Due to sheets of ice down here in the DFW metroplex, we have had two days off school. I have taken advantage of the time to catch up on some reading (and cleaning, and cooking, and crochet, and Christmas present buying, and holiday decorating, and . . .)
This week I finished:
Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas
This book is sequel to last year’s Throne of Glass. It’s a good epic fantasy series for older high school students. While I enjoyed discovering the heroine’s true identity and the nature of her quest throughout the story, I did think that the romance was a bit gratuitous at times for a young adult book. This is a trend I’ve seen in nearly everything I’ve read lately, and my critical literacy skills have me questioning the inclusion of certain scenes.
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
If I could only choose one contemporary author over whom I would fangirl, it would be Malcolm Gladwell. His latest book carries on in his tradition of writing about unfamiliar aspects of familiar events, people, and stories. In this latest book, he tells the story of David and Goliath in a way I’ve never heard before, as the story of a supposed underdog who actually has the advantage. Gladwell explains that his book will
explore two ideas. The first is that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of these kinds of lopsided conflicts, because the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty. And second, that we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong. We misread them. We misinterpret them. Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.
There is insight in this book for both the underdog and the holders of power.
For more on this topic, watch his fascinating TED talk about David and Goliath:
This week I’m reading:
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Work and Business by Charles Duhigg
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson (an ARC that I received at NCTE)
So what are your reading plans for the week?
(“It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It’s a great way to keep track of what you’re reading and see what others are reading each week.)
Teach It Slant 