OTHER books part 5

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

I think almost everyone has to read this in HS and almost everyone hates it. I, on the other hand, loved it and thus started my love affair with F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
This was a book I picked up at a 3 for 2 sale at Border’s. Apparently, this is on a lot of reading lists for classes too, but I had never heard of it. It’s another book that could be considered science fiction, but it’s hardly that (in my mind). The story is of a world where everything is controlled and woman are only valued if they can produce babies (used as surrogate mothers, sort of). Interesting look at what life might be like if society was more controlled. I loved this book and have loaned it out many times. (I actually just found out it's a movie too)

The Jungle - Upton Sinclair
In keeping with theme, this is yet another book that it seems everyone else read in high school besides me. Since I plan to be a history teacher one day, I thought it would be shameful if I had not read this (which reminds me, I should really read Uncle Tom’s Cabin some day too…). This book was disgusting and disturbing. It really influenced reforms in the food industry. It told of the horrors of slaughterhouses, the filth and grime and disease that our food was exposed to on a daily basis, not to mention humans exposed to it as well. A disturbing yet enlightening read. This was really hard for me to get into, though.

The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd
After I read The Secret Life Of Bees, I was so excited when Sue Monk Kidd put out another book. While I enjoyed this story, I didn’t love it like I loved the Bees. It’s a story of a woman who is forced to find herself, love, and what makes her happy, and leave behind what pains her and drags her down when she has to return home to take care of her mother. Sue Monk Kidd is amazing at writing stories where the characters are so deep and share such deep bonds. I think this is why I enjoy her writing so much. I currently loaned this book to my boss, Michele, but I’m thinking I should have given her the Bees first… A very good book!

The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory

Never finished this one. I see it advertised often which makes me think maybe I should go back and give it another chance. I was eager to find some historical fiction, but I wasn’t interested in it by the time I picked it up. What I had read was good, but I just didn’t have the interest to finish it. I think I just repeated myself here…