Teacher Man by Frank McCourt

audiobook

This is a book that all teachers should read. It shows that students really haven't changed much over time. McCourt writes in a way that you feel as if you are there with him in the classroom. He really has had an amazing life. His descriptions of his family life and trying to teach and raise a family are dead on. The part where he brings the bag of grading home and keeps finding things to do with his daughter instead of grading was hilarious.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Rating 4/5

Persuasion is, of course a story of romance, love lost and unrequited love. Anne Elliot comes from an aristocratic family and was at one time engaged to Frederick Wen tworth. However, her friend, Lady Russell persuaded her to break off the engagement because she didn't feel that he was wealthy enough for Miss Elliot. Eight and a half years later he returns and has money. During this time, he woos Luisa Mussgrove and Anne is courted by her cousing, Mr. Elliot. Anne is again persuaded by another friend to not pursue him because he is only after her money.


As much as I love Jane Austen's writing, this was not one of my favorite books. Only because I think she could have put more about the interaction between Anne and Wentworth and she didn't play up their feelings for each other very much. For a women's author, Austen usually has weak women protagonists. Anne was described at the beginning of the book as a person who no one really noticed and wasn't much use. She was just there. She seemed to be a sweet, caring girl, but couldn't think on her own. It was only at the end when she finally decided to be with Wentworth that she didn't care what her friend Lady Russell thought about it.

The Life and Times of the Thunderboldt Kid by Bill Bryson

Rating 4/5

Rich and I listened to this book on our way down to North Carolina. It isn't one that I would normally pick for myself, but I really enjoyed it. I laughed out loud many times, when I wasn't nodding off to sleep. Bryson tells of his childhood in the 50's with a sense of humor. He describes the food, the toys and the traditions of the 50s. His description of his friend Milton Milton and his family was the funniest part of the book. Bryson describes each situation as someone looking back on their childhood, but from the eyes of a kid.