mathmarm Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 I would like to develop better literary tastes. Hubby and I are going to be doing this together as neither of us are big, leisure readers and we'd like to alter that since we have come to view it as a negative. We both work for colleges and have a significant break over the summer so we'd like to start as soon as possible (June 1, seems like a nice start date). We are looking to introduce a gradual but significant change over time. There are 2 things we'd like to do over the coming months that will help with reading and appreciating literature. 1) Improve our vocabulary (we know a great deal of terminology, but just knowing words...not so much. We do use a dictionary though.) ---Seems basic, but its difficult to focus on a story when I do not know what all the words mean, so we'd like to work on that, 2) A good solid intro to various genres of literature. ---I'm not even sure what I mean by this, I guess that it will include readings in a wide variety of genres and get me accustomed to different styles and genres until I am able to find a genre to specialize in. Is there a literature guide out there? I don't know if I want to start with a Lit. for Adults or Lit. for Dummies type approach, or if I want to do a high-quality literature program for kids grades 4-12... What are my options for something like this? Also, what is phonemic awareness in the sense that 'Sharing quality literature selections can improve phonemic awareness...'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy58103 Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 How about "The Well-Educated Mind" by SWB? She gives an overview of five "genres" of literature: Novels, Biographies, History, Drama, and Poetry. Included with this is a recommended method of reading, a "history" of the genre, a list of questions to discuss as you read, and recommended reading lists. I think she even gives recommendations for improving vocabulary. The book itself is about 400 pages long, but at least two-thirds of that consists of brief summaries of the books on the reading lists, so its actually a pretty quick read. I've also found "Essential Literary Terms" by Sharon Hamilton to be a useful supplement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmarm Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Also, what is phonemic awareness in the sense that 'Sharing quality literature selections can improve phonemic awareness...'? I looked up phonemic awareness and it seems like its something for kids, young ones at that. Do adults benefit from 'developing or improving' phonemic awareness? I mentioned to my sister and a friend that I wanted to broaden my own horizons by reading more this summer/learn to appreciate a good book and they both talked about how good it is for developing 'phonemic awareness'? My Hubby agreed, but I don't get how 'phonemic awareness' applies to or benefits me, as an adult? How about "The Well-Educated Mind" by SWB? She gives an overview of five "genres" of literature: Novels, Biographies, History, Drama, and Poetry. Included with this is a recommended method of reading, a "history" of the genre, a list of questions to discuss as you read, and recommended reading lists. I think she even gives recommendations for improving vocabulary. The book itself is about 400 pages long, but at least two-thirds of that consists of brief summaries of the books on the reading lists, so its actually a pretty quick read. I've also found "Essential Literary Terms" by Sharon Hamilton to be a useful supplement. Thank you, I will look into this book. Since I want to start ASAP, do you suppose its okay for me to just pick a book from each of those categories and begin reading/working on them? If I can just pick a book to read, I think that I'd like to start with these: Novels: I can't think of one. Recommendations? Biography: Mein Kampf by Hitler or Night by Ellie Weisel Drama: .....? History: What does this genre mean? Historic literature or a nonfiction account of something in history? Poetry: 100 Best Loved Poems off of Amazon (Note, be careful googling 'Adult poems' or 'Poems for Adults' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nellecv Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Phonemic awareness is the understanding that words are made up of separate sounds. Usually this is something covered in pre-k or k. Basically, before a kid can learn to read, they have to be able to hear that the word "cat" is made up of the sounds "c-a-t" Once they get this they move on to phonics, which is learning which sounds are represented by which letters. I don't see how this could be helpful for an adult. If you can read, you've already mastered phonemic awareness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingiguana Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 I'm working my way (slowly) through this list: http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml It includes a fair number of kids' books and "fun" books, so it's not just a slog all the time. However, I'm being judicious. There are some books on there I never intend to read, some I got halfway through and decided they just weren't any good, etc. I've already read a lot of these, so it's not as daunting as it could be. That's not all I'm reading, but it might be an ok list to start with -- particularly if you're just starting out on this venture. Jumping into WEM is a bit of a leap if you're new to this. On "history": I just started I,Claudius. The reviews on Amazon include a number of people who say they really got into reading all things historical after this book: Livy, Suetonious, Gibbon, etc., so I wouldn't discount reading historical fiction. If your plan is to read Herodotus, listen to the Elizabeth Vandiver lectures on him if you can. (From the Teaching Company. A lot of libraries have these, even if you have to get them through interlibrary loan.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmarm Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 I just had to ask Hubby what he meant by the phonemic awareness thing. Hubby studies languages as a hobby and we are currently working on Spanish together. Hubby said that I can't hear Spanish--the nuances and stuff like that. He didn't know exactly what the term meant, he just took it to be something that meant like being able to hear the difference between papa and papa* (that asterisk is supposed to be the accent that they use in Spanish) and stuff like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nscribe Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 You may also want to Google "The Great Books" and explore a bit. There is a wealthy of information and some from various spiritual perspectives, others secular. The Teaching Company has several lecture series that can be a great entry point. One other bit: I often suggest people begin with a book and an audio book. It seems to really help get the whole thing moving if you can double up and some books are really wonderful to hear being well read. Audio allows you to explore a great book while driving, cooking and doing the other business of living which often limits the time adults have to read more. It is not a matter of either/or, more a way to enhance a great books reading adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 I think it might be wise to meet you where you are which means at least for me that I need to know more about what you read now and what interests you. For instance, like spy novels and war sorts of movies, then read All Quiet on the Western Front and The Red Badge of Courage. Like romance, try Jane Austen, Shakespeare's comedies, and Anna Karenina. This way you begin by playing to your strengths. Then as you go on you add on other things that seem interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 For a novels, my favorite is Jane Eyre. Another intro type book is How to Read a Book. Best wishes on your journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 I have to give a shout out to one of my favorite Teaching Company Courses, The Art of Reading with Professor Timothy Spurgeon. I watched it along with my 7th- and 9th-graders, and we all enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. Professor Spurgeon is very engaging, and, when you are fitting in studying amid work and a busy life in general, it may be easier to motivate yourself to watch a short lecture together, plus it makes discussion much easier and more likely to happen. http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=2198 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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