Comments on: Meme: High School Daze to Praise.

By: Barbara Nantz

Barbara Nantz — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:44:12 +0000

I just wanted to comment to make sure you didn’t think I didn’t read it, but I don’t have anything to contribute. Don’t tell anyone, but I never read a book in High school and I was in college before I finally read a whole book. That really lowers your English grade when you do that, but I just hated to read. Who knew I would become an avid reader of books, blogs, websites, etc… since then. I have read Enders Game for Dr. Millers class and loved it.

By: Angie Hinson

Angie Hinson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:15:31 +0000

I really like this post Dr. Lowell, and after reading it, I thought, well, I’ll find an old book that I read in high school—but I couldn’t find one. I don’t think I read anything in high school. I was not such a good student—or was it my teachers fault–NAHH. What I do remember from high school is taking a drafting class that I loved. I used to draw up decks and porches for my dad becasue he is a carpenter so he could get the job. I never pursued that field of education because I never thought I could afford college (little did I know then about grants). One thing I do have from highschool is a nightgown that I had to sew when I took Home Ec. from Mrs. Bowling. The nightgown hangs in my closet—double stitched and still wearable–thanks to her teaching me how to sew.

–I did have to read A Rose for Emily in my English 102 class- by William Faulkner–and I loved this story—and the last sentence went like this “Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair.”

By: Paul C.

Paul C. — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:10:40 +0000

Hi Nathan,
I am the originator of this meme and thanks for the link. Speak is a phenomenal book for Grade 9’s.

OK I’m going to give the climax of the book away this time so I’m not considered a prude. Melinda harbours a terrible secret from a bush party the summer before entering high school. In the climax the reader finds out that she has been RAPED and she is confronted by the boy one more time in a janitor’s closet. This book has it all: wit, satire, a dominate symbol of the tree project in art class. Grade 9’s LOVE IT. NO DAZE, ONLY PRAISE FOR HIGH SCHOOL LITERATURE HERE.

Your choice reminds me of my science fiction fetish in the 60’s as well. My favourite was The Andromeda Strain by Micheal Crichton…

Thanks for your submission. I have, and will draw together more novel recommendations by those who participate. I hope you can bookmark Quoteflections. I’ve included you in my feed.

I also salute Clay Burell for initiating such a great discussion. Lolita is on my summer read list.

By: Clay Burell

Clay Burell — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:52:09 +0000

Nathan, great post and great choice. I yawned through assigned readings in high school too, back in the late ’70s. Not that they were bad; they were just too early, and no competition for my own favorites: certain Marvel Comics, Tolkein, the “Gor” fantasy novel series, and yes, the Dune books.

Call me crazy, but it seems obvious to me that if we want to bring “teens” into more reading in school, we’d join them where they’re reading. SciFi/Fantasy seems to be the place. And with the sci-fi life of Web 2.0 and the 21st c., it seems a great way to think about what life has become and will evolve into.

Thanks for playing.