un533n said:
Jamieson 90 said:
un533n said:
Jamieson 90 said:
un533n said:
Jamieson 90 said:
1984, more people should seriously read it,
1984... seriously.. You and the guy who think The Catcher in the Rye are under-appreciated are crazy. Those books are literally required reading for most high schools.
Really? You are the first person that has mentioned so, In fact I have never encounted a high school that has required people to read 1984, I should know I work as a TA.
It's on EVERY list of suggested books for high school students I've ever seen. It's referenced out the ass. We're talking about gems here.. not something every English teacher I know could ramble on about for an hour.
The Fifty Year Sword is probably the most elusive gem of underrated books. Mark Z originally had it published in the Netherlands.. and hardly any American copies were around until much after. If you can speak Dutch you can find a copy for 15$, but if you're not so inclined.. it's a little more pricey. Border's definitely doesn't carry this one.
It may have been required for your school, but how do you know it was on other schools required reading? I can't imagine you went to many High schools during your education.
It also depends on what schools we are talking about as well, State comprehensives don't have the same lists as private schools. As I intially said, I work as a TA, Teachers Assistant, I have never encountered any school that requires pupils to read 1984, Maybe thats just in my local area though so perhaps it differs where you live.
I don't know many intelligent people who haven't read 1984, or The Catcher in the Rye. Big whoop, Mr. TA. I would scoff at you and make a joke about how you probably teach at some run down inner city school, but I currently attend such a school, and that would make me look silly.
I could have made my point clearer by saying that they're practically required reading. They're 2 books that any young reader would be foolish to pass up.
They're both absolute classics, and you're an idiot if you think they're "gems."
Highlighted in bold is where your argument falls down, "I don't know many
intellgent people who haven't read 1984,or the Catcher in the Rye". some people are not intelligent, Some don't consider reading a valuable way to pass their time, some people are illterate or have SEN (special educational needs), the point is there are many reasons why someone would not read either of the books.
I regard the two as classics, especially 1984, However in my experience I know rather a lot of people (including school children) who have not read them, so in my eyes they are gems.
Quite a lot of young people in run down comprehensives do not even like school nevermind reading, trying to get them to read something like 1984 would be equal to suicide, so teachers unfortunately don't bother and would rather study more contemporary books that are more interesting to their classes, in an attempt to keep their attention.
You need to understand that not everyone lives in the same circumstances as yourself, not everyone will read the same books or poetry that you do/did in school, I' am simply trying to demonstrate that things are different in other schools/places.
Anyway you can either accept that or not, either way I no longer care to discuss the matter anymore.