and 1984 - a book I actually read then and many times after. I resented reading lists, but occasionally there was something that made such things bearable.
1984, Fahrenheit 451, Catch 22, and Slaughterhouse Five were those re-readables on my reading list.
Vonnegut was such a good read that I read all of his works. The best is Mother Night, how he said: "I don’t think it’s a marvelous moral; I simply happen to know what it is: We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
Those words stuck with me and have kept me true to myself and my values, through college and career in the decades since. If only more people today had felt such and impact from written word like that, we may be in a different place in this country.
I'm in my 50's but had a friend at work, in his early 20's that was just discovering so many of these writers and books - it was eye opening for him. He's certainly not the average guy, because most peeps his age aren't reading much anymore other than what comes over their smartphone in short lines lines of abbreviated text or tik-tok videos.
But this showed me one thing: if you have the intellect and feed it - it's transformative in a big way.
If you're looking for a Good Book that upholds American Values (Minus Abortion, but we can't have it all), try From the Ashes, I found it a good read, a little out there on the Sci-Fic, but I enjoyed it none the less.
When my daughter was in high school, about 6-7 years ago, she independently selected 1984 for a reading assignment. Her English teacher had never heard of 1984. Sad.
In our homeschool, it was mandatory, as was Orwell's, "1984", not to mention, "Fahrenheit 451".
Plus classical literature.
Ps: Shakespeare wrote a LOT of dirty, low-brow jokes for his illiterate audiences. He gender-bended roles quite a bit because he was gay. Original theater student complex. Really not worth the effort until your kids are older.
I'd never heard of Animal Farm or 1984 until long after my school days were over, so no they absolutely aren't part of the curriculum. In fact I'd be surprised if a student didn't get in trouble for reading them. Too much provoking of free thought and critical thinking skills.
Nope, sadly. Cursive is no longer taught in many places, so no reading the original historical documents either, you know, like the constitution!!!
I said they did that for this express reason.
You are absolutely correct. Now think about digital books...a quick rewrite or a disappearing altogether by keystrokes... intentional manipulation.
Very true. Scary stuff for sure.
and 1984 - a book I actually read then and many times after. I resented reading lists, but occasionally there was something that made such things bearable.
1984, Fahrenheit 451, Catch 22, and Slaughterhouse Five were those re-readables on my reading list.
Vonnegut was such a good read that I read all of his works. The best is Mother Night, how he said: "I don’t think it’s a marvelous moral; I simply happen to know what it is: We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
Those words stuck with me and have kept me true to myself and my values, through college and career in the decades since. If only more people today had felt such and impact from written word like that, we may be in a different place in this country.
I'm in my 50's but had a friend at work, in his early 20's that was just discovering so many of these writers and books - it was eye opening for him. He's certainly not the average guy, because most peeps his age aren't reading much anymore other than what comes over their smartphone in short lines lines of abbreviated text or tik-tok videos.
But this showed me one thing: if you have the intellect and feed it - it's transformative in a big way.
If you're looking for a Good Book that upholds American Values (Minus Abortion, but we can't have it all), try From the Ashes, I found it a good read, a little out there on the Sci-Fic, but I enjoyed it none the less.
It was when I graduated in 2014
Same Here. Also Ayn Rand (Anthem) and Solzhenitsyn (A day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch) in High School.
Anthem is so freaky, man.
It isn't. My children didn't read it in high school and they are in their twenty's now. I made them read that and 1984.
nope. wasn't even required 20 years ago.
It has been replaced with "Woke" books like
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Becoming by Big Mike...cough ..Michelle Obama.
When my daughter was in high school, about 6-7 years ago, she independently selected 1984 for a reading assignment. Her English teacher had never heard of 1984. Sad.
It still is, but it's more of an instruction manual now rather than a warning.
/s
I remember reading this twice. Probably explains my blind rage filled hatred for communism and communists.
1984 too. Those will both get burned.
Reading isn't part of the curriculum. It's been replaced with ideological regurgitation.
I just started reading Animal Farm to my kid.
In our homeschool, it was mandatory, as was Orwell's, "1984", not to mention, "Fahrenheit 451".
Plus classical literature.
Ps: Shakespeare wrote a LOT of dirty, low-brow jokes for his illiterate audiences. He gender-bended roles quite a bit because he was gay. Original theater student complex. Really not worth the effort until your kids are older.
Wasn't for me.
Please refer to the gender studies section.
I'd never heard of Animal Farm or 1984 until long after my school days were over, so no they absolutely aren't part of the curriculum. In fact I'd be surprised if a student didn't get in trouble for reading them. Too much provoking of free thought and critical thinking skills.
No
Some are more equal than others. Just like today.