Discover new books on Goodreads
See if your friends have read any of Dave Schaafsma's books
more photos (2)
Dave’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Dave’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
Dave Schaafsma’s Followers (32,285)
Dave Schaafsma
Goodreads Author
Born
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, The United States
January 06, 1953
Genre
Member Since
August 2007
To ask
Dave Schaafsma
questions,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Dave Schaafsma
Jon, I am going to answer this question, but I am going to look through my books first... I love this kind of question, and will take it seriously...
|
Growing Up Chicago (Second to None: Chicago Stories)
by
—
published
2022
—
2 editions
|
|
|
On Narrative Inquiry: Approaches to Language and Literacy
by
—
published
2011
—
3 editions
|
|
|
Eating On The Street: Teaching Literacy in a Multicultural Society (Composition, Literacy, and Culture, 163)
—
published
1994
—
4 editions
|
|
|
Jane Addams in the Classroom
by
—
published
2014
—
4 editions
|
|
|
Language and Reflection: An Integrated Approach to Teaching English
by
—
published
1991
—
3 editions
|
|
|
Literacy and Democracy: Teacher Research and Composition Studies in Pursuit of Habitable Spaces : Further Conversations from the Students of Jay Robinson
by
—
published
1998
|
|
The End of Reading
I thought this might interest the Goodreads community, an article about the decline of reading in these crucial times. The point is that the majority of high school grads across the world never read even one book after graduation. (Clearly, we live in a bubble, here on Goodreads!). Then, the way most people--and often including me!--is quick skimming of headlines and short pieces, doomscrolling, n
Read more of this blog post »
Dave Schaafsma said:
"
I watched the PBS documentary on Mary Oliver, so found this--unread, maybe!--on my shelf to reconnect with her. Since I am also reading Rilke, I see sort of nature mystic connections.
"
Dave’s Recent Updates
|
Dave Schaafsma
and
12 other people
liked
MihaElla 's status update
MihaElla
is on page 122 of 192 of Papagalul lui Flaubert: I attract crazy people and animals.
Am I meant to be a king or just a pig? I've been predicted many things: that I'll learn to dance, that I'll get married. Let's see. I can't quite believe it. |
|
|
Dave Schaafsma
rated a book really liked it
|
|
| On the Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides, Volume 1 by Marina Lisa Komiya (released 9/1/26, so thanks for the early look from the author, Fantagraphics, and Net Galley) is a hard-hitting story she says she is writing because she is inspired ...more | |
|
Dave Schaafsma
rated a book really liked it
|
|
| I decided to listen to an LA Theater Works production (I recommend them if you like to at least hear plays produced!) because I saw there was a revival featuring Don Cheadle on Broadway in summer 2026, and I liked it when I first had seen it and read ...more | |
"
Amanda wrote: "Sad news. We are fortunate Wendell Berry lives on through his writing."
Oh, even though he was 92, I am sad, to lose him during this rap ...more " |
|
|
Dave Schaafsma
is currently reading
|
|
| Update 9/1/26: The Ninth Elegy (one more to go!) considers whether it is better to be human than almost anything else in nature--laurel, for instance--since humans at best are self-conscious and nature just IS, pure being. It doesn’t seek happiness, ...more | |
|
Dave Schaafsma
rated a book really liked it
|
|
| A Small Flame by YiYun Li was written in response to William Trevor’s short story, “The Piano Tuner’s Wives,” (which I also reviewed here recently). It was also drafted quickly, in the week after Trevor’s death in 2016. Trevor had been a friend and p ...more | |
|
Dave Schaafsma
is currently reading
|
|
|
Dave Schaafsma
rated a book really liked it
|
|
|
RIP Wendell Berry 8/31/26, at 92. “Man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun”--Clifford Geertz "Local economies local communities, even local families, in which people lived and worked as members, have been broken"--Wendell ...more |
|
|
Dave Schaafsma
rated a book it was amazing
|
|
|
8/31/16: Oh, RIP Wendell Berry at 92, one of our great defenders of the natural world that human beings continue to profoundly misunderstand, and neglect, and assault, at our peril. Original review: "And so I go to the woods. As I go in under the tree ...more |
|
|
Dave Schaafsma
rated a book really liked it
|
|
| I decided to listen to an LA Theater Works production (I recommend them if you like to at least hear plays produced!) because I saw there was a revival featuring Don Cheadle on Broadway in summer 2026, and I liked it when I first had seen it and read ...more | |
Topics Mentioning This Author
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE Group for Aut...: 'Author's Writing' section on profile page | 17 | 70 | Sep 26, 2016 10:10PM | |
| Read Women: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui | 20 | 100 | Jul 08, 2018 12:36PM |
“Conversations are efforts toward good relations. They are an elementary form of reciprocity. They are the exercise of our love for each other. They are the enemies of our loneliness, our doubt, our anxiety, our tendencies to abdicate. To continue to be in good conversation over our enormous and terrifying problems is to be calling out to each other in the night. If we attend with imagination and devotion to our conversations, we will find what we need; and someone among us will act—it does not matter whom—and we will survive.”
―
―
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
―
―
“Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion.”
―
―
“Remember on this one thing, said Badger. The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other's memories. This is how people care for themselves. ”
― Crow and Weasel
― Crow and Weasel
“Pessimism of the spirit; optimism of the will.”
―
―
The Transition Movement
— 120 members
— last activity Jun 18, 2020 12:52PM
This group is dedicated to readings and discussion related to the Transition Movement started by Rob Hopkins. The movement started in Ireland and En ...more
COMIC BOOK CRAZIES
— 337 members
— last activity Jul 25, 2026 09:34AM
We read comics all the time! https://www.facebook.com/COMIC-BOOK-Crazies-290288951356668/s
Musicians And Music Lovers
— 1330 members
— last activity Aug 24, 2026 01:49AM
This is where we will post our videos, and our songs.
Edelweiss & Netgalley Reviewers
— 335 members
— last activity 9 hours, 44 min ago
This group was created to cover both main Advanced Copy Reviewer sites. Both Edelweiss and NetGalley offer advanced copies of books in exchange for an ...more
Goodreads Authors/Readers
— 57488 members
— last activity 1 hour, 37 min ago
This group is dedicated to connecting readers with Goodreads authors. It is divided by genres, and includes folders for writing resources, book websit ...more
The Short Story Club
— 598 members
— last activity 10 hours, 38 min ago
We read and discuss one short story a week. Authors are welcome, but it's not a group to promote one's own work. The first post of each week's discus ...more
Chicago Writers
— 107 members
— last activity Feb 02, 2017 05:12PM
This is a place for Chicago Writers Association members to discuss their current and upcoming titles, announce events and reviews, and connect with ot ...more
100-books-read boys club
— 6 members
— last activity Dec 31, 2018 04:20AM
Not a massive number? Sure. But still my favourite 100-bragging number.
Ovid's Metamorphoses and Further Metamorphoses
— 93 members
— last activity Feb 08, 2020 02:44PM
To read the Metamorphoses of Ovid, in any of the many translations (or the original), and at whatever speed it takes, with three goals in mind: 1. To ...more
Theatre Books and Plays
— 1545 members
— last activity Aug 10, 2026 05:24AM
A room for lovers of theatre, theater books, texts on acting, directing, theory and scripts.
Comments (showing 1-38)
post a comment »
date
newest »
newest »
Mir wrote: "Grand Rapids? I thought you were Chicago-adjacent. Did you move?"I am in Oak Park, just two blocks west of Chicago. But I grew up in GrandRapids, lived there for 30= years.
Grand Rapids? I thought you were Chicago-adjacent. Did you move?
Hey, Dave — I just saw your review of Kate Beaton's book. I was going to link to the excellent review at the NYTimes (with a paywall-skipping gift link), but of course Goodreads doesn't allow links anywhere but in reviews anymore. Anyway, if you want to add it to your review, here's that link, modified so I can at least DM it to you:nytimes.com / 2022 / 09 / 12 / books / kate-beaton-ducks-canada-oil.html?unlocked_article_code=gT0YdCu1dfrsJo_hLSA1jK0-cpHozTywKGSfeOH2zdsuWpNuUUbLUgr8AH_3enqzXB4ZVQnO2iJYOzqaE4KdkovE2M-GutNsCmEzHEtVzrVNfvw64_pzz--Fh_lmPWdHXRy5wSyJVJANUqOF1H7BCdmPqKRN-ySUHBKin32GWcZJxLPQ2qtShzB_NSt2oe87cH0wAKc7ckgDFN4D5OttzQyqgQj-NQFoWwNlntl68mDdNx0_jh7h1UWO1gjWGLXj48qKO-taoQ3JOb5vUd5ICSX94vJd-XTgz6XM6NhBpi_U13KvSLaSbYATUIfL9bGuIsAnluF1q7DydBZgXZgzlSyGNSc&smid=share-url
Thank You for accepting my friend request Dave. :)I am looking forward to reading your reviews...
Kristine wrote: "Dave, thank you for taking me on as a friend. Professor of Literature sounds like my dream job. Thanks for taking me on as a friend. I always write reviews, whether they are decent is certainly deb..."Do the dream! You get to read a lot, for sure! :) Good luck with your reading (and reviews!).
Dave, thank you for taking me on as a friend. Professor of Literature sounds like my dream job. Thanks for taking me on as a friend. I always write reviews, whether they are decent is certainly debatable, but I try.
Hello David,I am reading your reviews for quite some years now, so it was a very pleasant surprise to receive your friend invite; thank you very much!
I am looking forward to interesting discussions and comic book findings,
Michael
Hanneke wrote: "Happy New Year, David! Hope health, happiness and good books come your way!"And to you, too, Hanneke!
Happy New Year, David! Hope health, happiness and good books come your way!
Cathy wrote: "Merry Christmas David and thanks for goodreads friendship." The same to you, Cathy! :)
Merry Christmas David and thanks for goodreads friendship.
David wrote: "Ted wrote: "David, what genre was that that you and your family were reading all the candidates for the GR book awards?"Picture Book" And I can help you by compiling--soon--my/our favorites, but A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals
by Lucy Ruth Cummins was our top favorite. I finally found for Ida, Always, because the lion book was out of the running. I liked Klaasen's Hat book, but the kids liked it less.
Ted wrote: "David, what genre was that that you and your family were reading all the candidates for the GR book awards?"Picture Book
David, what genre was that that you and your family were reading all the candidates for the GR book awards?
Majenta wrote: "Good evening, David! Friend Request accepted, thanks for Requesting! Congratulations on all your publishing success! I hope this has been a good week for you, that you'll have a nice weekend, and t..."Thanks for accepting my request, and glad to now know what you are also reading. And thanks for all the wishes! I hope you also have a terrific weekend.
Good evening, David! Friend Request accepted, thanks for Requesting! Congratulations on all your publishing success! I hope this has been a good week for you, that you'll have a nice weekend, and the week ahead will be...even better! (And the week after that, and the week after that, and the week after that....) Be blessed!Best wishes from Majenta
Melki wrote: "I guess finals are over by now. Enjoy your summer!"So nice of you to say! I wish you the same, a terrific summer! Keep reading and reviewing. You make me happy!
I guess finals are over by now. Enjoy your summer!
Matthias wrote: "Thank you for accepting David! I see you teach Young Adult Fiction? That's very interesting, I never figured that was a seperate course, but it makes sense now that I think of it. Looking forward t..."Well, the Young Adult Literature course is a typical one for the preparation of English teachers in a lot of universities and colleges. I have been teaching it for maybe 15 years, but haven't been reading that much of it lately. Mostly comics. Will next year, maybe. Oh! And this summer I will teach a course on Young Adult Graphic Novels, just to try something different.
Thank you for accepting David! I see you teach Young Adult Fiction? That's very interesting, I never figured that was a seperate course, but it makes sense now that I think of it. Looking forward to reading your reviews!
Jonathan wrote: "I saw you liked my status on the book about pursuing a further academic studies in Humanities! If you want to find a way to sneak me into an assistantship program at UIC....*wink wink nudge nudge*"well, I am glad to help you in any way I can. Let's talk!
Thanks for the link to Lee, Ted. And thanks for the reminder to read the Wittgenstein novel I had initially intended to read. Just ordered it, finally!
Thanks for the friend request, David. I'm always pleased to connect with a prof. You might be interested in one of my friends, Lee Klein. This is his regular GR page, I believe he also has an author page. https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9...(I don't think he's a prof, but he's a learned reader and an interesting writer.)
I will have a more education-oriented year, now that I am going off sabbatical. I have followed Kozol for years, one of the greats.
Hi David ... thanks for connecting! Good to meet a fellow Kozol fan ... amongst many other titles! Karan
Fatty wrote: "Thanks for connecting, David, and a happy new year to you! :) That's the largest collection I've seen on this site. Incredible!"Well, I read a lot, like many on Goodreads, but I have recently taken to recording and writing reviews of EVERYTHING, kind of like an autobiography through reading. I don't know why, exactly. I just am enjoying it. Not many people read my reviews, so I just write for myself, mainly, but am glad to connect to you and anyone through books!
Fionnuala wrote: "I think we have some books in common, David - but a passion for reading definitely, judging by your large quantity of 'read' books!"Well, I am getting older, an English major who became an English prof, so the books I have read.. they'll accumulate. Honestly, I am sure there are many more unrated. Things in areas I have read I just haven't thought of. But that's not bragging. Just saying that if you read your whole life, you will have read a lot of books! I still have a passion for reading, no question! Glad to begin to get to know you!
I think we have some books in common, David - but a passion for reading definitely, judging by your large quantity of 'read' books!
it seems like gravity's rainbow was actually a really fun (albeit difficult) launching point! Well, Jonathan, Gravity's Rainbow is one difficult book with so much richness in it. The most difficult book we read (started) in that Postwar American Fiction class, for sure (though Lolita might have been a match for sheer complexity). In Slow Learner you get how he was getting started, trying out ideas he would elaborate on for the rest of his career, so in that sense it is worth it to check it out..
Jonathan wrote: "Professor S! How have you been this summer?""I'm good. Not teaching in this second summer session, so reading and writing a bit more… you?
Nick wrote: "In the past, I'd typically hop on my computer (or now, more realistically, my phone) between 6 am and 7 am and go to the following sites, in no particular order: Facebook, gmail, reddit. Your profi..."I only just saw this now! Hi!
Nick wrote: "In the past, I'd typically hop on my computer (or now, more realistically, my phone) between 6 am and 7 am and go to the following sites, in no particular order: Facebook, gmail, reddit. Your profi..."Jane wrote: "Hi David!"
Hi, Jane! Do I know you? Either way, hi! :) Welcome to my Goodreads world!
In the past, I'd typically hop on my computer (or now, more realistically, my phone) between 6 am and 7 am and go to the following sites, in no particular order: Facebook, gmail, reddit. Your profile alone has managed to make goodreads usurp reddit in that rotation. I just don't have the requisite time to browse reddit these days, but I always have the time to read a review or two... :)(Just a random thought, as I'm currently on, and there's not a 6:30 am review for me to read for a change. sadness.)
Aug 05, 2021 10:06AM
Aug 05, 2021 10:11AM