Top 10 Characters at my Lunch Table

Well, these ten fictional and nonfictional characters can always join my lunch table.

Laura Ingalls Wilder & Rose Wilder Lane, from The Little House series & Others

The dynamic between this mother-daughter literary duo would be fascinating to see in person, but each of them separately would also be great lunch table guests. Of course, in addition to my literary characters lunch, these two would make appearances on my authors table as well.

Hermione Granger, from the Harry Potter Series

Hermione is intelligent, well read and all around fascinating. Her stories of life as a Muggle at Hogwarts would fascinate the lunch table to no end.

Anne Frank, from The Diary of Anne Frank and Tales from the Secret Annex

Throughout her experience in hiding, Anne grew and developed a deep understanding of the human condition. Her contribution to lunchtime conversation would be astounding.

Winn Van Meter, from Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead

Winn Van Meter turns out to be the token male at the table. His pompous, self-righteous attitude would, honestly, be most unwelcome, but all-together fascinating.

Mamah Borthwick Cheney, from Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

I definitely do not agree with Mamah’s decisions, but her education, desires and impact on women’s rights can’t be understated. For that, she makes a great addition to the table.

Jane Eyre, from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane’s headstrong ways and willingness to live on her own terms would fit nicely with the others at the table.

Rachel Kalama, from Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Despite a devastating diagnosis with leprosy, Rachel learns to truly live life to the fullest. Her communicable disease wouldn’t be welcome at the table.

Irene Beltrán, from Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende

Irene is typical of Allende’s strong, female characters. As a journalist during a revolution, she has to have fascinating stories for us.

Anne Shirley, from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

And, why not, Anne. Grown up Anne would be an excellent addition.

Who would join you at your table?

**Linked up with The Broke and the Bookish**

Top 5 Memoirs I’d Recommend to a Memoir-Reading Newbie

I’ve found over time that I’ve read a number of very good memoirs. Using a creative, narrative approach, these authors embrace and dig into their lives with a no-topic-off-limits approach, discussing everything from race relations to tragedy, murder and more.

I’d recommend the following memoirs to someone who hasn’t embraced the genre:

Brother, I’m Dying (Audiobook)
By Edwidge Danticat
Read by Robin Miles

Danticat’s clear, strong voice shines in this memoir about the two men who raised her–her father and her uncle. America may be the land of progress and second chances, but Danticat and her younger brother found themselves left behind in Haiti while their parents tried to and succeeded in creating a new life for the family in New York. This memoir is touching, moving and, at times, infuriating.

The Solace of Open Spaces
By Gretel Ehrlich

Ehrich has lived in and loved Wyoming for years. Her clear, open writing paints a beautiful picture of the quiet, wide-open prairie where she chose to make her home.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
By John Berendt

Berendt brought his journalistic profile approach to this book. Part memoir, part nonfiction mystery and so much more, this book tells the story of Berendt’s time in Savannah, GA, and the trial that changed the face of the city.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
By Jon Krakauer

Krakauer is a celebrated outdoor writer. In this memoir, he recounts his experience climbing Mt. Everest during a particularly deadly season.

My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile
By Isabel Allende
Read by Blair Brown

Like Haiti, Central American countries such as Chile experienced great political strife in the 60s and 70s. While many of these continue today, Allende provides background to Chile’s struggle and the events that would shape her celebrated fiction work.

What memoir(s) would you recommend to someone who hasn’t experienced the genre?

**Linked up with The Broke and the Bookish**

Weekly Reads: 10.28.13

in which I share my weekly reading plans

Quick post today just to share my plans for the week. First up, I’m finishing We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Then I’ll pick up Maya’s Notebook by my favorite Isabel Allende.

What are you planning to read this week?

Favorite Books from School

Don’t we all have favorite books we read in school? From time to time, I did dislike the books we were forced to read, but there were plenty of books from school that I love to this day. Now that students have returned to school, I wanted to share my favorites.

In no particular order, here they are.

Bridge to Terabithia
By Katherine Paterson

My fifth grade teacher read this out loud to the class. I was spared listening to the sad ending in class because I was sick. My entire class loved the book so much and thought I should finish it, so it was given to me as a gift. I still have it on my shelf!

Angela’s Ashes
By Frank McCourt

I discovered this book by chance in high school, and I’m so happy I did. I was instantly mesmerized by McCourt’s ability to tell a story and the way he incorporated dialogue. I found it all so captivating. I read all three books and mourned his death.

Into the Wild
By Jon Krakauer

My outdoorsy aunt lent her copy to me when I was in high school. As with McCourt, I was fascinated by how Krakauer was able to make nonfiction so interesting. It wasn’t just the ridiculous story of Christopher McCandless that intrigued me. Since discovering this book, Krakauer has become one of my favorite authors.

To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee

I think you should have seen this coming, but I forgive you if you didn’t! I no longer really consider this one of my favorite books ever because it’s been so long since i‘ve read it, that I don’t remember it as well as I think  I should. Nevertheless, I still recall enjoying it a lot.

The Hobbit 
By J.R.R. Tokien

I felt oddly smug about having read this book when I was in junior high. First off, I really enjoyed it, but that’s not why I felt smug. No, the reason for that is because I was one of two who read it for a book report. My friend and I who also read it scored the highest in the class on our subsequent reports. I feel odd about the smugness because I didn’t go on to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy. They’ve always intimidated me. 

Daughter of Fortune
By Isabel Allende

I found a water-damaged copy of Daughter of Fortune in a Goodwill in high school. I loved this story, and like Krakauer and McCourt, reading this book started me on a life-long love of the authors’ works.

What were your favorite books from school? Have you reread them?

Book Chat | 6.5.2013

Book Chat is a monthly feature when I chat about anything
book related: publishing news, books I’m excited
about and more. Read more Book Chat posts here.

Books on my Summer List

@rachael18 A good beach read is in the eye of the beholder. I’m hoping to read your book this summer…at the beach, on the patio…

— Brittany R (@BrittanyR30) May 29, 2013

@brittanyr30 very true! I hope you enjoy the book, no matter where you read it!

— Rachael Hanel (@rachael18) May 29, 2013

I don’t plan a specific to read list for summer. I don’t usually characterize things as a beach read or a non-beach read. My last beach vacation I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua: the former might show up on a beach read list, but I doubt the latter would. I usually just think about the books I want to read in general. This summer is no different. As I finish reading the Little House series, I’m looking forward to diving into:

We’ll Be the Last Ones to Let You Down
By Rachael Hanel

Maya’s Notebook
By Isabel Allende

The Last Runaway
By Tracy Chevalier

Year of Wonders
By Geraldine Brooks

It’s become quite obvious to me lately, that I tend to prefer female authors. Female authors, or more correctly, authors who also happen to be female are just as good if not better than male authors, but I’ve almost unconsciously gravitated toward them. I like their subjects, particularly the strong female characters that draw me in.

Upcoming Books Reviews

How Did You Get This Number
By Sloane Crosley
June 12th 

Catching Fire & Mockingjay
By Suzanne Collins
June 17th

Socialnomics (Delayed Book Discussion)
By Erik Qualman
June 26th

On the Horizon

Besides reading the great books above and writing views on the other ones, I’ll be hard at work preparing for my Laura Ingalls Wilder series during July. I’m very excited about that, so please come back.