Forever...

I may have read this book while I was in high school. If I did attempt to read it, I imagine that my little prude self marched it back to my high school library and checked out something that my mother would not have been shocked to catch me reading.

As an adult, I feel this book--when the entire story is read-- takes a responsible look at teens and their attitudes towards sex. If I had a student who I thought might be interested in reading this book, I would be happy to share it with them. Blume shares in newer editions of the book that when she wrote "Forever..." in the mid-seventies, "sexual responsibility meant preventing unwanted pregnancy." The text of the book only vaguely mentions VD.

I feel that many students might have difficulty relating to this book because some of the terms and slang are outdated. Who wouldn't be excited if their sister would embroider jeans for a date? Also, I was a bit annoyed that I do not think Blume ever writes the word penis. The main male character calls his penis Ralph. Is this book supposed to help with sexual liberation or just makes us all want to name our private parts with names that could also be verbs? This brings new meaning to the phrase "I just ralphed." I think I may have taken that a little too far----many apologies.

The Joy Luck Club

I selected The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan because it was on the 11th grade reading list at my new place of employment. I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. I felt that the relationships and the issues faced by the mothers and daughters in the book were very realistic. Also, I loved that like many southern fathers I know (cough cough--John Paul Pendergrass), Chinese mothers have a tendency to make up stories to keep their children from doing something they don't think is best. While, as I young child, I avoided eating watermelon seeds because I thought I would get pregnant and sitting on dirty toilet seats because I thought that is where my freckles came from, these Chinese mothers dispensed wisdom that is a little more valuable.

I must mention that I feel this book is an adult book. The content of this book is not overwhelming or inappropriate. I feel this book is an adult book because I don't feel that many young people would understand the complexity of many of the relationships that Tan explores in this novel. I do believe that every twenty-something young woman should read this book!

Playing for Pizza

I picked up Playing for Pizza by John Grisham the last time I was home at my parents' house. I read this book in about three days. Although I wouldn't call this the greatest written word of all time- or even put it on the list- I believe this is a good book made for beach reading. In a stereotypical world a young woman would read one of those dime-store romance novels and a young man would read Playing for Pizza next to her in beach chairs.

The descriptions of food, wine, and the countryside are wonderful. However, the book felt like it was almost taken over by descriptions of football. While I am a fan of the sport, I am about as apathetic towards reading about football as the general Italian population in the book are towards attending the games.

I found the romantic relationships in the book to be refreshing compared to romantic relationships spouted onto the page by other popular authors (i.e. Dan Brown). Rick Dockery is jilted in every way that a man can be in this book, first out of work, a professional with an apathetic agent, and then by the most attractive woman he can find (who can speak English). Then he stumbles across a beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed, and adventurous young woman to provide him with companionship.

This is an entertaining book that is great for summer reading. I hadn't picked it up before because I had already read two or three of his books and wanted to read something fresh. Grisham's adventure out of the legal world was very successful.

Angles and Demons

About a month ago I finished reading Angles and Demons by Dan Brown. At that point in time I was so annoyed that I decided it wasn't worth blogging about. Too many people have read it and liked it for me to give an opinion that matters much and...I haven't seen the movie yet. However, I have very strong opinions on the writing. While I, like most people, really enjoy the history and the discussion of art in Dan Brown's writing, I, unlike many people, am completely disgusted by him at the same time. The major thing that Dan Brown grosses me out with:

The ridiculous "24 hour love" relationship between Professor Langdon and whatever woman is in the book---Of course she is clever and beautiful---Of course she has a thing for smart, older, and self deprecating men. Vomit.

Now, the reason I decided to blog about the fact that Dan Brown is slightly ridiculous is quite simple. I got an e-mail from Borders today. He has written another book in the Robert Langdon series titled The Lost Symbol. This is their teaser for his new book.

"Super symbologist Robert Langdon returns in another gripping story. All we know is that Dan Brown took five years to research a story that takes place is 12 hours"

Great, I bet this one has a 12 hour love relationship.

To be honest, I read The Da Vinci Code about 5 years ago and I actually liked it. I was disappointed with Angels and Demons because it was the basically the same plot. My prediction for the future is that I will read The Lost Symbol and write another angry blog because I have read three books with the exact same plot and somebody (Dan Brown) made a mint just changing the girl, the city, and the art.