Whether you're wanting to take a break from studying or if you just want a nice short read, I suggest you read the short essay "On the Marionette Theatre" by Heinrich von Kleist: http://www.southerncrossreview.org/9/kleist.htm

I read this first two years ago for a class and again last quarter for another class. It's short, it's easy, and it's got lots to consider.

Thumbs up for posts featuring Ali G.
  posted by Alex @ 4:12:00 PM

 
THUMBS UP FOR: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
I've heard excerpts and it sounds like a well-written and challenging book. This is going to be an awesome summer book, especially if Jenna prepares some cool stuff to say about it.
  posted by Feliks @ 4:57:00 PM

 
*From the Administrator*
Now that we seem to have a whole crowd of people clambering to read books all summer, the LD and I have determined the logistics of the group.

Everyone is welcome to propose books until the first week of May. When you suggest a book, take into consideration the length of time it would take to read (if you were also working and spending time with family and friends, as most of us will be this summer). Limit your suggestions to books that would take about 2 weeks to read. At that time, I will send an email or post the complete list of proposed books, and we will vote on our favorites via email. (The logistics of the vote will be decided later on.) We will probably choose between 6 and 10 books, depending on length.

Once we have the list, I will be contacting those who are teaching to decide during what time period they'd like their book(s) to be read. By the 1st of June, we should have a completed syllabus, so everyone can decide how to obtain the books (whether you'd like to visit the library or purchase those that interest you most).

That said, here is a little schedule of events:
Today-May 2: Propose, Discuss, Mingle!
May 3: Final Day to Propose Books
May 5-9: Submit your Votes via Email
May 10: Votes are Tabulated
May 11-31: Syllabus in the Works
June 1: Syllabi Distributed via Email
Mid-June: READ AMERICA!


  posted by jnuh @ 4:24:00 PM

 
BOOK PROPOSAL:
“Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard (nonfiction)

I propose this book because it’s amazing. As a young woman, Dillard spent one year living practically alone in a small cabin in West Virginia. This collection of essays combines her observations of the land, information from the wide variety of scientific literature she read during that time, and her thoughts about life and spirituality. The information alone is fascinating: Dillard recounts what she’s learned of the migration of starlings, the reproductive habits of preying mantises, the circulatory systems of fish. She also describes the discoveries she’s made herself, by simply observing her environment. Her attention to detail makes for heavy reading at times, but the way she applies these small observations to the biggest questions about death, beauty, vision, and innocence, together with her incredible attention to style, makes the book--at brief and unexpected moments-- breath-taking.

  posted by jnuh @ 3:52:00 PM