Thrones

I have not written a blog in a while because I have been busy. I recently read Game of Thrones, the first book in a fantasy series by George R.R. Martin. I like fantasy novels but am not a fanatic. The last fantasy series I read was The Lord of the Rings. I first came across the Thrones series when HBO aired a television show based on the books. I loved the show because the characters were fantastic. I finally got to read the books, and they are awesome. The producers of the television show have done a fantastic job of creating this world. The series closely resembles the book and rarely takes any liberties with the plot. The plot is so complex that the book and television show complement each other. I have always been amazed how writers adapt books to the screen, small or big. It is such a difficult task. What book would you like to see be made into a movie? It seems like any best seller today gets made into a movie, but I would like to see the book Lamb by Christopher Moore be made into a movie. This will probably never happen because it is a controversial subject.

These books are all over 800 pages and have some mature content. The television series is also intended for a mature audience so be careful when reading. These books have been fun, and it is great to have the visual complement with the show.

Why We Should Read

For some reason there is a negative feeling whenever the words summer reading come up. I do not know many students who look forward to summer reading, and I do not understand why. In order for a person to improve any skill, one must practice it. The argument will be made that students don't enjoy reading. I did not enjoy football practice in 100 degree weather, but I did it to get better. I came across a great quote while reading Game of Thrones. I have to admit, I did not expect to find a quote about reading while reading this book.

On page 123 Tyrion Lannister says, "My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his war hammer, and I have my mind and a mind needs books as a sword needs whet stone if it is to keep its edge."

Like all abilities and talents people range in their levels. Everybody can not be great at sports, school, knitting, or any activity; however, we can all improve with practice. Reading gives the mind practice to be stronger. I can give you any research you want, but the bottom line is the more you read, the better your mind will become.

Next

I finished reading Damned by Chuck Palahniuk. Disclaimer: This book has mature material and is probably not suited for anybody under 18. Please check with your parents before reading. This is a satirical look at hell and definitely attacks religions especially Catholicism. It is a much different view point of what hell might look like and is quite funny. Basically, Palahniuk put characters similar to those from The Breakfast Club in hell. They have to navigate demons, red tape, and a number of other mishaps. The dead have jobs, usually telemarketeters. This is a very funny read and quick, but I hated the ending because it was a to be continued ending. There is a setup for a big showdown, then the book just stops. Those endings always get to me especially when the story is never finished, but there is always a purpose.

 While teaching mythology in 9th grade, we read the story of "Tartarus," the story of the underground according to the Greeks. I always ask the question before reading, "What will it be like when we die? This is a tough question because it is not fun to think about what happens after death. Plus, nobody will ever truly know until they die. There are not many comedies about Hell so this book maybe up your alley. Read Dante's Inferno for a more serious look at hell.

Reading Game of Thrones, Book 1, now. The television show stays true to the book in a very strict fashion. This story is genius.

Nonfiction Reading

I spent the last few days tackling some nonfiction. I am almost finished reading Damned, which has been a blast, but it is important to add nonfiction to the daily consumption of reading. Why? I don't know, it just is. Life would be so much easier if those answers were accepted. Nonfiction reading is a different beast than fiction and forces the mind to make different types of inferences. It also trains the mind to memorize facts. I still take notes while reading books like this if I do not plan on reading the material more than once. I have read Moneyball, a nonfiction tale of sabremetrics in baseball, three times within the year. Why? The ideas and facts in the story are amazing and interesting and garner so much debate. The key to nonfiction is picking a great topic to read. When that happens, mere facts and opinionzs can exhilarate a mind like any novel of fiction. I have been reading a biography on Shakespeare. Those of you who know me recognize the love I have for the works of William Shakespeare. After watching the movie Anonymous, I have amped up my search to discover the true identity of the great writer.

1st Book of the Summer

11/22/1963 by Stephen King

This is a great book because it is simply a fun read. It is a long book, so I wouldn't reccomend it to everybody. This book is about a High School English teacher from Maine who stumbles across a worm hole that sends him to 1958. Every time he comes back through the hole, it has only been 3 minutes since he left. This teacher is in a rut in his life and decided to take on a mission from his buddy to stop the assassination of JFK. The problem is that time fights against him when he tries to change an event. This book is great for those who like SCI FI or Historical Fiction. Stephen King is fantastic as always. I hope they make this into a movie. This book made me wonder what event in history I would like to change. The first one that comes to mind is 9/11. That would be awesome, but should we change history if we can?

I am almost done my second book, Damned, by Chuck Palahniuk. This is so much fun. Imagine Hell not being that bad of a place.

Welcome

Welcome to Allen's summer reading blog. I am a 9th grade Language Arts teacher at Springfield High School in Springfield, PA. This is a forum to discuss books as we read them. As you read a book and have a great thought, then please post it here. This is specifically intended for all of those who have me as an SRA, but others are welcome. Please post and respond to others at your own pace.