Jul
21
2009

My Summer Reading Program

outliersI have found that I often am drawn to business books throughout the year, and in the summertime especially it is nice to vary the reading routine and incorporate some leisure reads. This summer I have read so far only one business book, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell has written other thought provoking business books that I have enjoyed immensely, The Tipping Point and Blink. I found Outliers to be one of my new favorites. Gladwell dissects why some people are more successful than others; are they really outliers or is there a explanation for their so called success? Gladwell digs deep into several modern day perceptions about successful individuals and groups. I found this book a quick, interesting read and I highly recommend it; especially if you have read and enjoyed his other books. His latest might be his best yet.

a tree grows in brooklynSo, now on to the the other non-fiction and fiction leisure reads on my summertime reading program. After doing some spring cleaning, I discovered some classics in our collection that I had not read yet. I started with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I was truly engrossed in the characters of this book. Smith introduces us to a little girl, Francie, growing up in Brooklyn at the turn of the 19th century. The story is as much a historical depiction of immigrant life in America, as it is a character portrayal of a girl growing up in a difficult environment. I was surprised to learn of the similarities between the character of Francie and the author’s real life. It almost made it seem like Smith shared a little of her own life with the reader. One of my favorite things about Francie, and my favorite take away from the book is that in life there will always be someone telling you that you cannot succeed. There will always be events that stand in your way. But the strong will endure and thrive. Just like the tree that grows in Brooklyn. No matter how little it is cared for, and how many times someone tries to cut it down, it somehow grows tall anyway.

Anas Story

Ana's Story

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but after reading about a fictional Francie and her struggles, I then moved onto two non-fiction books about children fighting back against adversity. I just finished reading Ana’s Story: A Journey Of Hope by Jenna Bush. Through her work with UNICEF, Jenna encountered a young girl named Ana and was moved enough by her story to share it with the world. Ana is a young teenage girl that shares her story of poverty, abuse and her battle with HIV. Through it all she continues to lead a life of hope. Through the publishing of this book, Jenna hopes to inspire others to take part in the fight against HIV and AIDS. I know I certainly felt like I got to know Ana as a person in this story, not just another victim. And I even learned a few things about HIV that I didn’t know before. The book ends with a list of resources for anyone who is interested in getting more involved, even at a very basic volunteer level. My only question after finishing the book is – where is Ana now? I’m curious about what happens, since the book is written during Ana’s lifetime and her journey still continues.

TheyPouredFireOnUsFromTheSkyI came across a copy of They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky By Benjamin Ajak, Benson Deng, Alephonsian Deng, Judy Bernstein. It is the true story of three “Lost Boys” from Sudan. During the civil war in Sudan in the late 1980’s, thousands of young boys were forced to flee their homes with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, as their homes were destroyed and families murdered or sold into slavery. They became known as the “Lost Boys”. I only just started this one, but after reading the first chapter I doubt I am going to be disappointed!

What books are on your reading list? Please leave us a comment if you have read any of these books listed here, or if you have some more good reads to share.

Be Sociable, Share!
Written by in: Uncategorized |

2 Comments

  • Megan says:

    Wow, Ali, you’ve got a heavy reading list this summer!! I feel kind of silly since most of my books have been mindless chicklit! I love the title of your current book, “they poured fire on us from the sky.” The editor in me wants to change the word order to, “From the sky, they poured fire on us.” But this is just a reminder that sometimes the best wording is the one that makes you backtrack and read the sentence again. It gives a very mystical feel in this case.

  • Ali says:

    that’s funny Megann, you are the grammar guru! It is a great book, I just finished it and LOVED it. Although I had to stop reading it before bed, because it made me have weird dreams about crocs and running from things. What these kids endured is unbelieveable. It truly is a testiment to the human spirit.

RSS feed for comments on this post.


Powered by WordPress | Theme: Aeros 2.0 by TheBuckmaker.com