Huck Finn

Here is a really interesting link, from Costco (believe it or not), debating if "classics" should be sanitized or not. This is timely, given the recent re-working of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

As a historian and educator, I feel that we shouldn't tamper with the original works. Looking at fiction provides us with insight into the societal and political problems of a decade. For example, Huck Finn gives a modern audience information about racial issues in America. Some are critical of Twain for the language used; however, it is only a product of the times that Twain lived. As another example (although not as controversial), Jude the Obscure (one of my all-time favourite novels) shows us about the treatment of strong women during the 19th century. When Hardy published the book, he was lambasted for depicting sexual relationships outside of marriage, and, indeed, his novel critiques the treatment of these unmarried couples too (poor Sue and Jude!). When we sanitize these historic novels, we deny our own shortcomings as human beings. We need to be honest with literature and with ourselves.

Othello

"O! now, for ever/Farewell the tranquil mind; farewell content!"

Oh how Othello is most favourite and treasured of all the Shakespearean tragedies! The sexiest of all the tragedies, and, indeed, the most tragic. What a warning against hubris you give to us! Beware of the darkness that lives in us all.

I read you first in high school, when I was an angst-ridden teen who hated any and all Shakespeare because it was "boring". I approached you with disdain, but by the end of the first act I was hooked. For the rest of those O.A.C. weeks, I was completely engrossed in this tale of human emotion, manipulation, betrayal, and vengeance. I wrote an astounding essay on the Moor, and it was empowering to see that I could actually understand and critique Shakespeare's language. Since then, I have read the play numerous times, watched the movies, and have, hopefully (ha ha), passed my love for this play down to my students when teaching.

The universal theme of jealousy is one that resonates throughout the play. As the audience, it touches us because many of us have been motivated out of jealousy, and have allowed jealousy to cause foolish decisions. How many of us have fought with our boyfriend or girlfriend based off a suspicion? How many of us have resented the success of others - feeling that somehow we also deserved this success?I know that I have felt this was on occasion, and, when speaking to my friends about this, they have admitted similarly,  my friends have too. Quite simply, humans are fickle like the chameleon, Iago, or the Moor, Othello.

Living in the North, I have struggled to make Shakespeare relevant to my students. When studying Othello, I do a couple of major things to help with this conundrum (aside from the usual activities). First, I have my students watch O , which is the modern adaptation of the play, as it puts the plot and themes in the applicable teen context. My students like the story of Odin and Desi, and are disgusted by Hugo. Watching the movie, triggers emotions in them. Second, I always use Spark Notes' No Fear Shakespeare: Othello to read. We read the play in modern English as a class, and, I supplement the content by doing notes and discussing Shakespearean language on occasion. I find that this version of the text is easy for my students to understand (especially since several of them are ESL), and, more importantly, they can giggle and laugh at the story.  Suddenly Shakespeare doesn't seem to unapproachable!  While we do work on other activities (essays, questions, crosswords, quick writes, film reviews of Othello, et cetera), I honestly believe that putting Shakespeare into the modern world for my students does wonders for them, and they get the play.

Needless to say, I look forward to teaching this play again next year. 

Readers, what's your favourite Shakespeare play and why?

Phantom Tollbooth

I read this article on what your childhood favourite book says about you. Now I know to thank The Phantom Tollbooth  for my obsessive behaviour. ha ha.

Lousy Labels

This program on CBC made me think of There's Lead In Your Lipstick.

Random

I often order off of The Book Depository, because it has great prices, an excellent selection, and free shipping. Anyway, I've now come to also really appreciate this site for its amazing live feed. Yes, that's right you can watch people shopping and find out with bizarre things they choose to buy!

Ebooks

The Telegraph has a great article on the influence of ebooks on the publishing world,  check it out! Also, let me know what you think: do you think the published word is dying?

I know that I will never be able to get into the ebook phenomenon. For me, there is a certain je ne sais quoi about holding and reading an actual book. Even if books go the way of the record, I'll be the nerd still holding her books and listening to her records.

Book Adaptations

This is a neat link about books in film during 2010.

Watch in the next couple of weeks for my top 10 list of book adaptations

Book Challenge

I'm going to be participating in the 50 Book Pledge and the 75 Book Challenge this year!

Wish me luck! :)

Update: A Perfect Circle

I'm currently reading A Perfect Circle, by Pascale Quiviger, and will post a review when I'm finished the book. The book is taking me a while to get through mostly because I'm savouring the prose its written in. There are some delicately poetic passages in the novel, and that makes reading a real treat.

A Child's Christmas in Wales

In honour of this festive time of year, I give you one of my most favourite Christmas poems of all times:

Dylan Thomas - A Child's Christmas In Wales

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Introduction

Welcome to my blog, Northern Book Reviews!

In this blog, I plan on reviewing books that I've read up here in the frozen tundra of Northern Saskatchewan. What a surprise, right?

In terms of reading interests, please know that I just love to read. I'll most probably be reviewing both fiction and non-fiction books. I suspect that the novels reviewed here will be both adult literature and young adult (that's what happens when you're a high school English teacher), and that non-fiction will be primarily related to historical or political topics.

All of this could change, though.

Feel free to comment with your own opinions of all texts.I love sharing ideas, and if you know any good books that I should read, please mention too.

All reviews will also be posted on librarything.