Here are a couple of my summer book recommendations:
Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez
This book was recommended to me by a friend who said this book is notorious for being one of the most frequently stolen library books! I haven’t been able to confirm, but I can certainly recommend this book for those looking for a rare, eloquent narrative of a chicano gang member turned poet and activist. From his own words, the reader follows the life of “Chin” from a childhood in some of the rougher parts of L.A. to his teen years toting guns, experimenting with drugs and being chased by police. The book is more than a biography about La Vida Loca: Rodriguez’s command of the first person narrative and his timeline hopscotch never loses the reader or its genius. A highly recommended page-turner.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Why would a young college graduate with money, brains and a humanitarian spirit ditch his family, his assets and his identity in the Alaskan wilderness? This book addresses that imminent, haunting question and many others of Christopher “Alexander Supertramp” McCandless’ acquaintances and family. McCandless’ body was found only weeks after he starved to death in the Alaskan wilderness—his death drawing strong reactions nationwide, and drawing the borderline obsession of Krakauer who tells his tale step by step. Reading the words of Chris’ journal and of those who loved him, Krakauer tries to bring us as close as possible to the young man in an impossible attempt to satiate our questions. Though it is an emotional read, Krakauer’s graceful adventure writing style produces an unforgettable reading experience as he follows the final trail of our generation’s Thoreau.
More About Maryanne
Maryanne Rodriguez is currently in her first year at SJSU SLIS. A left-handed, dyslexic Chicana, she decided to pursue librarianship in 2009, after becoming enthralled and motivated by the UC Berkeley academic library system. Maryanne is the Office Manager at Albion Power Company, a small solar integrator located in San Francisco that installs solar electric systems on homes as well as commercial and non-profit buildings. Eager to be part of the SLIS community she got involved with the ALASC to encourage other students to better assimilate to SLIS. Maryanne’s focus at SJSU is in Academic and Comparative Librarianship, as she hopes to pursue a career in Film, Gender and Women’s Studies and travel abroad.
Q: If you could only read one book over and over for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: I think Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, which has long been one of my favorite stories, would be my desert island book! There are a number of books I can see myself reading over and over, like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Lolita, but none have the mystery and open-endedness of that book. If I were going to read a book over and over again, it would need to have room for my own creativity and interpretation, and I can see myself interpreting the unfolding of events and characters in new ways for years. This book has hints of the magical realism Murakami is famous for, but with such a strong autobiographical nature that it has the right balance of truth and fantasy that keeps me engrossed as a reader.
Q: What’s one book that you hope never, ever, ever gets made into a movie (no matter how good that movie might be)?
A: I couldn’t choose a book I want to save from being made into a film because I LOVE books to film. I know most people tend to trash the film industry for not doing literature justice, but as much as I love reading, I love film and I am very fascinated by the reading that directors take away from a book. A great example of a book to film that I adore is William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (1996). I adore the story, Shakespeare is one of my favorite writers, but this film is very entertaining with fantastic acting and some well-chosen artistic liberties.