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So school is here, and after 3 B-days worth of English class, I can say with great security that I'm glad we're done working with the summer reading books. We've turned in our reading journals, written our essays and ta-da, moving on! It's not that I didn't enjoy the summer reading books- well actually...that's a lie. I wasn't particularly fond of them. But not because they weren't good books. Actually I found them to be quite entertaining and well written- over all at least. I'm not quite sure what I didn't enjoy about them.
Perhaps it was how unexpectedly sexual American Gods turned out to be. For a school-assigned book, I was caught completely off guard by some of the scenes in this story. That and the main character was...dull. I mean, your name is Shadow and you're (SPOILER ALERT) the son of a god, your wife is currently a zombie, your new best friend is a lesbian, you try to get talking ravens to shout "Nevermore!"(GO POE), you're fighting a war and you're recently released from jail. Yet your still boring. Must take skill my friend. Please, just once, feel something and react. As for Never Let Me Go...hmm... I found it too vague yet helplessly predictable for my personal taste. Hopefully our selections for outside reading this semester will prove more appealing to me.
Great first blog, Lauren. I like the photo - did you take it. I can't imagine you randomly found a picture of those two books together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment of AG. I did struggle with including it on the list given it's frank/vivid scenes. I figured that at this point, students can make decisions about that sort of thing, and if they're not comfortable with it, they can put it down and try something else. But I still debate the issue -- I may have to revisit it for next year's list.
I also agree that Shadow is very bland. I suspect Gaiman created him that way on purpose, but that doesn't make his stoicism and apathy any less annoying. Maybe it's worth considering Gaiman's rationale behind the character choice.
Thanks! And yes,I took the picture^^
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that about AG. I still think it's a good book though, and I respect that you don't baby your students, giving us the option to read about more mature themes rather than pretending we're children who don't know what the "s-word" is. Like you said, we had the option to read something else(but once I start a book I feel inclined to finish it)- so I don't necessarily think it should be removed from the reading list.
I guess I never really pondered why Gaimon chose to make Shadow that way- especially when he himself was so obviously aware of it(since Laura even commented on it in the book). I brushed it off as it being a "guy book"- one where the only detailed description was of sex, food, and creepy places- so I assumed Shadow was unemotional to make him more appealing to a male audience- who I doubt wish to read about a crying or confused male protagonist. But since you, Mr. Mullins, are male yet find him bland and my CW2 teacher, Mr. Egan, also commented on his unappealing character, I suppose Ill have to reevaluate that....
Hey Lauren! Your blogs are too funny, haha! I love how original they all are, and appreciate the fresh feedback on such burned out topics. Keep up the good work! ^^ <3
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