Today's topic - Reading. Soon after I returned from my trip to London, I entered a competition with my mom to see who can read more books over the summer. It's not a bet - there's no prize for the winner or runner-up - it is simply an excuse to read more books, something I always enjoy and feel I don't do enough of. As of now, I have completed 4 and 3/4 books (but it counts as 5 in our competition). This stems from 4 fully completed this summer, and one book that I recently finished but had started prior to the end of the school year. So, in technical terms, that's how many I'm at. Let me attempt to give a brief review/synopsis/why you might read/what I think, for each book. I'll go in order that I completed them, for lack of a better organizational method. Also, I'll post the links to the Amazon page for each book after my "reviews," should you feel so inclined to learn more.
Deep Survival, by Laurence Gonzales.
This is a book about the psychology and biology of the survival instinct. Gonzales is inspired as young boy by his father who was a pilot in WWII. On a raid, one of his plane's wing's was sawed off by ground-fire and he plummeted from thousands of feet into the air, still strapped to his seat, and lived to tell the tale. Oh, he was captured by German forces after the crash and spent time in a prison camp with his countless injuries from the fall (as you might imagine he would have). The author continues with other seemingly miraculous tales, and seems to zero in on many of the situations where the least "prepared" or "experience" person is the only one to survive an extreme situation, based on fundamental differences in thought patterns. Quite the striking read, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it made me think a lot about what I might do or how I might act if put into a survival situation. Why you might read it - if you have an interest in psychology and human behavior, if you enjoy the outdoors or high-risk activities, or if you enjoy stories of resounding human determination, when people come out on top through the most impossible of situations.
Three Cups of Tea - by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The incredible story of a true hero. After a failed attempt to summit K2, Mortenson, an avid mountainclimber, finds himself stranded and alone in harsh conditions lower in the Himalayas. His is found and taken in by members of a small, remote village in Northern Pakistan, and is stunned by their hospitality. In response, he asks the elders what they need most and is told they need a school. His promise to them to build them a school kicks off the adventure of the century, and eventually the construction of many other schools around the country. It gives an inside look of a misunderstood country and culture(s), and is a heartwarming read. Without a doubt the most inspirational book I have ever read, and I know it won't easily fall from that throne. I already have plans to see Mortenson himself speak at Concordia University this fall. Why you might read Three Cups of Tea - if you love learning about new cultures and peoples, if you desire inspiration, or if you want to hear the story of how one man is fighting the war on terror and promoting peace in the only way that it could ever truly succeed - through proper education of children.
The Burn Journals - by Brent Runyon
Not a lighthearted book, "The Burn Journals" are literally the Journals of Brent. He began to construct this journal at the suggestion of a psychologist or counselor, months after his recovery, in order to capture his thoughts and emotions and really get a chance to look inside himself. Brent, in 8th grade at the time, suffered severe burns on over 80% of his body after he set himself on fire with the intent of killing himself, but changed his mind partway through and managed to save himself. It is his story, honest and brutal, of the struggles of a young boy before and during his recovery. Why you might read it - to gain a greater understanding of a young boy's mind, to try to gain perspective on a once-suicidal individual, or to understand the recovery process from severe burns. Again, not a lighthearted read.
The Rule of the Bone - by Russell Banks
A novel, "The Rule of the Bone" is the story of young Chappie, a misguided school dropout trying to find his way. After setting off on his own and getting a tattoo, he takes on the sole name of Bone, detaching himself from his past life. He later meets up with an illegal immigrant rastafarian from Jamaica, I-Man, who teaches him much about life and the Will of Jah. Bone has many adventures, as his life is constantly taking unexpected turns, but he learns to flow with the changes and find himself anew. Eventually, Bone accompanies I-Man on his return to Jamaica and spends time there learning new trades. He even comes into contact with his biological father who ran out on Bone and his mother when Bone was only a few years old, never to be heard from again. The overall story doesn't have too much of a plot or a message, but rather depicts the development and shaping of a young boy's personality. Still a fascinating story, this was my second read-through of the novel. Why you might read it - to learn a little more about rastafarianism, to read a cool story about a boy on some crazy adventures, or to see how a young boy matures.
The Highest Tide - by Jim Lynch
Another novel about a young boy. "The Highest Tide" is about 13 year-old marine life wiz Miles O'Malley, who makes some unreal discoveries while scouring the flats on Olypmia at low-tide and quickly becomes the sensation of the decade in this small town. His finds bring scientists from around the globe to take stock of what is actually happening with the aquatic life in the area, and Miles thinks that the world is trying to tell us something. The author's visual descriptions are stunning, some of the best I've ever read, and it is his first book. It's a quick read and a cool story about a young boy who knows more about his field of interest than most college graduates do about their major. Why you might read it - if you want to read about a young boy who doesn't care how nerdy people think he is, he knows what he loves and won't stop at anything to do it, if you want to get a feel for a small Washington town, or if you simply love great writing.
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Cups-Tea-Mission-Promote/dp/0143038257 Three Cups of Tea
http://www.amazon.com/Burn-Journals-Brent-Runyon/dp/1400096421/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248586748&sr=8-1 The Burn Journals
http://www.amazon.com/Rule-Bone-Novel-Russell-Banks/dp/0060927240 The Rule of the Bone
http://www.amazon.com/Highest-Tide-Novel-Jim-Lynch/dp/1582346054 The Highest Tide
So there we have it, those are the 5 books I have completed this summer so far. I am about halfway through "Makes Me Wanna Holler - A Young Black Man in America" by Nathan McCall, at the recommendation of my brother. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and look forward to telling you more about it on here after its conclusion.
Thorn - I didn't get all of my videos from my London trip uploaded tonight like I had planned
Rose - I wrote on here again!
Bud - I'm going to hike Saddle Mountain tomorrow
AT Out
allen, the Burn Journals sounds amazing. Can I borrow it? :)
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