It's that time of year again... August is halfway over. Summer is coming to an end. It's almost time to put away the bathing suits, pick out the first-day-of-school clothes, shine the shoes, and get new school supplies. And it's not just kids who get this feeling that something new is about to begin. After spending 12+ years in school, most adults still get a little thrill of excitement--and the nebulous feeling that a new adventure is approaching--every time September rolls around.
I, for one, hope that each September really does bring a new adventure. For the past 2 years September has brought me the new year of my Rediscovering the Classics class; complete with a new list of books, new members, new ideas and discussion.
The thought of reading the classics as a busy parent or adult can be daunting; but somehow it doesn't seem so bad if you're reading just one novel each month in the company of other engaged and interested adults. And that is exactly what we do in our class. We (re)discover 9 classic novels over the course of 9 months. It's a great opportunity to learn about active reading, discuss story, language, and timeless themes, and share questions and opinions with others. But beyond that (and most importantly), it's fun!
This is our third year of Rediscovering the Classics and the class consists of people from all walks of life--teachers, parents, life-long book lovers, and those who are picking up a classic for the first time ever. Many of our participants continue year after year.
We read one book a month, and meet twice a month to discuss each book. If you're in the Conejo Valley area of Southern California we'd love to have you join us. Just contact me (Jenni) via e-mail, or comment on this post for more information. If you aren't in the area I'd still love to have you join us from afar. I'll be posting the syllabus online after our first class on August 29th; I hope you'll read along with us and share your thoughts here.
In the meantime, enjoy the last days of summer and freedom, and happy reading!
Oh that sounds fantastic! No idea if I'd have time to join you from afar but I'd love to see the syllabus.
ReplyDeleteJodie, I'll be sure to post the syllabus after the first meeting on August 29th. Can't do it before then because I'm always making changes right up until the last minute. I have so much trouble narrowing the list down to nine!
ReplyDeleteI don't live in California, but as Jodie said, I'm looking forward to seeing what you choose to read!
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