Wow...

We're wrapping up an author study project in my English classes.  The students picked a classic American author, conducted research, made connections between the author's life and literary works, read parts and pieces of their author's work(s) and gave oral presentations Friday and today.

(Remind me to share some themes and takeaway messages later.)

One of the girls chose Jack London and gave her presentation today. She didn't seem overly enthusiastic about London and, when I asked about her experience with Call of the Wild, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "I didn't really like it."

One of the boys exclaimed, "Didn't really like it?! My fingers still hurt from reading some of his stuff!!"

A clear nod to "How to Build a Fire"....

I don't know.... Maybe you need to be an English teacher or really into books and language to love this.  But, man...! What a way to look at it and phrase your experience!

Anyone can say, "I loved his stories and books!"

Not everyone says, "My fingers still hurt from reading some of his stuff!!"

My heart was happy over that one! So witty, creative, and descriptive!

(Now, I said to remind me about common themes. So many of the authors had tragic childhoods and adulthoods, dropped out of school, struggled with depression, etc.... It's made such a stark impression on us! Take-away message that the kids have discussed...? You can go through things, really hard and tragic things, and keep going.  You can even become a great American author! They've really been taken with that! And, ... some have voiced the idea that one can always have a fresh start. Things can always be different. Another wow! An unintended and WONDERFUL consequence of this assignment!)

Copyright 2013 -> Shannon