<p>I just saw this thread and I’ve got to say I love Charles Dickens books. “Great Expectations” is by far my favorite. It was required reading in ninth grade for me. I actually own a copy of the book. I first discovered Dickens in fifth grade when I read “Oliver Twist”.</p>
<p>There were a few books out of my junior year that I really liked as well. “The Catcher in the Rye” is a favorite of mine. I get my copy out occasionally to quote it and have used the line where Holden explains that he wants to be a “catcher” in some of my works on why I want to enter the education field. Not long after we read that book I discovered one of the greatest novels ever, “The Great Gatsby”. I got very into this book–own it, have seen the movie twice, and have had lenghty discussions with my uncle about it. I’m very tempted to pick up some other F. Scott Fitzgerald books!</p>
<p>While I never had to read “Farenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury for school, I picked up a copy of it after reading Bradbury stories such as “The Pedestrian” and “All Summer in a Day” in school. I loved this one too. I also read a few other Bradbury shorts including “The October Game”, which still haunts me to this day. There was another short story I read around this time period called “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut–absolutely wonderful story.</p>
<p>George Orwell books are also on my list. “1984” and “Animal Farm” have both captured me. Some friends of mine were debating the simliarities between “1984” and “Farenheit 451” with me. We all think they’re written along similar lines, but I’m one of the few I know who has read both.</p>
<p>As far as modern writers, I like Robin Cook, Stephen King, and Michael Crichton. I’m also a huge David Pogue fan when it comes to computer reference–I met David last year and he’s a great guy, really personable.</p>
<p>There is one other writer who I read a lot of–me. I write short stories and novels in my spare time (when I’m bored). Since I proof my works and scan them over looking for new ideas a lot I naturally have to go through and pick apart my writing now and then. My reading time has been reduced somewhat since I started to write a lot but it’s been worth it–nothing like a page or two between classes.</p>
<p>I’ve just discovered Nabokov and Calvino in the past year, and I love those books! If you haven’t already, you should read Invisible Cities and Cosmicomics by Calvino. Both are stunningly lovely.</p>
<p>I thought of this thread a few days ago when I saw one of our neighborhood 6th graders–whose parents have described him as hating to read–walking down the street slowly, holding a book in front of himself and reading as he walked. (His lips were moving.) The book: Artemis Fowl.</p>
<p>The reluctant reader at our house (female) surprised us by reading all of Piers Anthony’s Incarnations of Immortality books. She normally limits herself to Harry Potter.</p>
<p>Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomics and T-Zero are amazingly wonderful, and would probably be great for science-y kids who are reluctant readers. The stories are very short – few longer than 5-6 pages, many shorter – and generally are goofy takes on various topics in physics: galactic folklore narrated by something that seems to be some kind of crusty old function.</p>
<p>Indeed, books are the ultimate in portable entertainment. No worries about batteries, broken screens, etc. They can be had for nothing if you get them at the library (unlike spending $250 on iPods or something).</p>
<p>Also, I prefer books to movies because with a book you can visualize people, places, things, etc how you want. For example, I pictured Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter as my middle school principal (an older man but without a beard) and Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth as one of my teachers! Also, I pictured Jay Gatsby’s house my house on steroids–basically it looked the same but much bigger with more rooms and a third floor that looked amazingly like the second floor…</p>
<p>You just can’t get this stuff in movies (though I loved the Great Gatsby movie). And sometimes the movie will add something or omit something–I’m still disappointed because neither “Charlie and the Chocolate” factory includes the chapter “Square Candies that Look Round” as part of their stories!</p>
<p>My eight grader just finished The Tale of Two Citites for his book report - the book was his choice. He is going to make a report in the form of an interview with an author that he is going to record on his camera. He will be Dickens, of course
Yesterday he was writing a script and I happened to peek:
“Hello, and welcome to BBC’s new series - Masterpice Interviews with Famous Dead People”
Well, he is only 13. Anything that makes him read Dickens is fine with me :)</p>
<p>A boarding school memoir called Stand Before Your God by Paul Watkins. Watkins was born in RI, sent to the Dragon boarding school at age six in England and later to Eton College. He only saw his family at Christmas, Easter and for a month in the Summer a great read. Would YOU attend boarding school at age seven?</p>
