Thursday, January 29, 2009

Reading Program


Did you ever participate in a summer reading program as a child?? Or sign up your own children every summer?? I did both. Guess what?? Now my library has an "Adult Winter Reading Program". What a great idea!! Those who finish get a book bag and a chance to win a gift basket. I am all signed up and have two books checked out, The Alchemist and The Life of Pi. I need to read 8 books by April 15th (ha ha, they knew everyone would remember TAX DAY). Eight books in three months. That sounds easy. However, five of the books have to come from certain categories. That helps us read "out of our comfort zone". Here's the categories:

An American classic

A work of historical fiction

A Pulitzer Prize Winner

a childhood favorite

Read a book/watch the movie

Three of my own choosing

The bottom three are easy as pie, I have them covered. But, I'm wondering about the top three. Can you give me some idea's in those categories. Please share your favorite American Classic, work of historical fiction and Pulitzer Prize winner. Thank you.

9 comments:

Rachel said...

I can you give you some suggestions:

American Classic: Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer

Historical Fiction: A tale of two cities. The first time I tried reading the book, I couldn't make it pass the first 50 pages. Then a year later I tried reading it again, and I love it. The ending made me want to cry.

Pulitzer Prize: To Kill a Mockingbird. I found a list of winners at this website.
http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat

Hope that helps.

Laurel said...

Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Gone with the Wind
Grapes of Wrath

Historical Fiction...any one of the Work and the Glory series.

Laura Lee said...

American Classic: East of Eden, The Great Gatsby, and My Antonia.
Historical Fiction: Widow of the South, The Other Boleyn Girl, and The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel.
Pulitzer Prize: Breathing Lessons, The Shipping News, and The Good Earth.
Good Reads: Cold Sassy Tree, Rebecca, The Giver, and My Sister's Keeper.

Laurel said...

I did not like The Giver...I don't think I would ever read it again. I had to last year in a Lit Class. Ugh...there are so many truly wonderful books out there.

Laura Lee said...

How interesting that you didn't like "The Giver!" It is one of my favorite book with many many layers to unravel. I even have it on cd and one year our family listened to it on the way to Utah. My girls also really like it. FYI, I hated "My Antonia" when I had to read it in high school and re-read it last year and totally loved it. It's a good thing there are all kinds of books for us all to read!

Cindy Price said...

I read "The Giver" with a six grade class when I was working as an instructional assistant. While I admit some things in the book are a bit disturbing, I think it makes one think about the search for a perfect life here on earth, and how important our challenges are to our growth. I did like the book and would read it again. Another good book by Lois Lowry is titled "Number the Stars".

Just like lots of things it's good there are choices for people with different tastes.

I have "My Antonia" on hold at my library and plan to read that one. I want to read the "Grapes of Wrath" again too!! Thanks for mentioning that one. I have never read "Wuthering Heights" but I enjoyed the movie.

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions. Thank you!!

Katie said...

Have you read Gone With the Wind? That is a puilitzer and historical fiction. I actually hadn't read many of the pulitzer ones but all the ones I recognized were historical fiction too.
I haven't read "Grapes of Wrath." If you read it let me know what you think.
I have read both "The Giver" and "Number the Stars." I liked them both.
I tried to read "Life of Pi", but I couldn't get past the first chapter. Ask Rachel.

Liz said...

I see you've already been given some great ideas.

A book series that I absolutely loved is "These is my words" by Nancy Turner...definitely fits into the historical fiction category.

An American classic: I'd recommend "the Grapes of Wrath" as well...can't think of any others right now that are American...oh wait, what about "Little Women"?

Pulitzer Prize: I've heard many people say that they really loved "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner, but I tried to read it and just could not get into the story. Looking at the list on the pulitzer website, I am sure I have read some, but can't remember the details or if I'd recommend them, but here are the titles:
"Beloved" by Toni Morrison
"breathing Lessons" by Anne Tyler (it sounds so familiar, but I can't be sure I've actually read it)
"The Stone Diaries" by Carol Shields, but I know I thought this one was really weird.

I've read "The Good Earth" but I did not like it so much. I think I picked it up because I've always thought so highly of Pearl S. Buck, and just because she has the name Pearl...sentimental I guess. But I was disapointed in the choices that the main character made.

Good luck!!

Laurel said...

I too have read Number the Stars and found it very good. It also reminded my of our Danish Friends that lived in Denmark during that time and the stories they told first hand.

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