Guys Write for Guys Read

Guys Write for Guys Read, presented by Jon Scieszka

Founder of the Guys Read program, Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man) compiles a variable collection of works where “boys’ favorite authors write about being boys.” In an effort to encourage boys to read, this anthology has short stories, essays and even illustrations that are proven to keep a boy’s interest long enough to hopefully keep him reading for a lifetime.

Authors like Avi, Jack Gantos, Anthony Horowitz, James Howe, Brian Jacques, Stephen King and Gary Paulsen have all contributed to this 70+ piece collection. Rick Reilly’s “Funny You Should Ask” from The Life of Reilly might be my favorite. While sitting outside with his son, after a deep question, Reilly tries to explain to his son why they are on earth. “We’re here to nail a yield sign with an apple core from half a block away. We’re here to make our dog bite on the same lame fake throw for the gazillionth time. We’re here to win the stuffed bear or go broke trying.” After finishing his long list, readers learn that the son was actually asking why they were at the park when they were supposed to have picked up mommy a while ago. Esquire magazine shares some helpful “rules” to follow, while Jack Gantos teaches you what not to do through experience in “The Follower.” There are some great shared experiences, such as Anthony Horowitz’s “My French Teacher Tried to Kill Me” and Daniel Pinkwater’s “Lone (star) Ranger.” From peeing on the electric fence to collecting comic books to making the big sports play (or not), this book has something for at least every boy.

While some pieces are obviously better than most, what attracts me is the variety of the collection. Yes, there are the stereotypical essays on how to be a guy, but there are also the essays about how you don’t have to fit those macho standards to truly be a man. There is a number of Jon Scieszka pieces, but I guess you earn the right when it’s your anthology and your program. Some pieces were truly wonderful like the ones above, while others where just thrown in to catch attention. I’m sure some young boys have never read anything truly outrageous, so seeing at least two pieces that include multiple characters barfing would definitely liven up their reading list, even though I thought it was disgusting. There was a large majority of pieces devoted to sports, but there were also others about completely different topics that were refreshing. The variety tried to capture as many types of boy readers as possible, which, of course, is the entire goal of Guys Read. I could have done without some of the illustrations and the commentary written by the artists; isn’t this Guys WRITE for Guys READ? One extremely valuable piece of information included is at the end of each piece. If you find that you liked a piece of work, there at the bottom was the author’s short biography, a fun fact and a selected list of other books by the author the reader might like. It’s just the little spark that might lead boys to read something longer by choice.

A valiant effort, Guys Read has put together an impressive collection. If I were to recommend it, though, I would probably just refer you to some of the better pieces and kept a few others out of your knowledge. The good pieces are worth it while the lesser ones upset you when they just do not compare. But I can promise that no matter what your interest, there is something in here for you.

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested.” - Francis Bacon

For more information on the Guys Read program, visit www.guysread.com.

The Song of Roland

The Song of Roland
Class: History 110- Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation Europe

I thought I would include some reading I have done in class. This will most likely be the new habit come fall when I will have countless novels due, so I might as well get you used to the idea now.

Charlemagne is fighting the Saracens being led by Marsile in Spain. Charlemagne’s beloved nephew Roland has constantly fought valiantly by his side, but when Roland’s stepfather Ganelon commits an act of treason, Roland’s life is in danger. Marsile has offered a false peace pact in order to by the Saracens some time as Charlemagne’s troops return to France. Knowing Marsile has already killed two of Charlemagne’s messengers, Roland suggests his stepfather for the job to oversee this peace treaty. Ganelon has no choice to accept, but begins a plot to enact revenge on his stepson. Both Ganelon and Marsile wish to see the brave warrior dead for their own reasons and create a plan to cut off Roland’s troops in a mountain pass. It is taken out and Roland shortly finds himself in a heated battle with his best friend Oliver and a Bishop Turpin. Even though Roland is dealing blows with his sword Durendal that cut people in half, the French forces are still greatly outnumbered and losing. Roland’s pride will not let him call for help on Oliver’s request until it is too late.

The Song of Roland is an originally oral text that eventually made its way down into an English transition. The first time I read this was in French class senior year of high school while also re-enacting it. (Guess who was Roland!) Let me tell you, reading it in English is much better. The narration can get pretty repetitive, but the characters are all fantastic. The most interesting character has a very short scene. Aude, Roland’s betrothed and Oliver’s sister, when hearing of Roland’s death, falls dead on the spot. The interesting part about this piece has to do with when it was written down around 1090. At the time there was still a debate going on about valor and justice, etc. For example, you get the debate between Roland and Oliver, whether it is wiser and braver to fight to the death or to act wisely and call for help. Also, at Ganelon’s trial for treason some interesting questions about justice arise concerning what counts as treason and what legal punishment might only be revenge on Charlemagne’s part to Ganelon.

It’s definitely not going to be on the most recommended pieces of literature, but it is definitely a part of the canon for oral epics. The Song of Roland became an inspiration for Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. It can’t be all that bad. If you end up picking up a copy and struggling with it (even though I don’t think you will), just be glad you are reading it in English and not in French like I had to.

“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.”
- Robertson Davies

The Poe Shadow

The Poe Shadow, by Matthew Pearl

Uniquely talented Matthew Pearl has produced another New York Times Bestseller in The Poe Shadow. After reading his previous thrilling work of literary historical fiction in The Dante Club, I couldn’t wait to see what else this novelist had up his sleeve. I was sad though that circumstances beyond my control have caused a 7-month delay of finishing this much desired book when I started it way back in January. Finally reaching the last page, I can know add it to my blog.

Quentin Clark is an attorney of 1849 Baltimore where news of Edgar Allan Poe’s death has shocked him, even if no one else had cared. After becoming a fan of this widely unknown writer, Clark began a correspondence with Poe to work as a legal aid in clearing his name of the false press statements about Poe’s drunken habits. Once Poe ends up dead under mysterious circumstances, Quentin Clark continues the work he promised Poe to make sure people know the truth about Poe’s life and death. This proves more difficult than expected under the conditions and Quentin must seek outside help. Mr. Clark decides to travel to France in order to find the real life inspiration for Poe’s dramatic mystery hero, C. Auguste Dupin. Since there are multiple possibilities believed for this inspiration, it becomes a contest to figure out the truth of Poe’s death first in order to prove which one is the real Dupin of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Purloined Letter.” Quentin’s devotion leads to the diminishing of his law practice as well as his romantic relationship with an almost fiancé as he tries to deal with issues involving the popularly rising temperance movement, the Baltimore slave trade and even international conspiracies and assassination attempts. The investigation of one death leads to another and Quentin begins the telling of his story on trial.

Matthew Pearl’s novel is interesting enough during adventure sequences, but sadly these are rare. From crawling in hospital tunnels meant for dead bodies in order to eavesdrop on information, to hanging on the ledge of a city monument to evade French mobsters, those portions of the story are captivating and action packed. (There is even a swordfight!) The details in Pearl’s writings are what make him a great storyteller, but in The Poe Shadow, their use can also cause his downfall. There is much information and back-story that goes into planning a mystery-thriller, yet the presentation of these necessary facts is mainly involved with two men sitting and talking to each other. These back-stories are highly creative and crucial to the novel, but the explaining dialogue scenes appear too frequently for my taste. Forty percent of the time the conversation is about what has happened in the past, the other sixty percent is about what might have happened in the past and why they think so. The reader finds him or herself forcing the continued reading, waiting for the next enjoyable scene from Pearl’s fantastic pen (or keyboard) that eventually comes but fades too quickly into yet another dialogue of the previous events. There is no doubt that Pearl possesses a unique talent for historical fiction that serves him well and will most likely continue to do so (maybe in his 2009 The Last Dickens). It was the triumph of making it through the novel to the end that makes it possible for me to praise the book as a whole, even though some specific story-telling characteristics during the process appear wildly unattractive.

The Poe Shadow is a beautifully written piece of work that earns Matthew Pearl gold stars for originality, creativity, voice and style. It is a brilliant piece and stands on its own but there is the general feeling that it might have stood a little taller with a few changes. As it is, it surely would be next to nothing without Pearl’s previous success with The Dante Club that drew me and, I’m sure, others like me to his piece. I would recommend this novel to fans of Matthew Pearl, fans of Edgar Allan Poe, fans of mystery thrillers or fans of historical pieces.

“It is well to read everything of something, and something of everything.”
- Lord Henry P. Brougham

New Book Arrival from Amazon.com

I have gotten behind in some of my reading considering that I am currently working 2.5 jobs and taking a summer class, but thought I should still make a weekly post.

Earlier this year, while working as a pre-student teacher, I have shared the young adult novels I read with my sixth grade students. I was borrowing them from the classroom with much thanks to my wonderful Cooperating Teacher, but I decided to find my favorite on Amazon.com to own for myself.

Over the weekend, THIS BOOK arrived in the mail and I am very happy. I had my mother read it and she also agreed that it is a great book that could be read my adults. See, my book blog doesn't lie and you should definitely take its advice.

Coming soon to the book review blog: The Poe Shadow, by Matthew Pearl.