Books That Suck--LOLOMGWTFWWJD

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I also enjoyed The Canterbury Tales because we learned the Middle English prologue. Our teacher made us rap it and I remember it line-by-line to this day.

My 11th grade English teacher also made us memorize the prologue in Middle English. We didn't rap it, though. I'd like to hear that!

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

For those of you comparing TKAM with Grisham, TKAM is not supposed to be riveting courtroom drama. It is about prejudice - on a variety of levels not just racial. That is what makes it good subject matter for students.

It's also what makes it a pretty mediocre book, from the standpoint of pure artistic merit - the comparison between prejudging a reclusive neighbor and higher-order racial prejudice is pretty facile, and using both selfishness and "BAD THINGS DUN DUN DUHHHHH" as illustrative/turning points is pretty 2-dimensional.

Again, it's a good book for kids to read, and if you're going to force books onto people (which sucks), it's probably in the top quarter - but it just isn't transcendent literature.

[ASTalumna06]

I saw this, and I had to post it here. Just because.

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

It's also what makes it a pretty mediocre book, from the standpoint of pure artistic merit - the comparison between prejudging a reclusive neighbor and higher-order racial prejudice is pretty facile, and using both selfishness and "BAD THINGS DUN DUN DUHHHHH" as illustrative/turning points is pretty 2-dimensional.

Again, it's a good book for kids to read, and if you're going to force books onto people (which sucks), it's probably in the top quarter - but it just isn't transcendent literature.

I guess if you are arguing artistic merit, then I will give you that argument. But, I do love the book. It is still one of my old favorites - I loved teaching it to 9th graders, and truthfully, most really liked studying it. The different levels of prejudice that occur (so much more than the trial and Boo Radley) make great opportunities to teach theme to students. Plus, I taught school in rural areas, so my students understood the "feel" of Maycomb.