Required Reading

Our Tators are always reading. Here are some of their favorite books for the month of July.

July's Required Reading



More of All's books »

Angie

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: Probably one of the strangest stories I've read lately. I was looking for a quick read, and this was perfect. I was hooked on the very first page. A very dark, but perceptive, look at what it means to become a grownup and understanding too much of a good thing can be very, very bad.

Heather

Jennifer Miller's The Year of the Gadfly. Despite being categorized as young adult fiction, Gadfly is an engaging read for older fiction lovers as well. Miller has worked diligently to bring attention to her debut novel from creating a Novelade Stand (complete with homemade cookies) to setting a world record. Her efforts are paying off as she's receiving high praise from a broad swath of readers.

Jared

I liked The Phantom of the Opera for a few different reasons. The first is how he actually wrote the story. I like that it came across as a true story and he wrote it like a crime novel of which I don't usually read, but it's pretty good. It's also depending on how true it is, it shed some light into the old days and theater life. I would now love to read a book that truly depicts the life in the opera during those times.

Jeane

 Juliet Dove Queen of Love by Bruce Coville. (one reason I chose this book as Required Reading is because I read some really crappy books in the month of July, except this book). Even though it is for ages 7-12, Bruce Coville is a great author (I got a chance to meet him and he signed a bunch of books for my daughter!) and this is a great book. It is heavily seeped in Greek mythology so kids will even learn things! Don't really recommend for adults unless they like reading children's books like me :) This is also the 5th book in the Magic Shop series, but you can read it stand alone. 

Karena

The Light in the Ruins was a phenomenal book. If you like Italy, WW2, murder mysteries, family, etc. this is your book.

Laura

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a fantastic mix of adventure, spy action, and romance with the Scarlet Pimpernel as the superhero. At times, it reminded me of Superman with the dual identity factor...meanwhile taking place during one of the most bloody and pivotal points in history, the French Reign of Terror, where the guillotine worked over time. I wrote a paper on the French Revolution in High School, explaining why the Reign of Terror was a "necessary evil."  I had nightmares for weeks while writing this paper, so it was cool to revisit this topic. But this time, I saw it from the aristocrat point of view and felt sympathy for the nobility. 

What was your favorite read this month?

Classical Clairvoyance

Classical Clairvoyance is where we ask our Tators which books they predict will win for the upcoming poll for our Goodreads book club. For October's poll, our winner is Persuasion so Laura's streak has sadly ended.  Aww.  However, she is tied with Karena on most correct answers! 

Our scores for right guesses so far are as follows: 

Angie -2

Heather - 1

Jared - 1

Jeane - 2

Karena - 3

Laura - 3

November's poll choices are for the category of 1910-1959:

The Magnificent Ambersons, The Black Obelisk, Atlas Shrugged, The Innocence of Father Brown, The Midwich Cuckoos  

Angie

Heather

Jared

Jeane

Karena

Laura

Which novel do think is going to win the poll?

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is 

What book have you read that you weren't looking forward to, but ended up liking it a great deal? 

Angie

Brave New World

Heather

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I was attending an informal book discussion group a year or two ago where it was on the list. One of the members said that, when she read it, it scared her so much she couldn’t sleep. That, coupled with the fact that the book talked a lot about architecture -- a topic I knew little to nothing about and had no interest in -- turned me off. However, while reading, I enjoyed learning about architecture, the World’s Fair, and H.H. Holmes. The research that went into the novel as well as the narrative Larson was able to weave together makes for a very compelling story that shouldn’t be missed!

Jared

 Life of Pi

Jeane

Life of Pi and Pride and Prejudice

Karena

 Life of Pi. I was not looking forward to that one at ALL, but ending up liking it a lot.

Laura

The Age of Innocence. I was about to give up on it and if it weren't for CWAtC, I would have stopped reading it early on. I ended up enjoying it very much, and this experience made me realize THAT is the reason why I joined CWAtC.

Do you have any books that surprised you?

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is:

What is your all-time favorite quote?

Angie

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." 
-F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby

Heather

 I don’t have one but a quote that’s been resonating with me lately is Mary

McCarthy’s “We are the hero of our own story.”

Jared

Hundreds. None of them jump to my mind. I love how authors can put shit together.

Karena

“In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro.

(Everywhere I have sought peace and not found it, except in a corner with a book.)” 

― Thomas à Kempis

Laura

“Since you embrace this indiscriminate vice, 

Your friendship comes at far too cheap a price;

I spurn the easy tribute of a heart

Which will not set the worthy man apart:

I choose, Sir, to be chosen; and in fine,

The friend of mankind is no friend of mine.”
- Alceste from The Misanthrope

What's your favorite bookish quote?

Tator Tuesday

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is:

Who are three authors you'd most like to have dinner with (living or dead)? 

Angie 

Alive: Patrick Ness, George R.R. Martin, Sherman Alexie

Dead: Carson McCullers, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker

Heather

Samuel Clemens, hands down. There’s no way there would be a dull moment. Nate Silver because then I could pick his brain about politics and statistics. And Mary Roach because she’s charming, funny, and deeply curious.

Jared

 Malcom Gladwell, Nate Silver and Clive Cussler

Jeane

Christopher Moore, Anne Rice, and Barbara Kingsolver

Karena

Jenny Lawson, Kevin Hearne and Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). There would be booze and curse words involved and that spells great dinner party. I wonder what Twain would say to alcoholic Otter pops?

Laura

V.C. Andrews, Edgar Allen Poe and ... hmmm Marquis de Sade to keep the conversation interesting.  

Who would you have dinner with?

Tator Tuesays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is:

What was the first chapter book you remember reading? 

Angie

Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Bloom

Heather

I don’t quite remember, but I do know that Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins is the first book I ever read more than once.

Jared

Charlotte’s Web. There are others, but I don’t remember.

Jeanie

The Boxcar Children

Karena

Honestly, I don't remember the first. I remember really loving the Fudge series.

Laura

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff 

What was your first chapter book?

Required Reading

Our Tators are always reading. Here are their favorite books for the month of June.

June's Required Reading



More of the Tator's books »

Angie 

The Golem and the Jinni: This book was amazing to read. It is the perfect mix of fantasy and realistic fiction. The imagery is vivid, and the characters are well-developed. 

Heather

Michael G. Santos' Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Sentence. Mr. Santos' book is equal parts engrossing and remarkable. This story is the epitome of finding strength within oneself in the face of great adversity; it's much more than turning lemons into lemonade. The lessons Mr. Santos learns while in prison and shares with readers aren't limited to the confining concrete walls of incarceration -- they're lessons all of us can learn about how to lead gracious, focused, and goal-oriented lives while managing the obstacles life throws our way.

Jared

I like the science of it [Solaris]. 

Jeane

Hilarious! Perfect story for anyone who likes science fiction, or humor, or just a light hearted action book. Redshirts by John Scalzi will make you laugh out loud and as a bonus Wil Wheaton narrates the audio book! Awesome! 

Karena

I have two this month. I really enjoyed Gone Girl and Hunted. I hesitated to submit GG for my pick because I really don't have much more to say about it than anyone has already, but I liked the unpredictability of it and the characters were though unlikeable, intriguing.  And Hunted was a fun, action packed read. If you are looking for an Urban Fantasy series to try, I HIGHLY suggest the Iron Druid Chronicles. 

Laura

Behind the Attic Wall  - I read this book during my lunch time at work. I usually eat lunch alone because of how the schedule works out, and I often feel lonely, so I identified with Maggie who drinks tea and eats crumpets with her new family of dolls. This is a very touching and magical book that would make for an amazing movie. 

Did you have any favorites this month?

Classical Clairvoyance

Classical Clairvoyance is where we ask our Tators which books they predict will win for the upcoming poll. For September's poll, our winner is Laura who was the only one to pick The Handmaid's Tale!  Go Laura!  Our scores for right guesses so far are as follows: 
Angie -1
Heather - 1
Jared - 1
Jeane - 2
Karena - 2
Laura - 3

Laura is 3 for 3. Will this month be her 4th? 

For the month of October our category is pre-1910 and our choices are Persuasion, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Rob Roy, Bartleby, the Scrivener, and Great Expectations.

Angie

Persuasion 

Heather

Bartleby, the Scrivener

Jared

Great Expectations

Jeane

Great Expectations

Karena

Persuasion

Laura

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Which book do you think will win for October's poll? Do you think Laura will win yet again? Let us know!

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is: 

What is the best book you’ve ever received as a gift? 

Angie

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Heather

Every gift of books is the best, don’t you think? Most recently my favorite was the gift of At the Abyss: An Insider’s History of the Cold War by Thomas Reed. My mother saw him speak in my hometown, purchased the book, and had it signed just for me because she knows how much I enjoy history and politics. The best book-related gift I’ve ever received was a Kindle from my husband -- it was his wedding present to me. He wanted me to be able to read while traveling overseas on our honeymoon without the burden of physical book size or weight.

Jared

How Far Will You Go? It is a book of questions that’s great for parties. I have a lot of fun memories because of it.

Jeane

The People of Pern autographed by Anne McCaffrey

Karena

1001 Books to Read Before You Die from my parents. It's not really because of the content, but because it got me interested in the classics again which led me to cofounding CWAtC.

Laura

To Be a Pilgrim by Joyce Cary. I found it for .99 in a deli when I was nine years old and my mom went back and bought it for me.

What is the best book you've received as a gift?

Mom Says/Kid Says

Courtesy of Goodreads.com

Welcome to Mom Says/Kid Says where we take a journey around the world with My Father Flies by Jennifer Ginn. The book chronicles a boy whose father travels around the world for his job. The 32 page book is not just an adorable story about a son's relationship with his father, but educational as well. The reader sees the world from the child's perspective as he receives postcards, shown in illustrations, from his father throughout his worldly travels. We see bits of information about each part of the world the father travels, such as a proper greeting in French is "bonjour."  We also see maps of the countries the father has visited. I enjoyed the pictures and details contained therein, such as the little boy's room which has cars, crayons, and even a Batman doll, which my son also has.

Mom Says

This is a well written and well illustrated book that is as much a story of a boy missing and living vicariously through his father's travels for business, as it is an educational book teaching about the different cultures of the world. I like how the book does not talk down to the reader. The vocabulary used is at a first grader, if not higher, level. Still, it is a great way to teach a younger child advanced concepts through discussion. I would recommend this book to any child 4 and up as well as advanced readers.  

Kid Says

Sammy was looking forward to reading this book with us for days until we received our copy from Netgalley.com. He would ask for it by name and was disappointed when it wasn't available at first. Once we did receive it and read through it, he enjoyed it. He related to the little boy, as he had the same toys and interests.  He also enjoyed the rhyming scheme of the story. The details of the illustrations caught his eye. Since Sammy is 4 years old, he did lose some interest toward the end as this book is a little longer than his normal readings. I look forward to re-reading it to him in the future.  

Verdict

Bookshelf.  Because it is educational and fun, I recommend it be placed on your bookshelf. My favorite part of the book was the final lines. "But of all the countries he's been to and all the places he's gone to see, my dad says his most favorite spot is back home here with me."

*Reviewer was provided with complimentary copy from netgalley.com.*

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we interview our Tators and ask them bookish questions.  This week's question:

Who do you credit for your love of reading?

Angie

My dad

Heather

There are two people, really. My mother and her father -- my grandfather. I credit my mother because, as a child, not only did she read a lot, but there was a bookshelf in her old room at my grandparent’s house. Many summers were spent perusing her old bookshelf and reading the books that she read growing up. I also credit my grandfather because he was a prolific reader despite the fact he could see out of only one eye. He read almost primarily nonfiction books -- a good portion of them about the Pacific theatre of World War II, where he fought.

Jared

I don’t have a love of reading, but I don’t hate it. I enjoy reading. I don’t credit it to one person, but three. My parents are two, and my senior year English teacher.

Jeane

My mom and Cam Jansen

Karena

My mother. She took us to the library constantly. I think it backfired on her though when by the time we had arrived back home from the library I had already read all the books I'd picked out. She told me "If you read, the world is yours" and it's been so true for me.

Laura

My parents. They both love to read, and growing up, they gave me much praise and encouragement in terms of my reading abilities.

Source: Jared Fagan

Who do you credit for your love of all things literary?

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we interview our Tators and ask them bookish questions.  This week's question:

What is your all-time favorite book title? 

Angie

Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth, I’m Kissing You Goodbye

Heather

Chelsea Handler’s Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea -- it always makes me laugh.

Jeane

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal

Laura

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The title is so funny and somewhat long, and it's probably my favorite.  

Do you have any favorite book titles?

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we interview our Tators and ask them bookish questions. This week's question:

What book always makes you laugh out loud? 

Angie

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Heather

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain.

Jared

Karena read parts of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened to me on a car trip. Otherwise I don’t read a lot of funny books since I lean toward non-fiction.

Jeane

Any Stephanie Plum Book

Karena

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess). That woman cracks me up. I mean look at the cover, hilarious!

Laura

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

What book makes you giggle, chortle, or guffaw?

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we interview our Tators and ask them bookish questions. This week's question:

What was the first book that made you cry?

Angie 

Where the Red Fern Grows

Heather

I think it was Patricia Hermes’ My Girl.

Jared

Source: Jared Fagan

Nothing

Jeane

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

Karena

I have no idea what the first one was, but one that sticks out though is My Sister’s Keeper.

Laura

Flowers for Algernon. I remember crying on the walk back to the library to return the book.

What was the first book you remember making you cry?