Alicia A

I'm going to be teaching my first English class in the spring. As of this point, I don't know exactly which grades I'm teaching; somewhere between 7th and 12th grade, so if you're in these grades, or remember exactly what you read what year, I want your input on whether you liked the books in your English class...

What grade are you in? What books did you read? Did you like them? How appropriate were they for your grade? What books do you want to read?

If anyone else is an English teacher, I would also LOVE your input. I'm teaching at a private, very small school, so all the "required lists" and "approved books" doesn't apply to my situation. I have looked at the stuff from our local public school.

Please, don't say anything mean about your teacher or the other work you had to do in English. Grammar sucks; that's not a new concept. I know.

Thanks!

I'm NOT trying to get ya'll to do my homework. I'm wayyy past those years of school. I just had this idea and would like to discuss it with others familiar with the material before I bring it up in class.

So I'm taking a Jane Austen class, and during the conversation in class yesterday, I came up with a notion--possible research paper topic--that in Jane Austen's books, men, through active encouraging or inaction, allow the young women to advance their minds, and the older women are the ones to perpetuate the cycle of social norms: "put away that book, you've got to socialize so you can find a husband!"

I was specifically thinking of Pride and Prejudice when I came up with it, but I could also make ties into Mansfield Park and Lady Bertram's constant need to have Fanny next to her. (Of course, the MP illustration could backfire because one could argue that Fanny is being kept away from social events and put into an environment more conducive to advancing her mind.)

Does anyone think this notion has any merit, especially when one considers the other books in JA's canon?

(Yes, I did say I was taking a Jane Austen class! Whoohoo! But being a lit major and a girl, I've already read her canon so you can be sure that when you mention something, I'll understand what you're talking about, unless you bring up 'Susan' or 'The Waltons.')

Mine is "Call me Ishmael."

Yours?

You can even review / recommend them if you'd like!

I'm reading:

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen &

The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind.

I'm not looking to add anything to my list because school's about to start, and I'm an English major so I just bought about 30 schoolbooks...I just like to hear what other people are reading and if they like it or not.

Mansfield Park is AMAZING (it's my 3rd time reading it) and I'm delving through it because I learned it was not being taught in my Jane Austen class this semester and I was sad...and then I realized..."wait...they can't tell me what to read! I'll read MP and like it!"

The Sword of Truth series was a birthday present. I loved the TV show and wanted to read the series. I'm on the second book.

Is it just the unwaivering presence of the Almighty God, is it the videos we'll get to watch of the great stories of the bible (I kinda want to watch the Elijah and the prophets of Baal) or is it meeting all the elders, or is it being one of the great multitude in white robes (like Rev 7:14 says), or what?

Simple question, really. If you died today and stood before the throne of God, and God said, "Did you know my Son?", would you be able to say "yes"?

Anyone out there up on the popular Christian stuff? For example, if you know who Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, David Crowder * Band, and Casting Crowns are, say so here!

Represent if you are not ashamed to say that you are a bible-believing Christian! We stand strong united!

Do you think that truth is something you find (but it might not be in a religious book), define (by ourselves), or that simply there is no truth, only things we percieve? I'm very interested to know what you think!

If you define it, where do you get your truth from? Do you search yourself as a human being or is it from experiences in your past?

Thanks for taking the time to answer. It seems the Christians in the house get bombarded with questions attacking our belief and we don't seem to get you atheists or agnostics a chance to explain anything you believe. So please.... "enlighten" us.....

p.s. no matter what your answer... Jesus loves you still.