I teach Brave New World to my 12th grade literature students, but I am able to do it because I taught them 1984 when they were in the 9th grade and then we read Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death afterward. It is a great combination that really makes for deep conversations.
Interesting and thoughtful list. Mine would be: Wuthering Heights - this passionate turbulent novel is always an incredible read. It always leaves a deep impression on my soul no matter how many times I fall into its passions. Les Miserables - yes, Hugo is a hard read what with his strange rambling digressions but as a whole, this novel knocks you off your feet. Cannery Row - I have to admit to not being much of a Steinbeck fan but I read this short book on a cross country flight and cried in the plane. It is just so beautiful in a fatalistic way. Great Expectations - I love all of Dickens novels and picking one is like picking a favorite child or pet but this one is chilling. And for my offbeat choice, The Road to Xanadu - is a scholarly book on the influences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kublai Khan with what he read from his local library. That probably sounds dry as dust but far from it. As it turns out to be equal parts a mystery, a travelogue and a fascinating insight into how a creative mind works. I have reread it numerous times and come away with some new insights each time!
you know I will think about this. when I think about it, many books I have read have changed the way I look at things. the list could be endless in a way because many of the ways you are changed by a book is in a sense of emotional understanding. but the Ruskin book makes me think. I once read a book called Ways of Seeing by John Berger. It made me look at art in a different way. Really this subject is inexhaustible really.
Wow! you like negative utopias, huh? The My Dinner with Andre interpretartion of it is interesting. I assume you are talking about the, "What is essential is invisible to the eye," chapter. Great book, but it almost seems like calling Prufrock a book. Isn't it strange how Brave New World was so better at predicting the world than 1984 was? This was fun to listen to.
I have a question about English grammar. How should we reference a term or a specific word in a sentence? For instance, in the holy book, the term "Alhamdulillah" means to praise God. Similarly, consider this sentence: In the holy book, the word "month" is mentioned 12 times, and "day" is mentioned 365 times. In these instances, should we use quotes or italics for these words/terms, or how do we grammatically reference them within a sentence?
If it’s a foreign word, use italics. If it’s an English word (or whatever primary language you’re using), I’ve seen it done two ways: italics or quotation marks. I prefer italics across the board when referring to words as such because it makes formatting things like “I counted fifteen summertimes” much easier.
I teach Brave New World to my 12th grade literature students, but I am able to do it because I taught them 1984 when they were in the 9th grade and then we read Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death afterward. It is a great combination that really makes for deep conversations.
Interesting and thoughtful list.
Mine would be:
Wuthering Heights - this passionate turbulent novel is always an incredible read. It always leaves a deep impression on my soul no matter how many times I fall into its passions.
Les Miserables - yes, Hugo is a hard read what with his strange rambling digressions but as a whole, this novel knocks you off your feet.
Cannery Row - I have to admit to not being much of a Steinbeck fan but I read this short book on a cross country flight and cried in the plane. It is just so beautiful in a fatalistic way.
Great Expectations - I love all of Dickens novels and picking one is like picking a favorite child or pet but this one is chilling.
And for my offbeat choice, The Road to Xanadu - is a scholarly book on the influences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kublai Khan with what he read from his local library. That probably sounds dry as dust but far from it. As it turns out to be equal parts a mystery, a travelogue and a fascinating insight into how a creative mind works. I have reread it numerous times and come away with some new insights each time!
Les Miserable, The Leatherstocking Tales (5 books I think), Steppenwolf, Tale of Two Cities.
you know I will think about this. when I think about it, many books I have read have changed the way I look at things. the list could be endless in a way because many of the ways you are changed by a book is in a sense of emotional understanding. but the Ruskin book makes me think. I once read a book called Ways of Seeing by John Berger. It made me look at art in a different way. Really this subject is inexhaustible really.
I'll have to check out Ways of Seeing next!
what a wonderful idea for a video. I never heard of the Stones of Venice before. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
just read a beautiful quote from that Ruskin book on the Wikipedia entry for the Stones of Venice. Am very inclined to read it now
You totally should! No one talks about it, but the ideas and language are surprisingly beautiful.
You have exquisite taste. I must try and find the Ruskin book.
Absolutely! It's underrated, for sure.
Wow! you like negative utopias, huh? The My Dinner with Andre interpretartion of it is interesting. I assume you are talking about the, "What is essential is invisible to the eye," chapter. Great book, but it almost seems like calling Prufrock a book. Isn't it strange how Brave New World was so better at predicting the world than 1984 was? This was fun to listen to.
I'm glad you enjoyed this list. :)
I have a question about English grammar. How should we reference a term or a specific word in a sentence? For instance, in the holy book, the term "Alhamdulillah" means to praise God. Similarly, consider this sentence: In the holy book, the word "month" is mentioned 12 times, and "day" is mentioned 365 times. In these instances, should we use quotes or italics for these words/terms, or how do we grammatically reference them within a sentence?
If it’s a foreign word, use italics. If it’s an English word (or whatever primary language you’re using), I’ve seen it done two ways: italics or quotation marks. I prefer italics across the board when referring to words as such because it makes formatting things like “I counted fifteen summertimes” much easier.
Thank you so much!@@englishnerd5580
Thanks so much Carly!
Thanks so much carly!!
1984, Lord of the flies, and Of mice and Men were missing