Job Discussion Forums

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I have a student who could easily score 7 on the IELTS and probably an 8. Why she wants to study with me is a mystery but she does. She has asked me to recommend a book that is typically American. I suggested "Of Mice and Men" but then found out she doesn't like sad endings. I gave her the first Harry Potter book (because I had nothing else available) and she brought it back, finished, the next day. This young lady is in her late 20s and has some sort of teaching job.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

DirtGuy

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Catcher in the Rye?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 1:51 pm Post subject:

Confederacy of Dunces? The sad ending is outside of the book...

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

To Kill A Mockingbird

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

"To Kill..." Ooooohh. Good idea. I had forgotten all about that book. Maybe I'll talk her into loaning it to me so that I can re-read it.

Thanks.

DG

Mr. Leafy · Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 246 Location: North of the Wall

'Typically American' doesn't have to mean classic. A lot of books published this year would qualify as typically American.

This list has a mix of old and new;
http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/americana

It has Mockingbird and Mice and Men but also American Gods by Neil Gaiman and The Help by Katherine Stockett.

Also, for new and upcoming releases look at Book Browse.
http://www.bookbrowse.com/

And for books that are good to talk about try Reading Group Guide.
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/content/index.asp

But you might end up spending more money on books than you meant to.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Cannery Row, same author as Mice and Men but thicker. Funny too. Never read The Grapes of Wrath, but it just looks sad. Sorry don't read much. If she really reads fast, the Swedish trilogy (in English) that begins with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is great reading although limited in its American-ness by not being American. But it's a great thriller, the good guys basically win and it's about 2000 pages if she reads all 3 volumes.

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I totally forgot about "Cannery Row". Jeez, I also need to read more.

"Grapes of Wrath" would be my hands down first choice but not until I had determined her abilities. The ending is not sad and the message is one I like, but that is not an easy read.

She specified "American" and she is paying me so American she gets.

DG

haleynicole14 · Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 178 Location: US

Classic books:
The Great Gatsby (sad parts)
The Hobbit
Lord of the Rings
Animal Farm (sad parts)
Lord of the Flies (sad parts)
Alice in Wonderland
The Outsiders
The Chronicles of Narnia
1984

Modern popular books:
The Hunger Games
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (this is in the U.K. if I remember right, but good book, and many similarities between US culture)
The DaVinci Code
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
John Grisham mysteries
The Nanny Diaries

Oh gosh... trying to compose a list is harder than I expected it would be. I haven't read all of these but have read mo