Introduction to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I admit that I am something of an Austenite, and so I am excited to have the chance to teach using Pride and Prejudice.  This novel is great to teach with because it is a classic in very formal English, but there are so many great adaptations of it that students are normally at least passingly familiar with it and therefore more confident as they begin to read. 

To view my Prezi introduction to Pride and Prejudice, click here.

If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice, you may also enjoy Austen fan-fiction, such as Dancing with Mr. Darcy.

Introduction to Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

I previously posted links to presentations introducing my students to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  Today, I'm adding the next audiobook option: Shelley's Frankenstein.

Although most students have heard of Frankenstein, most think that Frankenstein is the lumbering, green monster, rather than the scientist.  Indeed, Frankenstein and his monster are both commonly misrepresented and misunderstood characters.  The actual novel  is beautiful, provocative, and insightful.  It tackles issues about human nature within the framework of an entertaining story.  Although told at the time as a ghost or horror story, Frankenstein is now recognized as one of the first true science fiction novels.  I love this novel, and I am excited to share it with some of my students this semester.

To view my Prezi presentation introducing Frankenstein to students, click here.

If you enjoy Frankenstein, you may also enjoy Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis.

(Image from Wikimedia)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

In my last post, I explained that my students are listening to audiobooks.  The first choice was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.  Their second choice is The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

Although Doyle's writing is more formal and "old-fashioned," many of them are familiar with the characters from modern adaptations.  The reason that there are still so many adaptations is that the original books and stories are incredibly entertaining.  The storylines are full of twists and turns, and the characters are unforgettable.  If they can get past the initial resistance to the language and style, they will discover how exciting Sherlock Holmes really is.

Click here for my Prezi on Sherlock Holmes.  This presentation gives a brief introduction to Doyle and his most famous character.

If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, you may also enjoy the  novel Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at work.

An Introduction to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

In my introductory English classes this year, I am requiring my students to listen to audiobooks.  This is an ongoing assignment that will help to develop a lot of skills.  I won't go into all of the research and pedagogy now, but I did want to share one of the resources I created.

This semester, there are four book choices; the most contemporary book option is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.  According to Foer, this book is about grief and continuing with life after loss.  The basic story line combines two tales: a nine-year-old in New York who is trying to cope after his dad dies in the 9/11 attacks, and his grandfather, who survived the bombings in Germany during WWII.  It is, at times, both realistic and absurd, funny and heart-wrenching, awkward and beautifully written. 

To view my Prezi presentation on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, click on the link:
http://prezi.com/jquxa0ursml_/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share.  It ioffers a brief introduction to the book.

If you enjoy Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, you may also like The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.