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.

"Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife" by Linda Berdoll

Source: books.simonandschuster.com via Casey on Pinterest

Maybe it's because my husband bears an uncanny resemblance to him, but I do enjoy a good portrayal of Mr. Darcy.  (Or perhaps that's why my husband resembles him, only ---sadly---lacking the sizable estate.)  Some portrayals of Mr. Darcy try to simply embody his presence in Pride and Prejudice (both the Colin Firth and Keira Knightley film adaptations of the book fall in this category).  Others, like the Bridget Jones movies, take some liberties in character, time period, or other details.  Linda Berdoll's Austenite novel, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, attempts to just continue Austen's original novel, but actually becomes an almost completely separate entity.

Yes, the novel begins with the newlywed Darcy couple, and most of the characters are from Pride and Prejudice.  The problem is that the characters, particularly Mr. Darcy, are not the same characters.  Yes, the are superficially the same, but it just wasn't convincing as a continuation.

Even after I tried to think of it as a separate historical novel that happened to share some names with Austen's fiction, there were still some things that bothered me.  The word "niggardly" is used, for example.  Although it could probably be considered historical in context, it was completely unnecessary, and not a word frequently (if ever) used by Austen herself.

If you are just after historical fiction, read some of Tracey Chevalier or Philippa Gregory's books instead.
If you want to enjoy some Mr. Darcy, and I can't say I blame you, try checking out this list of Austenite fiction, or read the original.  I have yet to take as great of pleasure in an Austen adaptation as in Austen's actual words (no matter how much I dearly love some Austen-based books and movies).

To find out more about Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, click here.

"The Easy Nature Guide: Easy Wild Food Guide" by Neil Fletcher

Spring 2012 in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
copyright Keri Withington

If you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, you may have wondered which plants are edible (and which you should avoid).  Perhaps you're interested in survival skills or a zombie apocalypse kit, or perhaps you're just curious about wild foods.  Whatever your reason, The Easy Nature Guide: Easy Wild Food Guide is a good starting point for learning about wild foods in the United Kingdom.

This book is divided into sections by season, and is also searchable by food type and location.  It includes pictures and descriptions.  Many wild food guides or scavenging guides contain this information, but this one also includes other useful tips and preparation ideas.  For some of the items, like fungi, I would still recommend checking with an experienced person before eating.  However, this will help you start enjoying wild food.

For my book review of Fletcher's Easy Wild Food Guide, click here.

"Blood Red, Snow White" by Marcus Sedgwick

Some novels give you exactly what you expect (like Kelley Armstrong's books), and there's something to be said for consistency.  Some books disappoint you (for me,  "Eat, Pray, Love").  Other books are so utterly surprising that they take your breath away.  Whatever expectations you had shatter, and you are completely spellbound in the story.

"Blood Red Snow White," by Marcus Sedgwick, is one of these rare books.  It was charming, entrancing, and powerful.  It weaved together Russian history, fairy tales, and beautiful writing in such a way that I was completely engrossed by the book and disappointed when it ended (only because it meant that I had to stop reading).  I wish that I had written this book, but--as I didn't--I am so glad that I read it.

To read my full review of Sedgwick's "Blood Red, Snow White," click here.