Friday, December 17, 2010

What I'm reading today (12-17-10)

I've always been interested in the Great Migration, so when the book The Warmth of Other Suns:  the Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson showed up in the high school's library, I snatched it up.  Something about the shameful way humans have treated each other and the great strides (and setbacks) America has made, reinforces my love of history, humanity, and ultimately the students I am so lucky to encounter day in and day out. 

As  I've been reading this book during Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) time, horrified  by the dehumanizing choices that have shaped America's history yet encouraged by individual after individual who has sacrificed to make the world a better place by standing up for what is right,  I am reminded of other works that have taught me that humans should have the basic right to tell their own truths, whether through fiction or nonfiction:  Roots and Queen by Alex Haley, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee,  A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and the movies Mississippi Burning and American History X

The Great Migration is more than a history lesson for me; it is the archetypal story of humans moving forward to overcome the stagnancy that keeps them from living their truths.  This same story is one that makes teaching writing a joy.  How else, except through the written word, can we fully communicate our own realities so others can understand?

3 comments:

  1. Hi Sandy

    Great insights. I have been reading " Age of Faith" because I am fascinated by Medieval Times. Reading this book I found out how much the Arab civilization, culture, language, food, have influenced our Western way of life. Did you know that the word : assessine comes from Arab?
    Reading is voyages I take through time and places.
    I am so grateful that now I live in a country with so many different resources to help me find a book I am interested in.I haven't read as much in my life like now, not because I love reading more , or I have more time, but because there are more books available.
    Great country.
    Esther

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  2. Esther,
    Thank you for your comments.

    Mouw

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  3. Hi Sandy, thank you for the insights into your grading criteria as well as your reading posts. I have taken an interesting journey over break...the book 'Beautiful Boy' has been one that caught my eye last summer...I did not have the fortitude to read it then, but read the book over break. This is a true story written by the father of a meth addict. The novel is honest, heart wrenching, horrifying and hopeful. After finishing the father's account, I quickly downloaded (on my new Christmas NOOK) "Tweak" by Nic Sheff, this is the son's version...oh my, it truly give insight into the hold any addiction has on a person. Again, this novel is so graphic and scary, but having read the father's point of view, I found the contrast most intriguing.

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