Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Marley & Me by John Grogan. HarperCollins, 2005. Genre: Nonfiction

Marley & Me is a touching and memorable story about one family and a dog that would change their lives forever. This story begins with a young married couple, Jenny and John Grogan who begin to live their lives together in Palm Beach, Florida. However life would never be the same after they bring home Marley. Since the day they brought home their rowdy yellow fur ball of energy, trouble was around every corner. Marley, despite his flaws of destroying furniture, clawing through walls and excessive drooling, was always a member of the family. This story is about the life and love with the world’s worst dog, and the roller coaster journey of Marley’s life, through all the ups and downs.

“Expect to laugh, cry, and shake your head as you read this book. John Grogan understands that the journeys that people and dogs sometimes take together are a reflection of us and our world – of our own humanity and of the joys and sorrows and ups and downs of life. Marley is a great and memorable dog, and in the hands of a write as observant, unsentimental and piercing s Grogan, this is a human-canine journey dog lovers will want to take.” – Jon Katz, best-selling author of A Dog Year and Dogs of Bedlam Farm.

Marley & Me is John Grogan’s first book and by reading this book, I would have never guessed. Marley & Me is such a heartwarming story about love and the bond between a man and a dog. Marley, since day one, was always trouble for Jenny and John Grogan. Whether he pretended to be a chipper – shredder, shredding through an entire wall, or exploring the inside of couches contents. Marley is adventurous, wild, and free. Grogan describes Marley to be energetic and full of happiness despite being constantly scolded and after reading the book, it is very clear, Marley to me is simply high on life. Grogan has very unique writing style. He uses a lot of humor and turns the saddest parts into something more hopeful and optimistic for the readers. Its almost like he doesn’t want the reader to experience the hardships in his family’s life, but to look forward with a better note, kind of like telling the reader, ‘don’t worry, we got past it, its in the past, its over, done.’

“As we fought, Jenny absently walked to the stereo and pushed the play button on the tape deck. It was one of her marital combat strategies. When in doubt, drown out your opponent. The lilting reggae strains of Bob Marley began to pulse through the speakers, having an almost instant mellowing effect on us both.” (12)

After reading Marley & Me I found myself in love with Marley despite all his flaws and mishaps. Even tough Marley was the world worst dog; literally, you can’t help but love him. John and Marley’s relationship really showed what a love-hate relationship is, and how a dog is a mans best friend. I really enjoyed how Grogan made the book humorous and also very descriptive. I really enjoy how he sets the scene for the reader letting them get a setting in their mind before he goes of on another one of Marley’s incidents. Grogan really allows the reader to tap into his life, making it so that the reader is part of Marley’s journey through life. A life that was at times wild, crazy, painful, and sad.

First Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Washington Square Press, 2004. Genre: Realistic Fiction

My Sister’s Keeper is both a powerful and suspenseful novel that will have you constantly turning the pages for more. This book is about the tragedy of a family that lives in the suburbs of Providence, Rhode Island. The story begins with a little girl named Kate Fitzgerald being diagnosed with leukemia. In order to keep Kate alive, her parents decide to have another child that would be a genetic match for their very ill daughter. And thus Anna Fitzgerald is born. Since the day Anna was born she has been helping her sick sister Kate out with whatever her body needs. But when Kate is sixteen, she has a bad relapse, and is later informed that she will need a Kidney transplant. Anna is expected to give Kate one of her kidneys; that is until she sues her family for medical emancipation.

“It’s difficult to find a book combining a timely moral dilemma with well-drawn characters for whom one cares. Picoult has written such a book.” – The Boston Herald

This book is unlike any book Jodi Picoult has written. It is very unlike Jodi to write about such a debatable topic of genetic engineering. The main character Anna is the product of genetic engineering and throughout the story questions who she is. This book is not just about Anna’s medical journey but the journey about finding herself, and who she is.
I am familiar with a book called The Genetic Revolution by a man named Dr. Patrick Dixon. I have not read his book but I have heard that it is all about genetic engineering, and that being able to genetically create your child is like playing God, which many find controversial. It is interesting to read a book that starts off with the creation of a child through genetics.

“I wasn’t the result of a cheap bottle of wine or a full moon or the heat of the moment. I was born because a scientist managed to hook up my mother’s eggs and my father’s sperm to create a specific combination of precious genetic material.” (Pg:7-8)

I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult. I have read many of her books, and all of them were great, but none of them compared to My Sister’s Keeper. A lot of Picoult’s books are very emotional and dramatic, but reading her books never affected me emotionally until I read My Sister’s Keeper. Just the way the story was built, and how it was told from seven different points of views. The main character Anna’s point of view was the most interesting to read. She is so bright, and intelligent at age thirteen, and I was amazed at just how comfortable she was at being honest even if it was hurtful. I know that I will have a long time to wait before I read another great book like this.

Singing Till The Sun Rises

In today’s society, we live in a world where people have TV shows to find their BFF, an up and down economy, and celebrities who move on to buy their third and fourth houses. But how are we Americans able to tell what makes something valuable and valueless? Is it the valuable and expensive things in life? Or the priceless moments you wouldn’t trade for the world?

The alarm clock sounds off loudly blaring an old country rock and roll song. I quickly hit the off button and look at the screen that now says 6:42 AM. I jump out of bed excited, yet tired, and tip toe into the next room to wake my brother and two cousins. They wake up startled, but quickly smile knowing why they have been awakened. Together we soundlessly race downstairs and gather the things that we need. I grab the radio while the others grab blankets, muffins and juice. After we’re all set, we step outside, shut the door, and then we run.

The four of us run down the beach near the water’s edge and put down our blankets along with our food, and scramble onto the fuzzy blanket. I turn the radio on to a country station and one our favorite country songs of all time comes on. Summertime by Kenny Chesney. As the song begins, so does the suns ascent into the sky. Slowly but steady it rises as we sing. Watching the sunrise is so beautiful and special especially when you get to witness it with the ones you love.

After the sun has risen, we eat our makeshift breakfast and quickly run back to the house before the adults wake up. We make our way back inside, and put everything we took back in place. We all laugh and say good morning, and head back up stairs to go to sleep, even though in our minds, we know that will never happen. As I lay in bed, I suddenly find myself yearning for next summer, when we shall do this tradition once again.

I quickly scroll up and down my Ipod’s playlist looking for a song. There are just so many to choose from it practically takes me five minutes. But since I’m feeling very relaxed and mellow, I decide to listen to some country. I press play, and the music flows through my small white earphones, causing my ears to fill with sweet, sweet sound.

Minutes later I find myself selecting a new song, only to see that my battery is low. I place my Ipod on its portable dock to let it charge. I absolutely love this charger because while it’s charging I am still able to listen to music. Halfway through another song I decide to start my homework. I honestly don’t know how I would be able to do my homework without music. It keeps me so calm and focused even when homework stresses me out, or can be frustrating.

I go at my homework for another hour, and finally finish. I pack up my stuff, and decide to give my Ipod a rest after a long day. I get up to find myself something to eat, but rather find myself thinking about the day I got my Ipod, which was last Christmas. It meant so much to me, since I had wanted a new one forever. I was so happy my parents decided to get me one and I believe I thanked them about 100 times that day.

I value both my Ipod and summer tradition of watching the sunrise in Wells, Maine for both different and similar reasons. Watching the sunrise with my cousins and brother is always great. We have the greatest time laughing and singing. It is also a bonding experience where we talk about the school year, and what we want to do for the rest of the summer. I only get to experience the sunrise once a year, and cherish it deeply. Music connects my two values in a way. That morning when we watch the sunrise, we listen to country music and sing along. I also listen to music while using my Ipod, although on the other hand, I can listen to my Ipod every day, where as I can’t watch the sunrise every morning.

Both my Ipod and watching the sunrise tradition mean a lot to me. My Ipod helps me feel relaxed and calm when I am feeling stressed or frustrated. Watching the sunrise helps me connect and be closer with my cousins before we start off the summer together. Both are emotionally important to me. I value things that make me feel good, which happens to be watching the sunrise and my Ipod.

I believe something is valuable if it is something you love deeply. To know if you love it deeply enough, then you must ask yourself if you could live without it. And I know for a fact that I could manage my life without my Ipod. It would be tough, but I could manage. But I don’t think I could get through life without watching that sunrise every summer with my cousins, because that is my priceless moment that I couldn't live without, and wouldn’t trade for the world.