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Book Post
I've often thought it might be interesting to track the books I read over the course of a year. Never actually done it, partly because of laziness and partly because it's a little embarrassing to admit how much brain candy I consume. I think that's part of the balance in being an English teacher, though--got to have something to offset all the Very Serious Literature.
I'm probably not going to say much about the books themselves (I told you I was lazy), though I'm always happy to discuss any book in the comments. My plan is to list the books I've read for pleasure first and then the books I'm teaching and/or referencing for school second.
Book Post #1 behind the cut: 1/1/08-1/11/08
Pleasure Reading (I'm going to keep track of the # for these books, just for fun):
1. Silent as the Grave, Deanna Raybourn
2. Seed to Harvest, Octavia Butler. (This is actually a compilation of four of her short, related novellas: Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay's Arc, and Patternmaster.)
3. Unnatural Exposure, Patricia Cornwell..
4. Shaman's Crossing, Robin Hobb.
Books for School:
I've just started teaching Robert Fagles' translation of The Odyssey again. Last year was the first time I'd taught the entire epic, so this year should be a lot less stressful. Side note? I really love Fagles' translation, and I am deeply grateful for Bernard Knox's thoughtful introduction. It's about 60 pages long and well worth reading.
A few of the book I'm using as reference right now:
The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell.
The Complete World of Greek Mythology, Richard Buxton.
Voices of the Trojan War, Kate Hovey. Kate is a mask-maker as well as a poet, and she came to school to work with the girls last year. She's coming again this year to teach them about masks in Greek theatre and then help them to create their own mask and poem about one of the mythical/Homeric characters. So very cool.
In a completely different vein, I'm about to (re)read I Read It, But I Don't Get It by Cris Tovani in order to help a couple of my students who are really struggling with reading comprehension. I also just ordered her follow-up book, Do I Really Have to Teach Reading? Reports to follow.
So there you have it! I think that's everything I've read so far.
I just posted a new blog entry over at my teaching site, by the way: Of Boogers and Books. Stop on by, if you'd like.
I'm probably not going to say much about the books themselves (I told you I was lazy), though I'm always happy to discuss any book in the comments. My plan is to list the books I've read for pleasure first and then the books I'm teaching and/or referencing for school second.
Book Post #1 behind the cut: 1/1/08-1/11/08
Pleasure Reading (I'm going to keep track of the # for these books, just for fun):
1. Silent as the Grave, Deanna Raybourn
2. Seed to Harvest, Octavia Butler. (This is actually a compilation of four of her short, related novellas: Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay's Arc, and Patternmaster.)
3. Unnatural Exposure, Patricia Cornwell..
4. Shaman's Crossing, Robin Hobb.
Books for School:
I've just started teaching Robert Fagles' translation of The Odyssey again. Last year was the first time I'd taught the entire epic, so this year should be a lot less stressful. Side note? I really love Fagles' translation, and I am deeply grateful for Bernard Knox's thoughtful introduction. It's about 60 pages long and well worth reading.
A few of the book I'm using as reference right now:
The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell.
The Complete World of Greek Mythology, Richard Buxton.
Voices of the Trojan War, Kate Hovey. Kate is a mask-maker as well as a poet, and she came to school to work with the girls last year. She's coming again this year to teach them about masks in Greek theatre and then help them to create their own mask and poem about one of the mythical/Homeric characters. So very cool.
In a completely different vein, I'm about to (re)read I Read It, But I Don't Get It by Cris Tovani in order to help a couple of my students who are really struggling with reading comprehension. I also just ordered her follow-up book, Do I Really Have to Teach Reading? Reports to follow.
So there you have it! I think that's everything I've read so far.
I just posted a new blog entry over at my teaching site, by the way: Of Boogers and Books. Stop on by, if you'd like.