oh Jilli! I remember the St. Trinian's movies from when I was young ... they were such fun! (were you speaking literally of mitts? little lace ones?)

(were you speaking literally of mitts? little lace ones?)

Yes. I just took them off to eat my bagel, but I have a pair of little lace mitts with me. Go on, look surprised.

I'm deeper into Poisonwood Bible now. The mom writing from the future perspective just exposed that one of her kids is going to die. I kinda hate that technique. It feels like it's artificially creating a sense of dread and I think there are so many ways to do that other than coming right out and saying it. Now I know someone's days are numbered and I'll have that on my mind until I find out who it is.

Other than that I'm really enjoying the book. I've gotten over my confusion of the different narrators (helped greatly by a previous reader who left her character notes in the book- thanks prior reader!) and I'm starting to appreciate how each character gives a different insight into the settings and stories.

Laga, a friend and I were just discussing that particular technique. He'd just finished The Time-Traveller's Wife and drew the parallel to Poisonwood.

I had to admit that that reveal made me spend the pages between it and the payoff rooting for my choice.

Of course, it helped that I didn't like anyone in Poisonwood.

Crap, I'd better get back on reading Poisonwood! I won't be able to really start reading again until after school is out, alas.

that's interesting because I love Time Traveller's Wife so very much. The only thing I don't like about it is the choices one character makes but I still respect those choices. I didn't think Niffenegger hit me over the head with it as hard as Kingsolver did. Maybe I need to read TTW a third time.

I also am not liking any of the characters in Poisonwood yet. Well I like the parrot.

edit: I wonder if I'd be more forgiving of Poisonwood if it was set in Chicago instead of Africa.

TTW is probably my favorite Chicago novel.

Oh, and in Harry Potter news, JKR has written a 800-word prequel story for a fundraiser!

Seeking help!

I'm developing my booklist for the 12th grade class (the actual books we read over the year, not the summer reading I'd listed earlier). As I mentioned earlier, this is a class of reluctant readers/writers--but keep in mind that they are going to a pretty challenging private school, so they are not remedial. I have complete freedom and am going to focus on the concept of identity and definition of self in the face of cultural/social obstacles. Here's my current list:

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
Angels in America, Tony Kushner
Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller
In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez
Kindred, Octavia Butler
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

(Hamlet is not a done deal, but I've taught it a lot and feel I can make it interesting and accessible to them.)

So...first, for those who have read both, is In the Time of Butterflies a better choice than How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents? I want to include some Latino/a literature given that we live in LA and have a substantial hispanic population, but I'm not sure about the best choice. Or maybe should I do Marquez ( A Hundred Years of Solitude or Love in the Time of Cholera )? I'm concerned his brand of magical realism might be too difficult, but so is Isabel Allende, who I also love. I'd love to teach The House of the Spirits, but is that the best choice?

Help me, Buffistas! It's been too long since I've read most of these to judge them against each other!

I don't think Marquez is tough to read and (IMO) he's a way better writer than Allende.

You just have to keep a chart out to keep track of all the Buendias with the same name.

See, I think 100 Years of Solitude is confusing, and I'm their teacher. I don't want my students to get confused and shut down, so I'm reluctant to pick that one (though I agree it's genius).