The Great Gatsby

[Rhi]

None of these books are compulsory, obviously ladies. maybe you prefer the classic over the contemp, or vice versa.
The Great Gatsby is a book i have been meaning to read forever, but i'm going to focus on Water For Elephants first.

[Ashley Wren]

Yay! I'm excited about both!

xoxoxo.
aw.

[Allison]

i am really looking forward to this one.
we read it in my high school senior lit class.
but we could only read 1 chapter every other day, and then had to dissect it so much that it completely lost the magical-ness of the writing.
i'm so excited to read it at my own pace (much quicker) and just get caught up in the story.

[Audrey]

But looking at it from an English teacher's point of view, Allison, it is a great book to teach students how to read critically and really analyze a book...I wish I'd had more practice doing that before going off to college. My students viewed it almost as a game or a puzzle -- seeing how the different symbols fit together, for example, or examining character motivations and flaws and such...

For such a small book, there's SO MUCH here to talk about, on so many different levels. One of my favorites...

[Allison]

Audrey-
I completely understand what an amazing book it is. Going through a how to teach literature class now, looking back I can appreciate the choice. But also, taking this class made me realize what a crappy job my English teacher did of going through the book with us. Because this book is so jam packed with stuff, I think there's an opportunity for great discussion and interactive projects and other things, but we just took notes upon notes until I could cry.
I also have to add, and not to seem mean, but many people in that class were not readers, or enjoyed any aspect of reading, so my teacher really didn't have much to work with, but it's like that cycle of your students aren't excited, you aren't motivated to excite them, they never get excited, etc.

*sorry, teaching rant over now...lol*

[Audrey]

I think my post came across the wrong way....didn't mean it to be critical of what you said, Allison -- meant it to be critical of how your teacher taught it. I always hated when my students would get to me and I'd ask what they read last year and they'd talk about how much they hated this or that book, and it was all because of how the teacher taught it. The critical reading has to be balanced just so...it's hard to do.

[Allison]

I completely agree Audrey!
It can be tough..and you can't make everyone be a good teacher (unfortunately)

[*Lee*]

I can't wait for this book to arrive so I can read it.

And Audrey & Allison, I have to say I love reading your comments. It is great to get your perspective on set reading in school from a teachers viewpoint!

[Jamie]

Such a wonderful book. I, too, read it in high school and we actually had a decent teacher who was very mindful of the symbols and he taught us well. However, the class dynamic was not such that we could have discussion. So many students just don't care enough in high school. Maybe I'll read it again once I finish my other books.


oh and now I'm going to daydream of living then and going to big fancy affairs and having those awesome hair-do's with that wave to it.

[*Lee*]

YAY my copy arrived today - wahoo!

[Mary]

I read this in high school and I remember bits and pieces of it so I'm looking forward to rereading it. I picked up a copy yesterday at the used book store where I work. Hopefully I will start reading it this weekend.

[Rhi]

Jamie wrote: "Such a wonderful book. I, too, read it in high school and we actually had a decent teacher who was very mindful of the symbols and he taught us well. However, the class dynamic was not such that we..."

i think your comment about so many high school students is so true, jamie.
of course there are thoughtful, intelligent young people out there, who are able to read critically.
mostly they are john green fans. HA.

[Audrey]

Rhi wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Such a wonderful book. I, too, read it in high school and we actually had a decent teacher who was very mindful of the symbols and he taught us well. However, the class dynamic was no..."
I love John Green.

[Rhi]

I love John Green.

oh me too. so much. do you watch his and his brothers youtube channel? brilliant.

[Audrey]

Rhi wrote: "I love John Green.

oh me too. so much. do you watch his and his brothers youtube channel? brilliant."

No...I had no idea this even existed...I have to go find this now.

[Rhi]

http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers

you're gonna get sucked in, audrey! they have a whole following who call their selves 'nerdfighters'. a mass of young people proud to be intelligent and against the grain.
these are two of my faves of john's, but there really are too many to list:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy1M5V...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbPGj7...

[Jessica]

I actually have never read this book before but I have been wanting to buy even before the book club. I was hoping to find a cheaper version for such a little book. It's like $15.00 at Barnes and Noble.

[Allison]

jessica- have you tried any used book stores?
if you prefer to buy online, betterworldbooks.com is a great site.
it has free shipping to the US, and a portion of every purchase goes to help literacy around the world. they also have a great selection of used-like new books.

[*Lee*]

I picked up one of those green soft cover penguin classics copies for around $8.90 (aussie dollars) from Fishpond.com.au - they do the small print classics in recycled paper. And surprisingly the print wasn't that small (compared to Pride & Prejudice which nearly had my eyeballs hanging out!!).

[Jessica]

Thank you for the suggestons ladies. I will definately check into both ideas, although I don't know if my town has any used books stores. It would be amazing if we did though.

[Kelly]

Jessica, I think there's one right by where you work! I'll find out and let you know.