galtgrl Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 The Notgrass U.S. History we're using has The Scarlet Letter as the literature selection for the section we're in right now...anyone have a comparable alternative to suggest (i.e., with regard to time period, Puritanism, etc.)? I just didn't enjoy the book, and I'm bored to tears by Hawthorne in general. We read The Witch of Blackbird Pond last year, so that's out. I can't seem to come up with a good alternative on my own, so please help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 The Crucible - Miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I'm always intrigued by different tastes in books--I loved SL because it was my first exposure to symbolism in literature (read it in 10th grade). I don't know if I would have liked the story for the story's sake, otherwise. When you read it, did you get to "dissect" it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Young Goodman Brown is a more enjoyable short story by Hawthorne that has a similar theme. The Crucible would be good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galtgrl Posted September 15, 2010 Author Share Posted September 15, 2010 Thanks for the ideas...I'll check them out. I forgot about The Crucible. I know SL is on just about everyone's must-read list, but I'd rather save that for when they're a little older. I appreciate the symbolism, but I just don't enjoy that book. Maybe I'll enjoy his short story more.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 And when you've read The Crucible (excellent choice), definitely see the movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis. It's amazing. Then again, Daniel D-L always is. But that's another thread. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 And when you've read The Crucible (excellent choice), definitely see the movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis. It's amazing. Then again, Daniel D-L always is. But that's another thread. :tongue_smilie: I am totally taking notes because we are still a couple of years away from doing American Lit. I'm not sure my son will find Daniel Day appealing but I know I will enjoying watching it immensely. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I'm willing to talk about Daniel Day-Lewis :lurk5: Oh, wait. I was going to answer the question. OP, are you familiar with The Minister's Black Veil? Also a short story by Hawthorne. I prefer it to SL for younger teens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I am totally taking notes because we are still a couple of years away from doing American Lit. I'm not sure my son will find Daniel Day appealing but I know I will enjoying watching it immensely. :lol: Well, he may not find Daniel appealing in the same way that, um, some women do :leaving:but it's hard to beat Daniel's performance as John Proctor. Everyone in the movie is excellent, but he is, IMHO, so passionate and amazing in this role that I could watch it daily if the movie weren't so intense and sad. And my dd loved Scarlet Letter. It's just that I had her read The Crucible also because 1) I wanted her to watch the film because she loves film and 2) I knew she'd be interested in Arthur Miller's philosophy about comparing the Salem witch trials to "Communist witch hunting" in the 40s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I'm willing to talk about Daniel Day-Lewis :lurk5: Oh, wait. I was going to answer the question. OP, are you familiar with The Minister's Black Veil? Also a short story by Hawthorne. I prefer it to SL for younger teens. Say on, Dulcimeramy. Mr. Day-Lewis is fantastic, eh? Maybe we need to start a spin-off thread. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmgirl70 Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I'm going to put a plug in for the Scarlet Letter. We listened to it via a podcast called Craftlit. The woman is an English teacher and also loves to craft. For my kids I just fast forward past the craft talk and listen to her commentary on the book and the reading aloud of the book. It really enhanced our enjoyment of this book. We just began each day by listening to the book and podcast. You can find it at Craftlit.com or subscribe on itunes. It's free and I've really enjoyed all the books that she's done! By the way, we loved watching "The Crucible", too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 How about The Blithedale Romance? I would have loved Hawthorne much more in high school if we'd read that instead of The Scarlet Letter. The scene where they pull the grotesquely stiffened Zenobia out of the swamp seems much more geared to appeal to high school interests than the Rev. Dimmesdale's Puritanical self-loathing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyFL Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I loved the Scarlett Letter! Just saying... in case someone else would decide to try it when the time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I loved the Scarlett Letter! Just saying... in case someone else would decide to try it when the time comes. I did too. I don't know how in the world I'm going to par down our list when we get to American Lit. I have so many favorites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galtgrl Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 Daniel Day-Lewis, hmmmm... Oh, yeah, so ANYWAY... I got out a bunch of Hawthorne's short stories and they seem much more palatable to me. I think we'll do Minister's Black Veil AND Young Goodman Brown. We'll use The Crucible later, maybe to connect with this idea: The Crucible also because 1) I wanted her to watch the film because she loves film and 2) I knew she'd be interested in Arthur Miller's philosophy about comparing the Salem witch trials to "Communist witch hunting" in the 40s. I agree that SL is worth reading. I just can't get excited about it right now, especially after recently finishing Great Expectations ( as our *fun* read-aloud), which I LOVE. It's hard for me to jump from what I consider a great book to one I frankly have to force myself to get through...sorry, all of you SL lovers!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.