What an interesting discussion we had with The Help. Thanks, Barbara, for meticulously researching the author's biography; and thanks, Lisa, for all of your great notes and comments about Kathryn Stockett and her book. It was a treat having you back with the Oasis Readers!
Our next book for discussion is My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student by Rebekah Nathan.
We will meet on Wednesday, July 13, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.
Would anyone like to present the author's biography or lead the discussion?
Product Description
A revealing look at the college freshman experience, from an insider’s point of view
A revealing look at the college freshman experience, from an insider’s point of view
After fifteen years of teaching anthropology at a large university, Rebekah Nathan had become baffled by her own students. Their strange behavior—eating meals at their desks, not completing reading assignments, remaining silent through class discussions—made her feel as if she were dealing with a completely foreign culture. So Nathan decided to do what anthropologists do when confused by a different culture: Go live with them. She enrolled as a freshman, moved into the dorm, ate in the dining hall, and took a full load of courses. And she came to understand that being a student is a pretty difficult job, too. Her discoveries about contemporary undergraduate culture are surprising and her observations are invaluable, making My Freshman Year essential reading for students, parents, faculty, and anyone interested in educational policy.
About the Author
Rebekah Nathan is a pseudonym for Cathy Small. She has been a professor of anthropology at Northern Arizona University for fifteen years.
Here are some discussion questions that students wrote:
Karen found some interesting remarks about the book at:
There is more information about the author and the book on Wikipedia at:
One link to an author interview is: http://dir.salon.com/story/
Looking forward!
