Apparently this is the third in the 'My Teacher' series by Coville. I must have read them out of order back in the day, which may explain why I enjoyeApparently this is the third in the 'My Teacher' series by Coville. I must have read them out of order back in the day, which may explain why I enjoyed this the least of the series. It was still a lot of fun for a young kid....more
With that title, and that cover, this was a book that elementary Clint had to read. I remember having a lot of fun reading it even though I was doing With that title, and that cover, this was a book that elementary Clint had to read. I remember having a lot of fun reading it even though I was doing so in my spare time, which interfered with reruns of Star Trek, Batman, and Gilligan's Island. (That makes me sound old, but they were reruns, keep in mind.) And I don't know if you pay attention to the news, but some of the teachers nowadays are definitely from another world....more
This book popped into my memory one day as a fine YA read from yesteryear. Some of the ideas might seem a little trite, but when I borrowed it from myThis book popped into my memory one day as a fine YA read from yesteryear. Some of the ideas might seem a little trite, but when I borrowed it from my elementary school's library all those years ago it was all new to me. I wouldn't mind having this on my shelf now, but it is long out of print and absurdly expensive on eBay. If you can find it, you may like it....more
The first time I had ever heard the term 'angst' was when my teacher was reviewing this book to my middle school class. I can easily see how one wouldThe first time I had ever heard the term 'angst' was when my teacher was reviewing this book to my middle school class. I can easily see how one would see it as nothing more than an explosion of teenage hormones, but upon revisiting this book on audio, I thought of it as something more.
The action and tension in the book is enough to keep teenagers interested enough to forge ahead through the pages on their own time at home (even if homework isn't something they necessarily enjoy), and reminds me of the occasional dust up of my youth. I would imagine S.E. Hinton had some level of experience with the violence of teenage gangs, either first-hand or second-, to make her story really pop. The only part that removed a little of the verisimilitude of the story was that every character was either devilishly handsome, or drop-dead gorgeous. But that aspect would help to make it Hollywood bait.
It really felt like a coming-of-age story. It wasn't just about angst, it was about transitioning from boy-to-man. In fact, I noticed the first half of the book referred to most male characters as 'boys', but transitioned to 'guys' for the back half. The rumbles the social groups had, though violent, were like boys playing war in their backyards. When the situation graduated to the next level, there was an awakening and a decision that what they were doing wasn't playful anymore.
The book was better than I remembered, and I would have no problem having it thrust upon me again. Recommended....more
I sure do hope they still teach this book in schools. My actual rating is probably a 3.5, but I couldn't help rounding up in appreciation of what the I sure do hope they still teach this book in schools. My actual rating is probably a 3.5, but I couldn't help rounding up in appreciation of what the book was trying to say. This was another of those books that was forced upon me in school, but it's one of those rare ones that actually stuck with me. My memories of it were a bit vague, so revisiting it as an adult on audiobook was rather enlightening.
The best part of the book in my mind--the real meat and potatoes--was the trial of Tom Robinson. Such an open-and-shut case was not so black and white to the white jurors in Robinson's murder case. The valueless accusations against him were drawn in a manner to illustrate that the case wasn't about finding justice at all. He was being judged by what he was, instead of what he did.
The doe-eyed innocence of the main character, the 'South does what the South does' mentality of most of the secondary characters, and the slice-of-life presentation written by Harper Lee make this a spiritual successor to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
An important piece of literature that must continue to be taught in schools--in an unabridged format, of course.
*Bonus points to the narrator, Sally Darling, for having a Southern drawl....more
When I was in High School I was told, nay--forced--to read this book. At the time, I thought tearing my eyes out and throwing them against the blackboWhen I was in High School I was told, nay--forced--to read this book. At the time, I thought tearing my eyes out and throwing them against the blackboard (not a thing anymore) would be far less painful. I didn't want to read about affluent people hobnobbing in the past. No car chases? No robots? Why was this even written? It's funny what a little time can do to your perspective.
I revisited 'The Great Gatsby' recently to see if I still had the same unfavourable opinion of the work, but was quite surprised when I found myself enjoying it. It was almost as if my youthful self had moments of hubris. And then I started seeing themes within the book that made me think that this book might be about moving past youth. Maybe it's about adulthood and moving past the desires and arrogance of the inexperienced. Or maybe I was just projecting myself onto the pages.
The characters were real, interesting, and the story moved quickly. And this time . . . nobody told me to read it....more
The only Shakespeare story I ever thought was enjoyable. I might have a different opinion of his works now, being so far removed from academia, but myThe only Shakespeare story I ever thought was enjoyable. I might have a different opinion of his works now, being so far removed from academia, but my teenage disdain is still pretty strong....more
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