Revisiting childhood reads
Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 06:42AM
On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. There seemed bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though we had been born under the same roof rather than upon different planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart.
That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little right hand upon my left shoulder in true red Martian salute.
"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, "and that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other warriors."
"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, "notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity."
Dejah Thoris laughed. (from A Princess of Mars)
It's always interesting revisiting favorite books from one's misspent youth. In anticipation of seeing the new John Carter movie, I re-read Edgar Rice Burrough's A Princess of Mars on which the movie is based*. I found it surprisingly more enjoyable that I had guessed I would. While the language is stilted and rather Victorian in tone and style, it's action scenes are suspenseful and frequent.
What kind of junior high kid reads books with complex sentences and vocabulary like countenance, verity, and congenial? Who'd read a book in which the heroine is always referred to by both first and last names (Dejah Thoris)? (Or maybe this the Martian equivilant of Mary Ann or Cathy Jo.) I also remember voluntarily reading Gulliver's Travels, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Three Musketeers.
Every time I re-read a book remembered fondly from childhood, I'm a bit awed by the text I needed to deconstruct. And while I've always like to read, I was never considered "gifted and talented." I suspect my teachers had a stamp made that read "Does not live up to potential" that was passed from grade to grade as I moved through school.
I've worried for a long time about how we use technology to "teach" reading. Reading text online and then taking trivia-based multiple guess questions has to be a passion killer for tons of kids. And I've seen first hand as a librarian how the child who can't decode "cat" in the reading primer, does just fine with "carburetor" in Hot Rod magazine.
Reading instruction would improve with fewer computer programs and more kids reading about what they love. Even Martian princesses.
* Free download in lots of places on the web including Project Gutenberg, Amazon, and GoogleBooks.
Reader Comments (4)
Doug, I just re-read Princess of Mars after seeing the movie "John Carter of Mars" and found it a fun read! Of course, I read it on-screen via ManyBooks.net (which features the two books in the sequel available for download or online reading). These days, my childhood reading involves some of the best stories I ever encountered. Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game," Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot," E.E. Doc Smith's work sticks with me even now. I still peruse Louis L'Amour's books, revisiting the values of yesteryear and hoping they'll be instructive today (they are). S.M. Stirling's "Dies the Fire" series, although not read when I was a youngster, remind me of old times.
Thanks for a quick jaunt down the river of mystery and nostalgia,
Miguel
Hi Miguel,
You're making me feel old. I read Enders Game and Stephen King's novels (your childhood memories) when I was in my mid-30s. But it remains one of my favorites. Not read a Louie Lamour for a while. I think I prefer the sophistication of the Lonesome Dove series now. I suppose Harry Potter, Twighlight and Hunger Games will be the next generation's fond memories!
Have a great weekend,
Doug
Doug - I loved Huck Finn and Jules Verne in my youth along with Oliver Twist and The Three Musketeers and all the Black Stallion books. My daughter is now in 4th grade and I've seen her interest in reading really drop off this year. AR may have something to do with that but she all about technology. I promised her she could see The Hunger Games movie if she read the book first but that wasn't enough of a carrot for her so I bought it for her Kindle. That's what it took and she's loving it. I'm going to purchase several of the reading bowl books for next year (Georgia has a academic bowl competition with our state award books) and see if I can get her interested in reading more that way. Sometimes technology can be the hook to get kids interested in reading. Just like Hot Rod magazine can be the hook. In my view, whatever it takes works for me.
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for the insightful comment. I agree about AR - might be a good pump primer, but should not be overused.
My 26 year old son only reads, I think, on his iPad touch. Hey, I don't remember the last paper book I've read!
Good luck with you awards and keep up the good work.
Doug