contemporary classroom reads

[higley]

We all grew up reading novels like To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and The Catcher in the Rye for class. I think these books are wonderful and important to any school curriculum, but it seems (at least, it did when I went to high school) that relevant present-day novels are ignored. I think it's a good idea for the traditional fare to sustain English classes through the sophomore and some of the junior years of high school, and thereafter give more attention to contemporary reads. Again, I'm only speaking from my experience; I don't think I ever read anything in class that was written after the sixties.

My question is, what do you think would be good modern reads for upperclass high schoolers? "Modern," I suppose, being within the past two decades.

Here's a few I'd consider:
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay- Michael Chabon
Life of Pi- Yann Martel
The Alienist- Caleb Carr (an advanced read; perhaps for "AP" English or Sociology courses)
Reading Lolita in Tehran- Azar Nafisi (on the memoir side o' things)
American Gods- Neil Gaiman

I'm basing this list mostly on what I wish I'd been able to read in high school. How about you?

[Ghuyuran]

Yes, I think we need to study the books of our times and scrap this notion that everything recent is bad. At least a few recent books should be included in the curriculum. What better way to learn the thoughts of our times?

American Gods was great.

[JBI]

Atwood seems to be popular, and I must confess, has great moments, though I find her fiction tedious. Her poetry however, in selected works carries a magnificence of metaphor.

As for my personal choice - that's tricky - I would probably have a different list for Canada than the States, but for Canada, and to only stick with fiction.

I'd make sure though, in Canada, that in Grade 12, every student studies Prochain Episode by Hubert Aquin - it is very much the essential Canadian text, and from what I understand, will be for the next 50 years at least.

[rtc143]

A Wrinkle in Time is very good...
Clockwork Orange
The Giver
etc...

[Ghuyuran]

I do not remember having read anything recent from French-Canadian literature while I was in both primary and secondary school. I think it is a shame that our literature, Quebec literature is not more taught that it is now. I like to think that our literature is special: did not our language and our ways last centuries, surrounded were we by a English speaking population?

Really good idea JBI. More should follow that trend...

[JBI]

French Canadian literature is great. It certainly seems more free of Americanism, and more unique - with great voices such as Aquin, and the fantastic Anne Hebert (who I would argue, from what I have read, is probably the best Canadian author), or the contemporary poet Nicole Brossard, who is one of the best, in my estimation, writing in Canada currently.

It's a shame that French Canada, and even English Canada seems ignored. I'd say, in terms of break down, High School for me was 40% English, 50% American, and 10% other. The novels we covered were The Chrysalids, To Kill A Mockingbird, Cat's Cradle, and The Great Gatsby - all of which are American, the plays: The Glass Menagerie, And Death of a Salesman, as well as 4 Shakespeare plays. The poems mostly British, with the odd American one thrown in, and one Canadian Ondaatje poem. The essays had a few Canadian, but for the most part were British, American or international works. It seems like I read nothing Canadian in high school, now that I think of it. I think the only French Canadian work I read was "What Language do Bears Speak" by Roch Carrier, and the last chapter of Gabrielle Roy's Rue Deschambault, which I read outside of class for an assignment, but I don't remember any real delving into French Canadian literature - everything seemed so American.

[Chava]

Reading Lolita in Teheran, is a wonderful book, I used to read it on the bus to highschool. I also think Kavalier and Clay was a sweet read, but there are many other good contemporary books.
I haven't got my shelves on me right now, but I'll post a few favourites when I get back home! Nice thread by the Higley, as much as I love the classics, I read a lot of contemporary books for my work in the bookstore.

[electricpenguin]

One of my friends (an English teacher) recently told me that she's been doing Angela Carter's 'Wise Children' with her class. I was so jealous! 'Wise Children' is a BRILLIANT book, I wish I'd read it in school! I only hope they appreciate it... pesky kids

EP xx

[higley]

I wonder why some classes feel it better to ignore contemporary novels. I do remember my old English teacher saying that to introduce a new book to the curriculum, he had to go through the tedious process of getting it approved by the school board. I don't know if that's the same for many public schools, or if mine was particularly finicky.

As great a book as To Kill A Mockingbird is, I don't think it prudent to read it twice in the same high school for two different classes. A tad redundant don't you think? In any case it's one of those books I think should be introduced at an earlier age, in middle school.