Book Challenge: Day 3

The Best American Essays of 2015 seems like a type of book for a limited audience. I don't know many people who will run into Barnes and Noble and say "Can you show me your essay section?" Because, in truth, the essay genre gets a lot of flack due to the academic essay being force fed to us as students. Even I, a lover of all things English, made this mistake.

When I was in college, the one class I looked forward to taking since the beginning was the history of the english language with Professor Young. I loved history and in high school was played a lecture on this topic which urged me to learn more. So, of course, when the time came for me to enroll in the course it was completely full. Professor Young only allowed 30 students in a class she only taught in the Spring and refused to change her mind. Which meant I got stuck taking the alternative- ENC 3311 Essay as a Cultural Commentary. It's like wtf does that even mean.

Anywho, this book above was the textbook for the class and my Professor was a casual brunette dude named Matt (I'm almost convinced all guys are named Matt). Matt (I'm not being disrespectful that is what he had us call him) was so in love with the essay genre and kind that I allowed myself to buy in to what he was saying and after reading an essay or two was in it for myself. 

Essay writing was really exploratory writing. There are stories and dialogue and nonfiction. There are final points and open endings. The genre is very free and forward thinking and after my long drought I discovered I was rather good at it. 

One part of the class was to have a one on one meeting with Matt. As I waited for my turn, I heard him politely squash a girl's hopes of having her essay published as it needed a bit of tweaking. Immediately, I worried I had pegged him wrong and he was one of those writer/professors who always tells people their work is not good enough. However, when I entered the first thing he said to me is "Your essay needs to be published".

This guy- This doctorate of English who teaches English at the University level thought I should publish my essay. The level of shock and flattery I felt was incomparable. Of course, my essay needed fixing too (which I knew), but he felt my style was so strong and compelling it would be worth it.

I always did want to publish that piece- any piece, but unfortunately it was on a topic involving someone close to me who wished it not to be permanently placed on paper. Either way, maybe not this book, but this class and the fact that I allowed myself to be apart of it impacted me as a writer forever. I hope that someday I do publish something. Here's to hoping.  

Book Challenge: Day 2

For my second book on my posting challenge, I shared Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. This novel was one I checked out multiple times as a teenager and was vastly different from the supernatural, romance, and apocalyptic titles that were assaulting the charts at the time. It introduced me to my favorite author and allowed me to see how voice and tone could be more interesting than plot.

However, that is not why I chose the book as one that impacted me. I'm a teacher (a fact that I don't always talk about) and no, not an elementary school teacher (although, shout out to them for doing the hardest job in the world). I teach English for ninth grade. At the end of the year last year, we were supposed to do a novel unit and someone randomly suggested to me to teach Speak. I jumped on the idea as it fulfilled my dream to be like the teacher in Dead Poet's Society!

And let me tell you, these kids- these regular, snotty, no book liking, kids loved it. I had kids who fussed with me all year reading the whole thing that weekend. I had kids who never paid attention laughing along with it. It was an awesome experience- not forcing a book on kids, but having them genuinely enjoy it.

The best part though is that I was able to discuss consent and gender roles with them. Despite it's funny nature, the book is, in fact, about a rape. And getting to talk to kids about what rape is and consent and how it looks in the real world (meaning that no, the creepy guy at the gas station is not the only way a rapist looks) was empowering. Many of these kids don't get that message and I felt like I was able to really put good in the universe and, hopefully, protect them from future choices.

So thank you Laurie Halse Anderson for giving me one of the best text to teach.

Book Challenge: Day 1

Recently, I got sucked into one of those facebook "challenges" where you have to post something each day for a few days. Normally, I quickly hit the hide or delete button whenever I see these pop up, but unfortunately, I was nominated (such a terrible word) by someone I respect and see everyday. More unfortunately, my basic self actually found interest in this specific challenge which was to post one book a day for seven days. The books you select are ones that impacted you, but the challenge pushes you not to explain why they did.

So I stared at my bookshelf- my bookshelf littered with supernatural romance novels from my teen days, old western novels my aunt gave me, a row of outside reading books from highschool, and a small shelf dedicated to several classics other people thought I would want. As I looked at the spine of each cover I thought to myself "Okay, that's one is good, but not the best I've read". And so then I tried to remember titles I read in college and oh my goodness guys. If you know anyone who has their degree in English or English Education or any type of literature at all you have no idea the amount of works they have read. I could barely remember. I started looking at famous novels online, checking them off rather quickly, but also with disappointment as I did not remember them as "The one" or at least one of the few I was going to put on this pointless facebook list.

Nevertheless, I did eventually come up with a few, but sharing them without the message and the stories that go along with them doesn't feel right so I decided to do so here. If I put them ALL on one post it would suck to read so I'll break it up by day- each day I post to facebook, I'll post the real story here. 

Book 1:

This book may have one of the worst titles to be caught reading in public- "The Smell of Other People's Houses". No one likes the smell of other people's houses- the weird oil smell or laundry that has been sitting around. It's uncomfortable. Yet, aside from the unpleasant name the book was a good read for me mostly because it was unexpected. 

In college, I had this professor who I just clicked with and I think she felt it too. I think if we had met in another capacity we would be best friends. On the last day of class, she did a white elephant with books (educators okay? Just go with it). I was the second to last person to go (which is good) and picked up a novel about the downfall of the Romanov dynasty. Everyone in the room made an "Aw, that sucks" kind of noise because who the hell wants to read about a real and failed and dead royal family?

One answer: THIS GIRL. I was so excited and caught off guard by being given a copy of a book I had been searching for on one of my favorite historical events that I squealed like an idiot in front of my peers. My excitement was infectious and unexpected and the moment became one of delight for everyone. 

Another answer to who would want the lame Romanov book: The girl who was last in the game, right after me, who could have taken any other book in the room. You could literally hear the disappointment across the class as the novel I had just made a fool of myself about was taken out of my hands.

In my overly polite nature, I assured everyone it was perfectly okay and tried to back pedal from my initial excitement. I walked forward and picked up the last, unwanted, book from the group. It was this one and with a title like "The Smell of Other People's Houses" it's not hard to see why it was picked last.

To make good on my lack of ill will, I decided to read it. I normally hate regular fiction. I'm in this weird place where adult fiction doesn't do it for me, but teen fiction tries too hard. Yet, this novel was an unexpected happy place. I was moved by the stories of multiple people in powerless situations who simply try their best and struggle, but still try and are ultimately successful with connecting to others in their lives. It was a beautiful read for a lack of a better word that was not trying to be anything other than what it is and gave me hope for fiction books that are not YA. 

And just to elaborate on that white elephant story: My professor contacted me the next day so disheartened by having the Romanov book taken away from me (even though that's how White Elephant works) and got me a copy of that book to pick up. So I guess I kind of lucked into this book and ended up with two! :) 

The 10 Greatest Lies They Tell You As An Adult

1. Your acne will go away
2. Coworkers are your friends
3. Staying up late is fun
4. Waking up early will require only one alarm
5. The kid's meal is for kids
6. If you have insurance going to the doctor's is easy
7. You'll be able to see your friends often (I'm looking at you HIMYM & Friends for giving unrealistic expectations)
8.If you choose something you like then work will never feel like a job
9. You just need to know the basics of cooking
10. You're done growing