his young life... through childhood, high school, college at Yale, and his early career adventures. One of my favorite quotes..."I hate when people ask what a book is about. People who read for plot, people who suck out the story like the cream filling in an Oreo, should stick to comic strips and soap operas. . . . Every book worth a damn is about emotions and love and death and pain. It's about words. It's about a man dealing with life. Okay?"

44. The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine *****

(Little Rock, Arkansas)

Integration had taken Little Rock by storm and some people were fighting back... this story tells of a young girl who finally finds a friends to help her face her fears. When that friend disappears suddenly and with dramatic flair, young Marlee has to come to grips with her own definition of race, equality, and bravery. A super good book to help young children begin to understand the Civil Rights movement. Many are thinking it will be recommended for the 2013 Newberry Award... I could get behind that.

45. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli *****

(Arizona)

I love this book... I have since I first read it. The main character, Leo, is smitten with the new girl at school, but wishes she was more 'normal.' But things turn disasterous, for both the school and herself, when Stargirl conforms to society's expectations. This book has been hailed as an inspiration for individuality and kindness... Jerry Spinelli's website actually tells how schools or church groups can start Stargirl Societies. Maybe I'll get one started at my high school. You know... in all my copious amounts of free time.

46. The Fifth Floor by Michael Harvey ***

(Chicago, Illinois)

I actually ended up learning a lot about the Chicago fire of 1871 while reading this novel full of conspiracy, power, and murder. Though I have no idea how based in fact it is, it was an exciting novel. Like many mystery novels, there were several subplots that wove tighter and tighter until they all collapsed on one another. It was fairly well done... somewhat predictable, but still good.

47. So Young, Brave, and Handsome by Leif Enger ****

(Minnesota)

Oh, what an adventure! A family meets a mysterious neighbor and are drawn into his story and metaphors and the father ends up on the adventure of a lifetime. As he helps his new friend reconcile a spotted past, he comes to grips with his own expectations and purpose, and realizes that the only expectations he's failed to live up to are his own. Leif Enger has a very poetic style of writing that I find very relaxing.