But First a Special Announcement
The Special Announcement:
Our Sunday features continue to thrive, especially the long standing rerun and the relatively new interview segment. And what we call the Auld Author has done well, but we feel that restricting it to the fairly obscure and/or nearly forgotten is unfair to well known works, which need to be kept alive lest they fall into obscurity.
So we proudly announce that articles about famous authors and books will now be welcomed. For example, you may either extol something like Stephen King’s unabridged The Stand or even let fly against it because you feel that the short version is better. (That is an actual opinion held by yours truly.)
We believe that highlighting works that more than one person is familiar with will stimulate conversation to an even higher degree.
Still, if you do have an obscure or lost subject, we are still happy to see it come in.
One bit of caution: back in the old days, in New York City, there was a practice called “log rolling” (called that for a reason that appears lost to time), in which author friends who did reviews at different publications gave each other rave notices to plump up sales. I would never suggest that any of our esteemed contributors or readers would use this feature to tout a pal’s book if I didn’t believe that some of you are capable of it!
We hope to see your articles flood the inbox. And if there are any questions, we will be happy to answer them.
We Now Return to Regular Programming
The worst thing that can happen to an author is to become the object of assigned reading in high school. Somehow William Shakespeare continues to survive that curse, but it has been the kiss of death for historical authors who do not always deserve the “boring” label. Boring is in the yawn of the beholder and should not be an automatic reaction to something your fifth period Lit teacher has dumped into your life.
I have never understood the purpose of introducing such items to contemporary teens; you need an adult POV to successfully navigate something like Conrad’s Lord Jim because I do not think he wrote it for teenage students. Nor can I imagine a fifteen-year-old worldly enough to get the deeper meaning of Melville’s brilliant Bartleby the Scrivener–you have to be alive a good deal longer to comprehend that sort of world weary depression. But classics from the younger POV, such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye tend to connect much better.
I recall having Oedipus Rex by Sophocles handed to me when I was a sophomore in high school. By then I knew what I would read and what I would glean from Cliff’s Notes to earn a minimum passing grade. So was my fate for Oedipus. There was something about ancient, retina-free statue eyes that bothered me. And I was fairly certain that it had been a very long time since anyone named a kid “Sophocles,” so I figured that he and I had little in common.
Educators should know that immature reactions to mature reading material should be expected from the majority of high school sophomores. Creatures perhaps not as old as their teacher’s wardrobe tend to be more about the Now and they feel that the Then should get itself buried. And yet schools kept handing the same boring thing out year after year, always just after lunch when the collective biorhythm of the classroom was as flat as a zombie’s EKG.
I honestly believe that more kids of my time were pushed away from reading quality work than introduced to it because the Lit syllabus had not been updated since the Dark Ages. And, frankly, most teachers were underpaid and seemed not to give a shit. I imagine that the focus on technology has not improved the situation.
And this is as sad as avoidable. When our minds are new we learn how to fall into good stories and make a personal connection with the writer’s imagination. We just need the smallest push and materials that we might be interested in instead of what the school has had a bazillion copies of for years. It’s difficult to imagine that a play that was already ancient when Shakespeare was in school has any appeal to an audience not too many years removed from laughing at the sight of the words “ass,” “bastard,” and “bitch” in the library dictionary.
I don’t recommend that only comic books and/or graphic novels should replace the classics in the classroom (although some are pretty cool and should not be dismissed), but I do believe that you cannot force feed a kid something that will make her/him hate serious reading and cause the same her/him to say shitty things about you as a teacher years down the road.
I had a Lit teacher like that. And fifty-one years later, I now say shitty things about him. He was a reconstructed hippy, and in 1973 I wound up in his Intro to World Literature. He wore trendy clothes (which nowadays are Halloween costumes) and seemed to be a George Carlin wannabee. For some reason he had a low opinion of us; he’d often insult us in weird ways, telling us that we’d grow up to be like our parents and live long lives, like that was a damnation. He made it obvious that we were incapable of reaching his keen level of perception, especially on days when smelled like last night. His name was Strossnider and I thought the smug bastard was full of shit. At best he was a made for TV movie, a “complicated” new breed of teacher who “told it like it is” and “rapped” with the kids. If he really knew how it was he’d have checked his mouth. Two out of three kids in that district came from broken homes and about half of us had at least one relative in prison. Still, I did learn from him that the concept of “phony asshole” is not limited to a single stereotype. So he wasn’t a complete waste of my time. And yes, he was the one who assigned Sophocles.
To the young I say, beware of literary brokers and just read. Read Charles Bukowski. Read Shakespeare. Read Faulkner. Flannery O’Connor. Steven King. James Baldwin. Hell, AA Milne. JK Rowling. Just read, and skip the criticism essays. But for God sake don’t feel bad about avoiding Ayn Rand and Sophocles.
We never have assigned reading at LS, but if we did, the six that were up (including Sunday’s rerun) would be fine candidates for the syllabus.
We had six this week including the rerun of Franky and Jesus by Hugh Cron. There’s a huge difference between trying to shock and honest writing that can do the same. Hugh has a great slant on the way people really talk and is a fearless writer, even though he does attract pushback–yet that is a good thing in its own right.
I was up on Monday with The Designated Shepard. Anyone who doubts that there are eighty-year-old pill heads at methadone clinics has never been to one; they are not exclusively for heroin junkers. I personally know about the downside and death, but there are people who are actually better off and even more efficient when they are high. And in a twisted sort of way that makes perfect sense in this world.
Gerald Coleman made his second appearance on Tuesday with the ethereal The Story of Jimmy Gray. This is one of those rare pieces that you must relax and let it happen to you. The times change and scenes come in and fade out, a perfect stream of consciousness of memory.
Chloe M. Dehon punched Wednesday in the face with her striking Julia. Though brief it is as an outstanding example of guilt in letters as you can want. Unrelenting and honest–you root for the MC, but he has a hard road ahead.
La Cienega Boulevard by longtime LS friend, Harrison Kim, marked Thursday well. Harrison has a wonderful way of guiding you into his universe then stepping back and allowing you to look around on your own. We encourage you to take a look at his many previous stories and his quality will be evident.
We closed the week with a delightful bit of strangeness by Luna Moore Latorre. Sana in Pieces is wildly creative and slightly disconcerting. And you get the impression that such a thing would happen if it only could. It’s a victory for the imagination
As always I encourage you to check these out, if you haven’t done so already–this is as eclectic a group we have had in a long time.
Now for the big finish: as promised (or warned) here are some of the books and stories that got through to me in my school daze. Please add your own.
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (This goes back to first grade and was read to us.)
- Golden Arm by Mark Twain (also read to us and we jumped at the end)
- Silent Snow, Secret Snow, a short by Conrad Aiken (This was the first thing I ever read that actually frightened me. The madness was awfully close to home)
- Manchild in the Promised Land– Claude Brown (excellent look at Black life in the 40’s. A bit ignorant about women, cocaine and the African American version of the KKK, by name Nation of Islam–yet striking and well done; frying chicken in pomade a funny bit)
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow-Washington Irving
- The Jungle-Upton Sinclair (only time I considered vegetarianism, but I got over it by my next cheeseburger)
- A Good Man is Hard to Find-Flannery O’Connor (This one scared me as well. The normalcy then sudden, yet believable brutality of the Misfit)
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty-James Thurber
- Harrison Bergeron– Kurt Vonnegut
- Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis (first look at a “paint by numbers” sort of life)
Leila
literally stories 
Hi Leila,
Thought provoking and brilliant as usual!
Thanks for the kind words regarding ‘Franky And Jesus’. I just wish I knew of what Karen pointed out and had the ‘Detachable Penis’ in the song list throughout the story!!!!
Regarding books that tweaked my interest that had to be read at school I can only think of three and two shorts. Fuck! Now that I think on it, I can even remember the teachers who introduced me to them!!!
‘Dandelion Clocks’ – I had to look this up as I couldn’t remember the author and I reckon it is the book by Alfred Bradley and Kay Jamieson. (It was first published 1978 and that time-line fits) (The legend that is Miss Duncan at Mainholm Academy)
‘The Owl Service’ – Alan Garner. (Miss Stevens at Dalmilling Primary)
‘The Hobbit’ – Tolkein. (Mr Brennan at Mainholm Academy)
I’m sure I’ve mentioned the two shorts before: ‘Enoch’ by Robert Bloch and ‘The Flowering Of The Strange Orchid’ by H.G. Wells. (Both Mr Brennan again)
As always Leila, your lists instigate amazing things!!!
All the very best.
Hugh
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Hello Hugh
Your mention of Wells reminded me that there was an Intro to Science Fiction class at my school. In fact it was the last class I took at the end of my long stretch in public education. Such a forward thinking lit class was unusual at my HS in 1977. I read the Time Machine by Wells and Childhoods End by AC Clarke. Although not a huge fan of the genre that class was met with some enthusiasm.
I believe Bill Clinton best represents the American detachable penis.
Thank you!
Leila
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Hi Leila,
Is Trump ‘The Talking Penis??’
Hugh
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Hugh
Actually, he is usually compared the excretory system. But “dickishness” has been noted.
Leila
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It doesn’t take much to remind me what a truly rotten deal myself and those in the same boat had in sixties Liverpool as far as education in general and literature in particular had. The only thing I remember reading was in Miss Robertsons class (she of the thyroid scar that used to catch on her sweater neckline eeurgh) the book was ‘Jan – the story of a dutch barge dog’ and we had to do the dreadful reading aloud round the class. My very best friend was dyslexic ( I only see that now) and when it became her turn I used to rush on ahead only to be dragged back to listen to the next drone. I daily thank my late father and my gran for leading me to the joy of reading. Okay later on there was Mr Evans who told us about Brave New World but as the only male in an all women envirnment I reckon we would have read the water heater instructions if it gave us something to have a one to one with him (withered arm and all). Jeez I sound like a bitch today – but it just makes me so angry that I lost all that lovely reading time. Great post – made me cross but that’s not your fault. x
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Hi Diane
Oh there were some bad things in the good old days. No such thing as girl’s sports. No teams no nothing. I wholeheartedly agree, education should not only teach you how to read but give you something to read.
Oral reading was evil. It picked on kids who were a bit behind and those who had learning disabilities. Ohh that scar must have been creepy!
Thank you!
Leila
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I really enjoyed today’s essay, Leila. To your book list I would add “Rascal,” a feel good animal story by Stephen North; “Hot Rod,” by Henry Gregor Felson, which told us teens about the perilous destiny of those who drive too fast and kiss on the first date; and “The Iliad,” which introduced us to the origin of the work “hector,” “Achilles hell,” and so much else. Great Saturday feature, Leila! bill
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Thank you Bill
i did find a cool book on Greek mythology in the school library when I was ten or so. Wish I could remember the writer. Great art too.
thanks again!
Leila
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Hi Leila,
You may be thinking of “Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes,” published in 1942 and subsequently released in affordable paperback by Edith Hamilton. It has become the gold standard of tomes on mythology, from junior high to college levels of instruction. I must have read it half a dozen times. As you know, Greek and Roman mythology is everywhere in the literature of all ages. Another well known book is Bullfinch Mythology.
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Hi Bill
What you describe sounds like that book. Yes, I remember Edith Hamilton, I had a paper back overview of mythology title by her. I will check it out.
Thanks again!
Leila
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Great post, Leila. And great Bill Clinton joke.
My school-daze-introduction-to-reading-list:
When I was 11, a fellow pupil recommended H. Rider Haggart’s ‘King Solomon’s Mines.’ A teacher (Mr Pickering) recommended Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island.’ I think I followed the recommendation because it had been serialised on the TV. I still re-read Stevenson for pleasure.
When I was 13 & 14, the English Teacher (Mr Goldfinch) dictated a list of books we might read for pleasure. Can’t remember ’em all and didn’t read ’em all, but the ones that I did read certainly did bring me pleasure: Lord of the Rings (all 3 vol.s), GK Chesterton’s ‘The Napoleon of Notting Hill’ & ‘The Man Who Was Thursday,’ Ngao (sp?) Marsh’s ‘Off With His Head,’ and Huxley’s ‘Brave New World.’
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Hi Mick
I loved Stevenson. Too bad that tb claimed so many great writers amongst the millions. I bet you can come up with even more great book reviews now that the field is wide open!
Thank you!
Leila
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Good post with some astute insights and commentary. Happy to say I never had a teacher like the lit instructor but have encountered the type. Some books I’d add to the list are Twain’s Mysterious Stranger, Faulkner’s Sound and Fury and Dubliners by James Joyce.
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Hi David
I am glad to see that WP has come to its senses. I am proud to say I have read all of those, but not until I left school. Particular to Joyce, “Araby” and “The Dead” are great stories. Shame to say I never heard of him until I was in my twenties.
Thank you!
Leila
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The apples are still poisonous, but the farmer in the Dell is working well.
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Ha!
Always beware of Apple, Dell and HP
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Proabably misrembering an anecdote – H. Ryder read some Stevenson and said he could do better than that. Wrote “She” and other things. At that time it was common for Western writers to use Africa and South America for their fantasies because they were not well known to their audience so they could write absurdities and still be half believed.
“Catcher In The Rye” I’m told was popularized by the literati that had similar backgrounds to Holden, in my opinion the worst company ever in fiction, justified because of his mental illness. I couldn’t read that far to find out. Despite that Salenger did write some good stories. In the 1960s I read some of the popular hip stuff – Giles Goatboy and like that.
Read and enjoyed some of the things on the list. The Odyysey hipped me to perdition and redemption theme which has not disappeared. Local author Cheryl Strayed used it and hooked Oprah on “Wild”. I did my own version – can’t remember the name.
A favorite not on the list “The Last Temptation Of Christ” which posits a whole different version. I like Thurber and Twain. Now mostly read anthologies I’m in. Despite my presence, they have a lot of good writers.
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Hi Doug
I got into all the old New Yorker stuff as a teen. I even found a first edition Seal in the Bedroom by Thurber at a St Vincent de Paul thrift store a few years back. I also collected old Nat Geo’s from there until space got to be a problem.
Stay cool–about 90 out here.
Leila
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Last check 90 here. Our park work party today started an hour early and quit an hour and a half early. That was plenty for this old man.
Mr. Mirth
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Dear Leila,
Thanks for your inspiring critique of the ways they try to teach lit in American high schools. Any time a teacher gets out too many charts and graphs to try and begin explaining literature, you know you’re in the presence of a bad seed. Ideologies, “theories” and received opinions should also be barred at the door. Or tuned out by students. True in America from elementary school to academia and everywhere in between.
Here are a few writers/works in English I’ve found to be popular with some teen readers (including myself when I was a teenager).
One. Emily Dickinson, a candidate for America’s greatest writer. Often considered a difficult adult writer, actually many of her story-poems are aimed at teen/young readers. Also an exemplary life of the writer who encourages rebellion, and considers writing an art.
Two. William Shakespeare: “Romeo and Juliet” and “Macbeth.” Charles Dickens: “Great Expectations.”
Three. Flannery O’Connor. Ten stories, one short novel, and letters.
Four. Ralph Ellison. “Invisible Man,” including “Battle Royal” as a short story.
Five. Hunter S. Thompson. Because of his language usage and fight against authoritarians in and out of the classroom. Philip K. Dick. Because of his humanity in a world full of androids, vampires and zombies.
Six. Jack Kerouac, anything by him.
Seven. Edgar Allan Poe, including “The Raven,” a 1,000-word story/poem Poe was paid nine dollars for.
Eight. Charles Bukowski. Short stories and story-poems.
Nine. Ernest Hemingway. “The Old Man and the Sea” and dedication to writing as an art, to “telling the truth.”
Ten. Henry Miller, writings on the writing life, poverty and how to survive it happy and (relatively) sane, or saner than the rest of them.
Eleven. Anything and everything by Bob Dylan, another candidate for America’s greatest writer; starting with his early things; and including his songs, writings, comments, interviews.
Twelve. James Fogle. “Drugstore Cowboy.” One of the most human and humorous cautionary tales about drug use ever penned, which is really about life itself and how we never can survive it but how noble the struggle can be. (This underground, neglected American author who spent much of his life in prison also has a series of unpublished novels at this point.)
Thanks again, Leila, for your inspiring essay/post on an all-important topic!
Sincerely,
Dale
PS,
Also: “This Be the Verse,” by Philip Larkin.
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Hello Dale
Indeed a great list. Flannery Connor was fearless, as is so often the case for the doomed.
I recall reading Native Son and The Invisible Man as a senior because the Lit classes got better for the older kids. Why? Beats me.
Bob also a great choice. And I do recall seeing Edna St. Vincent Millay and ee cummings
The little goatfooted balloonman
Thank you again!
Leila
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As Leila said, a thought-provoking post. I have a perhaps slightly different history with books as I simply didn’t read anything as a kid from my own volition and didn’t really become a reader for pleasure until my mid-20s. Therefore, I always feel a bit of an imposter when considering books for kids and am not sure what to say, as until early adulthood I didn’t progress past The Beano, and then later, Viz. I like to think I’ve made up for it since and have pondered sending in an Auld Author post – if that’s ok?
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We are always happy to have auld Author posts and always happy to read something from your good self so yes please.
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Hi Paul
Thank you and auld author works are highly encouraged!
Leila
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Thank you Diane and Leila – I’ll try to get something to you soon! It is end of term where I work and flying back to the UK for my summer hols end of next week, so forgive me if it takes longer!
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