Summer Reading

[JamaicanMoose]

Most schools, at least around my state, are requried to partake in a summer reading program in which we have to read 2 novels and write an essay for each. For those of you who do this, I was wondering whether or not you enjoy it or not? For some reason I enjoy it because it gives me something to do after football practice when I am trying to release my anger. Any comments/opinions are welcome.

[Senesia]

What does the program give you? Does it count for credit?

While I think more readings would be nice, I don't want to be put on some pressure when I wrtie the essays.

[JamaicanMoose]

It is a requirement for our English classes. I believe it counts as 2 test grades.

[Senesia]

Aww...I would probably finish the reading and essay at the start of the Summer break. Uou get to pick what books you read right?

[Medieval Bob]

I wouldn't think so. The summer before my Senior year we had to read Hamlet and Dante's Inferno. Hamlet's a good book, and Inferno wasn't bad either, but tests over Inferno suck ass. The symbolism isn't too bad if it's an essay test, as you can BS most of it, but simply a plot or character test sucks because there are so damn many people. It's like a history book.
[/babble]

To sum, we couldn't pick our books, so I wouldn't think they would be able to.

[JamaicanMoose]

Well, we have a list of about 10 books that we get to choose from. Some of them are pretty good like The Street Lawyer by John Grisham. Others are just horrible.

I would also do the reading at the beginning of the summer, but we have to take an in-class test on 1 of the books the first day of school and write an essay about the 2nd book on the second day of school. More than likely I would forget the details of the books by then. I could always go to www.sparknotes.com and just use their information, but I find it easier to read towards the end.

[uncapped]

I never do that stuff. I just go to places like sparknotes.com

[JamaicanMoose]

My friend tried going to sparknotes and copied their summary of the book word for word. Of course he got caught by my school's anti-plagiarism software and failed.

[Grav]

I had to read Clifford the Big Red Dog and fuck, that shit was NOWHERE as good as Clifford the Small Red Puppy.

[Jamesadin]

I think, let them have their summer. Its their time, and let them enjoy it.

[DrowningOnAir]

I think im supposed to do that for some biography but i dont give a flying fuck

[Jamesadin]

Dante's Inferno

Some time back, I wanted to read that book, but I forget what is it about. What is the basic plot outline of it?

[JamaicanMoose]

A volcano that erupts and engulfs a nearby town I believe. Wait, that may have been Dante's Peak the movie. *Shrug*

[Medieval Bob]

Dante Alighieri is escourted by Virgil (who is a badass mofo) through hell on his way to heaven. Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso are the three books each depicting the journey through each area.

Inferno basically spells out Dante's beliefs of hell which is seperated into rings. The ring concept is the main topic of the book.

also, sparknotes OWNS.

And if you have to read Wuthering Heights in English and test over it, be afraid... be very afraid. The first half of the book concerns a generation of people. The second half concerns their children who have similar (and in some cases the exact same) names and act similar, but not similar to their counterparts. It's a horrible shit of an organization of a story if you ask me.

[JamaicanMoose]

That would confuse the hell out of me.

[Penny_Bags]

Last year, (the summer before freshman year) we were required to read two books, this year it's three, and next year 4, and so on and so forth. While it is quite annoying to have required reading during break, I actually think it is a great idea. It keeps students thinking and what not. The good thing is, at my school we have been assigned good books so far. In freshman year we had to read Fahrenheit 451 and Ender's Game during the summer before. I loved them both.