Mr. Christie's Reading list

  • Some of the old stand by's that will get you through just in case you are getting tired of Fortnite:

    Novels:

    Tom Sawyer - the first novel I ever read.  I still remember the hardbound edition I was given as a gift from our neighbor across the street when I was 9 years old.

    The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy - Tolkien's ground breaking masterpiece that inspired artists around the world. It influenced not only writers but video games designers (RPG's), developers of role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons, as well as musicians (ie. Led Zeppelin) to just name a few.  It changed our world.  

    A Christmas Carol - odd choice right?  But it's full of hope and optimism for the human condition

    Oliver Twist - As long as were on Dickens give this a whirl - it's the original Huck Finn 

     

    Remember that you can borrow ebooks from the Buffalo Public library - you just need a library card - if you don't have one chances are your parents

    Poetry:

    This week try on one of my favorite poets by Robert Frost - read and ponder this - extra credit if you can recite it when I see you again.  Nota Bene: remember when you read poetry to:

    1) Read it aloud poetry is written to be read aloud not to yourself.  

    2) Think of the poem as a conversation - picture Frost telling you about an expereince he had in the woods

    2) DON"T STOP AT THE END OF A LINE UNLESS THERE IS A PERIOD!  Only stop in your speaking when you reach a period or eclamation point etc. and pause when you reach a comma. Chances are it won't make much sense if you don't.

    3) Even though some of the language is archaic most of the time the intinial meaning is quite simple - don't get tripped up by the wording; simply read and reread and reread again.  The repetition will allow the ryhtmn to become more evident and then the meaning will come.

    4) Feel free to look up what other people think a poem means but make sure you find meaning in it for yourself.

     

    And with that:

    The Road Not Taken

    Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
    And sorry I could not travel both
    And be one traveler, long I stood
    And looked down one as far as I could
    To where it bent in the undergrowth;
     
    Then took the other, as just as fair,
    And having perhaps the better claim,
    Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
    Though as for that the passing there
    Had worn them really about the same,
     
    And both that morning equally lay
    In leaves no step had trodden black.
    Oh, I kept the first for another day!
    Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
    I doubted if I should ever come back.
     
    I shall be telling this with a sigh
    Somewhere ages and ages hence:
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.