Homer Public Library 15 in '16 discussion

Thanks Maureen for telling us your January reads! The books I finished this month are "Quiet" by Susan Cain and "Into Great Silence" by Eva Saulitis. What's everyone else been reading?

Also, if you haven't entered your books into the Homer Public Library website, now is the time to do it as the month is almost finished. Here's the link: http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library...

If you want to see if others in the group have had to say about books on the 15 in '16 list, just click on the book through the group page. (Just when I think I have my "to read" list finished, I see some comment that makes me add another.)

The first book I read in January was Blonde Indian. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the writing style. Some of the Native stories were very familiar to me as were some of the places the author talks about. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and gave me great hope. I am looking forward to her talk at the Library in February.
The second book I read in January, was Love in the Time of Cholera. I really didn't care for this book much, although the writing was so well done, that I will likely look for other books by this author.
I have enjoyed reading other's posts and agree with Teresa that reading the posts makes want to read those books.

Teresa, I did not realize I was to enter the books on the Homer Library site...thank you for the link. Am I doing everything else correctly...should I be writing as much as I am about the books or should that be on the Library site?

Thank you, Maureen

I finished Chigozie Obioma's debut novel The Fishermen a couple weeks back, my first 15 in '16 read. It was a pretty tragic look into how destructive superstition was for a particular Nigerian family. It was a good read, but I am not heading to a bookstore to add it to my permanent collection.

Teresa, I read Quiet a handful of years ago and found it quite insightful. It made me reflect quite a bit on my teaching.

Has anyone tried Fates and Furies yet? It will definitely find its way to my couch side table!

MAUREEN wrote: "Teresa, I did not realize I was to enter the books on the Homer Library site...thank you for the link. Am I doing everything else correctly...should I be writing as much as I am about the books or ..."

You're doing everything just right! And really, there are no rights or wrongs... just books. :)

I'm glad we have this Goodreads forum this year, it is adding to the experience to see what others are reading. At this rate I'm going to have a list of about 50 of the books that I want to read.

So far I've read: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates, Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh, Blonde Indian by Ernestine Hayes and Deep, Down, Dark by Héctor Tobar. All of which I'd recommend.

Currently I'm trudging through Winterdance by Gary Paulsen, which I'm committed to finishing but there's much I don't like about the book, in particular the main autobiographical character, who portrays himself as thoughtless and selfish. Also, it has a flavor of much that is frustrating about 'reality' tv shows in that it perpetuates myths about what life in Alaska is like.

I also started listening to Temple Grandin's Animals in Translation on a recent road trip. I think that one is likely best for me to listen to rather than actually reading.

I read Last Bus to Wisdom, by Ivan Doig which I loved. I have loved all of his books and it was so bittersweet knowing this was the last ever. Also read Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart. It was cute, not great, but fun. Also wanted to mention two other books I read not on the list which made me think. Only Love Can Break Your Heart, by Ed Tarkington, and The Man With No Shadow, by Joyce Carol Oates. If you are looking for more books to add to your to be read stack, they are also good.

I have read BEYOND THE BEAR: Yes the bear stuff was terrifying, but this is a really sweet love story between two people who remind me of many young people who moved to Alaska around this time. Into jam-bands, community service, fishing. I felt like I knew them. EGG AND SPOON: I enjoyed the early setting of this book, the wretched downtrodden Russian village, but then I met Baba Yaga and her modern references took me right out of it. And then I remembered it was Gregory Maguire. So, quick, silly read, but a bit heavy handed and not my favorite sense of humor. WINTERDANCE: By the end of this book, I found I had quite enjoyed it. In the beginning, I didn't care much for it, the dog training antics, but once he got to Alaska, I was eager to reach each new checkpoint. As a child, I followed the race and had little understanding of the process. I was happy to learn more.

Peggy wrote: "The first book I read in January was Blonde Indian. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the writing style. Some of the Native stories were very familiar to me as were some of the places the aut..."

Hi Peggy...I was pleased my library had this book...I think it is my next read. Oddly enough although she is in Alaska the book was published where I am in Arizona. :)