Daley Blames - Who Else? - The Media For Oprah-geddon
Chicago Gets Googled
Friday Flashback - Old School Oprah
Today's Transgender Day of Remembrance Honors the Dead
Review: Paramount Room
After a personnel shift and lots of soul searching, the Chicagoist Department for the Advancement of Literature has decided to revamp and reinstate Convince Us, a little more like a book club, or thanks to our handy office thesaurus, a tome society, because then it sounds mysterious (and yes, ridiculous).
We love reader participation, and know that you are as well read as us (considering you’re reading our work here, we think you have excellent taste). All this to say that although we love you telling us what to read, it would be much more fun if you tell us what to read, and read it along with us.
So it’ll go a little something like this: we choose a word or theme at the beginning of the month, you suggest a book (it can and maybe should be something you haven’t read but want to). We’ll choose one and every week we’ll post a progress report on how we’re doing, and you let us know how you’re feeling. At the end of the month, we’ll review the book, while taking into account your comments and reactions from along the way.
Since we’re re-examining Convince Us, this month’s theme is going back to junior high. What book do you remember loving but haven’t touched since then? Or what book were you supposed to read, skimmed the cliff notes and have always wanted to go back to?
Image via ankylosaur
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Animal Farm...
Read it a long time ago in 8th grade, but would love to read it again. In light of the rampant abuses of power by the current presidential administration, I think it's probably more relevant than ever...
1984...
Was supposed to read this in 8th grade as well, but bluffed my way through the classroom discussions...
"Where the Red Fern Grows."
I'm already getting misty just thinking about it.
"Sounder"
"Innocents Abroad"
"i heard the owl call my name" and "where the red fern grows." that one makes me cry every time.
Yeah, I second "Animal Farm." Since junior high I have read a lot more of Orwell but haven't come back to that particular book. It's overdue for a re-read.
"The Diary of Anne Frank". I remember crying at the end because I was so sad for Anne. I can't bear to read the book again.
"Things Fall Apart" and "Down Second Avenue" Two excellent books that take a close look at european influance and it's effects on Sub-saharen Africa. I wanted to hate them so much as boring period works but ended up loving both of them, although "Things Fall Apart" I loved just a little more then "Down Second Avenue"
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
OR Clan of the Cave Bear by (I don't remember who)
I remember suffering through "Red Badge of Courage", but then it was all about the suffering then. I'd like to give it another look.
"White Fang" and "The Yearling" stick out in my mind. Also another one I think called "The Cheese Stands Alone" which I remember liking quite a bit.
Check that...the name of the book was "I am the Cheese".
Prompted by his recent death, my boyfriend and I decided to re-read Vonnegut's "Player Piano".
To Kill a Mockingbird. I remember not being able to put the book down over the last 40 pages.
"Where The Red Fern Grows" - ahh the tearful memories.
Does anyone remember the book title along the lines of "My Brother's Name is Sam"? If I remember correctly, it was about two brothers fighting on different sides of the Civil War, told from one brother's point of view.
Oops - so the title of the book is actually "My Brother Sam is Dead.", and the conflict was between a father and son on different sides of the Revolutionary war.
I was correct that the story is told from the brothers point of view...if that counts :)
Hatchet by Gary Paulson.
Chicagoist Tome Society
Can we please call this the "Chicagoist Thome Society," for next time? The question will be: What book should Sox slugger Jim Thome read while he's on the DL?
I already submitted one of my favorite books from high school, but Jim Thome should read a book by a fellow Peorian... Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique"
I love the whole book club concept. That said, I don't think May is a good month to launch this endeavor. I think you should do it in September.
I'm with curmudgeon. Too many street fests, concerts and other misc. alcohol-related events right around the corner...
ooo, i remember 'i am the cheese.' i think we read it in 6th grade. kinda messed up. i too would like to go back to that.
I would like to say I suffered through "The Scarlet Letter" but that would indicate that I'd even read it. Which I haven't. Three times, for three different classes (one in college). That's why Al Gore invented the internet. He probably didn't want to read it either.
In terms of books I actually read in jr. high, am I the only loser who was totally obsessed with The Babysitter's Club? Or Sweet Valley Twins/High/University? I guess so. In any case, books I used to reread religiously include Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson, The Silver Coach by C.S. Adler, and Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume - y amo ese libros hasta los lagartijos corren! Or something.
Oh man. My brother sam is dead was amazing!! It was a book I never thought I would have liked, but it ended up being one of the best books we read that year. No to the Yearling!
The Outsiders by SE Hinton was the first thing that came to me, but someone mentioned White Fang and I'd second that.
House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros) or Go Ask Alice
Fahrenheit 451
What about A Wrinkle in Time? Although I think I actually read that in middle school, but I WAS a nerd...I remember learning the word 'myriad' from it (although I had NO idea how to pronounce it) *memories* and it's actually the 45th anniversary for it this year. Bonus: it's easy enough for summer reading (so's you can read it while laying out and tossing back the slushie drinks...)
Sigh. I'm a nerd. In my defense, I do work in a bookstore...
What about A Wrinkle in Time? Although I think I actually read that in middle school, but I WAS a nerd...I remember learning the word 'myriad' from it (although I had NO idea how to pronounce it) *memories* and it's actually the 45th anniversary for it this year. Bonus: it's easy enough for summer reading (so's you can read it while laying out and tossing back the slushie drinks...)
Sigh. I'm a nerd. In my defense, I do work in a bookstore...
“A Separate Peace” as unlikely as it sounds a spook in High School or maybe it makes sense? I always thought it was far more profound than “Catcher in the Rye” which I couldn't stand.
Any body feel me?
The Eleven Million Mile High Dancer, by Carol Hill: I found it in the bargain bin at a used bookstore and thought the cover was amusing (a giant roller skate flies through space...). It's a pretty absurd book, but it was a great first exposure to magic realism. My junior high self found the super-smart scientist heroine inspiring.
Man, I knew my crappy rural middle school was for shit, but people were reading Things Fall Apart in junior high? Damn.
I was reading Weetzie Bat books. Not for credit, mind you. Also, early in middle school/junior high, Dealing With Dragons. And a ton of Judy Blume.
I remember reading a book about the Civil War called April Morning, I'd like to go back to that. I think I was preoccupied with my hating of 7th grade and didn't focus enough on the curriculum. I don't remember it being popular but popular in my English class was throwing pencils at eachother and illicit candy sales, so we may not have been the best gauge.
We also read The Outsiders in 8th grade...I'm sure there had to be more but that's all I can remember.
I'd either go with Red Badge of Courage or Treasure Island...I really should have paid attention more back then!
I WAS reading some Eugene O'Neill, but it just depressed the hell out of me so I threw in the towel.
In keeping with the tribute to Vonnegut theme, I submit to you that Slaughterhouse Five is worth a re-examination, especially in light of the ongoing conflicy, as its treatment of the horrors of war is especially relevant.