OH! I've never taught it. I studied it 4 years ago and I talk about it constantly enough that my students ALWYAS opt to read it on their own, but usually the Sandow Birk version. One of my students said she read the Burke version with Wikipedia, constantly checking allusions.

I feel like I need someone who's taught it recently to help me solidify my understanding of its influence.

I needed someone to help me with the references and allusions! We did a very biographically reading of the text (we had read On Monarchy first and La Vita Nuova, which is kickass because the text is composed of poems, usually sonnets, with background about why he wrote it and then HOW he structured it. There's also the creepiest love poetry image ever of Love holding Beatrice in his arms and force feeding her Dante's heart.

Nicholas Kristof lists the best kids' books ever. [link] Of the 13 books he lists, exactly one has a female main character. (Unless you want to count Charlotte's Web. Then, two.)

His education leaves a lot to be desired.

In the blog, he mentions that he would have put in Pippi Longstocking if he had more space. He seriously picked Little Lord Faunteroy over Pippi? Or, actually, over Secret Garden?

Or Tree Grows in Brooklyn or Ella Enchanted or any number of wonderful books.

The Westing Game. From the Mixed-Up Files etc.

In the blog, he also puts in the lists of books that his kids told him should have been on the list. His daughter, in addition to Twilight, also said Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which she says is the "best book ever." His kids also seem to like fantasy a lot more than he does.

Definitely Westing Game and Mixed-Up Files. Also Wrinkle in Time. Homecoming. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great or Just As Long as We're Together. The Great Gilly Hopkins.

Ramona Quimby, Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret

A Little Princess! The Secret Garden!

God, where has this guy been?