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Book Club

Our school Book Club selection this month this month is A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. First, let me recommend the book because it's a great read! Basically, it's a bio of a alcoholic crackhead doing a stint in re-hab. However, it's not preachy in any way. The author is matter of fact about the whole thing and more than a little resistant to the traditional AA path... for himself. It is pretty graphic at times and I can see a lot of students really getting into the book. There's also a lot of swearing, which is always popular with 14 year olds.

Some students were put off by the recommendation of Oprah. Her being old and having a show for housewives (in their eyes) pretty much deems everything from her as "stupid." Someone also point out that some parents may have issues about the language and there is discussion about a rape and a couple of other sexual scenes. However, it wasn't anything worse than I see written on various notes I've taken from students and those kids who would have issues, I flat out told not to read it.

Also on the book front, I had a student tell me the other day that the guardian would like the student exempted from reading Fahrenheit 451. Why? Student hems and haws, but gives no answer. I called the guardian yesterday to find out why (and point out that it's already been three weeks and the classes are finishing the book)... apparently, the guardian finds the book boring (as does the student). Why should student be reading a boring book when there are so many romance novels waiting to be read? yah.

Comments

Mr. McNamar said…
Wouldn't it be nice to request that anything we find boring be removed from class!
I've had you in my favorites for a long time,but haven't put you on the blogroll...I will do so promptly.
12:52 PM
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