What Are You Reading?

 

Leslie Thrasher - Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

This is a personal account of the 1996 disaster on Mount Everest that killed six people. Jon Krakauer is a writer for Outside magazine and was asked to write a story about the recent and problematic commercialism of the Mountain. A lifelong dream to climb Mount Everest he joins a climbing expedition expecting to have a 'typical' trip up the mountain. After weeks acclimating to the altitude and freezing temperatures exhausted very experienced guides and experienced and semi-experienced teams make their way to the summit on a perfect day when an unexpected storm overtakes many of the climbers. Seven people were stranded on the mountain overnight three were missing before the day ended. This is Jon's story of his experience and perspective on the disaster. I am not a climber or mountaineer however I found this book compelling and I highly recommend it.

Julie Colgan - The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

I am reading this at the frequent request of my 3 and a half year old son, Will. The story is about a pair of youngsters who, due to the inclement weather, are relegated to playing in the house. Their mother was out and they were trying to conjur up something to do on that "cold, cold, wet day". Suddenly, they heard a "Bump" which, understandably, made them "Jump" and, well, pardon the expression, that is when all heck broke loose. I don't want to ruin the story for those who may have not read it but, rest assured that the Things (Thing One and Thing Two to be exact) that come next are quite unexpected, not to mention the talking fish. The author is, well, I'm not quite sure if he is genius or insane, perhaps a nice blend of the two. The rhyming is also quite catchy. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is interested in taking a journey from more traditional, scholarly literature or is interested in challenging the agility of their speech by reading the book aloud.

Claudia Cook - Book Lust: Recommended Books by Nancy Pearl

The author is the Seattle public librarian who inspired the Librarian Action Figure. It's a quick read and for those who are always looking for new authors and books, it is very interesting. A very eclectic reader, her chapters are arranged by topics, such as "Families in Trouble", "Prose by Poets", "Dinosaur Hunting" and the like. She has corresponded with and met with many of the authors. Some of the books and authors were completely new to me. She included a number of my favorites including some that just don't get read that much anymore.

Deidra Payne - The Secret Life of Bees: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd

The story takes place in July 1964 (year of the Civil Rights Act being signed) in South Carolina. A 14 year old white girl runs away from an abusive father in search of the truth about her mother's death when she was a young child. In the process she finds solace and healing from a community of beekeeping black women who take her in and make her apart of their family. I thought it was poignantly written and recommend it.

In this Mountain by Jan Karon

(It helps to read the other books within the series before reading this book, but it's not necessary.)
This is the 7th novel for this series. It is about the citizens of a small town in Mitford, North Carolina. It is written from the character of Father Tim, a retired Presbyterian Minister. The plot is simply about living in a small town and in simpler times. It is storytelling at the best. You find yourself engaged by the characters and their lives. A wonderful light weekend read.