Books Read in 2001 & 2002

Late Night Thoughts on Listening to Mahler's Ninth Symphony by Lewis Thomas, © 1983, Viking Books, pp. 168 - What a wonderful collection of essays from Thomas. He writes with erudition about many subjects with rhetorical strength. Favorites, "On Speaking of Speaking," an essay about youth and their power to shape language; "Seven Wonders," where he posits his own seven wonders from DNA to termites to a surprise seventh wonder; and, the title essay, ruminations about death.

'Tis by Frank McCourt, © 1999, Scribner Books, pp. 367 - Frank has come back to the United States after being raised in Ireland. 'Tis tells of his life here from 1953 until 1985. Though this book is not as compelling as Angela's Ashes, it is of more interest to me, since McCourt teaches English in schools similar to the ones I taught in in Chicago.

Tests of Time by William H. Gass, © 2002, Knopf Books, pp. 319 - This book of essays is divided into three sections - Literary Matters, Social and Political Contretemps, and The Stuttgart Seminar Lectures. Professor Gass has a unique take on language and the world, definitely Postmodern. His command of language is like that of a general over invading armies. Favorite essays: "Invisible Cities," & "There Was an Old Woman Who."

Wolf Willow: A History, a Story, and a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier by Wallace Stegner, © 1962, The Viking Press, pp. 306 - Here is the real version of Whitemud, Saskatchean revisited thirty years after The Big Rock Candy Mountain. This is a fine mixture of fact and fiction. One of Stegner's best short stories appears here, "Genesis."

The Making of the English Working Class, © 1966, Vintage Books, pp. 836 - A well-documented history of the title group. It covers from the late 18th to the middle of the 19th centuries. While much of the writing is dense, there is enough clarity to give the reader an excellent foundation for understanding the class structure of England.

The Uses of Literacy by Richard Hoggart, © 1957, Essential Books, pp. 284 - Hoggart is the father of qualitative research. This book is the one that led the way for all of the others. He examines the effects of the media on working class people in England, throwing in some of his own recollections of how it was growing up working class. This is an extremely interesting book that, if you can find it, is well worth reading.

Marking the Sparrow's Fall: The Making of the American West by Wallace Stegner, © 1998, Henry Holt & Co., pp. 359 - This is a fine collection of essays that includes, once again, "Genesis." Much of Stegner's thinking about the West and the people who make it up, are in here. Includes a preface by Page Stegner, his son. The selection of essays to be included was done by Page Stegner, & he tried to include those which haven't had much exposure. Bravo!

Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs: Living and Writing in the West, by Wallace Stegner, © 1992, Random House, pp. 227 - A precursor to the above, another collection of essays which Stegner collected shortly before his death. Much the same general content as above, but different essays. Again, Bravo!

Horace's Compromise by Ted Sizer, © 1984, 1992, Houghton Mifflin, pp. 237 - Sizer is the driving force behind the Coalition for Essential Schools and this is the seminal work. He examines the dilemmas facing teachers in the '80's. Scary to say, they haven't changed that much. If anything, they have gotten worse. The drive for accountablity has driven much authentic assessment out of the schools, and students seem to be doing more busy work than ever. A must read.

Horace's School by Theodore R. Sizer, © 1992, Houghton Mifflin, pp. 203 - In the sequel to Compromise, Sizer posits a school structure that is debated by a faculty committee, with the help of an outside Devil's advocate. He explores graduation by exhibition, authentic learning, and other issues relevant to the restructuring of schools.

Illuminating Texts: How to Teach Students to Read the World by Jim Burke, © 2001, Heinemann Books, pp. 210 - Here's another winner from Burke. This book offers strategies on the Internet, tests, literature, film, and text books. As usual, Burke offers insights and gives us ways to engage our scholars. He also has more resources on his website: www.englishcompanion.com .

The Discovery of Poetry by Frances Mayes, © 2001, Harcourt Books, pp. 494 - What a wonderful book that helps both the reader and writer of poetry. Mayes breaks down many forms of poetry and gives excellent examples of each type. She talks about interpreting poems for the reader in such a way that even the most naive reader should benefit.

Dancing With Words: Helping Students Love Language Through Authentic Vocabulary Instruction by Judith Rowe Michaels, © 2001, pp. 133 - Always on the look out for a better way to teach vocabulary, I picked up this book with some trepidation. Happily, I was quite wrong. This book offers imaginative ways to teach vocabulary using poetry, word collections, and newspapers.

Storms Beneath the Skin by Regie Gibson, ©2001, EM Press, pp. 102 - Gibson is a past champion of the National Poetry Slam. In performance, he is a mélange of poetry, percussion, and pyrotechnics. I was lucky enough to see him perform, and while the poems in this book are good, they just don't compare to him doing them. I highly recommend both.

Children of Kosen-Rufu by George David Miller, ©2001, EM Books, pp. 70 - Miller is a professor of philosophy who writes poetry that reflects that mentality, but at the same time is down to earth. I particularly like "All Sales are Final," but I recommend all of the poems.

Facing the River by Czeslaw Milosz, © 1995, The Ecco Press, pp. 66 - These poems look back at Milosz's native Lithuania and a river he frequented as a child. They are older poems, meaning that they look at the fragility of life.

Nine Horses by Billy Collins, © 2002, Random House, pp. 120 - I'm guessing that once you become poet laureate that you no longer have to publish with the little university press. Note the publisher compared to his previous books. While this book doesn't have as many poems that jump at me, there are still poems in it that go to my soul.

Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, © 1957, Criterion Books, pp. 96 - Jimmy Porter is the original "Angry Young Man." What a rotter, as the English say. he takes out his rage on those around them. Not a bad movie either.

A Taste of Honey by Shelaigh Delaney, © 1956, Grove Press, pp. 87 - Helen & Jo, mother and daughter, are "working" class women in '50's England. An excellent play that examines issues that were avoided by most writers of the time. Delaney was only 18 at the time this play was written.