Okay, so a “nollie ollie” is not a real skateboarding trick. I made it up and it is impossible to do, as my students remind me every time I brag about doing one. Well, one of my students, Aaron suggested that I read The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself. I was expecting that I would hate all of the technical stuff and find it impossible to relate to…I WAS WRONG.
Rodney (the Mutt) Mullen opens up in this book in a way that most authors would not dare. He shares his deepest emotions and all the while telling the story of skateboarding. Since Rodney was a nerd, and I am nerd, the story was easy to relate to even without a skating background. He was a loner for so much of his life and anyone who has ever felt lonely could read this book and relate to it while also finding inspiration. Another thing that struck me throughout the book was Rodney’s spirituality and his humbleness. Before this book I was clueless and now I have so much respect and admiration for him.
Even though the book has plenty of pictures of Rodney doing tricks, I wanted to see him in action. I you-tubed him and found the video below. It gave me goosebumps and blew me away. Watch the video and read the book. You won’t regret it.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Laundry is cool!
I just finished Al Capone Does My Shirts and I absolutely loved it. While Capone plays a big part in the book (set in the 1930s), I really love it because the story is mostly about family. It is about the relationship between the main character Moose and his sister Natalie. Even though Natalie is older than Moose, her mental age is much younger and the relationship they have together is both difficult yet heartwarming.
In addition to the family aspect, the story has the unique setting of being on Alcatraz hence the connection to Al Capone who once served time there. I especially love the genuine picture of Alcatraz at the front of the book labeled with information that fits the characters of the book. Even though the ending of the book is somewhat predictable, it brings the story full circle so nicely. Lastly, I enjoyed that much of the circumstances in the story were based on factual occurrences, like the fact that Capone did do laundry while serving time on Alcatraz. Who knew laundry could be so cool?
The biggest problem (?) with the book is that it does sort of leave the reader really liking Al Capone!!! :0) If you read the author’s note at the end of the book it does explain Capone’s dual nature of bad and good but it just made me think…hmmm….I am still leaving this book liking a murderer.
Read the book and let me know if you think I am crazy or if you see where I am coming from.
In addition to the family aspect, the story has the unique setting of being on Alcatraz hence the connection to Al Capone who once served time there. I especially love the genuine picture of Alcatraz at the front of the book labeled with information that fits the characters of the book. Even though the ending of the book is somewhat predictable, it brings the story full circle so nicely. Lastly, I enjoyed that much of the circumstances in the story were based on factual occurrences, like the fact that Capone did do laundry while serving time on Alcatraz. Who knew laundry could be so cool?
The biggest problem (?) with the book is that it does sort of leave the reader really liking Al Capone!!! :0) If you read the author’s note at the end of the book it does explain Capone’s dual nature of bad and good but it just made me think…hmmm….I am still leaving this book liking a murderer.
Read the book and let me know if you think I am crazy or if you see where I am coming from.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Horrible Blogger
Okay, okay, I know I am a horrible blogger. It has taken me forever to put something new up. :0( I am truly sorry. Things with graduate school have really thrown me for a loop and I can't wait to be done so I can devote more time to this!
Well, I finally got my precious hands on Dream Factory. The story takes place at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The main characters at Disney World are on strike so Disney World hires recent high school graduates to work during the strike. It is neat to read about Disney World and things behind the scenes. That really was my favorite part of the book, learning secrets of Disney World. Otherwise, the plot is pretty typical. Girl likes boy, boy has girlfriend, will boy leave girlfriend for the girl? There are some other interesting characters in the mix (a Disney World employee who did not go on strike) and I am glad that I read it but it was not one of those books that I absolutely could not put down. I would say overall it was average but still enjoyable.
Well, I finally got my precious hands on Dream Factory. The story takes place at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The main characters at Disney World are on strike so Disney World hires recent high school graduates to work during the strike. It is neat to read about Disney World and things behind the scenes. That really was my favorite part of the book, learning secrets of Disney World. Otherwise, the plot is pretty typical. Girl likes boy, boy has girlfriend, will boy leave girlfriend for the girl? There are some other interesting characters in the mix (a Disney World employee who did not go on strike) and I am glad that I read it but it was not one of those books that I absolutely could not put down. I would say overall it was average but still enjoyable.
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