So, one advantage of the nieces being sick is we're plowing right through HP

[conuly]

I'm going to need to decide on our next book pretty fast. Ana is pushing for Harriet the Spy, but I'm not really sure. We'll probably finish it Sunday, as Jenn's at work for the day and I'll be with the girls.

Like I said, it's a really weird feeling re-reading the book after all this time, and knowing what I do about how it all ends. Every time we get to a part that I know is foreshadowy, and that I'd forgotten about, I feel all weird about it. I actually burst out laughing when "Harry had an uncomfortable feeling that Snape could read minds". Really, Harry? You don't say!

"Why are you laughing, Connie?"
"Oh... nevermind, it won't really be funny for several books, and we're not going to read them that fast."

At school they're encouraged to predict events while reading, and I'm delighted to see that they've successfully guessed that Snape is out to kill Harry and get the stone for himself. They haven't tied this all to ol' Moldy, but that's all right. Boy, is it going to be fun to see their faces when the plot is twisted! I'm all twitchy with anticipation!

Comments

[leora.livejournal.com]

I usually don't predict events when reading. I think I prefer not to. I don't know if I would want to be encouraged to in school. It would likely have created a habit I would have trouble undoing, and it might change how I enjoy books for my lifetime. I enjoy not predicting things and letting them unfold.

Of course, I can't help but predict to a certain extent at this point - some plots are just so obvious. But I still seem to do it to a much lesser extent than most of my peers. I also tend to be able to enjoy most books and movies. I'm not sure predicting things is necessarily worthwhile when reading for recreation.

I'm sure some people do actively enjoy things more by doing so - and that's fine too. I wouldn't want to tell someone else how to enjoy reading. I just don't like the idea of having one model pushed on people. And it comes to mind as the model being pushed is not my model.

[conuly]

I don't know, but I suspect that the reason they want the kids to predict when reading is mostly so they can test comprehension better.

If Professor Snape is seen staring at Harry and muttering under his breath while Harry is on a bucking broomstick, and Snape is a wizard, can the kid work out what that means? (No, actually, but that's not for lack of trying.)

Of course, they wanted us to do this in school too, and I just blew them off because in the time they wanted me to spend "predicting" I could've (and did) just read the whole thing already.

[leora.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I kind of get that is the goal. But it is a goal that can force a mentality when reading that can alter, perhaps permanently, one's ability to enjoy reading. For some for the better, but for some for the worse. So, it strikes me as a dangerous way to do so.

[ncp.livejournal.com]

Have you read the "Half Magic" Books? They're really cleverly written, fast-paced, and sort of quirky. And they're age-appropriate for your nieces.

[conuly]

Read all of Eager's works as children.

As a grown-up, I find that just about every one of the series has one really bad racist caricature that you can't read around.

[ncp.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Haven't read them since I was a kid, so I'll take your word for it. I remember being COMPLETELY BOWLED OVER when I figured out that the protagonists in the second book were the children of the protagonists in the first book! THAT. WAS. SOOOO. AWESOME! (Hey, I was ten.)

[conuly]

And you see how they got there in Magic by the Lake, too!