The Reading Promise: My Father And The Books We Shared (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
This book made me cry like Michael Caine just died. It's seriously amazing and I highly recommend it!When Alice was 9, she and her dad made a goal to read together every night for at least 10 minutes for 100 days straight. When they accomplished that goal, they set a goal to read for the the next 1,000 nights. They ended up reading together for nine years, until the day she left for college.It is a sweet story about a father's unique relationship with his daughter. I love that dad is quirky and odd and Alice embraces it. A lot of books don't show a great dad/daughter relationship, but this book does. Also, mom doesn't play a strong role in Alice's life, so the single parent aspect is interesting. It's funny, sweet, and a great story about growing up. I wanted to love this book. It came highly recommended several times as an endearing take about the bond reading aloud forges between people.I agree that reading aloud does that. I also love books and relish every second I get to read. However, I did not like this book. I found the relationship between the people described so well that it was uncomfortable being a party to their interactions. The family dynamics were different than others I've encountered - not a bad thing at all - but it was difficult to piece together.Perhaps I missed the intent. Totally possible. So I reread the introduction and tried again. I made it to chapter twelve and gave up. It wasn't improving and I wasn't being pulled along or willingly running with either the plot, the characters, or the writing. I'm still sad I expected too much of it. Maybe if I set it aside and try again in a year or so I will be in a different place and have a different and more relatable response to it.
What do You think about The Reading Promise: My Father And The Books We Shared (2011)?
Loved this story of a father and daughter's quest to read for 100 nights....then 1000 nights.....
—Lauraavx
Such a great example of the power of reading aloud to our children.
—kelsey
I sweet and touching novel from this young author.
—Cindy
This was such a heartwarming, funny read. 4.5/5
—dmc717
