Dicotomy

I am reading two very different books at the moment, one for fun, and one for work. Incidentally, the for work book is also fun.

First, I picked up "Julie and Julia" this summer because the movie looked great, but I wanted to read the memoir first. Sadly I'm afraid the movie may leave cinemas before I have a chance to finish the book. My reading has, sadly, been lax lately.

"Julie and Julia" is a great book. I'm enjoying it. The style is fine, but it does leave a little to be desired. Fortunately, Julie, the semi-titular author, has a sense of humor, and her work is honest. She finds interesting ways to explain her experiences, and the small moments of insight about Julia Child are great touchpoints. Admittedly, I know very little about Julia Child, and I know even less about the traditional French cooking she made accessible to the average person. But Julie's description of the first dish she made-- potato and leek soup-- inspired me to make it too, so the book, at the very least, has the potential to make a delicious impression.

The for work book is "The Book Thief." My freshmen are reading it this year, and I am excited to teach it. The book has great style; the writing is fresh, and the format is cool. I think for those reasons, it will be accessible to my students, and that is half the battle most days. Stirred into the style are several literary ingredients: metaphor, imagery, and TONS of personification. The book contains limitless fodder for discussion of literary technique, but I need to get my students to that point in order to make it work. With only five or six weeks to whip them into "The Book Thief" shape, I have my work cut out for me.

Regardless, both texts are comfortable reads with distinct flavor. I will be posting updates as I make my way through the pages. Stay tuned!

Happy reading!