Should I use East of Eden for my presentation?

Hi, at the end of the year I have to give an oral presentation about a book. A standard assignment of course, but I'm really doubting what book I should use for this one. Because, there's nobody in my class who's interested in literature (even our teacher isn't I think..), so I'm looking for a book that has a lot of interesting details-information that I can use in my presentation so the students won't fall asleep. I was thinking a bit about East of Eden, but I'm guessing you guys have a lot more propositions..
Thanks!

(sorry for my english)

Are you at highschool?

heavy stuff. If you like Steinbeck, try Of Mice and Men. An interesting story, and more attuned to high school. There are probably many college upperclassmen who couldn't get through East of Eden

Yeah, East of Eden has some pretty heavy life lessons to be learned that go over the heads of high school students. I suppose it depends on what aspect of the novel you're focusing on. If you're doing a character study, Kate would certainly keep your audience's attention, but if you're going in terms of theme it might be a bit much.

I'm in my last year before high school. We're not ought to really dig in deeper in the book, but just give a general presentation about the book itself, the writer, and an extra assignment like a videoclip, reading a poem or showing some pictures that are related with the book. It's not that I really want to use something of Steinbeck, anything will do.

Do it on A Clockwork Orange, I'm sure your teacher would love that!!! :D

but my actual suggestion would be The Stranger by Camus, it has could serve as very beneficial to kids about to go to college.

Not sure what age you are but I think its really sad that you think your peers and teacher won't be interested. If that is the case I would say just go with whichever novel you like. It's their loss. :)

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Originally Posted by Babak Movahed

Do it on A Clockwork Orange, I'm sure your teacher would love that!!! :D

but my actual suggestion would be The Stranger by Camus, it has could serve as very beneficial to kids about to go to college.

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I was first thinking about The stranger, but as I said, there's assuminly nobody in my class who ever heard of Albert Camus, and isn't it a bit too 'dark' maybe? To keep them awake I mean. It's a bit a dumb situation but I have to suite myself to the class "level".

Present whatever you want. If you do it well, maybe your class will be encouraged to read more Steinbeck.

Personally, when I was in high school, I didn't worry about the class level... I just saw presenting or writing about tougher material as a challenge.

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Originally Posted by janesmith

Not sure what age you are but I think its really sad that you think your peers and teacher won't be interested. If that is the case I would say just go with whichever novel you like. It's their loss. :)

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I am 18 yrs old, I dont' say my teacher isn't interested (although ...) , she couldn't make the difference between someone who searches which book is suited for bringing it's audience some "education" and someone who just goes to a library and picks a book with eyes closed.

That's the average (sad) case in my school.

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Originally Posted by Katy North

Present whatever you want. If you do it well, maybe your class will be encouraged to read more Steinbeck.

Personally, when I was in high school, I didn't worry about the class level... I just saw presenting or writing about tougher material as a challenge.

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You're right indeed,
I kind of started this thread to find a book which has a lot of "extra"-information, but yes, you're right.

East of Eden is a pretty long book. But it does have quite a bit of extra information that might be good for a presentation (stuff on using prisoners to build highways in Florida, stuff about Chinese immigrants in California, and, of course, the parallels of the 2 sons to Cain and Abel in the Bible)

The only other "extra information" novel I can think of off hand is Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis. It has the main narrative - but also some stuff about medical science, and a little bit of stuff about naturalism

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Originally Posted by JhKreisler

I'm in my last year before high school. We're not ought to really dig in deeper in the book, but just give a general presentation about the book itself, the writer, and an extra assignment like a videoclip, reading a poem or showing some pictures that are related with the book. It's not that I really want to use something of Steinbeck, anything will do.

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Oh wait, I mean that I'm in my last year before college:) I'm from Belgium, and they call college here "hoge school" literally translated "high school".
It's a shame we're not allowed to read the original, it has to be a translation. Many things go lost in translation, ...

No really, my school isn't the one where you are to develop your literary knowledge.

What do you guys think of 'The Gulag Archipelago' of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn? Wouldn't that be an idea?

Crime and Punishment?

Lolita would shock them.

Maybe try something like 1984 or Brave New World.

Why not go for something quirky like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time?

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Originally Posted by JhKreisler

I am 18 yrs old, I dont' say my teacher isn't interested (although ...) , she couldn't make the difference between someone who searches which book is suited for bringing it's audience some "education" and someone who just goes to a library and picks a book with eyes closed.

That's the average (sad) case in my school.

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It's certainly sad that an eighteen year old high school student is completely unable to write a readable post on a message board. Maybe you should use the time spent critiquing your peers on something more constructive.

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Originally Posted by JhKreisler

It's a bit a dumb situation but I have to suite myself to the class "level".

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Good grief!

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Originally Posted by wat??

It's certainly sad that an eighteen year old high school student is completely unable to write a readable post on a message board. Maybe you should use the time spent critiquing your peers on something more constructive.



Good grief!

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I'm wondering in how much you are capable of writing the "dutch" language, next time: stop by to surprise me, not to make me aware of something I already know.

Maus :)

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Originally Posted by JhKreisler

I'm wondering in how much you are capable of writing the "dutch" language, next time: stop by to surprise me, not to make me aware of something I already know.

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Ah sorry, I was unaware that you were not a native English speaker. I just assumed (stupidly) since you were asking about an American novel.

Sorry about that, it was silly of me.

Like a previous poster suggested, Brave New World is an excellent novel and you could easily compare Huxley's vision of the future with the reality which is today.

You could also try reading Slaughterhouse-5 or Catch 22, both featuring World War II as "extra information" and having a great blend of theme and comedy. If you're reading translated versions however, It would probably be much better to go with Slaughterhouse-5, as it has much more meaning and less humor that would be lost in translation. Your classmates would also find both of these interesting, as they cover the subject of war, with Slaughterhouse featuring time travel and aliens. Good luck on your assignment!

PS. I'm eighteen too, and in my last year of high school. I know it can be challenging attending a school where literature is taught at a second rate level and you are surrounded by people with a different mindset than you. But don't dwell on it too long, for better things are in store for us next year. For example, I'm attending a class at university explicitly called "Nabokov" and I am ecstatic! He's been my favorite author for almost two years. Good luck again on your assignment and keep learning English, it is a very useful tool.

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Originally Posted by wat??

Ah sorry, I was unaware that you were not a native English speaker. I just assumed (stupidly) since you were asking about an American novel.

Sorry about that, it was silly of me.

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Hey, no problem. ; )

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Originally Posted by Travis_R

Like a previous poster suggested, Brave New World is an excellent novel and you could easily compare Huxley's vision of the future with the reality which is today.

You could also try reading Slaughterhouse-5 or Catch 22, both featuring World War II as "extra information" and having a great blend of theme and comedy. If you're reading translated versions however, It would probably be much better to go with Slaughterhouse-5, as it has much more meaning and less humor that would be lost in translation. Your classmates would also find both of these interesting, as they cover the subject of war, with Slaughterhouse featuring time travel and aliens. Good luck on your assignment!

PS. I'm eighteen too, and in my last year of high school. I know it can be challenging attending a school where literature is taught at a second rate level and you are surrounded by people with a different mindset than you. But don't dwell on it too long, for better things are in store for us next year. For example, I'm attending a class at university explicitly called "Nabokov" and I am ecstatic! He's been my favorite author for almost two years. Good luck again on your assignment and keep learning English, it is a very useful tool.

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Thanks for the encouragement; ) I'm attending law school next year, hopefully you're right. I've put Catch-22 on my "to read in near future-list", so it's definitely an option. It's a pity were not allowed to read the original, so maybe I'll just read that in my spare time.

I was thinking about The Gulag Archipelago ... any feedback?

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Originally Posted by JhKreisler

Thanks for the encouragement; ) I'm attending law school next year, hopefully you're right. I've put Catch-22 on my "to read in near future-list", so it's definitely an option. It's a pity were not allowed to read the original, so maybe I'll just read that in my spare time.

I was thinking about The Gulag Archipelago ... any feedback?

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Here are some suggestions:

-A Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
-The Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison
-The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
-One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey
-Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonegut
-A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
-Song of Soloman, Toni Morrison
-1984, George Orwell

My take on this is that you want something to read which interests you, and you seem to have a rather high reading level as opposed to the average 12th grader, but you want something with 'a lot going on' so the report will be of interest to your classmates. One thing I'm thinking is you might want a book that is more action and character w/o a lot of philosophical discussion.

All of these novels are complex thematically and stylistically, but are not so full of discussion as a Russian novel might be, for example. It's been a long time since I read East of Eden, but my memory is that the themes are very adult, perhaps too adult in nature for a 12th grade audience to appreciate. A Brave New World is a good suggestion, imo. The others I'm suggesting are 12th grade or 1st year university level reading and have a lot of interesting elements, situations and characters.

You also want the audience to learn something, apparently. I think you will find all of these novels have a very strong comment on man, society, and the human condition.

It is also important for a good presentation to be conducted in an interesting manner. No matter what the content, an audience of any age can be bored if the material is not presented in an compelling way. I suggest visuals, such as power point, handouts, a poster, etc., through which you give basic information and then expand upon verbally.

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Originally Posted by myrna22

Here are some suggestions:

-A Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
-The Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison
-The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
-One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey
-Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonegut
-A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
-Song of Soloman, Toni Morrison
-1984, George Orwell

My take on this is that you want something to read which interests you, and you seem to have a rather high reading level as opposed to the average 12th grader, but you want something with 'a lot going on' so the report will be of interest to your classmates. One thing I'm thinking is you might want a book that is more action and character w/o a lot of philosophical discussion.

All of these novels are complex thematically and stylistically, but are not so full of discussion as a Russian novel might be, for example. It's been a long time since I read East of Eden, but my memory is that the themes are very adult, perhaps too adult in nature for a 12th grade audience to appreciate. A Brave New World is a good suggestion, imo. The others I'm suggesting are 12th grade or 1st year university level reading and have a lot of interesting elements, situations and characters.

You also want the audience to learn something, apparently. I think you will find all of these novels have a very strong comment on man, society, and the human condition.

It is also important for a good presentation to be conducted in an interesting manner. No matter what the content, an audience of any age can be bored if the material is not presented in an compelling way. I suggest visuals, such as power point, handouts, a poster, etc., through which you give basic information and then expand upon verbally.

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Thanks for the tip, Myrna, you got it right on what I want to achieve; ) Song of Solomon is defenitely one of the options.