Anonymous wrote:I seem to be in the minority here, but Owen Meaney was just not my kind of book. I haven't found any Irving book that I like, frankly. I long ago decided to that if I don't like the first third of a book that I don't have to finish it. I never finished Owen Meaney.

I agree with Fahrenheit 451 and Rebecca. I also have very found memories of The Once and Future King by T.H. White.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I remember some of the books mentioned here as pure torture for me to get through in high school. I guess having to analyze every sentence takes away some of the joy of reading, perhaps I'll give them another chance.

This.

As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.
As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

Agree -- I had wonderful English teachers all the way through elementary, middle and high school. I'm grateful to them for helping me to become a passionate and discerning reader and a good writer. I see the impact a good teacher can have with my own kids as well; even my middle son who's a math-science type has loved his English class discussions in 10th and 11th grades, reading Pride and Prejudice, Huck Finn, Of Mice and Men and other classics.

My apologies...I meant to say school "can" suck the joy out of reading literature, in the same vein as the previous poster's reference to needing to focus on the assignment, rather than the story itself.

Gifted teachers are a wonderful blessing. My AP English teacher was a misogynistic sadist who made my life a living hell. But then his promise to my parents that I was definitely never going to amount to anything was my motivation to love literature and history and philosophy all the more, just to spite him. And now I can bring that passion to my children, so all's well that ends well, right?