Before I get to the homework assignment, I’m sharing a photo of the beach from Saturday’s morning walk. We got to the beach extra early because it was the start of Labor Day Weekend at the beach. The freeway was stopped on Friday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. through the night. We were expecting to have no parking at the beach and believed it would be really crowded. You can see going early paid off!
My DIL is teaching AP English to high school seniors this year. She and my son worked together on her curriculum for the year. They were both Lit Majors at the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. They selected poetry, short stories and novels to read beginning in modern times and then going back 50 years, 100, 150, etc.
They asked if I wanted to read along with them, as they are planning on conquering the list as well as my DIL’s students. I said yes!
I’m posting the first two pages of the syllabus which covers September. Early October I’ll post those assignments, because I think posting all 13 pages at once would be overwhelming. The short stories were excellent. I also am enjoying re-reading “My Brilliant Friend,” which shockingly was published almost 15 years ago! I can’t believe that much time has passed since I read it.
I remember loving this book which is the first of four in the Neapolitan Series. I wrote a blog post about it and was surprised at the comments. Many people found it too gritty with too much violence and wondered about my taste! I found it to be filled with details and complex, memorable characters. I think it’s an accurate reflection of life in1950s Naples, where women led a subservient role to their husbands. The characters lived in a violent, poor neighborhood. It was interesting to get so many different opinions on the book.
Here’s September’s reading list:
FYI, I’m trying to do all the reading, but have not agreed to do the writing assignments! So far I’m on schedule. If you’re not interested in this reading challenge, at least you have an abundance of literature to add to your TBR list!
There’s a lot of poetry to read which reflects my DIL as a published poet. Here’s a poem of hers that I love, I know I’ve shared it before, so if you’ve read it, enjoy it a second time! Maybe it will be a first for you.
| Coal Oil Point Tonight the sky with its plummy texture Is especially dear to me, and the small purple Flowers shuddering in the sand. Tonight the wind curls soft and salty against My bare arms with that strange lively mourning. You let me look at you and understand that Nobody has ever had eyes like yours, fringed with Red-gold lashes, and nobody will again. I look up at the stars and pity them: The more they burn the faster they die. How I burn makes me live beyond myself. Catherine Simpson is a cellist who lives in Berkeley. She has been previously published in Big River Poetry Review, Right Hand Pointing, Spectrum, Step Away Magazine, Into the Teeth of the Wind, Poydras Review, and Splash of Red. This work is Copyright © 2013, and owned by Catherine Simpson and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author. |
Have you read anything by Yiyun Li? If so, what?
Are you familiar with the Neapolitan Series by Elena Ferrante? If you’ve read any of her books, what did you think?
Did you know that Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym?
Elena Ferrante maintains her anonymity for a combination of artistic, practical, and personal reasons, prioritizing the work itself over the author’s public persona. She believes that once a book is written, it should speak for itself, and the author’s identity is irrelevant. — Google’s AI Overview
You daughter sounds amazing! I absolutely adored my AP English teacher junior year and AP/dual-enrollment English professor. I was just browsing my e-reader for poetry last night, so this came at a perfect time for me. 😊
I’ve not read My Brilliant Friend, but you describe the same complexity and realness of my all time favorite books–Roberto Bolano’s 2666, though it’s set in Mexico. So… I’ll need to add to my list. I have read a few of Yiyun Li’s books, though; I remember particularly liking Where Reasons End.
I’m so glad the poetry list came at the right time for you. I haven’t heard of Roberto Bolano’s 2666, but if it’s your all-time favorite it will go on my TBR list along with Where Reasons End.
Awesome! It’s a book I have a hard time “recommending” because it is a bit dark and violent at time, but it’s poetic in language and content… similar to the book your describes, so you might appreciate it.
I will check it out. It may be after I’m doing my daughter in laws curriculum, though.
Yep, good call. It’s a beast–900+ pages, if I recall correctly.
I’m trying to finish “The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver that I started a while ago — and keep up with the syllabus! It’s lots of reading. When there is a break, I’ll start on your recommendation.
I’ve read almost everything Kingsolver has written. She narrated “The Lacuna” on the audio book and I highly recommend! Might help you get through it.
That’s a great idea. I really like the book, but the print is too small for me and I end up putting it down. A friend loaned it to me.
That should be fun, like auditing a first year college course! I’ve read the Morrison ages ago but not anything by Ferrante.
I’ve always been meaning to read “Beloved” and now I’ll finally do it. Yes, it is like auditing a course. My son read me the books on their syllabus before he sent it to me. I was embarrassed at how many I’ve never read, especially as they go back in time.
I have not read Li. I read a few of Ferantes book (yes to pseudonym) and I admit I’m not a fan. I know I’m in the minority. Everyone else loves them. They bored me and I hated the characters. I read one not part of the Naples ones and I really thought it was lackluster.
I am excited about the reading syllabus though
It’s funny how Ferante’s books have such mixed reviews. You either love them or not! A lot of books other people say are amazing, I haven’t been able to finish. It will be fun to post the syllabus at the beginning of each month for the school year.
So looking forward to that
I’m looking forward to having a post idea for the start of each month!
Wow – what an impressive syllabus. I haven’t read much from the 1995-2025 unit authors. I love your DIL’s poetry – beautiful!!
She is amazing. I love that poem! There’s one she wrote one of her sisters that I really loved, too. I’ll have to ask her for a copy because I can’t find it online anymore. My son and DIL spent a lot of time on the syllabus. If I continue to follow it, It will broaden the reading I’ve done throughout my life. My son read me the list of books before the syllabus was written and most of the books I’ve never read.
“FYI, I’m trying to do all the reading, but have not agreed to do the writing assignments! So far I’m on schedule.” Um, based on the syllabus that gives you a zero for the assignment Miss Wickham. Is this how you want to start your school year! Ha, ha, said in the sternest teacher voice I can muster. Ha, ha. Have fun.
You gave me a good laugh today! Yikes, now I’m going to have nightmares of signing up for a class and forgetting about it. Then realizing it’s finals day!
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and “What Happens to a Dream Deferred?” Two of my favorite poems that I included in my time as an English adjunct at several universities. I am not familiar with a lot of these mentioned but Langston Hughes is one of my favorite and timeless poets. Sounds like a motivated group of students! Good for her!
Also, T.S. Eliot-“Do I dare disturb the universe?” Words which are universal.
I am interested to see how the syllabus progresses! Thanks for publishing.
I like publishing each month on the first or near the beginning of each month. I don’t think people would read it all if I posted the whole thing.
You are right. I don’t think students would read the whole thing, also. Smart! The format is great. As an adjunct, I was given a textbook in the past and suggestions but it was up to me. Not sure if this has changed more recently here.
The students have the entire syllabus. I was thinking of my blog readers. My son did the format.
Good format! He did a good job at keeping it manageable for all.
I love that!
I’m not familiar with poetry. But after I do all her reading, I will be!
Where do you find the time?
Right now I’m on vacation. We’ll see how it goes when I’m back to real life!
Thank you for the opportunity but I think I’ll need to pass on this project! I’ve been recruited as my oldest grandchild’s “learning coach” for online school this year! I’ll be getting a lot of high school classes to review!! But all the best on your quest! 💜
How interesting to be your grandchild’s learning coach! You’ll be busy!
Oh, this is a great thing to share! I wish I had the time for all of it, but I will definitely do some sampling. Your DIL’s poem is so good. Saw Morrison’s “Beloved” mentioned. I read that a few years ago in my classics-catchup series. I recently looked into “Moby-Dick” but it’s so long. I know it was based on the Essex and I’ve read the book and seen the movie about it, so Melville will not make the cut.
When I looked through the entire year, there is so much I haven’t read. I’ve always considered myself to be a reader, too. I’m looking forward to reading as much as I can. I love my DIL’s poem. She wrote it when they were at UC Santa Barbara. My son has beautiful eyes, red lashes and hair, so I assumed it was about him. I haven’t read much poetry. This will definitely broaden my exposure to literature and poetry.
What a curriculum! Good for you for tagging along with all the reading. I must admit, I’m not one for poetry, but your DIL’s poem is lovely!
I read (listened to) My Brilliant Friend last year, and I thought it was a good book. It DID represent (in my mind) the time and place and circumstances.
I’m not a poetry reader either. I like my DIL’s poem better than the 10 that were assigned. I think this curriculum is going to broaden my reading with poetry and then throughout the year with books and author’s I’ve never read.
I love “My Brilliant Friend” and the three books that follow it. If you haven’t listened to them yet, I highly recommend them.