elegantlion Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 to start our school year. He's a slow reader. I still assign outside reading and we take turns picking the book. We're doing ancient GB in school and I'd like to start with something short and simple, but not childish. I started reading Flatland this morning thinking that would be it. I don't think he's quite ready for that level of satire. I'd like something that is 150 pages or less, not necessarily ancient. I'm trying to start the year with some reading success. For instance, years ago we started the school year with The Phantom Tollbooth, it was the perfect fit. I probably own the perfect book, but I don't have access to all my books right now unfortunately. He's been reading manga this summer and we're supposed to cover The Hobbit before school starts. I'd like to stay with something more literary not necessarily historical fiction. Could I do a few short stories? These are generally books he just reads, no assignments, some general discussion only. Any suggestions are welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 DS16 recommends: The Black Arrow, Treasure Island, My Family and Other Animals and A Day of Pleasure. He read these first at 14 (as part of the lit program he was doing) and still remembers these as Most Excellent Reads. The last two are particularly fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 My son really likes Bernard Cornwell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Assuming he's read The Giver trilogy and City of Ember, Here are a few, but I went over the page count restrictions on some: The Chocolate War (272), Call of the Wild (94), Lord of the Flies (208), Watership Down (eek 400+), I, Robot (256) The Chosen (284) 150 is a really hard limit. How about: Eaters of the Dead by Michael Criton it is roughly based on Beowulf and 179 pages :) Wait. I have it. Shane - 160 pages - strong characters, mood and plot with few descriptions which makes it stand out from most other books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoot Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 One of DS13's favorite books is Animal Farm. He read it a few years ago and requested to read it again this year. It is only about 128 pgs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Paula, I am seriously going to recommend the book Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. It is an easy to read 200+ page comic book that analyzes comics--from layout to content. This is a terrific stepping stone on the thought process involved with analysis given that many young men will enjoy the content. Jane (whose son read this one about this age) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Oh, these are all good. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) My Top Suggestions: - The Day They Came to Arrest the Book (176 pages) Our DSs LOVED this one -- all the characters present different points about why to/not to ban or censure books. GREAT discussion! - The Pushcart War (Merrill) (220 pages) A fast read; humorous and satirical look at how wars get started through a "battle" between pushcart vendors and big truck drivers. - Farmer Giles of Ham (Tolkien) (less than 25 pages) VERY funny and great language -- a "mock epic". - The Light Princess (George MacDonald) (less than 25 pages) Spiritual theme, but also some humor. - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, OR, Through the Looking Glass (Carroll) (each less than 100 pages) Get the Martin Gardner annotated version and enjoy all the amazing math, chess moves, puzzles, satires, etc. that Carroll embedded in these works - The Rumpelstiltskin Problem (Velde) (125 pages) A series of short stories; each retells the classic folktale from a completely different perspective; a lot of humor. - Wodehouse on Crime (Wodehouse) (read as many/few as you wish) Collection of short stories by PG Wodehouse -- we laughed so hard through some of these. More Ideas: Novellas - The Giver (Lowry) -- 150-200 pages -- dystopian work - Animal Farm (Orwell) -- 125 pages - The Old Man and the Sea (Hemingway) -- 125 pages -- adventure, but not very cheery - Wrinkle in Time, OR sequel, Wind in the Door (L'Engle) -- each 240 pages or so Short Stories - The Catbird Seat (Thurber) - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Thurber) - The Most Dangerous Game (Connell) - The Open Window (Saki) - The Lady or the Tiger (Stockton) - There Will Come Soft Rains (Bradbury) - The Magic Fishbone (Dickens) - "The Raven" (poem), or a short story by Edgar Allen Poe Edited July 22, 2012 by Lori D. edited the list to better fit the 150 page limit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 And to go with Jane's book recommendation, I highly recommend "99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style" (Matt Madden) -- incredibly, the same one-page "comicstrip story" drawn in different styles, told from different points of view -- use it as a springboard into exploring style and point of view in literature; this book shows you just how MUCH those two elements can change what you take away from a work of literature! Have a SUPER new school year! :) Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Thank you, all. This gives me some great places to start and some ideas for throughout the year as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 If you are doing Ancients this year, how about a Greek tragedy? Pick a stand alone play like Medea or Bacchae. Greek tragedies are rip, snorting, fast reads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 If you are doing Ancients this year, how about a Greek tragedy? Pick a stand alone play like Medea or Bacchae. Greek tragedies are rip, snorting, fast reads. I have those scheduled in for later this year, definitely not skipping the plays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 I have those scheduled in for later this year, definitely not skipping the plays. I assumed you might, but if you really want a positive introduction to this material, consider pulling one out for this first reading. There are tons of great Greek tragedies, you can't cover them all, pick one you aren't doing OR just move one you are doing up. This way he knows that ancient lit is a great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 I assumed you might, but if you really want a positive introduction to this material, consider pulling one out for this first reading. There are tons of great Greek tragedies, you can't cover them all, pick one you aren't doing OR just move one you are doing up. This way he knows that ancient lit is a great read. He's not a big fan of reading plays on his own, part of it is the formatting. I think he'll do better with us reading them together. He likes manga, but that has a visual element not present in a play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 He's not a big fan of reading plays on his own, part of it is the formatting. I think he'll do better with us reading them together. He likes manga, but that has a visual element not present in a play. Perhaps you could find a filmed version of a play and then read it. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 Perhaps you could find a filmed version of a play and then read it. Regards, Kareni We've been doing that with Shakespeare. Are there any good film versions of Greek plays? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 I am seriously going to recommend the book Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. It is an easy to read 200+ page comic book that analyzes comics--from layout to content. This is a terrific stepping stone on the thought process involved with analysis given that many young men will enjoy the content. And to go with Jane's book recommendation, I highly recommend "99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style" (Matt Madden) -- incredibly, the same one-page "comicstrip story" drawn in different styles, told from different points of view -- use it as a springboard into exploring style and point of view in literature; this book shows you just how MUCH those two elements can change what you take away from a work of literature! You guys are brilliant!!! These will be perfect for my dyslexic/VSL DS, who'll be plunging headfirst into literary analysis this year. I'm already thinking of so many cool things we can do with these books. Thank you!!! Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Are there any good film versions of Greek plays? I haven't seen them, but these are available: Oedipus Rex Antigone and, if you have a hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket, this certainly looks intriguing -- Antigone, by Sophocles, with Marionettes Hopefully others will chime in with recommendations. (Or perhaps you could start a new thread with that specific question.) Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 I haven't seen them, but these are available: Oedipus Rex Antigone and, if you have a hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket, this certainly looks intriguing -- Antigone, by Sophocles, with Marionettes Hopefully others will chime in with recommendations. (Or perhaps you could start a new thread with that specific question.) Regards, Kareni hurry! There's only one left in stock. :lol::lol: thanks for the links and the laughs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingiguana Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGT24uYPb2Y This was an Antigone that was on TV in 1984. My kids enjoyed it (if one can really enjoy Antigone). Seemed to me that it was done fairly well. This is only part one. I assume the other parts will come up on youtube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGT24uYPb2Y This was an Antigone that was on TV in 1984. My kids enjoyed it (if one can really enjoy Antigone). Seemed to me that it was done fairly well. This is only part one. I assume the other parts will come up on youtube. got to love youtube, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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