To Kill a Mockingbird

Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird.  New York:  Warner. 

 I have always loved a good Bildungsroman with a spunky female narrator with a historical context. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird perfectly fits the bill. I first read the novel while preparing for the English essay portion of the Praxis, then again when I taught freshman. But, to be honest, I didn't truly enjoy Lee's work. I decided to give it another go. And I must say that I am completely in love. Scout is my new favorite character in literature. 

A Separate Peace

Knowles, J. (1959). A Separate Peace. New York:  Secker and Warbug.

This year, I decided that I wanted to teach something new to my advanced sophomore class. I still taught Lord of the Flies, but I wanted something different. As I was looking at the book list, I realized that A Separate Peace is also on the AP list. So I thought, "Why not?  If I don't like it, I won't teach it again."  I am so glad that I decided to give Knowles's novel a chance.

The Poisonwood Bible

Kingsolver, B. (1998). The Poisonwood Bible. New York:  Harper Perennial.

Sometimes I get very tired of reading the mundane and overdone love stories.  I always enjoy a novel with a different perspective.  When two of my colleagues recommended Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, I decided to give it a chance.  Since Kingsolver is a Kentucky native whom I have never read before, I felt even more pressure.  And once in a while the novel appears on the Literature and Composition Advanced Placement exam.  I always want to find novels to recommend to my students that may assist them for the exam.  So, based on the above criteria, I just had to read The Poisonwood Bible.  And Even though it took several months to read (because of my very busy schedule), I'm so very glad that I read Barbara Kingsolver's amazing novel.

Frankenstein

Shelley, M. (1818). Frankenstein. London.

When the name Frankenstein is mentioned everyone immediately thinks of a large green, stiff, grumbling monster with bolts sticking out of his neck. Everyone knows the quote, "It's alive!" made famous by films. 

But Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is quite different. In fact, Frankenstein isn't a monster at all. Frankenstein is a college student majoring in science. Victor Frankenstin creates a creature in his dorm room. Surprisingly, the creature isn't a bumbling fool either. He's actually very eloquent in his language. I love that Shelley creates a section to allow the creature to narrate his own story. 

The Bluest Eye

Morrison, T. (1970). The Bluest Eye.  New York:  Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

The Bluest Eye has been on my reading list for a while. I read Beloved back in college and enjoyed Morrison's writing then. I'm currently preparing for my AP summer training. I received a list of books that the trainer wants us tone familiar with (one was The Great Gatsby! Surprise). The Bluest Eye happened to be on the list. So I thought, "Why not?"  

The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald, F. (1925). The Great Gatsby. New York:  Scribner.

I first read The Great Gatsby when I was a junior in high school.  I enjoyed it then.  I have had the wonderful opportunity to read some books multiple times.  But since I mainly teach British literature, I haven't had Fitzgerald shoved down my throat.  I actually had only read Gatsby once until I decided to re-read it before the movie.

Jane Eyre

Bronte, C. (1847). Jane Eyre. London:  Smith, Elder and Company.

Jane and I have a love/hate relationship.  I have read this novel numerous times in the past ten years.  I first read Jane Eyre in my AP English IV class in high school.  Since this is the first year I'm teaching the same course, I thought it was an appropriate novel.  This time, the novel must have spoke to me, because currently, Jane and I are kindred spirits.  Or maybe the fact that my students are actually enjoying the plot made me like the novel this time.

1984

Orwell, G. (1949). 1984.  London:  Secker and Warbug.

I don't consider myself a very politically aware person.  Sadly, I don't even stay up with current events as much as I should.  I am trying to change that aspect of myself; I need to be more aware of the world around me.  But for some reason, I love teaching 1984.