Books and Literature, Childhood, Education and Literacy

How House of Seven Gables Almost Ruined Jr. High English Class

In fourth grade one of the whole class (not pull-out group) required readings books was a novel called Finders Keepers by Emily Rodda. This is one of those books that sort of fundamentally changed me as a person, but I’ve not met anyone else who remembers reading it. Even people I went to elementary school… Continue reading How House of Seven Gables Almost Ruined Jr. High English Class

Books and Literature, On Reading, Personal

A Childhood of Science Fiction Classics

On Tik Tok (and occasionally some other reading groups) I talk a lot about my own experience reading classic science fiction and fantasy (mostly sci-fi). And I think sometimes that gives a false impression of age. But the reality is that a lot of the classic or vintage or generally older sci fi books I… Continue reading A Childhood of Science Fiction Classics

Books and Literature, Writing Theory

Why Read Genre Classics if they Come With So Many Problems?

It’s not uncommon for the hobbyist reader to completely abandon classics and more retro or vintage literature once they’ve moved on from reading for academic purposes. Why not? So many new books come out a year that just getting through all the new releases you’re interested in is a task unto itself. But then, on… Continue reading Why Read Genre Classics if they Come With So Many Problems?

Books and Literature, Media Literacy and Analysis, On Reading

I Don’t Think Some Classics Readers Actually Like Books

Harsh opinion, but if someone says “I like/read classics” with no additional clarification, I don’t trust them in terms of actually knowing what kinds of books they like. The more they insist that “classics” are “superior,” the more that trust diminishes. And it’s not even really because of the pretension that tends to haunt those… Continue reading I Don’t Think Some Classics Readers Actually Like Books