quoting Rvreader on my '7' Suggestions post...
AMAZING book!!! I remember really hating it when I read it in Middle school and then I reread it last year (or was it the year before?) and I really loved it!
"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself."
My dad read me Animal Farm as a fourth grader and I remember being like "I... don't get it." I thought I was hot stuff because I had read some intellectual "grown-up book". Yeah, not so much. I juts thought it was about some random farm animals. My brother has just finished reading it for his 7th grade English class and kept calling me at college to ask for help on assignments. Because I apparently MUST remember the whole book even though I read it like 500000 years ago.
Here's basically what i remember... Commentary on corruption of the revolution by its leaders, how wickedness, indifference, ignorance, greed, etc. undermine any progress towards a Utopia. Talks about corrupt leaders as the flaw in revolution rather than the revolution itself. ignorance and indifference to problems within a revolution allow horrible stuff to happen to nice farm animals. Awww.
I'm currently reading another Orwell - 1984. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. So far its kind of creeping me out. And reminding me A LOT of Brave New World and Anthem. All written within about 12 years of each other - why? Early 30s thru mid 40s. Depression causing leftist ideals to surface, looking at repercussions of a Utopian society? People thinking capitalism has failed them but have just witnessed the disasters in Mexico, China, Russia? Spanish Revolution? Anyone read? Thoughts?
So far I'm pretty much failing at blogging. Hurray.
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I read Animal Farm in 9th grade, and 1984 in 10th. If the dystopia thing is your scene then Fahrenheit 451 might be an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Animal Farm, I was super interested in communism and the October revolution. Consequently I bought this shirt:
http://www.threadless.com/product/383/The_Communist_Party
Every time I wear that to my Russian language class the teacher cracks up and thinks its the funniest thing ever. Haha, but back to Animal Farm, it's sort of odd, but if you're attributing characters in the book to actual people in the revolution then you're missing either Karl Marx, or Lenin. Depending on who you believe Old Major (I think that's the right name) is...I'd say he's more of a Marx than a Lenin but that's just me. Anywhos, I thought that whole bit was sort of weird of Orwell...
1984 is definitely a "harder" read than Animal Farm, but I liked it much more. But maybe I'm just crazy? That's a definite possibility. The main points I remember from 1984: the three "slogans" of BB (War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength), and putting someone's face in a cage with rats. But if you aren't there yet, I'm sorry I spoiled things. I also remember being somewhat confused with doublespeak :)
I haven't read Brave New World, or Anthem. But I do love Ayn Rand. The Fountainhead is perhaps my favorite book of all time. The ironic thing is I actually own two copies on Anthem, one for my home and for my dorm so that if I ever have a free moment I can actually get around to reading it. So far, no luck though.
Yeesh, this is a long post. I think I'll stop now :D
I really liked Fahrenheit 451! Thats another one I had to read twice to really appreciate though!
ReplyDeleteAlthough this doesn't really go with the theme of books discussed, Rachelle you talk about your brother having to call you for help with Animal Farm...what do you think about having GT english students read books WAY above their reading level? Is it helpful because it pushes them to reach beyond what they currently know and understand, think outsie their box if you will? Or is it instead detrimental to their overall strength as a student becuase the books they are reading are so far above their level that they can't appreciace or even really understand them?
I remember this happening to an exent with me. There were so many books that we read in middle school that I not only didn't understand; but as result, I didn't like them. Many of those books are the very books you have discussed here: Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, 1984, Canterbury Tales, Beowolf, and even To Kill a Mocking Bird and Shakespeare. It wasen't until I got into high school and for some of them college, that I decieded that I should give them another chance and reread them. How many students do that though? With reading rates falling and kids becomming more and more interested in other forms of entertainment; what happens to the kids who just never learn to appreciate that kind of literature? They give such interesting commentary on history, what happens if they never hear it?
Also, does forcing our students to read literature they are not cognativitly ready for encourage or discourage reading? If, as educators, we are supposed to be promoting reading, wouldn't it be more advantageous to select books more on their level and save the heavy reading for high school and college? I'm all for pushing students to be the best they can be, however if they can't grasp the novels put in front of them then doesn't that risk turning them off to reading in general?
(if you can't tell...I'm a teacher :))
I especially like Marx with the lampshade on his head...
ReplyDeleteParty like its 1919!!