When the Suck Fairy flits.

[sartorias]

I maintain that there is a perfect time for most books. Then, yeah, the Suck Fairy lands.

But what about the times when the Suck Fairy goes away?

Come talk about when old faves suck and old stinkers unsuck!

Comments

[laetificat]

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. When we studied it in school, all I could do was make yam jokes. But then I grew up, and taught it to kids in the tenth grade a few years ago, and I was all, "GUYS THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER, LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS GOING ON, JUST LOOK!"

The kids basically said, "Ha ha ha, yams."

I guess that's just the way it goes!

[sartorias]

Oh, yes, exactly. It's the rare American kid who gets that book, but one hopes the seed of comprehension is planted for later.

[houseboatonstyx]

More likely, I'm afraid, being forced to read a book that's too old for zim, and forced to discuss it in class with dumb questions -- may prejudice a child against that book forever!

[sartorias]

Yeah, it's a problem when a book is badly taught. But I think that is a whole nother discussion.

[marycatelli]

It's not just the "too old" bit. There were books I liked before I read them in class, and a good while after, once the "English class" taste had been washed out. But not while.

[asakiyume]

One hopes the seed of comprehension is planted for later---yes, exactly.