Engagement
#1: Locating Sites of Regional
Literature
Over the
next week your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to investigate some
of your local resources available for ‘teaching local literature in a global
age.’ Between now and next class meeting you will visit
four sites—one virtual, the others a bit more substantial—to trace what sorts
of texts and materials remain accessible for 21st century readers
interested in pursuing local literature.
Here’s
what you need to do:
1) Go to you school library with a copy of our list of
suggested local literature. How many does your library have?
2) Then, try to find physical copy of at least one of the texts
(likely the one you’ve selected for your dialogue journal or literature circle
readings, but it need not be). If your school does not have a copy
available, find out why. (You may need to talk with your school librarian
or media specialist or other faculty). If your school does have a copy of
the text, where is it located? How many copies of the text are
available? What other texts are near this one? Who else is there
when you are searching for your book? What are they doing? If they
are reading or browsing books, try to find out what they are reading (you may
be direct or discreet, but don’t be creepy by stalking other patrons).
Make a note of all these things. AND if you find a copy of the text, sit
down somewhere to examine the book and to read the first page or two.
What is the most interesting, unusual, or compelling thing, passage, phrase, or
word on the first page? Whether you find a copy of the text here or not,
then….
3) Go to your local PUBLIC library to find a copy of the
text in #2. Again, if your local library or branch does not have a copy
of the text, find out why. Is this a text that you can request through
MeLCat? If so, do so, if the library cannot provide a copy for you.
If the library does have a copy, then obtain a copy. Note where the text
is located within the library? What section is it in? How many copies are
available? What other texts or materials are nearby? As above, also
take note of other patrons, especially in the section where you find your
text. AND if you find a copy of the text, sit down somewhere to examine
the book and to read the first page or two. Upon this reading and in
light of your past experiences with the text and/or trying to find the text,
what is the most interesting, unusual, or compelling thing, passage, phrase, or
word on the first page? Then…
4) Go to the nearest commercial bookstore in your
community. Does this store carry a copy of your text? If not, why
not? Can you order the book for delivery there? If so, what are the
costs to you (time, money, resources) above the cost of the book? If the store
does have a copy available, where is it located? How many copies do they
have and in what condition are they? As above, notice the other
patrons and their activity. If you prefer to have your own copy of the
book (rather than the library versions), purchase the text.
Again, sit down somewhere to examine the book and to read the first page or
two. NOW, what is the most interesting, unusual, or compelling thing,
passage, phrase, or word on the first page? If nothing changes with this
reading, think about why that is and write about it.
5) Bring your field notes and all copies of the book you
have managed to secure to class.
Here is a list of the preliminary texts we used for this particular engagement. Each of the titles below has been written by or about people in Michigan, and each is generally a 20th or 21st century work of fiction.
ReplyDeleteIf you know of other authors/titles please share.
Charles Baxter, The Feast of Love
Laura Kasischke, Eden Springs
Michael Zadoorian, Second Hand
Michael Zadoorian, The Leisure Seeker
Margaret Fuller, Summer on the Lakes
Lisa Reardon, The Mercy Killers
Ellen Slezak, Last Year’s Jesus
Bonnie Jo Campbell, American Salvage
Caroline Kirkland, A New Home, Who’ll Follow?
Ernest Hemingway, In Our Time
Janet Kauffman, Trespassing: Dirt Stories and Field Notes
Harriet Arnow, The Dollmaker
Joyce Carol Oates, Them
Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex
Michael Delp, As If We Were Prey
Dorene O’Brien, Voices of the Lost and Found
Andy Mozina, The Women Were Leaving the Men
Stephen Dobyns, The House on Alexandrine
Loren Estleman,The Left-Handed Dollar
Elmore Leonard, Pagan Babies
William X. Kienzle, The Rosary Murders
Kirkland's A New Home, Who'll Follow? obviously the 19th century exception to the list here :)
DeleteOur shared readings each week consisted of shorter works of poetry, short fiction, and drama.
ReplyDeleteHere is the brief list of authors with schedule:
Philip Levine 1/6
Christine Hume 1/6
Caroline Kirkland 1/13
Charles Baxter 1/13
Sound, Image, Text pieces for 1/20
Robert Hayden 1/27
Toi Derricotte 1/27
Carolyn Forche 1/27
Marge Piercy 1/27
Theodore Roethke 1/27
Jim Gustafson and Jim Daniels 2/3
Literary Journals of Interest
Michael Brian Ogden-CORKTOWN
Jeff Daniels-BEST OF FRIENDS
Ellen Slezak 4/7