Musing Monday (Jan 12)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about assigned reading…

How did you react to assigned reading when you were in school/university/college/etc? How do you think on these books now? What book were you 'forced' to read when you where in school that you've since reread and loved?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.



I know this will come as a huge shock in face of my overwhelming awesomeness (hey, you in back, stop sniggering) but I was always a nerd in high school; I always looked forward to assigned reading - and usually enjoyed them when I got them.

Things were a little differnt once I got to uni, however. I think it was because it coincided with my 'discovery' of the public library. Why would I want to read Heart of Darkness or (ick) Voss, when I had a whole library of free choices to pick from? I did enjoy most of my readings but there was the occasional ones that stick out in my mind as real ordeals to get through. Heart of Darkness and Voss were the two biggest, but I wasn't a huge fan of In the Skin of a Lion, Loaded, On the Road or The Last of the Mohicans either.

I haven't really gone back and given any of these a second chance yet - I think I need a few years separation.

45 comments :

Literary Feline said...

Good question! I may have to join in this week--although it probably won't be until Friday. I was like you, I looked forward to assigned reading in school and more often than not enjoyed what I read.

Anonymous said...

I posted a reply.
Also, in my reply I forgot to mention: Kafka's Metamorphosis made me really happy. It was just so funny and bizarre!

Anonymous said...

link to the post helps! http://elizabethwillse.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/musing-monday-111-assigned-reading/

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

Hello Rebecca!!

Mines up!!

Musing

Anonymous said...

I agree Heart of Darkness was hard to get through. My answer is here: http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/musing-mondays-january-12/.

Anonymous said...

I never finished Heart of Darkness but I'd like to try to read it again. Here's my post:

Musing Monday

Anonymous said...

This is an awesome question.

My answer is here. Happy Monday! :)

Kim said...

Mine is up! Sadly I must say I didn't have a very positive experience with assigned reading!
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-did-you-react-to-assigned-reading.html

Happy Monday!
Kim

Laura said...

Interesting question for an English teacher who assigns reading regularly. I am working on my post at http://stateofdenmark2.wordpress.com

Jo said...

Good question! Mine is here.

Monday Musings

Lisa (Southern Girl Reads) said...

My answer is here:

http://southerngal-lisa.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays-assigned-reading.html

Anonymous said...

Great question.

Mine's here:

http://madbibliophile.wordpress.com

Beth F said...

Mine's up here.

Thanks for hosting.

Marie Cloutier said...

Awesome question! Thanks for hosting. here's mine: http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2009/01/musing-mondays_12.html

Mary (Bookfan) said...

My Musing Monday is here .

Unknown said...

Here's mine!

Steph said...

Here's mine!

http://steph3891.blogspot.com/search/label/Musing%20Mondays

Anonymous said...

My post is up:

http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/musing-mondays-jan12/

MizB

Anonymous said...

Nice question!

My answer!

Penny said...

Here's Mine:
http://ilovemybooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays.html

gautami tripathy said...

I re-read and reviewed Heart of Darkness in 2007, I think.

Musing Mondays

Sherrie said...

Hi!
My Musing Monday is posted. You can see it here:

http://sherriesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-monday_12.html

Have a great day!

Sherrie

Anonymous said...

I'm up as well! Just returned from a funeral and needed something to take my mind off things. Books are always good for that. Thanks :)

http://writemeg.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/musing-mondays-under-diress/

Anonymous said...

Great question! My answer is up here.

Hope everyone's having an incredible Monday!

Stacy said...

Good morning everyone. Another great question. Here is my musing:

http://bookpsmith.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-monday-11209.html

Susan said...

Good topic! http://susanlovesbooks.blogspot.com/

Sunny said...

Great question! Mine is here!

Anonymous said...

Great question! Here's my post:

http://ravenousreader.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/required-reading-a-muse-on-monday/

Anonymous said...

Good question.
Mine’s here.

Anonymous said...

Great question!
http://belleofthebooks.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/musing-mondays-assigned-reading/

Becky said...

my answer this week.

Becky

Anonymous said...

My CRS syndrome ("can't remember squat") makes this a hard question but I gave it my best shot.

jocelyn said...

This is my first time participating in this but I like it! My answer is at http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/musing-mondays-01122009/.

Anonymous said...

Really good question. My answer is here:
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays-jan-12.html

Darlene said...

Shoot, that response above is from Dar at Peeking Between the Pages. I hit anonymous by accident. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Good Question! Here's mine: http://greatbooksandfreshcoffee.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays.html

Andrea said...

I'm not very insightful this week--for my first one! but here's the link to mine

http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays-january-12-2008.html

Anonymous said...

Great blog question, I have mine up:

http://quambrevetempus.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/musing-monday-required-reading/

Debbie said...

This is my first time...
here is my post
http://ffbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays.html

Molly said...

A little late in the day --- but here is my post:

http://mycozybooknook.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-monday-11209.html

Karen Montgomery said...

I am not for sure if I have participated ever, but I thought I would start with this post. I know that I do like to ramble alot when I get started on a topic that I like. I just thought I would warn you. Well, here is my link or address,okay? http://mybeetlebugs.blogspot.com/
I hope you enjoy reading it inspite of the rambling.

Anonymous said...

I forgot to link mine. >.<

http://morbid-romantic.net/2009/01/12/monday-musings-assigned-reading

Anonymous said...

Sadly, I can not say that reading assignments were all that enjoyable for me. I never quite understood why Of Mice and Men or Tale of Two Cities were classics. Not only were the boring, but the whole crushing a puppy scene was just disturbing. I did, however, enjoy all of the Mark Twain books. I had them read through weeks ahead of schedule.

DW Golden
Fly with Fairies in a new young adult novel: Purple Butterflies

marineko said...

http://marineko.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays-school-books.html

Literary Feline said...

Here's the link to my post. Have a good day!