PRObooks | Issue 7. “A Boy’s Childhood” and “Glass Castle.” What to read with the whole family

People are eccentrics and grumblers, concealing within themselves real treasures of the spirit, happy and terrible childhoods and unexpected discoveries!

If you are looking for another book that the whole family can read, then today’s “PRObooks” section from “Springboard” is just in a hurry to help.

Alina Germizeeva, head of the children’s library named after. I.A. Krylov, offers three amazing stories at once. The first: about a twelve-year-old boy who lives in the small provincial town of Zephyr. And, of course, he falls into a series of incredible events. Second: the story of one small village, lost high in the mountains, and about its few inhabitants, each of whom is a little eccentric, a little grumpy – and in each of them real treasures of the spirit are hidden. Third: a story told from the perspective of a little girl about an eccentric large family. You will plunge into memories of the heroine’s happy and terrible childhood.

So, let’s go!

If you are looking for another book that the whole family can read, then today’s “PRObooks” section from “Springboard” is just in a hurry to help.

Hello, I’m Alina Germizeeva, head of the children’s library named after. I.A. Krylova. Today I’ll tell you about books that I strongly recommend reading. First book – This is “A Boy’s Childhood” by Robert McCammon.

A genius from Alabama, Robert McCammon, rose to the literary Olympus thanks to books in the horror genre. But I want to talk about a work that differs from all of McCammon’s work – this is an autobiographical fantasy, the novel “A Boy’s Life.” Many critics call it one of the author’s best works.

The main character is Corey McKenson, a twelve-year-old boy who lives in the small provincial town of Zephyr. And, of course, he falls into a series of incredible events. But the main thing in this novel for me was its cozy atmosphere; we observe Corey’s childhood in its unique depth. The plot slowly unfolds, we grieve with Corey, rejoice at our successes and… gradually grow up.

And when you close the book, you feel that something important has ended.

Second book – piercingly sad, but incredibly bright book by Narine Abgaryan “Three apples fell from the sky». Book – Anda story about one small village, lost high in the mountains, and about its few inhabitants, each of whom is a little eccentric, a little grumpy – and in each of them real treasures of the spirit are hidden. In a simple and melodious language, Narine talks about what is really valuable to a person, about the vicissitudes of fate, about friendship, and loyalty. The book is about how you can’t live without believing in a miracle, and it will definitely happen, you just need to be able to wait.

Finally, the third book is an autobiographical novel Janette Walls “Glass Castle” It is called a sensation in modern literature, when I started reading it, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. The book captivated me from the first lines.

The story, told from the perspective of a little girl about an eccentric large family, flashes before the reader’s eyes with bright slides of memories of the heroine’s happy and terrible childhood. The head of the family is a father who knows everything in the world, can give a star or let him pet a cheetah in the zoo, and is capable of destroying all children’s dreams overnight, prioritizing his own egocentrism and dependencies. And the loving mother, wise and fair to everything that happens in the world, masterfully learned to hide from everyday everyday problems by drawing pictures that no one needs. And children who had to grow up very early and take on the overwhelming burden of adult responsibility.

In the novel “The Glass Castle” we observe adults who behave immaturely and, in order to please their desires, choose the path of wandering, escaping from creditors, indulging passions and addictions, and living in an illusory world. And children who had to destroy the glass castle built by their parents.

Book “Glass Castle” – about how to become human. And that often something comes out of a child not “thanks to”, but “in spite of”.

All books can be borrowed from Omsk municipal libraries. Happy reading!