What books are on your syllabus?

Well, I teach a lot of different classes but I always try to teach Isaac Babel's stories. I really like the Russians, especially Chekhov and Tolstoy and Gogol.

What books have you always wanted to assign but are afraid that the students would never, ever read?

My students will read anything -- there's nothing I'd be afraid to assign to them at all. We've done Bely's "Petersburg," and all kind of obscure Russian stuff. We've done everything from watching "City Lights" to looking at local histories and medical histories of the foot to try and steal tonal things. If it works, we'll read it. No fear.

# posted by Gerry Canavan @ 3:57 PM  |