Book choice

Gode lesere bruker hva de kan fra før av om et emne før de starter opp å lese.

Gode lesere prøver aktivt å få mening ut av det de leser. Gode lesere snakker med hverandre om hva de lærer. Gode lesere vet hvordan de skal ta fatt på en tekst for å få

mening ut av den. Gode lesere skriver om hva de lærer. Gode lesere og skrivere forstår raskt hva forfatteren ønsker å si. Gode lesere kan organisere opplysninger på mange måter for å

lære. Gode lesere lærer å tenke når de har lært seg mange ulike måter

å lese på. Gode lesere lærer å forstå ved å kunne gjøre det de leser om i

praksis. (fra Santa og Engen 1996:1)

Hva gjør gode lesere?

2

Forhold dere bør tenke på mens dere leser romanen

I fagplanen står det at dere skal kunne drøfte innhold, personer, konfliktstoff og tema i romanen(e) dere leser.

Det dere bør se på da, er f.eks:Innledning

HvemHva Hvor Når

Hoveddelens begynnelse Konfliktens tilspisselse VendepunktAvslutningPerson

PersonlighetstrekkHandlinger som bekrefter

personlighetstrekkenesamtale mellom eller omtale av personen som

bidrar til å illustrere / bekrefte trekkene

Task for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)

Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)Themes and Symbols (choose two which you think are

important)Main questions:

How does Tom Sawyer change over the course of the story? What is his relationship to Huck Finn? Pay close attention to their

trip to the graveyard and their hunt for treasure.Sources

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, written by Samuel Clemens (commonly known under his penname Mark Twain). The novel is built around a boy, Tom Sawyer, and his adventures,.The story takes place in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, by the Mississippi river. Mid-19th century.Audio and film. Film 1973:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghKeILWt128&feature=PlayList&p=02D05F3297ADB26B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34

Task for Dear Nobody by Berlie Doherty 1992Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)

SettingMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)Main question:

Compare Helen's character from 'Dear Nobody' with Juliet's character from 'Romeo and Juliet' written by William Shakespeare.

Sources

The story of teenagers Chris and Helen, and their unplanned baby. It is written in first person narrative, from Chris’ point of view, with interspersed diary entries from Helen and letters to her unborn baby, ‘Nobody’. It starts at the end and the plot goes full circle.

Task for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon 2003

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis) Setting Major characters Cultural references: Who was Christopher’s role model from

literature and why? Conflict:

Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome Plot (brief) Theme Analysis Main question: How important is the voice of Christopher as the

narrator of this story? How would this story be different if it were written by a different character - Ed Boone or Siobhan, for example? How would the story be different if written in a third person omniscient voice? What would be lost in such changes, what would be gained?

Sources.

Written by British author Mark Haddon in 2003. The book is told through main character’s eyes and is a mystery novel. It is based on the idea that not everyone in this world is the same, and that we all have our certain ways of interpreting the world. The main character Christopher is a 15 year old autist. As many other autists, Christopher has the ability to notice things that aren't really obvious to “normal” people and in addition he is smart.

Task for Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby 1992 Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)

Setting Major characters Perspective (point of view)

Conflict: Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief) Main questions:

Nick Hornby initially refuses to go to a football game with his father, but once he does it becomes a routine. How does football help or hinder Nick's relationship with his father? Does his father seem to take Nick to games out of obligation or out of love for his son? Why or why not? Does going to the games help Nick become a man? Why or why not? Cite examples.

How does Nick's obsession with football affect the other members of his family, his sister and mother? How does going to football games allow him to play a patriarchal role? Does his obsession affect his romantic relationships? Why or why not?

Sources.

The story is about football, in particular Arsenal Football Club. It is written autobiographically and covers the author’s his own perspective as an Arsenal supporter. The book is divided into three parts: 1968-1975, 1976-1986, 1986-1992.

Film trailer from 1997:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMr2daGzvnk

Interview with Nick Hornby in 2007. He reads from the book : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJfhp6ZsDI0(Also ”Slam” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEjhYXARSbY&NR=1)

Task for Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding 1996 Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)

Setting Major characters Perspective (point of view)

Conflict: Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief) Themes Main questions:

How does the diary format affect the story? Does it increase or decrease your enjoyment of the book? Give examples to support your opinion.

Discuss your mental picture of Bridget's appearance. The author never describes her appearance. Discuss the significance of the absence of a description of Bridget.

Sources

Bridget Jones’s diary is written in 1996 by Helen Fielding. The book is written as a diary, where the narrator is Bridget herself. In that way we get to know her very well, and in a way we become a part of her life. Bridget Jones is a single woman in her thirties who lives and work in London. Her best friends is Tom (gay) who always support and helps her. The book is a comedy.Film trailer Bridget Jones’s Diary 2:27: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp08csjN_xI

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis) Setting time and place Major characters Perspective (point of view)

Conflict: Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief) Themes and Symbols Main questions:

In what ways does Lily change throughout the course of the novel? In the end, in what ways has she grown up? In what ways might she still be a child?

At the end of the novel, T. Ray decides to let Lily stay in Tiburon. Is this decision in keeping with his character? Why or why not?

Sources

Task for The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 2002

The story takes place in South Carolina in America the summer of 1964. The novel (2002) is about a young girl named Lily who lives with her unsympathetic father. Her life is strongly effected by a blurry image of the day when her mother died an accidental death. She wants to know more about her mother, and when her African-American housekeeper Rosaleen is put in jail, she seizes the opportunity to run away.

Film trailer The Secret Life of Bees 2:31:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVCil2oSNYY

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)Themes and SymbolsMain questions

What are the crucial events in Ram’s life that provide the key to each of the questions he is asked. Why does the author use this device? Give examples to support your opinions.

Sources

Task for Q & A by Vikas Swarup 2005

Q & A (2005) is a novel by Vikas Swarup, an Indian diplomat. Set in India, it tells the story of Ram Mohammad Thomas, a poor young waiter who becomes the biggest quiz-show winner in history, only to be sent to jail on accusations (but with no evidence) that he cheated. The book was adapted into the famous multiple Oscar winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog Millionaire. Film trailer Slumdog Millionaire 2:05:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)ThemesMain questions :

What would have happened if Amir had rescued Hassan from Assef, instead of running away? Would Hassan and Ali have moved with Baba and Amir to California? If so would the boys‘ lives have been different? Explain.

Despite being an adult and living in the US Amir's wife Soraya still has to obey her parents. Is her relationship between them believable? In what ways does this relationship differ from the relationships between parents and their daughters in normal American families?

Sources

Task for Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 2003

The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir , a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, who betrayed his best friend Hassan (by allowing him to be raped), the son of his father's Hazara servant, and lives in regret. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan through the Soviet invasion Soviet, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime.

Film trailer The Kite Runner 1:55: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5e6AqrNF8&feature=fvst

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)ThemesMain questions :

What types of cultural pressure did Josie experience? Are there traditions your parents have that they have tried to pass on to you?

What does this novel reveal about immigrants and Australian society. Give examples to support your opinions.

Sources

Task for Looking for Alibrandi by Melinda Marchetta

Josephine Ailbrandi is seventeen, illegitimate, and in her final year at a wealthy Catholic school. This is the year her father comes back into her life, falls in love, discovers the secrets of her family’s past and the year she finds herself. Set in Sydney, Australia.

Film - Part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMF4uh05gwg

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)ThemesMain questions :

Why does the author chose to write in the first person (also called a stream-of-consciousness)? Does it increase or decrease your enjoyment of the book? Give examples to support your opinion.

Klass goes out of his way to try and speak to adolescents about real, terrifying issues. Do you think he is successful? Discuss why or why not by using examples from the book .

Sources

Task for You Don’t Know Me by David Klass

This book is about a boy who struggles through his teenage years. His stepfather abuses him and every day is a struggle for survival where he can't admit to anyone that he is being mistreated.

It is also about child abuse and how easily this can be hidden. It reveals the hurt and shame of being an abused child and asks if life is worth living.

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)ThemesMain questions :

Discuss Bella's character. What characteristics make her similar to other teenagers? What characteristics set her apart? Give examples.

Is it believable that the Cullens choose to live peacefully with humans, even to the point of Dr. Cullen serving as a medical doctor? Support your point of view with evidence from the story.

Sources

Task for Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Key Literary Elements: (i.e. short literary analysis)Setting time and placeMajor charactersPerspective (point of view)

Conflict:Protagonist, Antagonist, Climax and Outcome

Plot (brief)ThemesMain question:

Early in the book the mother of one of the novel’s two heroines talks portentously about “our lot in life”. What does she mean by this statement and how does the author portray the plight of women in Afghanistan?

Sources

Task for A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini