Mental Multivitamin gives her list of top ten must read books for high school students. In the same post, she defends the inclusion of Catcher in the Rye on the list. I never read it when I was a young adult. Would I appreciate it now? Also do you notice anything interesting about MMV’s revised list in comparison to College Board list she’s revising? Hint: Melissa at MMV says she had great success in teaching these works to students “from college lecture halls and writing centers to a juvenile detention facility for young men.” (Italics mine) I’m not criticizing Melissa’s list, just wondering about the implications.
Seasonal Soundings has a picture of her proposed reading list for 2006. And she ordered personalized bookplates featuring the photo. I have a “from the library of” stamp that I plan to use on all my books–someday. Do you mark your books with your name? Do you use bookplates, handwritten name, or a stamp–or something else? Do you write in your books?
Mrs. Happy Housewife lists all the great books she got at the library’s used book sale for only $25.00. I love library book sales!
Michael Hardt at Family Home School has set up a website for his kids to post a running list of what they’re reading. And he says your kids and mine can use it, too. I think I’ll check it out soon. By the way, I found the link to Mr. Hardt’s post at The Fourth Carnival of Homeschooling hosted by The Common Room this week.
I was recently engaged in a virtual discussion with someone else who pointed out the lack of women writers in my list. You know what? Author gender didn’t really play any role in my selections. The challenge that gave birth to the “Defending Holden” post was to choose *only ten* books as must-reads for high school students.
I presupposed a lot; for example, that Lord of the Rings, A Separate Peace, Animal Farm, Ender’s Game, To Kill a Mockingbird, and many others would have been read in junior high.
And I think I rather blithely went about the business of crafting a list knowing full well that my current roster of students would *never* be confined by a list (i.e., that Master has already met Oates, Atwood, Morrison, Angelou, Eliot, Bronte, Austen, and other women writers).
I think, though, that even with its lacks and presuppositions, I will stand by the list.
And Holden.
If someone were to tell me, “Only ten books!” right this second, these are my choices.
MFS
I tried to post a response earlier this morning, but it’s not showing up. Not sure what I did wrong, but the long and the short of it was that you’re not the first (virtual) friend to point out the lack of women writers in my top ten.
Thank goodness my current roster of students (all three of ’em (*grin*)) need never be confined to a list.
Best regards.
MFS
Yes, please try out the kids’ online reading list. I’m hoping that our children will be eager to explore some of the books they see listed there by others.
For “bookplates” we use the ubiquitous address labels that come from charities. I’ve asked them to change the first line to The ____ Family (along with a small donation, of course) and they’ve complied. Makes them more versatile for the whole family–and for labelling books!