What Book Would You Add to Your College Curriculum?
You would think that John Bellairs's Poe-ish approach to another Gothic tale could turn "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" into a classic, but it would fall below expectations. Bellairs, a native of Marshall, Michigan, may have the knack in giving details on the unusual features of an old house in the neighborhood, but all that was missing would be a memorable character. (J.K. Rowling was born too early.) It could make a nice addition to your college curriculum, though.
Your professor would welcome the suggestion of adding "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" to the reading list in Gothic fictio, a variety to what would be a work-out list including the best works by Edgar Allan Poe. Keep in mind that this inclusion would be due to the good intention of the members of the faculty to make a tale as old as Bellaris's as relevant to the younger readers. It may also help college students to look at a certain assignment at a different angle. And they might stumble into another book. So adding a new title should make your coursework more interesting than it seems. Right? Let's find out.
Your instructor won't be so strict not to include other titles that could be interesting and intriguing as the ones in the reading list. It could lead to a new route in creative thinking, which should exceed your instructor's expectations. But it may be a daunting challenge. You're about to decide on sleeping off this problem, but it would be better not to.
There are many ways to determine the possible addition to a recommended list. Ask older students, some of whom could have read short stories and novels that aren't part of the curriculum. They may be more than helpful, naming titles and authors that you hardly know. Keep a mental list of it, as you might pick it when there's little time left other than paper writing and examinations. But give it a try.
Archie Andrews and the gang? Young-adult fiction would be a logical choice, but your instructor may not take it seriously. You can mention these teenagers as frequently as you want to, as they're part of the popular culture. Let's go to the next one.
Why Did You Choose These Titles?
The authors that H.P. Lovecraft inspired them to unleash their Cthulhu-ish side. You may be surprised to find out that the names include distinguished figures like Jorge Louis Borges, but your professor won't encourage you to check out their works. You might protest about it until you realize what you overlook from the start. Lovecraft wouldn't care at all if other writers try to emulate him. You might make an exception on Argentinian writer Borges, whose poems you would read (and analyzed) during your study of poetry. Better make these writers as footnotes while reading (and analyzing) Lovecraft's works. It should lead to another intriguing topic, which wouldn’t explain the unwavering popularity of Horror fiction.
Kevin Kwan. "Crazy Rich Asians" is based from Kwan's childhood in Singapore, but the author may have thought of Jane Austen for a few seconds or more. Those who love the novel (and its sequels) would dispute that argument, pointing out that Kwan would introduce contemporary Asia to North American readers. In this regard, this bestseller may turn out to be your first essay assignment on a new module called Contemporary Asian literature. It should include a shorter scope on superstition, but don't mention Lafcadio Hearn. (It's a case of Japanese supernatural stories piquing the curiosity of Westerners like the Irish author.) Kwan could be mentioned in popular culture, which doesn’t translate into a module (or a literary genre for that matter). It would be a few pages at the most, though.
The rest of Haggard's books (or any author who can't let go of a particular character). No one would pass up the chance of studying Adventure fiction especially if you don't have enough resources to travel far and wide. It's likely that your professor would discourage it because Allan Quatermain and Ayesha are the only ones who matter in this discussion. However, "King Solomon's Mines" and "She" are sufficient enough. You should ask for your professor's permission if you want to argue about it (and subsequently write about it).
Why are these titles excluded from the list?
Isolation is the constant theme in Haruki Murakami’s works, which the Japanese author put a surreal touch into his cocooned settings. There would be similarities with a number of titles by Modernist authors, which doesn’t make Murakami’s less interesting than the books of yesteryear. On the other hand, comic book suggestions must be questioned. It might be better if you ask your tutor for advice.
This exercise is not a fruitless activity, as students would be familiar with various genres. There might not be lots of time (to cover it) unless you want to make a lifetime devotion to literature. What do you think?
