Not much to report here... A week into July, almost a fortnight, and I am really ready for the Fall term to begin. Apparently I need more structure than I would have guessed.
Also, though, I'm excited about the books. Partly this is because I am a total unrepentant book junkie, as anyone who has been to my house can tell you. Speaking of which, I must highly recommend a couple of books -- not everything I've read this summer, because a) that would be ridiculous, and b) most of them are part of my overwhelming Civil War nerdfest, but a couple.
First, Last Night in Montreal, by Emily Mandel.
Second, City of Thieves, by David Benioff.
Just read them.
Anyway. So I can't wait for the books this fall. The second part of why...
Well.
In the happy confines of the Creative Writing & Publishing Arts program, we are fortunate enough to have instructors who for the most part eschew the tired old canon. Across all our genres, we read the Important Old Stuff, and the new stuff the profs think is important. This makes everything more vital and vibrant, in my opinion.
It's especially thrilling because this is NOT the case at every school in Baltoville.
I won't tell you which other school I visited recently, soley for the purpose of checking out their writing program's shelves in the student bookstore. But I will tell you that I was startled by how out of date the books seemed -- yes, they were classics, mostly, but they were the same old classics that writing programs have used for DECADES.
I was already glad that I'd ended up at UB for any number of reasons, many of which I have mentioned in these fine glowing pages, but standing there in the bookstore looking at the vast array of The Same Old People... It made me extra pleased to be here, among writers who believe that writing is organic and changing and fluid.
Of course I'll keep myself occupied until Fall -- I have my award project to address, for one thing, not to mention the ever thrilling LOOK FOR JOB, but... But I'm psyched for Fall. For the titles my instructors use to make their points this time.
And anyway, who isn't glad for an excuse to hit the bookstore?
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3 comments:
Rafe, I agree, the best part about getting ready for classes are the books. I never wait until the day or even the week of the class to get my books - I want to see them beforehand. I also, with the exception of a few lower level core classes such as science, never buy used books. I can't stand the thought of someone else having written in my book. Also, thanks for the recommendations. I'm always looking for something good to read.
The only part that bugs me about the bookstore are the prices. But I agree--I get very excited about books for upcoming classes. Which reminds me ... I should take a look at the Barnes & Noble site to see what's being assigned. Are you back at home now, Rafe?
I agree about the prices. I have a B&N membership which entitles me to 10% off. Plus I periodically get coupons (usually right before I need to buy my books). Unfortunately, we can't use the membership discounts at the college bookstore so I usually just go to the B&N near my home or order on-line. This is way I save money.
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