In January of this year I joined up with Carrie Gelson and a few
other hard core readers to make a commitment to read a certain number of
books.
You can view my original list here.
I committed to read 36 specific books. I had finished 15 as of the last check in, and I've read another 12 since then. This means I've completed 27 of those books! I am almost done another, One Native Life by Richard Wagamese, except I loved it so much I was savouring it in small chunks and the digital copy from the library expired before I was done. I thought I had renewed it, but apparently someone else wanted it first.
So here, in order, is what I've finished since April.
I'm happy to recommend just about all of these
titles, but the following are reasons I am most thankful to be a reader.
Unusual Chickens for the
Exceptional Poultry Farmer just gobsmacked me. Honestly, this is one of the most fun, poignant
novels I've enjoyed in a long time. I wanted to run out and purchase a flock of
chickens upon finishing it.
Salt to the Sea is one of the finest war narratives I have ever read. It reveals to us the humanity of strangers against a backdrop of evil, and what horror, terror, and brutality that entails.
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse is such an important read. Not only does it tell the story of an important historical individual, it shows the reader that Native Americans continue to live and thrive in a modern world.
How have the rest of you been getting along with your lists?
I really need to read Maggie Stiefvater's books. I had them on my list last year but never got to it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't liked all of her work, but this series is beautiful. And there is nothing that keeps it from being ok for my upper intermediate student.
DeleteSalt to the Sea is SO incredible. We had the same reaction. I am reading The Raven King right now and WOW, am I addicted.
ReplyDeleteI know!! Both of those titles are just amazing!
DeleteI loved Salt to The Sea too, Cheriee. And Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle is awesome. I've seen her twice here in Colorado & she is a wonderful presenter, too. Unusual Chickens Is going to have to be on my next list, I think, but so many of you have shared it with love this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm green with envy that you have seen her Linda. Unusual chickens is a short and very satisfying read.
DeleteUnusual Chickens was such a surprise to me. I thought it'd be cute but I wasn't prepared for how much I absolutely adored it. And I'm going to repeat every other comment here and add in how amazing Salt to the Sea and The Raven Cycle are!
ReplyDeleteI know - it is the quintessential middle grade novel!
DeleteI was curious about Crazy Horse and returned my copy but I'm thinking I should give it another try!
ReplyDeleteIt isn't one of the best books I've read, but it is well written and is such an important book in what it reveals about history, and what it looks like to be Native in America today.
DeleteI would agree that all five of these are worth reading. I loved Dreaming in Indian so much. Unusual Chickens flat out cracks me up. Salt to the Sea was amazing and Raven King is fantastic escapism for me. Footsteps for me was also okay as far as writing goes, but excellent in that it tells a story that needs to be heard.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly how I feel about Footsteps Crystal.
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