Mango Thoughts

I'm almost a month late finishing this but I had hardly any time to read last month. I flew through this book this week trying to get it finished before Goodbye, Mr. Chips arrives in my mailbox, and I really think that this book is probably most beneficial when it can be enjoyed slowly. I think I'm going to start over and read one chapter a day so I can really think about how much is being said with so few words.

Like Joanna, I really enjoyed the author's writing style - so eloquent and concise. The bike part cracked me up. What I can't stop thinking about, however, is the chapter titled "Those Who Don't." It's only a paragraph long and yet it hit me hard. It said so much about how we feel about neighborhoods and cultures that are different than our own. I couldn't help but think back on my drive through inner Philly, where I was the minority and where frankly, I was a little scared. Now I wonder about each of those faces that had made me so nervous. What do their neighbors call them? What are they known for?

I was so sad when that stupid boy found Esperanza (to put it in G-rated terms) but love how the book ended.

Completely unrelated: Can you guys believe we've been doing this book club for over two years now?! I just noticed that. My, time flies!

Mango Street Thoughts

Thanks for the new book. I think I saw this one on another book recommendation list so I'm excited about it! On to March's book. After I got through reading it again, I'm pretty sure they should not have let junior high school students read it (or maybe I was in 9th grade). There were parts that I'm sure went over my head at that point so I'm sure it wasn't too big of a deal. Anyway, I still liked it but not as much as I had remembered liking it. There were parts that made me laugh out loud (like when they all went by on the bike and a large woman commented that they had a large load there and her friend made the same comment back to her). I also really like Cisneros' style of writing. She made everything so simple and detailed at the same time. Her writing form is truly an art form. I also did like the stories she told. It was amazing that you could learn so much from one short chapter. We recently moved to a smaller town in Utah County. I love our house but it's kind of in a more run down part of town. I almost felt the same way Esperanza felt when she was describing Mango Street and so it was nice to relate to that. Anyway, there's my thoughts. I'm curious about yours...

April: Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton

So I've chosen the book for April. I'm sorry it's a little slow in coming... The book I chose is Goodbye, Mr. Chips. It was recommended by my mom and sounded like a good, short read. (That's the kind I gravitate to these days.) I hope you'll all enjoy it! Find it on Amazon here.