On the whole, the boys in my class seem to have liked On Chesil Beach somewhat less than the girls, but they were just as thoughtful about it. Here are their first reactions to the novel.
November 16, 2008
On Chesil Beach – First Reactions (girls)
The first assignment I gave my students after reading Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach was to fill in a brief survey with a few questions about their reading experience. I was very pleasantly surprised by the very thoughtful and quite varied responses I got, so I am posting some excerpts here.
There were more girls in class on Friday than boys, but I still felt that there was quite a difference in reception of the book between them, so I’ve split the responses into two posts. Ladies first!
October 21, 2008
Are you a digital native?
My wonderful class created the questions for this quiz. Go on, take it!
And now some idiot has flagged the (perfectly innocuous) quiz as “adult“, so you have to log in to take it. I’ve complained, and really hope it will be easily available again shortly. (ok, it’s back up now. Thanks Quibblo people!)
May 9, 2008
Which Macbeth?
After the holidays, we will start working on Macbeth, and I’d really like you to have read the play by then. Which edition to get, however? Here’s the one I’d like you to buy:
Now, some of you may already have an edition of Macbeth at home. I know far too well how having too many books can be a real burden, so I’ll let you bring your editions, under one provision: if you have another edition, you are not allowed to ask asinine questions about which page we are on. That’s what Acts and Scenes are for, after all.
If you think €11,30 is too steep a price, check out the re-sales here. Please make sure you get the new edition (the cover should look like the one here) and don’t fall for sellers that tell you they will deliver the book in 11-14 days. They ALWAYS take longer.
The bookshops in Munich might just stock this, too.
Have fun reading and have excellent holidays!
February 25, 2008
Reading Log: Agatha Christie: Evil under the Sun
A reading log by F.
What made you pick this particular book?
I used to enjoy reading Agatha Christie novels when I was younger, but I never read one in English. So I went to the library to get Evil under the Sun.
Give a brief summary of the book.
Hercule Poirot, an eccentric Belgian detective, is vacationing in a hotel in South England. The beautiful actress Arlena Marshall is murdered and, more or less, everyone at the resort has a motive. Poirot is trying to find the actual murderer now.
Was it good?
I quite liked it. It was not what you’d call a very adventurous book but I didn’t find out who it was till the end and it was a surprising but plausible solution.
Who you recommend this book to?
Anyone who likes an enjoyable but not necessarily deeply moving read.
February 24, 2008
Reading Log: Arthur Miller, The Crucible
A reading log by S.
What made you pick this particular book?
Some friends told me about it. That made me very interested in reading it.
Give a brief summary of the book.
In the Puritan New England town of Salem, Massachusetts, a group of girls is caught while they were dancing around a fire. The town accuses them of witchcraft, so they in turn accuse a slave of being a witch, and once these girls (the most important of which is Abigail) notice how much power and influence they have, they accuse every other woman in the town of being a witch. Abigail’s personal reason for this is her attempt to get back John Proctor, a married man she had an affair with. She wants his wife to be accused of witchcraft. This turns into the biggest witchcraft trial this little town ever had (in fact, the biggest witchcraft trial of colonial America ) and ends in disaster.
Was it good?
I liked the play very much because I thought it was very interesting; the story is hard to believe and kind of shocking. I also liked the themes of the play, for instance intolerance, reputation and hysteria.
Who would you recommend this book to?
I don’t know… Probably to anyone who likes to read.
Reading Log: F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
A reading log by S.
What made you pick this particular book?
A friend of my family gave it to me as a Christmas present, so I thought, well, I have to read an English book anyway … and got started.
Give a brief summary of the book.
Nick Carraway moves into a house in Long Island’s West Egg. Gatsby is his wealthy neighbour living next door in a lavish mansion where he holds many extravagant weekend parties. Daisy (Nick’s cousin) lives in the East Egg section with her millionaire husband Tom Buchanan and was in love with Jay Gatsby five years ago, but rejected him due to his lack of wealth.
Gatsby is still in love with her (or rather, obsessed with her) and tries to win her back with the money he got through shady business dealings. Daisy’s husband is having an affair with Myrtle, but then Myrtle’s husband finds out and thinks Gatsby is her lover…
Was it good?
I liked this book although it wasn’t the best I’ve read so far. I liked the style of writing. One negative aspect is that I thought it was a bit boring.
Who would you recommend this book to?
Probably to the friend of my family who gave it to me in the first place. 
(more…)
February 23, 2008
Reading Log: Jostein Gaarder, The Orange Girl
A reading log by V.
What made you pick this particular book?
I really like all books by Jostein Gaarder I have read so far and the blurb of the book sounded as if the book was light and refreshing holiday reading.
Give a brief summary of the book.
A 15-year old boy called George receives a letter from his father who died eleven years ago and whom George can barely remember. The letter is, of course, a farewell letter and is supposed to be read by George when he comes of age. In the letter his father tells him about his persistent search for the mysterious Orange Girl, the love of his life, and challenges him to ponder about life and love by asking him some profound questions.
Was it good?
Firstly, the language of the book is very clear and nice. The book is written in a sort of dialogue between father and son: it seems as the father is asking questions or telling something in his letter and George is replying and commenting. This way you form your personal answer or opinion to the father’s mostly philosophical questions and compare it with George’s approach or rather Jostein Gaarder’s.
Secondly, the story is not kitschy at all and I think the actual questions (e.g. about the existence of the universe) behind the story concern everyone.
Who would you recommend this book to?
Although I enjoyed it, I would not recommend the book to everyone because it is rather for young adults. It is also a bit sad at some points and I think it appeals to girls rather than to boys.
February 21, 2008
Reading Log: J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (III)
A reading log by J.
This is turning out to be an incredibly popular book among my students. See the other reading logs here and here. After an enthusiastic review and a rather scathing one, here’s one from a young man who is in two minds about the book.
What made you pick this particular book?
My dad gave it to me as he read it, too, when he was about my age. I was a bit put off by the title because “Catcher in the Rye” doesn’t sound like a particular entertaining and enjoyable book; but I quite liked what he told me about it an so I started reading it.
Give a brief summary of the book:
The 16 year old 1st person narrator Holden Caulfield decides to roam the streets of New York City on his own, after being expelled from school because of the lack of academic achievement (on his part). While observing and interacting with the people he meets in these 48 hours in NYC, he reflects about adulthood, childhood and growing up.
Was it good?
The book caused different reactions in me: Partly I can identify with Holden or at least I like him for his sense of humour and cynicism; but then, if I read more than ten pages in one go, I start to dislike him because he is always criticising everyone and everything around him and he is never at one with the world.
Who would you recommend this book to?
I recommend this book to everyone who hates phonies and has always been searching for someone to share their hate; all those will find their soul mate in Holden Caulfield.
I also suggest that all phonies should read this book to see how annoying it is to be surrounded by those kinds of people. (The most useful word from the book is “phony”. Holden uses this word for almost every person around him; therefore it is use at least a million times, like in “…One of those stories with a lot of phony, lean-jawed guys named David in it, and a lot of phony girls named Linda or Marcia…”)
