What are you reading right now?

[spot]

A short story by William Tenn, "The Liberation Of Earth". It should be read and discussed at primary schools.

[Kindle]

Just concluded the entire Sookie Stackhouse vampire series from which the TV series TrueBlood is taken. Next book in the series is due out October 8th. I shall grab it and read it as soon as it is available.

[Rapunzel]

Originally Posted by spot

A short story by William Tenn, "The Liberation Of Earth". It should be read and discussed at primary schools.

What makes you think primary school children of today will be able to read, let alone understand, satire?

A recent spelling test with my class of 8 year olds resulted in:
Spell 'by' - biy
Spell 'when' - wen
Spell 'door' - dore
Spell 'call' - cool / cole
Spell 'called' - cald / cold / calt
Spell 'can't' - c***
Spell 'won't' - want
Spell 'first' - fast
Spell 'last' - lust

I don't mispronounce my words. They didn't mis-hear. They cannot write or spell for toffee. Most have parents who can't or won't help with homework. The kids are usually shuffled in front of an XBox or Playstation which destroys their ability to imagine.

They're studying mythology at the mo. They've looked at Jason and the Golden Fleece, now they're looking at Isis and Osiris. So you tell them "Isis left her golden palace, what do you think her beautiful, golden palace looked like? How would you describe it? Who can tell me some great adjectives you might use?"

"Ooh, ooh, me miss, me miss" hands wave wildly in the air . . .
"Yes Angel?"
"It was golden miss"
"Ok, yes Summer?"
"Er . . . I forgot"
"Never mind, keep thinking. Yes, Sebasteen?" (pronounced Sebastian, but his parents can't spell)
"It was a palace miss"
"Good, yes Summer again. Have you remembered?"
Summer giggles, then . . . "Er . . . I forgot"
"Never mind, keep thinking. Yes Bethany?" (1 of 5 Bethany's)
"It was beautiful miss"
"Good, now can anyone think of any other great adjectives to describe Isis' palace?"
"Yes Summer?"
"Er . . . I forgot who Isis was again . . ."
Explanation.
"Yes Jordan?" (1 of 3 Jordans)
"It was golden miss"




Satire? They are more of a study in sad irony. What have we created as the yoof of today?

[pinkchick]

The Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea.

I just started it this morning. So far so good

[Barman]

Actually have three books on the go. John Daly, autobiography. Bernard Langher, autobiography and Dean Koontz's third Frankenstein novel.

[minks]

I just finished a 4 book series by Larry McMurtry
The Berrybender Narratives

An excellent account of one British Family's (including servents) trek the early frontier times of America. (yes it's fiction)

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/...sin-killer.htm

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Rapunzel

What makes you think primary school children of today will be able to read, let alone understand, satire?

A recent spelling test with my class of 8 year olds resulted in:
Spell 'by' - biy
Spell 'when' - wen
Spell 'door' - dore
Spell 'call' - cool / cole
Spell 'called' - cald / cold / calt
Spell 'can't' - c***
Spell 'won't' - want
Spell 'first' - fast
Spell 'last' - lust

I don't mispronounce my words. They didn't mis-hear. They cannot write or spell for toffee. Most have parents who can't or won't help with homework. The kids are usually shuffled in front of an XBox or Playstation which destroys their ability to imagine.

They're studying mythology at the mo. They've looked at Jason and the Golden Fleece, now they're looking at Isis and Osiris. So you tell them "Isis left her golden palace, what do you think her beautiful, golden palace looked like? How would you describe it? Who can tell me some great adjectives you might use?"

"Ooh, ooh, me miss, me miss" hands wave wildly in the air . . .
"Yes Angel?"
"It was golden miss"
"Ok, yes Summer?"
"Er . . . I forgot"
"Never mind, keep thinking. Yes, Sebasteen?" (pronounced Sebastian, but his parents can't spell)
"It was a palace miss"
"Good, yes Summer again. Have you remembered?"
Summer giggles, then . . . "Er . . . I forgot"
"Never mind, keep thinking. Yes Bethany?" (1 of 5 Bethany's)
"It was beautiful miss"
"Good, now can anyone think of any other great adjectives to describe Isis' palace?"
"Yes Summer?"
"Er . . . I forgot who Isis was again . . ."
Explanation.
"Yes Jordan?" (1 of 3 Jordans)
"It was golden miss"




Satire? They are more of a study in sad irony. What have we created as the yoof of today?

But you are not asking them something they know about! Like Nintendo Wii or Bebo. It's really sad isnt it, when kids dont get excited by their little seed growing in that cup of dirt anymore.