Reading the classics?

[germdoc]

Interesting posting on reading literature for high school.

http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/200...ml?ref=opinion

Not sure what to think. I loved The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, Faulkner's books, even Shakespeare. A lot depends on how the teacher presents it. Some of my favorite teachers made Shakespeare and Faulkner come alive. That said, I didn't like all of the classics. DH Lawrence for instance put me to sleep. Some stuff, like Jules Verne, is dated.

I think nowadays you have to have a mixture of old and new and I think you have to present older works in a fresh way. Look at how many Shakespeare works and Jane Austen novels have been made into very successful movies that appeal to all ages. Even old dated works might reveal something about the historical time in which they were written.

I do think that telling today's kids just read this--it's a classic, it's good for you--ain't gonna cut it.

My short list of classics that are still great fun to read and reread:

Hamlet
Macbeth
As I Lay Dying, The Light in August--Faulkner
All the King's Men--Robert Penn Warren
The Great Gatsby
For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms--Hemingway
All Quiet on the Western Front--Remarque
Mutiny on the Bounty--Nordhoff and Hall (a personal favorite from 8th grade)
Catch 22--Heller
Catcher in the Rye
Grapes of Wrath--Steinbeck
Huckleberry Finn and just about anything by Mark Twain

I just realized I don't have anything by women. Hmmm--I'll throw in "To Kill a Mockingbird"--I've read it about 5 times, seen the movie about 20.

I still read a variety of things, esp. non-fiction. One thing that is different since I'm older and not in school anymore is I only read things that engage me with the plot and characters. I hate writing that is cute, faddish, experimental or flashy. Or tedious.

[scmhogg]

Jeff,

I have always been a voracious reader. Learned at 4, in London. Wednesday night was library night. The whole family went. And, usually checked out the maximum number.

Now, in the eighth grade, Mr. Holtby started out by telling us we would have to do 100 book reports in the ensuing semester. Instant heart attack. We only had to read the 2 to 10 pages he had selected in the 100 book reading list. The list started with Beowulf, Chaucer, Shakespeare. . ., and ended with Hemingway, Steinbeck, Saroyan, Williams. . . .

This was a dirty trick. He selected passages that illustrated the author's particular style or talent. I ended up reading most of the books all the way through.

In the next two years, I ended up reading all of Hemingway, Steinbeck and Saroyan. I still read some fiction every day.

Thank you Mr. Holtby, where ever you are. You have made my life more full.

Steve

[luteman]

My favorite authors: Kotzwinkle,Robbins,Chaucer,Vonnegut,and Maugham to name a few.

[JoeyGee]

I was giving blood a few months ago and had a copy of Tom Sawyer with me. I hadn't read it since grade school and wanted to "check back". The nurse said "Oh, you must be reading that since your kids have to and are asking questions". I told her I am reading it because I want to, and I just got a real funny look.

I do still read the classics. I'm partial to British Lit--I'm not ashamed to admit to being a big fan of the Bronte sisters. I read A LOT in high school, but I don't think I will have time on this earth to read all the books I want to--and re-read a lot that I already have.

Steve, Wednesday night was library night at my house, too. I remember coming home with armfuls of books every week.

I only wish I had the time to read more now. I do spend a lot of time reading with my kids, which I think is vital. I already have lists in my head as to which books they should read by which age. I'm really looking forward to that.