Chicagoist: Chicagoist Tome Society

mediabeyondajr

Thu, 03 May 2007 13:20:38 -0600

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.

Scott

Thu, 03 May 2007 11:50:14 -0600

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.

C

Wed, 02 May 2007 16:13:12 -0600

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.

Ms. L

Wed, 02 May 2007 15:24:54 -0600

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.

ginny

Wed, 02 May 2007 14:48:09 -0600

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.

spook

Wed, 02 May 2007 14:30:04 -0600

“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?

Martha

Wed, 02 May 2007 13:17:25 -0600

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...

Martha

Wed, 02 May 2007 13:05:57 -0600

Lauren

Wed, 02 May 2007 11:57:35 -0600

Fahrenheit 451

sarah

Wed, 02 May 2007 11:40:05 -0600

House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros) or Go Ask Alice

chris

Wed, 02 May 2007 10:23:19 -0600

The Outsiders by SE Hinton was the first thing that came to me, but someone mentioned White Fang and I'd second that.

Reader

Wed, 02 May 2007 09:33:38 -0600

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!

Sol

Wed, 02 May 2007 09:30:34 -0600

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.

geekgrrl

Wed, 02 May 2007 07:11:17 -0600

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.

Mikey

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:45:07 -0600

I'm with curmudgeon. Too many street fests, concerts and other misc. alcohol-related events right around the corner...

curmudgeon

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:05:27 -0600

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.

thundercougarfalconbird

Tue, 01 May 2007 19:34:38 -0600

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"

hjasdfj

Tue, 01 May 2007 19:21:30 -0600

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?

Rachael

Tue, 01 May 2007 19:11:27 -0600

Hatchet by Gary Paulson.

kateinla

Tue, 01 May 2007 18:41:13 -0600

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 :)

kateinla

Tue, 01 May 2007 18:32:05 -0600

"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.

John

Tue, 01 May 2007 18:00:26 -0600

To Kill a Mockingbird. I remember not being able to put the book down over the last 40 pages.

Sam

Tue, 01 May 2007 17:04:35 -0600

Prompted by his recent death, my boyfriend and I decided to re-read Vonnegut's "Player Piano".

MC

Tue, 01 May 2007 16:23:39 -0600

Check that...the name of the book was "I am the Cheese".

MC

Tue, 01 May 2007 16:18:48 -0600

"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.

Doug

Tue, 01 May 2007 16:13:21 -0600

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.

Laura

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:54:19 -0600

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke OR Clan of the Cave Bear by (I don't remember who)

Readin' McBooks

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:34:12 -0600

"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"

Victoria

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:32:18 -0600

"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.

Rob Christopher

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:18:21 -0600

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.

kiki

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:17:36 -0600

"i heard the owl call my name" and "where the red fern grows." that one makes me cry every time.

thundercougarfalconbird

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:16:24 -0600

"Innocents Abroad"

mike

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:10:56 -0600

"Sounder"

karl

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:00:23 -0600

"Where the Red Fern Grows." I'm already getting misty just thinking about it.

Mikey

Tue, 01 May 2007 14:52:12 -0600

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...