Mission

Bibliophiliac is the space where one passionate, voracious reader reflects on books and the reading life. You will find reviews, analysis, links, and reflections on poetry and prose both in and out of the mainstream.

A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us. Franz Kafka

Monday, July 25, 2011

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I'm just getting my reading mojo back after being immersed in my Summer Institute at Coastal Savannah Writing Project. My Implementation Plan was due on Thursday, July 21st--that's where I put into writing the ways I will implement everything I learned in the four weeks of the writing project. It was really useful to me to think through and process what I had learned and how I might apply it in my classroom this year.

My current reading crush is Simon Van Booy. His collection The Secret Lives of People in Love is one of those rare books that feels necessary (like I want to carry it with me everywhere, and read every other word Van Booy has written). Here is a video of Van Booy reading a story from The Secret Lives of People in Love (and now I promise to stop gushing).
I've also been reading Kristen Painter's Living and Teaching the Writing Workshop. This is a wonderful, hands-on resource for the teacher-writer who wants to implement writing workshop in the classroom.

And on my Nook, I've been reading David Maine's strange and amazing Fallen. It is a retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, and unlike anything else I have read. The Old Testament stories are some of the most gripping, most profound narratives, and Maine is not the first writer to recognize this. Anyone who has a sibling has experienced sibling rivalry, and this story is about the original "nuclear family." It is fantastic. The reason why I'm reading Maine right now is I'm participating in a blog tour for the release of Maine's ebook Gamble of the Godless at the end of this month. You might have seen reviews of this author's well-received The Preservationist, which is based on the story of the Biblical Flood.

Finally, I'll also be reading Nancy Rappaport's In Her Wake for TLC Book Tours. This memoir is the story of the author's mother's suicide.

It's Monday--what are you reading?

6 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I keep hearing wonderful things about Van Booy's writing. I can't wait to try it.

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

Your van Booy book sounds dreamy. I love it when bloggers gush.

I hope you drop by and sign up for my giveaway, first ever.

http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/blogoversary-giveaway-week-day-1.html

Anonymous said...

hi lisa I m read i the supreme by Roa Bastos a latin american classic ,all the best stu

Ashley M. said...

The Handmaid's Tale! like you recommended to me so long ago :)

Aisle B said...

Van Booy reading is quite a temptation to get his work. Girl you know I can not afford another book in this hoarder house - my husband description of our bedroom - a book hoarder's haven... Must not ... oh forget it! I will have to search for it now.

I blame you completely ;)

Betty said...

Thank you thank you thank you. I ordered the Van Booy's stories from the library; it arrived on Friday. I'm savoring every word, which is why it's Monday and I'm still reading it. I see now that I have to own it, if not buy dozens and hand them out to every good reader I know.