what ya couldnt be bothered top read the book or couldnt be f@$ed to watch it in class?
cheers
rhys

Because Advanced English forces you to pull apart perfectly readable novels by fantastic authors and make you hate them with a vengeance.

Realistically, the main reason is to learn how to "enjoy" those mostly unreadable and poorly constructed "literary" books only fully understood by those who know the Eng Lit tricks taught in these classes. Novels like The Abolition and Naked Lunch are impossible to read.

Compare that dross to well written novels with depth, perception, actual character development, a plot, a few themes, and hey, some entertainment value tossed in as well, and you'll realise most literary "output" is pure bovine excrement. Read any Iain (M.) Banks book for proof. Literary, but actually enjoyable to read.

I can't believe they're still doing "Change". We did "War" in my class, but how I wish we could have done "change" as it's so much more interesting.

The way I survived eng lit classes is simple: I read the book for enjoyment purposes first, and then went back to dissect it and put in meanings that do not exist so I could pass stupid essays. If you think a theme that your teacher is foisting upon the work is not there, feel free to write to c/- the publisher to the author and ask. Most authors are pleased to get reader's letters and some will even answer. One day I'm going to ask Anne Tyler about the "Biblical" themes in Dinner at a homesick restaurant. I doubted they existed, and I want to know.

OOoh by the way, you pick up and use multi-syllabic words on a regular basis, which makes most people reading your posts hate you with a vengance. Aussie Cardinal Sin #1 - never show your intelligence.

Andrew

[Edited on 15-4-2003 by vanderaj]

Things are always changing I guess personal and social, but then there always seems to be a war going on.

Change is interesting

This is personal change after war, a double whammy and very relevant today

I had to read ' All Quiet on the Western Front' (WW1)

http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/lit-med/lit-med-db/webdocs/webdescrips/trumbo752-des-.html

An interesting review
http://www.texaschapbookpress.com/magellanslog19/trumbo.htm

Seems like the video is hard to get
http://variagate.com/johnny.htm

I pass a cult video store on the way to work I could ask about it?

Naked Lunch, hard to read? It's one of Burroughs' easier pieces... the cut ups are harder to read without knowing his whole previous work....