| Description |
This is the latest version of Modern American Fiction, Fiction Classics, and High School Literature Discussion. We have expanded from "American" and have even done a few non-fiction works, hence the change in title. We generally read 6 or 7 books per semester (one book every 2 weeks). The titles are often those you would find on a typical high school reading list. They will include novels of various genres, and possibly short stories, plays, or memoirs. This year, we have included some young adult novels of note, as well as some contemporary works.
Here is our tentative list of books for the Spring 2010 semester:
- Jackson/The Lottery
- Chopin/The Awakening
- Martel/Life of Pi
- Wharton/The Age of Innocence
- Voltaire/Candide
- Bradbury/Dandelion Wine or Kerouac/Big Sur
- Tan/The Joy Luck Club
However, I am open to suggestions! Send me YOUR list of what YOU would like to read and talk about. Below, you will find a list of works we have read in past semesters.
The focus of the group is on discussing the books. In addition to topics suggested by the subject matter, we also analyze the works for literary devices, do character studies, place the books in historical context and do background research on the authors. Discussion will also be informed by the use of literature guides. We often read background material aloud together during class time. There is sometimes other class preparation involved, for example when we do role playing or simulations. We occasionally have guest speakers. Expect to read approximately 200 pages per week.
Note that although the reading level might be within the capacity of younger members, the subject matter is best suited for those who are teens and older. Discussions often lead us into various areas, including history, sociology, psychology, science, music, and art. Topics in the past have included death, relationships, physical and mental illness, sexuality, and drugs. When in doubt, please consult with me.
If any group members wish to write essays based on any of the books during the course of this study group, I am happy to review and critique these and work on revisions with you. The list of books will be sent out a couple of weeks before the start of the semester so we can get started right away at our first session.
Previous Books:
(I am willing to repeat if the group contains all new members)
- Dickens/Oliver Twist
- Vonnegut/Bluebeard
- Miller/Death of a Salesman
- Lowry/The Giver
- Huxley/Brave New World
- Kesey/One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Kerouac/On the Road
- Poe/Short Stories
- Shelley/Frankenstein
- McCullers/The Member of the Wedding
- Sartre/No Exit
- Knowles/A Separate Peace
- Vonnegut/Slaughterhouse 5
- Gaines/Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
- Heller/Catch-22
- Miller/The Crucible
- Gunther/Death Be Not Proud
- Forster/A Room with a View
- Steinbeck/Of Mice & Men
- Williams/The Glass Menagerie
- Golding/Lord of the Flies
- Bradbury/Fahrenheit 451
- Orwell/1984
- Hersey/Hiroshima
- Austen/Pride & Prejudice
- Bronte/Wuthering Heights
- Stoker/Dracula
- Vonnegut/Cat's Cradle
- Salinger/Catcher in the Rye
- Orwell/Animal Farm
- Steinbeck/The Pearl
- Keyes/Flowers for Algernon
- Stevenson/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
- Twain/Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
- London/Call of the Wild
- Hawthorne/The Scarlet Letter
- Lawrence/Inherit the Wind
- Haddon/The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
- Wilder/Our Town
- Vonnegut/Welcome to the Monkey House
-- Main.ElizabethFox - 14 Nov 2009
--Betsy-- Main.ElizabethFox - 10 Apr 2009
-- Main.ElizabethFox - 09 Apr 2009
-- Main.ElizabethFox - 14 Nov 2008 |