The Great Gatsby HYPE!

So unless you have been living under a rock, you are well aware that The Great Gatsby is coming to a theater near you this friday. Finally. They teased us by advertising that it would be coming out on Christmas day, and now the time has come. In case you couldn't tell, I am a fan of this book. Actually, I am big fan of anything that is set in the 1920s. If I could choose any decade to visit, it would certainly be that one.

Anyway, I have high hopes for this movie. Am I setting it up for failure though? I am sure we all remember watching the older versions in our high school classes. Awful. Also, it is rare for a movie to live up to the expectations that the book set. However, Leonardo DiCaprio. Enough said. I mentioned before that I am rereading this novel because it has been quite a long time since I have read it. As I read it now, I can only picture Toby Macguire and Leo DiCaprio. Don't you all hate it when you can only picture the actors in the movie while reading? Hopefully, they won't disappoint in the movie. Also, this movie has the same writer as Moulin Rouge. If anyone can bring the roaring twenties to life, it is Baz Luhrmann. I have to give kudos to them for giving a film version another try. I just hope that they can do F. Scott Fitzgerald some justice.

Side note: the movie has not even come out yet.... but I feel like there are many people who are freaking out about it, yet they did not like the novel. So this makes me wonder...should we treat the movie and book like two separate things? Do people have an obligation to read the book along with seeing the movie? Just a random thought.

Books that everyone should read

Summer is just a few day away, and I am sure we are all trying to decide which book to read first. Personally, I am rereading The Great Gatsby before the movie comes out. In order to get some ideas for what to read, I often look at the top sellers on Amazon. Other times, I look for lists of must-read books. This got me thinking...what makes a book a must-read book? We all have such different tastes when it comes to literature, so it seems pretty bold to say that a book is number one on the list. Whenever people ask me for book suggestions, I get nervous that they will not agree with my tastes. My mom even thinks I am weird because I enjoyed 1984. Apparently, it wasn't her cup of tea.

Anyway... I thought I would post some suggestions for the fun of it. My first is definitely Beloved by Toni Morrison. This isn't a happy novel by any means, but it is such a beautiful tragedy. Next, as I said before, I really enjoyed 1984. Actually, I'll add another Orwell to the list: Animal Farm. That was one of the few books that I actually enjoyed in high school. If you are looking for a few laughs (and you have a dry humor), I suggest adding some Kurt Vonnegut to your life. I read Breakfast of Champions on the plane once, and I could not stop cracking up! I am not usually into fantasy novels, but I enjoyed reading Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin in my American fiction class. It is a long one, but it isn't a complex read. Also, there is apparently a movie coming out in the near future. Last but not least, I highly suggest A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. This is the book that is famous for the powerpoint chapter, and it is a pretty light read.

I could probably sit here and think of a few more books, but that could take all day. Here is a cool compilation of must read books from a website:

What are some books that you highly recommend?

Bookstore Employee Interview

I decided to interview Shea Griffin. She is currently a sophomore secondary english education major. I met her in January while I was buying my books at Barnes and Noble. She noticed that I had the same books as her, and we realized that we were in two classes together. 

When did you start working at Barnes and Noble?

I started working at Barnes and Noble this past September.

Why did you choose to apply to Barnes and Noble?

I wanted to apply there because it is so close to where I live, and I am interested in books.

Did you need to know anything about books before you were hired?

Not at all!

Are most of the employees TCU students?

No, we actually have a big variety. There are a few older workers, but we also have a few Paschal employees.

What do you typically do on a normal day at work?

I'm usually at the cash register. Sometimes, I pull books and restock.

Do you feel like print books are dying out due to e-books?

No! I personally do not like e-books. Whenever people come into Barnes and Noble, they are usually looking for print books...(if they aren't there for the clothes).

Who are your typical customers?

We mostly have TCU students come in, but there are also some families and TCU alumni.

Do most people rent or buy their textbooks?

Based on my experience, more people are renting their textbooks now.

What is your favorite thing about working at the bookstore?

My favorite thing is definitely the discount! (35%)

Is this your first time to work at a bookstore?

Yes, it is.

How do you think working at Barnes and Noble would differ from working at a small, privately-owned bookstore?

I think I would prefer to work at a small bookstore. Barnes and Noble is too corporate for me. Also, I think the small bookstore would actually focus on the books more than clothes and team spirit.

How many days a week do you work?

I usually work three days a week.

What is your least favorite thing about working at the bookstore?

I am normally just standing around, so my feet hurt at the end of the day. Also, I dont like that the clothes are the big focus of our store.

Do you think bookstores will continue to be successful?

Honestly, I don't think that many of them will last. A lot of the big stores are suffering, such as Borders, so I don't think the others will have any better luck. Amazon is taking over.

What do you think is in store for the future of books?

I really hope that books survive. I think that books will become more like movies instead of Literature(with a capital L). I expect to see more books like The Hunger Games.

Should Students Read the Classics?

As a future teacher, I often wonder if the classics have a place in high school classrooms anymore. Kids are forced to read through the books just because they are "classics". Do these books even relate to them anymore? If we want students to become avid readers (or at least somewhat interested in reading), shouldn't we try to appeal to their tastes? Obviously, we can't make every student happy. Looking back to my experience in high school, I was pretty pleased with the books that we read. However, there were some that I did not connect with. One example is Watership Down. It was a required summer reading before my 9th grade year, and I honestly don't remember if I read it all. I was just that uninterested at the time. Now, I would probably appreciate the text much more. At the time though, despite my love for English, I didn't know what to appreciate in literature. I don't think that important part developed until maybe two years later. Reading the required readings was just a robotic reflex. I wanted the grades, so I read at the surface level.

Now, after reading many different texts in college, I wonder if it would be possible to revamp the high school reading lists. I went from hardly reading in high school to reading on the weekends in college for fun. The material was so much more engaging, and the discussions were much more lively. Also, I could tell that the professors were much more interested in the texts...

If I had a dollar for every time one of my high school teachers said, "I don't like this book either, but we are required to read it" .............................

Another route would be to pair up the classics with the modern YA novels that actually interest students. The scenarios are much more modern. In my Literature for Adolescents class last semester, we read the novel Speak. This novel deals with rumors and coping with isolation. As a class, we decided that this could be paired with The Scarlet Letter. If you can find themes that relate between texts, you will be successful in getting the message across. While I realize that yet another reading requirement sounds daunting, I don't think that these YA novels require as much effort to decode as the classics. The themes are not hidden underneath confusing prose; instead, it is often told in a way that is familiar to most high school students.

I realize that I won't have a lot of freedom (if I have any at all) in choosing the reading lists for my classroom, but I think that it is an important point to reflect on. If a student doesn't find reading appealing in high school, it is likely that they will never read a novel again (unless they become an English major).

The Vintage Appeal

I'm not sure of when it happened, but this course made me inspired to start collecting older books. I had a revelation, probably while we were passing around an old text. I immediately texted my best friend, and he surprised me by buying me the older copy of The Lord of the Flies that I have been wanting. Whenever I go to Halfprice Books, I of course look for texts that seem interesting, but I also look for the older, worn-out books. My best friend also got me an older book about the history of education. Whenever he gave it to me, he told me that I probably wouldn't want to read it because it is so fragile. So...you are probably wondering what the point of an old book is if I don't even plan to read some of them....

Some people collect movies, comics, or albums. I want to collect books. I just think that there is a lot of history between the covers. You can't get this effect with the e-books. In a way, print books are a piece of history. They have been through many different readers and settings. Some books might even have notes from a previous student. They can take you back in time and remind you of when you were in school. While I only have two older books at the moment, I hope to expand the collection over the summer by visiting Halfprice Books every now and then.  

The Future of Libraries

   While we have addressed a lot about the future of the books in themselves, I often find myself thinking something to this effect: "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LIBRARIES?!" This seems dramatic, but I really do fear that the number of libraries will begin to decrease. Another option might be a completely different type of library. After all, the TCU library is getting rid of books in order to fit more seating areas...This was greeted with mixed feelings. Since I actually check out books from the library, I was not happy when I heard the news. Some of my non-English major friends had completely different perspectives though. I was shocked to hear them say that the books were wasting space, and people do not actually need the books. 

Absolutely. 

Positively. 

SHOCKED. 

Anyway, even though I am not willing to let go of my traditional images of libraries, it is clear that my view is irrelevant in this fast-paced industry. Technology is taking over now, and it is time for me to suck it up and actually think about the future.

Exhibit A- The Future of Librarians in the E-book World

      

       Just as I suspected, this first article explores the effects of e-readers on libraries. I am willing to admit that e-readers are much more convenient. Also, you would not have to worry about late fees or losing the book (unless you lose your ipad...) Instead of hoping that a copy of the book will be in the library, you can assure yourself that it is always available online. I GET IT. However, I still have not been convinced to make the transition from print to electronic. Maybe some day.....This article also mentions that libraries are beginning to transform in order to attract more people. Specifically, libraries now offer classes, job training, and chill environments. I think this is definitely a good step in keeping the libraries relevant in today's society.

Moving along...How Technology is Shaping the Future of Libraries

      

         This website basically echoes the first, but I enjoyed the infographic it included. It was interesting to learn that most publishers won't sell the rights to e-books, but that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. It looks like I will get to enjoy my traditional libraries for a while longer (unless they move all of the books for seating...). Looking back, libraries have changed drastically from when I was a kid. I can still remember how excited I was to get my first library card. Better yet, I still remember the terrible computers in the library. At the time, I thought they were the best, but looking back on it, they were so inefficient. It was quicker to wander around the library than it was sit there and wait for search engine to actually understand what you wanted. 

    

Reader Interviews

As I was planning my interviews, I decided that I wanted to have a lot of variety. I teach high school colorguard, so I thought it would be interesting to interview two of my senior girls. They both attend Summit High school. Every student in the school gets an ipad for their textbooks, so I wanted to know if they actually use the iPads for educational purposes....It shouldn't be a surprise to hear that the answer is NO. Neither of them enjoyed reading. Their reading experiences have been affected negatively by school assignments. They told me that they are so overwhelmed with schoolwork that they really do not  have time to read anything based on their preferences. On the other hand, they spend SO much time on technology. I really couldn't sympathize with them about the homework after hearing about their many hours on twitter and facebook. In some ways, this could be considered a form of reading. They are constantly reading throughout the day. It is no wonder they feel overwhelmed! Hearing about their negative school experiences made me concerned for when I am a teacher. How can I really grab the attention of my students? It makes me hope that I have some freedom in choosing the books for my classroom. I want the class materials to be interesting yet relatable. My biggest pet peeve is when a teacher begins a book unit by saying, "I really do not like this book." REALLY?! Is that how you are going to get your students motivated to read? I had plenty of teachers in high school that bashed the books before we read them. Honestly, I didn't even bother to read a lot of the books in high school because the teachers killed my spirits. It felt like a punishment. I know that I will not be able to make every student find a love for reading, but I would at least like to provide them many opportunities to discover what interests them.

Happy Valentine's from the 1800s!

     Valentine's Day is such a sappy day, and it is full of cheesy love letters. Just looking at this Valentine from the 1800s reminds me that this is not anything new to our generation...sweet talking has prevailed through the years. Literature plays such a big part in keeping this alive. Simple lines are carried along and recited to make others swoon. Does it matter that the words are not original? I personally think that it should matter. While it is impressive to hear a person quote Shakespeare, it just doesn't feel genuine. Anyone can open up a book and copy a romantic line. There is so much pressure to sound eloquent, and the content seems to lose importance.

     After seeing so many movies and books based on love, you begin to wonder if these plots are giving people false hopes. Are these stories setting the expectations too high? Or should we follow the example that they set? The fairy tale stories are enchanting and uplifting, but the chances of finding this are slim.

(I meant to post this on Valentine's Day, but I accidentally kept it in my drafts... oops.

The Future of Books

      I want to embrace the new technologies that supposedly make reading a better experience, but I just haven't been able to. I am not sure if it is due to practicality or comfort, but I really prefer hard bound books to the tablets. I don't understand why you would want so many distractions on the tablet while trying to read. I guarantee that I would spend my time playing games instead of reading novels. I love the experience of going to halfprice books and wandering around until I find a book that looks interesting. It is exciting, and it also becomes a social experience. Instead of just sitting alone at home picking out novels online, I am interacting with fellow buyers and the people that work there. My trips to halfprice books are relaxing because I am focused only on finding a great book. I am concerned about people trying to jazz up reading with smells, sounds, etc. Reading would be so much harder for me because I would be distracted. Also, I want to be the one to imagine the story. Once the work is published, it is completely out of the author's hands, and I am free to visualize my own characters. If people continue to focus on the writing, I think that the future will be bright. However, if the glitz and glam distract even the authors, we are all doomed.