Reading in School

Ever since basically fourth grade, my class has read novels. Together as a recreational sort of thing, aloud with assigned characters and lines, and, mostly, silently with tests and quizzes on the content of the books. Generally, I think, it is a pretty major part of a school's English curriculum. But does analyzing the grammar and making lists of characters and story elements sort of take the pleasure out of reading a book? I can read a book and be perfectly satisfied and thought-provoked without having written essays about the setting, theme, mood and all that. At the same time, however, I find myself more aware of what the story is about, if I'm conscious of all of the technical aspects.

What do you think? Does going over a book in class take the fun out of it? Or does it really depend on the teacher and how the book is being taught? Is it better to read just on your own? I'm not sure yet, how about you?

me... whatever that is

My name is Briar Kasvi, which means plants, in Finnish. The very fact of my name is only the tip of the iceberg in my own personal peculiarity. But it's ironic because I absolutely can't stand vegetation of any kind. Well, trees are allright. They have a satistying thump to them when kicked. But anyway. I was born in Finland, though I don't bother to be a citizen there as I've hardly ever even seen the country. I generally travel a lot, with my older brother, Chaz. But as for what I'm like, I'm afraid I can't help you too much there. It's kind of hard to hang on to your identity when it changes every few months. I mean, for the six weeks I spent in Norway, my name was Briar Svulst. And then, before I knew it, we were in Russia and I was the new and improved Briar Poct. But our passports and stuff say Kasvi, because that's where we were officially born. Chaz just likes to have us completely immersed in the culture of wherever we're staying, so adopting local names seems reasonable, I guess. I really like traveling, and thinking, and reading, and even writing. Monkeys make me laugh, and I absolutely LOVE cream puffs. I had them this one time in Spain and I've been trying to perfect my recipe ever since. I think the biggest magic there is, is in books. Because immersing yourself in a book can be just as incredible as immersing yourself in a different culture. And if you're scared, and feeling like an outsider, books can offer solace and friends that don't judge. So books are great, anyway.