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Submitted
by: name: Wayne Brinda, Prime
Stage Artistic Director
Favorite
Book:
The NeverEnding Story
Author:
Michael
Ende
Age
Book Read:
22
How
did reading this book touch your life?
It was given to me by a friend who
said I would love this story. And
I did as I found myself and the main
character, Bastian, get deeply into
the world of the story. This book
showed me how literature can come
to life in meaningful, relevant, and
extremely visual ways. I still have
the book given to me in 1972 and I
cherish it.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Find that story from a friend, parent,
teacher or by yourself where you can
become totally immersed in its world,
characters, and hope. Try it, let
others help you when needed, and discover
new worlds that only literature and
theatre can bring. This is literature
coming to life, and you CAN do it!
Submitted
by: Leesa
Favorite
Book: The Giver
Author:
Lois Lowry
Age
Book Read: 8
How
did reading this book touch your life?
I am now 18
years old and I have loved to read
for as long as I can remember. When
I was 8 I read "The Giver"
for the the first time and I remember
that being the moment in my life where
I first experienced abstract thought.
Before that I was reading things like
Dr. Seuss and Ramona Quimby and even
though those are great children's
books, The Giver truly opened a new
realm of my maturing imagination.
Lois Lowry is definitely an author
that I will have my children read
one day.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
I would
tell them that even though reading
may not be their thing, try it. If
you think that most books are boring
keep looking until you find one that
you like. Reading gives your mind
so many for exciting opportunities
than any movies or T.V. shows can.
Submitted
by: Becca
Favorite
Book: The Book Thief
Author:
Markus Zusak
Age
Book Read: 13
How
did reading this book touch your life?
This is a great book about an orphaned
girl (age 9-14) growing up in Nazi
Germany. She takes part in BDM, the
girls' version of Hitler Youth, and
her adoptive family hide a Jew. It
is really well-written and really
sad.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Reading is good.
Submitted
by: Kimberly
Favorite Book: Diary of a Young
Girl
Author:
Anne Frank
Age
Book Read: 9
How
did reading this book touch your life?
This book touched my life by showing
me how people lived then, and it just
really touched me!
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Keep reading. Don't stop, because
you might never read a good novel
again!
Submitted
by: Dannielle
Favorite
Book: Gone With the Wind
Author:
Margaret Mitchell
Age
Book Read: 13 (and then 14 when
I re-read it)
How did reading this book touch
your life? Gone With the Wind
opened up new worlds to me. I never
knew much about the Civil War before
I read it. After Gone With the Wind,
I became obsessed. The Civil War is
an amazing period of our country's
history, and it is great to learn
about it. It was interesting the learn
about the war from a Southern point
of view. I found it hard to relate
to "Johnny Reb": my ancestor
fought for Pennsylvania, and it is
hard to pity people that shot at your
great-something grandfather. However,
after reading Gone With the Wind,
I truly understood what the people
in the South lost. It was more than
"their" slaves and their
land: they lost their entire way of
life. That is why Gone With the Wind
is such a touching novel. The characters
are human with very relatable human
flaws. Scarlett is a great protagonist
for that reason. She has spirit and
determination, but she also has jealously
and other "bad" characteristics.
Margaret Mitchell's writing style
is great. I would swear that it is
a hundred pages, not about a thousand.
Gone With the Wind is so captivating...
it is just a great book!
If you could say one thing to a
teenager about reading - what would
you say? Reading is an amazing,
magical experience. I've always loved
the concept of history, and magical
worlds and the like. Through books,
you can do things that you could never
do in real life. You can fight a dragon,
marry a prince, and cast magical spells.
You can be transported back into history.
Reading is not only a fun activity:
good reading skills can help you in
all walks of your life. Reading has
made me who I am as a person, a student,
and as an actor. Just as I love becoming
a character through books, I love
becoming one on stage and in front
of a camera. Books are, in my opinion,
the greatest triumph of humankind.
Submitted
by: Daniel
Kirk - Prime
Stage Mentor Director
Favorite
Book: Of Mice and Men
Author:
John Steinbeck
Age
Book Read:
14, 18, 23, 34
How
did reading this book touch your life?
"Of Mice and Men" changed
my life in a very real way. It was
the first experience I had that turned
on that little light that said, "Wow,
this is what it means to read, to
be educated." I first read it
at a very transitional period in my
life, and it set my mind towards being
a student. For the first time, I cared
about learning. I have not stopped
reading, learning, writing, teaching
ever since.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Just READ!
I had a swimming instructor once tell
me, "I can't make you swim five
laps today, but I can sure make you
wish that you had." I offer the
same advice about reading. I cannot
make you read, but someday I am certain
that you will wish that you had read
more. It doesn't matter what you read
- just read.
Name:
Dallas DiLeo - Prime
Stage Board Member
Favorite
Book: (this year) The Blind Side
Author:
Michael Lewis
How
did reading this book touch your life?:
It reminds me that raw athletic talent
(or any kind of talent or gift) still
needs education, coaching, and discipline
to succeed. Also, it shows people
who step up and help another person;
not just financially but with the
same guidance they give to their own
family. They saw a need and they did
what they could to fulfill it.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?:
This book, like many books, took me
into a world I know nothing about.
Books give us experiences we may never
have in our own lives and we learn
from them.
Name:
John Clark - Prime
Stage Board Member
Favorite
Book: To Kill A Mockingbird
Author:
Harper Lee
How
did reading this book touch your life?
This book was one of my Mom's all
time favorites and I remember reading
it because she said it was a great
book. She was right. I admired how
Atticus was willing to stand on principle.
He taught his children and the rest
of us the difference between right
and wrong by his example. I can't
think of this book with out thinking
of my Mom.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Share books you enjoy with friends
and family and then you can discuss
and share your thoughts and perspectives.
It' a great way open your mind and
create great shared memories!
Name:
Mary Windstein, Prime
Stage Education Box Office Manager
Favorite
Book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Author:
Betty Smith
Age
Book Read: Early teens
How did reading this book touch
your life?
The main character of this book, Francie
Nolan, had a huge love of reading!
And she wasn't the most popular girl
in her class. She reminded me a lot
of me at that age. This book also
illustrates just how few material
possessions it takes to get by in
this world, yet still have happy and
memorable times. This is one of those
books that I can pick up and read
just a chapter or two in random order
and it brings back wonderful memories
of sitting on my porch swing just
reading the day away.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Not all subject matter is for everyone.
And your choice of reading material
may change over the years. I used
to prefer fiction, but now I'm into
true crime and biographies. So if
you think that something may interest
you, try it! Your library is a wonderful
place to start - choose a subject
that you're interested in and check
out several books pertaining to that
subject. And don't forget that you
can use the Pennsylvania Access system
to get a book from an outlying library
if your own library doesn't carry
one that you'd like to read!
Name:
Charlie W., Prime
Stage Teen Board Member
Favorite
Book: Magician: Apprentice/Magician:
Master
Author:
Raymond E. Feist
Age
Book Read: 17
How did reading this book touch
your life? These books are an
adventure unlike any other. A clash
of two different worlds on an epic
scale. These books are so imaginative
and creative with characters you can
see perfectly in your mind, and a
story that fits together so completely.
Its a journey through light and dark
that I just couldn't put down. I've
read them three times each and probably
will read again.
If you could say one thing to a
teenager about reading - what would
you say? Books are like a television
where your favorite shows are always
playing.(except its better for your
eyes) Reading can transport you to
other worlds, make you think seriously
about our own, or even just make you
laugh. Every book is a different adventure
and there's so many places to explore.
Name:
Robert Chappel, Prime
Stage Board Member
Favorite
Book: Great Expectation
Author:
Charles Dickens
Age
Book Read: 14
How
did reading this book touch your life?
I read the book in 9th grade English
class. It was the first classic novel
I ever read and the first time I ever
tried to analyze someone's writing
as part of a group. I was amazed at
the varied opinions interpretations
of the novel, its characters, and
subplots within the class. The moral
theme of Great Expectations of affection,
loyalty and conscience being more
important than social advancement,
class and wealth made quite an impression
on me at the time.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Reading is a great way to learn and
explore and is a skill that will assist
you throughout life.
Name:
Michelle W.
Favorite
Book: Angela's Ashes
Author:
Frank McCourt
How did reading this book touch
your life?Choosing my favorite
book was difficult! I think my favorite
novel is the story of Frank McCourt's
life: Angela's Ashes. Mr. McCourt
is a wonderful writer and his life
is incredible. It had a tremendous
impact on me. It inspired me to be
grateful for my life and to take advantage
of every opportunity. It is amazing
what others endure and Mr. McCourt
impressed me so much by how he was
able to overcome such horrible obstacles
to become such a success. I was fortunate
to meet Mr. McCourt a few years ago
in Pittsburgh and he was just as amazing
in person.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
When I was young, I only read what
teachers forced me to read. I never
developed a love for reading until
I was out of college. Once I was able
to choose what I read, I couldn't
get enough. Books taught me how to
improve my life: finances, God, politics,
fun vacation spots. Fiction became
a wonderful relaxing retreat after
a long day. Make time in your busy
life to find a good book. No matter
what your future holds, reading will
make all the difference!
Name:
Lauren
Favorite
Book: The Guardian
Author:
Nicholas Sparks
Age
Book Read: 14
How did reading this book touch
your life? This book touched my
life because Nicholas Sparks is a
very inspirational author and his
stories are so real. It helped me
realize that it is OK if you move
on from someone you love. When my
mom got remarried, I really needed
to read a book like this one.
If
you could say one thing to a teenager
about reading - what would you say?
Reading helps you out in every aspect
of your life and it can make you feel
better if you read something that
relates to you. As a teenager, I'm
forced to read things I'm not always
interested in, but it teaches me something
new. Also, I would say join a Book
Club. This way you know other teens
are reading just like you.
If
you have any questions, you are welcome
to contact the Artistic Director,
Wayne Brinda at wbrinda@primestage.com.
We
look forward to your comments and
your support
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