Kurt Mason
Bio
Teacher • Writer • Reader
Stories (72/0)
Odysseus: The Man, The Myth, The Legend
I’ve been on quite a mythology kick lately. I have always loved mythology--I consider it to be a true passion of mine. From YA authors like Rick Riordan all the way back to the classics, I have always enjoyed reading about vengeful gods, terrifying monsters, and courageous heroes. I recently got my hands on a graphic novel version of Homer’s epic, “The Odyssey”, and I was absolutely captivated by the way this classic tale was brought to life.
By Kurt Mason4 years ago in Geeks
Welcome to Sunnydale!
I have always enjoyed reading graphic novels, but for some reason I just never find myself leaving the bookstore with them in my hand. I came to graphic novel relatively late (reading my first one a few years ago after a college friend gave me a couple of suggestions), and I have always felt that graphic novels were overlooked. Whenever I go to the bookstore, I do my usual sweep and casually meander my way through each section of the store looking for things that will catch my eye. Needless to say, when I passed through the graphic novel section and found the unmistakable face of Buffy Summers staring back at me, I knew what I was going to read next.
By Kurt Mason4 years ago in Geeks
'The Zookeeper's Wife'
For starters, I am not a history buff. I have a very limited area of interest when it comes to history, but one of those areas of interest has always been World War II and the Holocaust. Ever since I was in school, this tragedy has always interested me; I have always enjoyed reading books that take place during this time, watching movies that chronicle the horrors of the war, and even visiting the museums that do such a brilliant job of honoring the history of those involved. Another, unrelated area of interest that I have is animals; I have always loved animals, and I have always been fascinated by the relationships that can be built between animals and humans. Needless to say, when I came across a story that brought those two, seemingly unrelated, interests of mine together, I was instantly hooked.
By Kurt Mason4 years ago in Geeks
Nothing Beats a Little Southern Charm and a Lot of Dolly Parton
Julie Murphy’s book, Dumplin’ has been on my reading list for quite some time. This is actually the second time that I have attempted to read this book. I am incredibly glad that I decided to give Dumplin’ another shot because it turned out to be an outstanding read. The first time that I sat down to read this book was towards the end of my time in college. My advisor (an all-around amazing woman and absolute guru on the perfect book suggestions) told me that I should give Dumplin’ a try. I don’t know why I doubted her, but for some reason I did, and I ended up giving the book back to her before I finished it—before I really even gave it a chance (I think I was only 50-60 pages in).
By Kurt Mason4 years ago in Geeks
Come On Down to The Dancehall
This was a long read for me. It had nothing to do with the quality of the book (because it was a great book with an interesting story), but I just couldn’t seem to get my mind to focus on reading the past couple of weeks. My aunt recommended this book to me, and I am glad that she did, because it was the perfect combination of everything I enjoy in a book: a little bit of mystery, a dash of scandal, a touch of betrayal, and—of course—a hunt for the truth behind a murder that happened more than twenty years ago.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
Until Death Do Us Part... Literally
I’m still a little perplexed as I sit down to write this review because I’m not sure how I feel about this movie. As a huge fan of board games, and someone who plays board games frequently, I was excited to see Ready or Not after watching the trailer. I went to the theater with an open mind—and I wasn’t disappointed with the movie—but I was left with a lot of questions. I felt as though the movie was missing something that I just can’t seem to put my finger on.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
This One Is For The Birds
For starters, I don’t think that I have ever been so excited to write a review for a book! “The Alex Crow” by Andrew Smith has been on my reading list for a long time (a recommendation from my YA Lit professor in college), and now I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner. Though this book is geared towards more of a young adult readership, there are certainly some adult themes and a level of humor and wit that all readers will be able to appreciate.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
Tuesdays Are More Than Just Another Day of the Week
Up until this point, Tuesdays have felt like nothing more than an extension of Monday; you don’t get the satisfaction of knowing that Wednesday means you are halfway through the week, you don’t get the excitement that comes on Thursday from knowing that you’ve only got one day left of work, and you don’t get the thrill that comes on Friday that signals that the weekend has finally arrived. Tuesdays just seem to make the boring drudgery of the beginning of the work week last longer than it should. Well, needless to say, my entire outlook on the week changed after reading Mitch Albom's book, Tuesdays with Morrie.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
Let's Gather 'Round The 'Campfire''
If I’m going to be completely honest, I was a little let down by this one. I was expecting Campfire to send chills racing down my spine, and force me to sleep with the light on, but that just wasn’t the case. Why did I set my hopes so high? Well, after hearing about this book online, and reading some reviews, it was touted as a fright-filled adventure that would keep you guessing until the very end (at least that last part was true), but I think this turned out to be one of those cautionary tales about being disappointed due to unrealistic expectations.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
What I Like About 'You'
As someone who usually advocates for people to read the novel before they watch the movie/ TV show, I have to admit that this isn’t how it happened for me this time. After scrolling through Netflix for what felt like hours, I finally decided to watch some of the trailers that I kept getting notifications about. After about 20 seconds of the trailer, I immediately began watching You and I could not stop. After finishing the first episode, I was completely and totally hooked. Once I found out that the show was based off of a novel, I knew that I had to get my hands on a copy. For me, as much as I loved the show, I found the novel to be far superior. Granted, there were some areas where I think that the show took creative liberties that worked out in the end, but I found the novel to be simply captivating.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
Finding the Perfect Book
If you spend any amount of time in your local library or bookstore, you have probably realized that there are hundreds and hundreds of books to choose from. Unless you are one of the lucky few who enters one of these establishments with a particular title in mind, you may find yourself wandering down aisle after aisle, staring at shelf after shelf trying to find your next read. Well, here are a few questions that might help you the next time you find yourself wandering aimlessly through the stacks.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Lifehack
Teaching in a Juvenile Prison
When people ask me where I teach, there is always a moment of hesitation before I respond. That moment of hesitation doesn’t come from an insecurity of my profession or any sort of lack in confidence, but that hesitation represents the questions that I know will inevitably come after I reveal that I am a high school teacher in a juvenile prison. I know, I know, there are probably a few quick judgments that pass through your mind: “Wow, that’s pretty cool!” “Oh my god, aren’t they dangerous? Are you scared?” or, my personal favorite, “You must not do any real teaching.” Yes, those are all comments that have been made to my face, but there are a few things you need to know about being a teacher for the young adults in the juvenile corrections system.
By Kurt Mason6 years ago in Education