22 Comments
Jul 9, 2022Liked by ZM Spalter

I started to write a rather lengthy list of favorites; then I got busy, busy and wound up sending nothing. So, here's my feeble effort at 3 favorites, in no particular order:

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Scarlet Letter

The Bridge of San Luis Rey

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As soon as I saw you mention Francie, I was like, please let her be talking about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! I'm actually reading it now -- I never spent much time in Brooklyn (just Manhattan), and it's such a treat to be able to see how the city must have looked a century ago. Also agree on Edith Wharton, which makes me think I need to use this as a reading list.

Curious whether you've been burned recently by a book recommendation, or whether there was anything you struggled to finish?

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Loved your list! I literally grew up at the library. We didn't have a lot of money growing up so the library was my everything. I'm currently trying to be a better reader a.k.a. read more than just cookbooks and food media lol.

I'm currently in between two books, Pachinko (adult novel) and Children of Blood and Bone (great Nigerian YA fantasy). My fave books are The Alchemist (I know...super cliche lol) and I really love Pride + Prejudice.

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It may be cliche, but I always come back to The Alchemist as a favorite book. I've read it multiple times and enjoyed teaching it a few years ago when I was an English teacher.

Since college, I've read mostly biographies and various non-fiction works. I'm trying to return to fiction through some of the YA and Teen lit recommended by my middle & high school students. Right now that's Nightingale by Deva Fagan... which is actually NOT something recommended by a student. I saw the cover in the library and was hooked on the summary. (It sounded a lot like an idea I had for a TYA play and I wanted to learn more).

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Jul 5, 2022Liked by ZM Spalter

I’m currently spending a lot of time at school with two young ladies (8/9 yrs old) who’ve had very rough lives already and have become fast-friends with one another. During the short periods when I have just the two of them in my classroom, I’d like to encourage their friendship and personal growth through books that would be relevant to them. Embarrassingly, I wasn’t much of a reader as a young person, so I’d really be thankful for any recommendations you or your readers have for me and these precious young girls. (Historically I’ve had probably 90% male students <sped/behavior>, so a lot of my teaching materials are more geared towards male life experiences.)

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Jul 4, 2022Liked by ZM Spalter

Teen fav was Mill on The Floss by George Elliot and it started my life long affair with tragic love stories!

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Jul 4, 2022Liked by ZM Spalter

🌹Loved reading this! How important special things that make one happy are....though our available time with them may vary and change. Even envisioned destinations and our lives may change.....and yet, how rich the things that make you happy make your journey.📚

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