Reply to Finally reading East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes.  Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult.  I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.[/quote]

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing. [/quote]

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no? 
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after. 
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever. [/quote]

PP who hated Steinbeck in HS.  I don’t think the exposure to some classics helped me appreciate the authors.  As an adult I avoid all Hemingway, Dickens, Vonnegut and Steinbeck because I couldn’t stand those authors in HS.  I read two Steinbeck books and did cliffs notes for others we were assigned.  I never finished any of the other authors’ books.[/quote]

Yes exactly. They’re truly not age appropriate for most kids so everyone’s first exposure is tedium and boredom. The Scarlet Letter is AMAZING- how many 17 year olds can truly *get it* though? And I don’t mean get it in the way you can answer some questions and analyze irony but like GET IT. Not many. So we assign it and they hate it and never read it again.

We are better off building readers  - people who love to read and have an identity as a reader and what they like - because when we do, they later will eventually find their way to the classics meant for them and enjoy them. It doesn’t mean we teach empty garbage texts but we also don’t push some classics just because -  it ultimately isn’t beneficial. For example, I teach Frankenstein and the kids love it BUT- I don’t teach the original. It’s long and difficult. I teach an abridged version, or I got a grant to do a manga version they really loved. I pair it with other texts. This works so much better than handing them a dense text they’re just not going to like. [/quote]

Based on the writing in your PPs, it’s a bit scary you’re an English teacher.  [/quote]

ignore this poster, English teacher.  I appreciated your insights.[/quote]

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