Knucklehead

I sometimes need to know that my own kids are not the only crazy people on the planet. Jon Scieszka and his brothers were crazy too–maybe even crazier!  Setting fire to the basement, playing MURDERBALL, the six Scieszka did it all.

Scieszka has been campaigning/advocating for boys as readers for years. He encourages reluctant readers with boy centered stories, humor and and comics. His Guys Read website is helpful for boys–and their parents–to find good stuff to read. Simple writing does not have to be simplistic writing. Knucklehead is very well written, with simple and very funny prose. The chapters are short–about 2-3 pages–and every chapter has a picture. This book would be perfect for reading out loud to a class or the boys in your life.

I laughed out loud in almost ever chapter and I read the entire book in about 30 minutes. What a blast! A brilliant addition to my own Guys Read list.

Outliers: The Story of Success

I read voraciously and often without regard for quality (vague interest or a decent recommendation is often all I need to check out a book.) This has taken me down some rocky paths (like the Twilight series–I just don’t get it) and some illuminating ones. You could say I’m like Mikey–I’ll try anything! I use the Nancy Pearl formula–I read about 50-60 pages and if I am not interested or hooked, I drop the book. Some nights I’ll tear through 3 or 4 of my bedside bookstack before I find an interesting one.

Outliers surprised me–I read the entire text in one night!

The book takes a storytelling approach to the mystery of success, describing the life paths of everyone from Bill Gates to The Beatles to Robert Oppenheimer. Malcom Gladwell takes the thesis that hard work, background and opportunity are more important than talent. He also has an engaging style which makes the journey a real pleasure.

On another level, Outliers is enjoyable just for its nuggets of trivia–and what that trivia means. I found out in what month most pro Hockey players are born, and why (I had never thought about hockey before.) Gladwell argues that having immigrant garment worker parents is the key to becoming a successful lawyer in New York City. A pilot born in Australia or Ireland is less likely to cause an airline crash than a pilot born in Columbia (its because of the general disrespect for authority, but being married to an Irish fellow I am glad that a bad attitude has a positive side…!)

I found that this book really stayed with me, and I kept examining and turning over the ideas in my mind (like a rubik’s cube, trying to figure it all out.) The conclusions unfolded so surprisingly; I keep looking at my own expereince for clues for what is coming next.

Check out Outliers–truly worth a read.

Corduroy Mansions: read it for FREE!

When it comes to novels I am all character and no plot (some for movies too, come to think of it.) I like lots of development of a few characters and only a bit of action (think The Full Monty rather than Batman.) And of course, I love to laugh.

The #1 Ladies Detective Agency series fits the bill perfectly. Gentle, funny novels that rely on interesting characters and a turn of phrase to entertain.

The author of the series, Alexander McCall Smith, has serialized his latest novel through the Telegraph online; he publishes one chapter a day until the book is done. Readers can subscribe to the RSS feed, have the chapters emailed to them, read it online, or even LISTEN to it online. McCall Smith is also inviting comments from readers which he may incorporate into the final hard-published book.

I have read two chapters already; this book has the same gentle humor and drama that I have loved in his other books.

Begin reading HERE.