Reading Roulette

I must admit that I haven't personally chosen most of my reading material this summer. I've been like a reading robot, getting book lists, checking those books out of the library and reading them.

Still, even though I haven't been personally discerning, I've read some great stuff.

I have been reading children's and young adult literature from the list of Willow Award nominees. These are Canadian books nominated by children's librarians and other interested parties in our province. Students across the province vote for their favourite book in their age category. Then, next spring, the votes will be tabulated and the winners announced.

My goal is to get every student in our school to vote for their favourite. And I thought if I read each of the books, I would have a better idea how to motivate the students to get reading, once the fall arrives.

For more grown-up reading material, I've been using the Globe and Mail fiction bestseller lists, both hardcover and paperback. I'm trying to read them all, whether I think I'll like them or not. Discipline, you know. I have to admit - I haven't loved them all - but I'm proud of myself, slogging through each and every one.

And you know, some of the books I never would have picked up otherwise, have been some of my favourites.

Just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover...