Here's a quirky question for you (and perhaps a difficult one). I was just asked by the Associate Provost to serve on the committee that chooses the book for next year's First Year Experience. I expect it will be difficult to get eight people to agree on a single book, but we'll see what happens. In any event, let me ask you: if you could pick one book that next year's incoming class of freshman would be expected to read, and around which some events could be planned in the Fall (a visit by the author, perhaps integration into the requirements/curriculum for a cross-section of classes), what might it be? I imagine many of you were asked to do this when you first arrived at U.M.: what do you remember about it? Was it worthwhile? What can we do to make this a more successful enterprise?
Let me give you a little more context for the decision process. It has to be a book you can imagine an incoming freshman class reading on their own during the summer before arrival (therefore, it can't be too difficult, too esoteric, etc., and it needs to get their interest). It would ideally be a book that would be of interest to students (and faculty) from all disciplines (i.e., it should be of potentially general interest and not lean necessarily towards "literary types," etc.). It would ideally be a book that can be used to create various campus events (lectures, discussion groups, essay contests, films, etc.) in the Fall when the students are on campus. One particular feature of this Fall will be an exhibit of Pulitzer prize-winning photographs in Missoula; it has therefore been discussed that a book relevant to such an exhibit would be intriguing (e.g., something involving photojournalism, or something dealing with the power of images, or even a Pulitzer-prize winning book to make this a big Pulitzer theme). But that's just one line of approach ...
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This is a toughie. I can think of a couple of books that would be worth reading for first year students. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" would be a good one. There could be a discussion surrounding McCarthyism in the late forties and even modern day forms of McCarthyism, such as Mormons being blacklisted in California for their support of Proposition 8.
ReplyDeleteJohn Knowles "A Separate Peace" is another good story and is very telling of the experience of youth in the midst of war, which is something that youth are going through today, although the Irag and Afghanistan Wars aren't in the same realm as World War Two.
Frederick Douglass "Narrative of the Life of a Slave" is another excellent book. Education plays an important role in this book and what would happen if we did not receive education.
These are just a few thoughts. Hope they are worth something.
A book that I'm in the middle of reading that might make for an interesting discussion is "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's a very compelling piece of fiction surrounding the aftermath of 9/11 (which seems so long ago, and yet only yesterday when reading this book). It deals with a young boy who loses his father in the World Trade Center, and after some time, begins to find clues his father has left behind for him around New York City. I think the events that have occurred since that fateful day and the journey our country has endured to heal our wounds would be eye-opening to discuss.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz is very interesting. It's a contemporary piece about a "nerdy" Dominican-American and a family curse. Definitely some strong discussions on nationality, and the struggles of the bilingual generation.
Well, it doesn't have to be a current book, per se, but a problem with something like Frederick Douglass or Arthur Miller, for example, is that you obviously couldn't have the author visit campus! And I'm not sure something like Douglass would grab high school graduates reading on their own during the summer ... Jonathan Safran Foer and Junot Diaz are both intriguing, lively, young, edgy writers (I've read and liked both of those books) ... Here are some of the books that have been tossed around so far: Neil Shubin's Your Inner Fish, Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains, Dave Eggers's What is the What, Sven Birkerts's The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in the Electronic Age (these are all non-fiction, so one wonders if we can expect non-fiction to get significant traction). For fiction, I suggested maybe Cormac McCarthy's The Road (it might be too grim, but it's a page-turner, it connects with some important issues like the environment, there's a film version coming out soon, etc.) and Andrew Sean Greer's The Confessions of Max Tivoli (also a page-turner, but elegantly written novel about youth, aging, time, and love, and similar approach/central idea to that Benjamin Button movie).
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for me, my reading experience is limited to speculative fiction with the exception of what I read in high school. Something tells me that the english department wouldn't want students reading "The Chronicles of Narnia" or "The Lord of the Rings." But I can offer one fantasy book, recently editied and published by Christopher Tolkien, JRR Tolkien's son, "The Children of Hurin." It is written just like the Greek Tragedies were. Very good. And it is a great piece of literature, just like everything else Tolkien wrote.
ReplyDeleteI guess that is my final offer for this thread. I wish I had more to offer.
My single suggestion is "The Clown of Shalimar" by Salman Rushdie. (Yes, yes, Rushdie) It is accessible and yet has a great amount of depth. It can draw in just about anyone's interest because of the wide variety of subjects touched upon.
ReplyDeleteI would choose this because even though the author visiting is a not likely, the events of the story take place in the valley of Kashmir. I just stumbled onto a set of photos from modern-day Kashmir and the similarities from the book's depiction are astounding. Events about religious conflict, the long struggle between Pakistan and India, or global humanitarian struggles can be set up. People can study photos from the region and watch movies about the place and seemingly endless, grinding conflict.
"a heartbreaking work of a staggering genius" by dave eggers.
ReplyDeletei read it the summer after my freshman year of college and wish i would've read it earlier. the book is fairly long, which could be a deterrent for some but i feel that it is an appropriate experience for young adults.
hmmm...I think James Galvin's The Meadow would be great as an accompaniment to a Missoula photography exhibit. It is set on the Wyoming-Colorado border.
ReplyDelete"Galvin describes the seasons, the weather,the wildlife, and the few people who do not possess but are themselves possessed by this terrain. The Meadow evokes a sense of place that can be achieved only by someone who knows it intimately."
I read it for a creative writing-poetry class, and absolutely loved it.
Also, this probably is not what you are looking for, but it is the most beautiful book I have ever read, and I just feel like recommending it. (especially if you are interested in gender issues and steaminess) --Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson.
Yes, I agree, Robyn, that The Meadow would be a worthy and appropriate choice ...
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, Sean, wouldn't having Rushdie here on campus be simply extraordinary (and probably extraordinarily expensive, too!) ... There was actually some talk last year that the University was talking with Rushdie's people about bringing him to campus, but I suspect it fell through because of the cost. It's nice to dream, though.
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