Have you ever used a book to instruct someone of something or is there anyone for whom you would like to do that? (I don’t mean a text book for a class, but a work of fiction or non-fiction that would get a certain message across either through plot or character). What is the book and what do you wish to impart?
Professionally, yes but not necessarily the book in its entirety. I used Don Quixote in an English camp for the Thai teaching staff of a business institute. A drill on the parts of speech served as instrument to carry bits of idealism and realism across.
Personally I use books to instruct a young nephew and niece about life in general. The books are gifts that they are to read if they want something more later. 'More' could mean an all-expenses paid trip to the mall in exchange for learning something from the books. Yes, I could be a doting, strict, crazy aunt.
I gave Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl to a niece in hopes that she finds lessons from history even if they are as harsh as fascism and Nazi atrocities. And for the nephew, an illustrated geography book. It's this sense of the magnitude of our world that I wished to impart. There is so much to do besides ball games, ijo.
Thursday 13: Books I bought as gifts
1. Jesus, CEO by Laurie Beth Jones
2. Pocket Finance (Chief contributor: Tim Hindle)
3. Treasury of Poetry, selected by Alistair Hedley
4. Treasury of Virtues, adapted by Jennifer Boudart, Mary Rowitz, Sarah Toast
5. Eating People is Wrong by Malcolm Bradbury
6. The Bible Story (10 volumes)
7. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
9. Organizing Silence: A World of Possibilities by Robin Patric Clair
10. Vintage Greeting Cards with Mary Jo McGraw
11. Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry by Ian O'Connor
12. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
13. The Heart Garden by Janine Burke
My those are some deep books for the young ones to read. I read more for my own entertainment, so I read more toward light and fun reads. I have a granddaughter that loves to read, I send her many books to read. But, for instructing her I leave that to her parents.
ReplyDeleteA great answer.
ReplyDeletehttp://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/03/booking-through-thursday_15.html
How true. Hopefully, we'll never have to go through that again.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Thursday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2012/03/march-is-national-nutrition-month/
I give books to my niece and my nephews, too, for the same reason. That, plus I think if I didn't they would never read. Books are great!
ReplyDeleteI recommend books all the time, it's part of my job, and I always hope that the readers "get" something from it. But, if it's fiction and well done, it shoulnd't feel like a lesson.
ReplyDeleteI have only read Jane Eyre (twice!) and Anne Frank. I love giving books as gifts. I gave some to my youngest niece both for Christmas and her birthday--she looked like she was in heaven, with all the books she got from people. Several years back I bought an illustrated atlas for a friend's children--the kind with not only maps, but info on all the countries of the world--who were then in grade school. When the Olympics were on several weeks later, her son hauled out the atlas and had fun looking up some of the countries as they entered the opening ceremonies, and shared what he learned about each one. Thanks for visiting my post this week!
ReplyDeleteI understand Gigi, but in the society where I am we do things a bit differently, especially with children whose parents are dead.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't feel like a lesson and if they get something from it - all the better.
ReplyDeleteThat's one hell of a gift!
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting ... I suppose that I've done that subconsciously. I often give my kids (and cousins, for that matter) books with teaching in mind. Nothing that deep yet, but they're young. Personally, I've only read 3 books of that list. I'm going to have to get cracking on the others!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by RWT last week!