I have been reading regularly since we were here last November on the KINDLE! I bought a first generation Kindle and loved it but the Apple in me reared its ugly head when I watched Steve Jobs come out on his stage and sit in a comfy arm chair and read from his brand new iPad complete with a back light and internet. I salivated and made plans to pass my trusty Kindle baby on to Tuvia, who didn’t care much and still doesn’t. He’s old school- lover of the big, fat, chunky BOOK and he’s not alone, right?
But something wonderful happened to me when I took up with a newer version of the Kindle. It was a pure reading experience and with the addition of a backlight, this Paper white version, I’m in business!
I just finished two novels that left me wondering why I bothered to stay with them to the bitter end. They offered me little to think about.
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer not so interesting. I had hoped this group of 15 year olds who bonded at a summer camp during the summer of Nixon’s resignation ( an event of celebration for me) would sustain my interest and we followed them through the rest of their lives, but no, not really. Sorry. I wanted to love it.
But really, the one that really escapes me is Jennifer Egan’s , A Visit to the GoonSquad. I tried to stay open but it was hard. The characters were so messed up and really uninteresting but she was awarded a Pulitzer. So maybe I was missing something.
For now I am working on some non fiction, mirroring the work I’m doing with my collaborator- Jack Zangerle for a book edited by Troy Hicks of tech ed fame.
We are looking at how the digital world has turned assessment on its head…. how do you authentically assess digital work?
So I am reading with pleasure:
Will Richardson’s short but thought-provoking: Why School? I read this a few years ago when we were in Spain and it’s filled with inspiration for our work.
Kevin (dogtrax) Hodgeson recommended It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by Danah Boyd. The focus of this book is what kids really care about when it comes to social media. I don’t think we ask them enough about their network lives. I love this one already and I only just downloaded it yesterday morning.
And lastly:
The Smartest kids in the World: And How They got that Way by Amanda Ripley, a journalist who focuses on three American high school kids who spend a year aboard each studying in a different high test scoring country: Finland ( my love), Poland and South Korea. I loved listening to her give interviews on TV and NPR. I think she is way too enamored by THE TEST as the primary measure of success, but I am willing to see what other insights she has to offer.
And now on this last full day in paradise, I need to get outside and soak up some sun in tee shirt, shorts and sandals.
We are reading it’s Complicated as a faculty book club – looks great! Safe trip home, my friend!
That’s interesting. Let me know more about that? Thanks and let’s make a school date for the next time. My camera is on its way home 🙂
I bought a Kindle when they first came out and then upgraded to a Kindle Fire. Now I’m thinking of moving up to a Kindle Fire HDX. Love my Kindle.
Two books are going to my TBR list. Waiting for spring break or summer!
Glad to hear your thoughts on The Interestings. I thought it sounded like it was worth a try, but now I’ll probably skip it. Too many other worthwhile books to read!