Week 3: Conversations

Conversation #1

 I would recommend The Bread of Angels by Stephanie Saldana, even though it’s a more serious read than Eat, Pray, Love.  This is primarily due to two things:

The book is centered around a young woman’s quest for God. It is the story of a Westerner’s journey of self-discovery in a Middle Eastern city that is a mixture of people of differing faiths, ideologies and cultures. Stephanie’s quest spans monasteries and mosques, and includes a romantic relationship with a monk.

Damascus offers many situations and people for Stephanie. As a result, we get to see her thoughts on these matters: God, family, the future, religious discipline, the role of women in the secular and religious spheres as well as love and heartbreak.

Although she is a Christian, Stephanie tackles studying the Quran. We learn about her immense struggles during this process. There are also a bevy of other experiences that serve to reveal joy, hope, love, anger and surprise that Stephanie experiences during her journey. All of this would appeal to this particular reader.

Secondly, the narrative paints an incredibly vivid picture of Damascus. The story takes place during a time when a predominantly Christian nation is waging war against countries with primarily Muslim populations. Damascus has Christian and Muslims communities’ existing side-by-side. There contrasting views and ideologies within the same community and between the differing communities. The narrative is able to strongly convey the tension that exists in the region during this time.  It gives the reader a fascinating portrait as the people of Damascus weed through the demands and realities of everyday life.

Books that focus on self-discovery through travel really interests Reader #1 and therefore, The Bread of Angels should interest him/her.

Conversation #2

I would recommend I am Legend by Richard Matheson. First, it’s not a very long read at approximately 150 pages. This should provide some initial appeal to the reader.

 Secondly, it’s a completely different kind of vampire story from Twilight. There are no real romantic themes. I am Legend is an action-adventure story.  There is little dialogue as the only person who can communicate is the main character. In fact, the main character is the only major character in the whole story. The book uses flashback scenes to explain the current setting. Therefore, there is a strong focus on the main character’s actions and inner thoughts. These actions and inner thoughts provide the scaffolding for the progression of the story. Instead of being a love story that relies heavily on teenage angst, I am Legend is a horror-thriller that focuses on themes like alienation, prejudices, and survival.

It seems likely that a short vampire story with entirely different themes from Twilight would at least pique the interest of Reader #2.  

Conversation #3

For Reader #3, In the Kingdom of Ice would be my recommendation. My post about the book in Week 2 clearly shows why this book would be recommended.

Week 2: Appeal Factors

Annotations for some of my favorite books

1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder is a story about Auggie Pullman, a 5th grader born with a rare genetic defect that causes extreme  facial deformities. Because of his numerous medical problems, as well as the cruelty of the outside world, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents. Auggie's health eventually improves and the story opens with him beginning his first year of public school at Beecher Prep.

The story is almost entirely character-driven. We not only see things from Auggie's view, but from family members and friends also. We're given a full and honest portrait of Auggie. in addition, we see the effects that his condition has on the other characters as they try to navigate through their own lives.

Because of this, Wonder isn't fast-paced or filled with action or suspense. Instead, it painstakingly paints an honest portrait of how the daily life of a physically disfigured boy might look as he immerses himself into the outside world for the first time.


2. In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides

This adventure narrative is driven by it's characters and the detailed portrayal of the harsh challenges of Arctic travel.  Side does an excellent job of providing detailed portraits of the two main characters involved with the expedition: George De Long and James Bennett. De Long is brought to life as a highly disciplined and determined sailor who was committed to reaching his goals. On the other hand, Bennett was the extremely rich and highly eccentric publisher of the New York Herald.

Furthermore, Side delves into the lives of the other members of the USS Jeannette as they traveled together to the far North. It is this setting, the far North, that provides the meat of the book. We read about the explorers getting stuck in the sea ice near Wrangel Island and surviving on seals and polar bears. Our hopes are dashed as their boat is smashed by shifting ice floes. We follow the crew members as they set out on a 1000 mile journey over the frozen seas of the Siberian Mainland.  The setting provides the stage for the most trragic of adventures.


3. All the Light We Cannot See by Antony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See is the tale of two children who get caught up in the tragedy of World War II. It is a fast-paced book that centers on the distinct personalities of its two main characters, Werner and Marie-Laure.  The story is highly suspenseful. We follow Marie-Lerner, who is blind, as she has to flee her hometown after the Nazi invasion of France in 1940.The story presents a realistic portrait of the challenges her blindness provides, as well as the fatherly love that helps her to meet these challenges.

The story of Werner gives the reader a look at the workings of a training school for the Nazi military elite. He becomes fully indoctrinated and helps the Nazis find the senders fo illegal radio transmissions.

As the story movss toward a meeting between Werner and Marie-Laure, we encounter two things. First the development of Werner's character as he becomes increasingly sickened by what his findings lead to. Secondly, we get an extremely suspenseful adventure story that the moves back and forth in time seamlessly.