February 2023: making deeper reading accessible

Hi Book Buddies,

Recently, I read the second installment of Fiction Matters’ newsletter series, Reading in Public. These newsletters aim to make reading on a deeper level accessible to everyone. In this newsletter, Sara covers three questions she asks herself when reading a book, 1. What is this book trying to do? 2. How does it work towards this goal? and 3. Was it successful? (and where did it falter?)

As I begin my last teaching practicum (yay!) I want to get students excited about reading and talking about books. I feel like this Fiction Matters newsletter broke down talking about books in the most basic and doable way. I’m excited to guide students through these three questions as they read because I’ll certainly be doing the same.

Here’s what I read this month:

A novel for those who desire a bone-chilling read:
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
- As winter is on the horizon, an isolated Indigenous reserve experiences a complete blackout — no cell service, food deliveries from the city, electricity, or hydro. When the blackout lasts longer than a week, the community has to make plans for how to proceed, even as newcomers arrive. If you want something fast-paced, this isn’t for you, it was indeed a slow burn. I feel like the wintery and unsettling setting of this book fits really well with the gradual pace.

A book for those who gravitate toward historical fiction:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Set in Germany during WWII, we follow Lisel, a young girl who gets in the habit of stealing books instead of burning them like she and the rest of the country have been instructed to do. Although this is a valuable WWII story to read, it feels like it could easily be 300 pages instead of 500, especially when writing for middle and high school students which are this book’s target audience. Everything takes a little too long, but the detail and language are rich, so if you’re in the mood for that, this is all for you.

A book for those who always appreciate a whodunit:
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- In a world similar to our own, just add in monsters and magic and ghosts, we meet Elatsoe. She’s a young Indigenous woman who has just lost her cousin in a car crash. Through dreams, she believes his death was not an accident, therefore she begins the investigative work to discover what truly happened. The world Little Badger has created feels delightfully original, but the story itself didn’t grab me as I hoped. I think I just wasn’t in the mood for a murder mystery at the time. I think if I reread this maybe in a year or two I would be more invested.

A book for those that need pure action:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- By no means is The Hunger Games a literary masterpiece, but boy is it entertaining. It’s an easy read that gets to the point with an exciting story. What more do we need?

A novel for those who DO NOT judge a book by its cover:
The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
- Even though this book’s cover is very plain and frankly, boring, this book did not disappoint. Lansens turned a simple story of a group getting lost in a mountain, into a fantastically plotted, page-turning, story of hope. Lansen weaves in the protagonist’s backstory leading up to those five days on the mountain effortlessly, giving us a deep understanding of who he is.

An audiobook for those who need a little chuckle:
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
- Through multiple sessions with a job counsellor, Cara tells her life story. She’s of Puerto Rican descent and in her mid 50's after losing her factory job in the 2008 recession. I listened to this on audio and do not think I would have enjoyed this as much on paper. The voice actor for Cara is wonderful and charming and hilarious. This was an easy-to-follow listen, perfect for when you don’t have the energy to flip through a book.

A novel for those who want a quick yet impactful read:
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
- Woodson’s short novel tells the story of three Black boys growing up in Harlem without parents. It’s a story that champions brotherhood and it is heartfelt and lovely. I listened to the audiobook in one evening. Short and sweet.

A novel for those who want to be considered “well read":
The Giver by Louis Lowry
- I didn’t read this during my schooling years so this was my first go at it. I see why this gets taught in the middle grades: the book tackles interesting topics like equality and government control. The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped, but it turns out this is only the first book in a series. Because I fear commitments to series, I probably won’t read the others for a couple more years.

Thank you for reading another installment of my Blubs. I appreciate your support! Feel free to reply to this email and tell me about what you’re reading or what you think I should be reading. 

Carissa

I acknowledge that I live, work, and learn on the unceded lands of the Quw’utsun, Stz’uminus, and Halalt Peoples.

Logo made by Courtney Cassels