I was saddened to hear of the death of Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt. He wrote Angela's Ashes in 1997, after a 30 year career as a New York City school teacher. At an age when most people are retiring, he began a new one. He learned a lesson that he had spent years imparting to his students. He learned the significance of his own insignificant life. His first book, Angela's Ashes, told the story of his own miserable childhood in Ireland, after his alcholic father had abandoned the family.
He also wrote Teacher Man, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It was about his many years as a creative writing teacher in New York, and is a must read for all teachers. He was a gentle, encouraging man, and this memoir shows how he got the most out of his students. He will be missed.
Speaking of teachers and memoirs, one of my favorite books is The Freedom Writers Diary, by Erin Gruwell. It is an inspiring story of a young teacher in a poor school who finds innovative ways to motivate her students. Erin was a new teacher who stumbled onto creative ways of reaching her students, many of which were rebuked by the administration. For anyone who ever taught, you can almost feel Erin's frustration in dealing with the school district.
As an avid reader, I have a long list of books I recommend. These are just two (three actually, because I loved Angela's Ashes) of many, and I will comment on more books in the future. Happy reading.
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