I just ran across this blog by Tasha Saecker, director of the Menasha Public Library in Menasha, WI. It’s not really about problem novels, but I think it’s cool so I am sharing it.
I know, I know, I’m the last blogger in the bunch to post that the Last Potter Book is to be Released July 21st. Sigh. Such is the life of a blogging library director.
Anyway, our library is planning a library sleepover where a copy of the book will be opened at midnight and read aloud from. Hurrah! read the blog
Is that not the coolest thing ever? I want to go to the sleepover! I think the thing that is most amazing is the idea of kids going to the library, and it being cool! The library in my school and in my town was a place you went to if you were forced to go because of some school project. And we all know how the Harry Potter Series itself has gotten so many kids and adults to read. And read and read.
I work at a mass retail store in my “spare” time. When the Sony Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii came out, there was an ample sized line of people camped out at the store waiting to buy one. But, when Harry Potter comes out, the lines are out of control. It’s so great to think of a book beating out a game.
I think it goes without saying at this point that I am a lover of the Harry Potter franchise. It borders on obsession. But, I got into the books rather late in the game. All of my friends had read them and gushed about them, but I felt for some reason that I should be reading books of a “higher” caliber. I was immersing my self in Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” and Joyce’s “Ulysses.” But, I finally gave in and decided to read the books. And then life as I knew it changed forever.
So, what makes a book a “literary classic?” Because the Potter books are young adult, fun, assessable and popular does that exempt them from being classics? Aren’t classics supposed to be tomes of difficult phrases and symbolism that must be dissected and analyzed? Well, that’s how I used to view “classics.” Books that aren’t popular because they are complex. Kind of like classical music. Beethoven is revered for his genius, but how many people really crank out Beethoven on the stereo? I love classical music. I have a music degree. But, even I don’t listen to classical music all that much. I can give a good argument as to why I think the music I listen to daily, like Bjork and Tori Amos are actually “classic” and high caliber, but are they really?
I guess I’m just throwing this out there to hearsome comments. For the future teachers out there, would you be opposed to teaching Harry Potter in the classroom? Assuming that there weren’t any problem with teaching books about the “occult” of course. Why should we force “The Scarlet Letter” on kids when there are other books out there that they might actually enjoy reading? (No offense Mr. Hawthorn) My alma mater Western Michigan University offers a Harry Potter Literature class. I am so jealous I was never able to take that class. So what do you think? Does this series have real value other than getting kids to read? Take a look at jamie’s blog, she’s got a lot of good stuff regarding this question.
YA! Cast
