The Grapes of Wrath

As I continue on my goal of reading or listening to the classics, I have come across an amazing book. Although The Grapes of Wrath is a book I have heard about many times, I never read it. The author, John Steinbeck, is a master with language and although this book is is extremely sad, I can appreciate the story because of the powerful words he has chosen to convey his ideas. Set during the Depression, this story follows a family that is forced to leave Oklahoma because no jobs are available. The family sets out for California were they have heard jobs and food are plenty. Along the way, they soon realize that California is also affected by the drought and the Depression. The story follows this family's life as they seek to find work, shelter, and food. The vivid descriptions of their suffering have stayed with me even though I actually read the book a few months ago. Whenever I was eating a snack while listening, I felt guilty for having our food and I need all these people were practically starving. Even though the story took place several decades ago, it reminded me of the current difficulties immigrants face in the United States. Much of the same discrimination is still with us. Although this is not a book I would recommend for taking to the beach, it is one that should be read by all of us.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

This is an amazing book! A friend recommended the book to me, but I was a little hesitant when I saw how thick it is. I thought I would not have time to read such a long look during the semester. Once I got started, I did not want to put it down. Because of the way the book is written, reading goes very fast - I read 80 pages in 15 minutes. The format of the book definitely helps make it special. The author/illustrator, Brian Selznick, has created a unique combination of illustrations and words. In most books with pictures, the illustrations add to the text. In this book, the illustrations are an integral part of the story and must be viewed very carefully in order to follow the sequence of the plot. These detailed sketches are great tools for teaching the viewing skills along with promoting aspects of art. No wonder this book was chosen as the 2008 Caldecott Award Winner! Besides these wonderful features, the boat has great historical background for such topics as early film making, train stations, magicians, and machines. These are not necessarily topics I would be interested in, but the way the author has combined them into a story about two children helping each other, makes this an excellent blend of expository and narrative text. The author has created a great web site with additional information to enhance the story.
http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm