I read 5.5 books for Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon on Saturday/Sunday. Here are my quick thoughts about 5 of them:
How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen
- I felt as if I was reading my own story.
- You could quote from this book all day long.
- A tiny gem of a book full of bookish tidbits.
- Powerful, disturbing, hopeful, devastating.
- I wanted to bring Precious home with me and treat her right!
- I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this. Next? The movie.
- Was I the last person in the world to read this?
- Do I think everyone in the world should read this? Yup.
- Teenagers can be total asshats.
The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Angels Anglada
- Short, sad and lovely
- Good for Read-a-Thon because it’s short. Bad for Read-a-Thon because holy cats what a downer!
- I love reading about this period in history and this was no exception.
- My very first graphic novel, yay me!
- Wintry, sweet, sad, honest, Wisconsiny, yay me!
- One of the best first-love stories I’ve ever read. (Yay me again!)
I hope you all enjoyed your Read-a-Thon books as much as I enjoyed mine. And hey, do you have any good graphic novel recommendations? I’d love to hear about them!
The Relentless Reader 
I will have to get Blankets. After I read the Color Trilogy I want to read more graphic novels.Kendal
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Cheater, cheater pumpkin eater! ;)So, I'm not sure if there are any differences between Push and Precious. But, I read Push earlier this year and it tore me apart with how raw it was. The movie was incredible, too! Chocolate War: I STILL have not read this! (how is that possible? ugh.)I've also not really read graphic novels before, maybe I will check Blankets out 🙂
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Graphic novel recs: Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi. Maus (depressing, though). French Milk. To Timbuktu (more like a heavily illustrated living abroad adventure).
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How Reading Changed My Life sounds great. I've heard Anna Quindlen is a wonderful writer. I'm so glad you had a successful readathon! 🙂
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I really like the sounds of the Anna Quindlen book. I'll have to check that one out. I've never read The Chocolate War, in fact, I've never even heard of it before reading your post. Guess I'd better look into that one 🙂 Great job on the Read-A-Thon. I really hope to take part next time.
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Loved reading your thoughts! Congrats again on the Read-a-thon. I just started my first graphic novel, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, and am hoping to read Blankets sometime soon. Also, I saw the movie Precious, and it was so powerful. Mo'Nique definitely deserved that Oscar!
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I totally agree about Blankets. It is a perfectly-rendered first love story. I adored it!
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Blankets looks adorable. And perfect for reading when it is snowing outside. (I am a very seasonal person, reading too lol) I will also have to read the Anna Quindlen!I am still in awe of your accomplishment – way to go you! 🙂
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I will have to read the Anna Quindlen book, and Blankets, too, since I've been thinking about graphic novels more. That one looks like something that might appeal to me. I must plan a Read A Thon Weekend for myself- it sounds like heaven!
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I'll admit that I've never read a graphic novel, and really haven't ever had the urge to, but I saw Blankets a while back and thought it seemed interesting. Your review makes me think I should give it a go, especially since you're a graphic newbie also. I'll have to consider the readathon in the future because it seems like so much fun. And it looks like you did great – completing 5! Way to go!
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Hmm now I want to read Blankets, haven't touched a graphic novel in a while…
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Same here! It's a whole new world for me to explore!
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I know, right?! 😉 I think Push and Precious are the same thing and they changed the name for the movie? Don't quote me though, I'm not positive. I didn't know a thing about The Chocolate War until it was all over the place during Banned Book Week, I'm so glad I read it.
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Thank you!!!
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It's super short and very good! Thanks, it was a ball 🙂
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I hope you do participate next time Melissa, it is beyond fun! 😀
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Who are you, oh mysterious person? 😉 Thank you!
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It brought me right back to my teenage years…it was a nice visit 🙂
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Thanks Erin 🙂 It was great for the readathon, a nice way to break up the day.
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You should join in the next one for sure Julia, it's a hoot 🙂
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You should Beth, the art was great and the story was wonderful. I never really even thought of reading a graphic novel before I saw Blankets on a few blogs during Banned Book Week. I'm glad I decided to give it a try.Thanks, and yes you should do it! 😉
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I hope you do, I'd love to hear what you think of it!
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Sounds like you got tons of reading done. I didn't have such luck. Hopefully I won't have the same circumstances next time around. Then I can check in and cheer on fellow readathoners.
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I hope you have a better time of it in April Alexis! I'm thinking of signing up to be a cheerleader next time. I think it would be fun to do that for a few hours anyway 🙂
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Nope, haven't read The Chocolate War, but then again, it may not be a book that I'd grab off the shelves without someone recommending it to me first 😉 *Checks GR* ok, it does appear to be an impactful book! Ugh, I hate bullies and high school psychological warfare… reminds me of back in the day.How Reading Changed my Life sounds like the perfect gift for any reader 🙂
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I wouldn't have grabbed Chocolate either, and it completely escaped my notice until recently! It's a good one though 🙂
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