Alissa Grosso

It’s Monday, What are You Reading?

It’s group blog time once again, but starting this week It’s Monday What Are You Reading? is being hosted by Sheila at One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books.

This week I read the awesome Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I also read The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon. At the moment I’m reading the very hard to put down Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan and An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.

Beautiful Creatures

This YA novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is described as Southern Gothic. Take everything you love about To Kill a Mockingbird stick the characters in a modern high school, then throw in some dark supernatural elements and you get a pretty good feel for Beautiful Creatures. It’s one of those books you just want to curl up on the couch with and lose yourself in its pages for a couple of hours. This book was recommended by several people, and I was not disappointed. If you haven’t yet done so, you need to read this book.

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

I remember when the original 9/11 Report came out being curious, but not curious enough to wade through the dense 600 and some pages of that book. Thankfully Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon came up with the brilliant idea of creating a much abridged graphic novel style adaptation of the report that presents all the essential points of the original report in a very accessible format. It’s still weighty stuff, and full of depressing information, not just the sad terrorist attacks that happened more than 8 years ago now, but the fact that it’s very likely our government hasn’t really learned from the mistakes that allowed the 9/11 attacks to occur. A report card at the end of the book asks the 9/11 commission to judge the country in how well they have followed through with the suggestions made by the commission, and it is pretty bleak.

What’s next

I’m nearly done with both of the books I am currently reading. After that it’s on to Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr and Squirrel Mother by Megan Kelso.

What about you? What books have been keeping you company this week?

Tags: audiobooks, graphic novels, southern gothic, ya, ya fiction

What I'm Reading | Alissa | February 8, 2010 9:29 am

8 Comments

By hannah, February 8, 2010 @ 3:21 pm

I have not read Beautiful Creatures yet, but I did just add it to my library list which has grown by leaps and bounds today with all the recommendations on all the book blogs participating in It’s Monday What are you Reading?

Hope you have a very enjoyable and fruitful week reading!
hannah´s last blog ..It’s Monday, What are You Reading? (5)
By Kathy McCullough, February 8, 2010 @ 3:24 pm

How do you read so many in a week! I loved “An Abundance of Katherines,” because of the title.

I also LOVED LOVED LOVE “Story of a Girl.” I’ve recommended it to many people. It is lovely.
By Jennifer, February 8, 2010 @ 3:28 pm

You had a wonderful week of reading. I hope this week is equally enjoyable. My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/02/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-8.html
Jennifer´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon 7 February
By Medeia Sharif, February 8, 2010 @ 9:57 pm

Beautiful Creatures is on my TBR list. Right now I’m reading Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White and Jo Knowles’ Lessons from a Dead Girl.
Medeia Sharif´s last blog ..Welcome
By Alissa, February 8, 2010 @ 10:36 pm

Hannah: I guess that’s the power of book bloggers . . . and awesome books!
By Alissa, February 8, 2010 @ 10:37 pm

Kathy: I only finished 2 books last week and one was a graphic novel. Plus I’m listening to An Abundance of Katherines in the car right now, so it only looks like I read a lot!
By Alissa, February 8, 2010 @ 10:37 pm

Jennifer: Thanks, you too!
By Alissa, February 8, 2010 @ 10:38 pm

Medeia: I’ve got Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles on my TBR list after reading about that last year on a couple of different book blogs.