Choosing a book on our summer reading list, which one do you recommend and why?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith


Death Be Not Proud John J. Gunther


Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes


The Glass Castle: A Memoir Jeannette Walls


The Road Cormac McCarthy


The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane

Choosing a book on our summer reading list, which one do you recommend and why?
If you are only going to read one, I would read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's a classic for a reason; it's well written, it's interesting, and it's engrossing. It is about a teenage girl, and may interest a female reader more than a male reader, which could influence your decision.
Reply:Flowers For Algernon is a fantastic book. It shows great insight into human nature, and you grow to love the main character, Charlie. Charlie is a mentally retarded young man who undergoes brain surgery to make him smarter after the same procedure was performed successfully on Algernon, a mouse.





The Glass Castle is also really really good. Jeanette led a very interesting life. Her writing style is unique. The people she met in her life are quirky and extremely memorable and are a great joy to read about.
Reply:Flowers For Algernon


The story is simple,yet the social implications are huge. It is tough reading at the beginning, but a wonderful story.


2. The Red Badge of Courage


Adventure, heartbreak, tragedy, and strength. I like the story of overcoming and self reliance.


3. Death Be Not Proud


I like those stories that are so much deeper and have have symbolism within them, so maybe you might not like it.
Reply:Lots of votes for "Algernon" here, but I found it depressing and not as enjoyable as other scifi greats. It's about a guy who is made so smart that he can't stand to be around the woman he loves, and he mistreats the golly-gee-willickers out of her. (He gets so smart, compared to her, that he loses respect for her and even begins to despise her.) It seems to me that, if the guy were that bright, he would have the sense not to treat his girl like that. I guess smart doesn't keep you from being a jerk - except that, as a moron, he *wasn't* a jerk.





Frankly, I haven't read the others. Algernon *is* pretty easy to read, but it didn't really seem rational to me.





Jim


⌘ http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com ⌘
Reply:That is a fantastic list and you cannot go wrong. You should see some of the lists that have been posted on here lately. You are incredibly lucky to have such an array of cool readable books. Pick whatever sounds the most interesting. It will be a good book. Heck, just read as many as you can, they're all great.
Reply:a tree grows in brooklyn


is a book that I know will


continue to be a classic


over the years, %26amp; everyone


must read it. it's touching,


%26amp; although it's set in the


early 1900's -ish, you


can still relate with the characters.


definitely start off with this book..


you won't regret it :)
Reply:Read both A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (wonderful classic but not too sentimental) and The Glass Castle (amazing that anyone could escape such a crazy family and childhood)... then you'll have great fodder for comparing/contrasting because there are similar themes... despite the major differences-- it all comes down to family!
Reply:Flowers For Algernon. I know Persiphone has a bit of a penchant for The Road and other Pulitzers, but trust me, and I'm sure even she would agree--this story is VERY well written. Must read.
Reply:Death Be Not Proud is very moving; he wrote this about his son who died from a brain tumor; true story





Red Badge - A classic about the Civil War





A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - a coming of age novel





I don't know the other three. Sorry.
Reply:Flowers for Algernon. Its great...(made me cry)...and will help you understand more about some people, helps you have compassion for others. Helps you mature (not saying your immature) but honestly, one of my favorites.
Reply:The Road by Mc Carthy. Won the Pulitzer. Magnificently beautiful book. Great love story between a father and a son. Everyone should read it. Pax-C
Reply:flowers for algernon
Reply:a million little pieces, it's great. i've never read such good narrating story. specially those one word line sentences.

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