One wonders how to approach this in an objective a way as possible. Let me just say that Ms. Woodson was very affable and funny and candid, and that I’m sure she is a delightful person to be around. Her talk was…well, for one it did seemed geared more toward writing than reading, like she was speaking to a room full of would-be writers instead of a room full of teachers. But I suppose that really can’t be helped…I looked it up here, and the only thing in her resume that is really relation to education is work as a “children’s drama thearapist”, and…how shall I say this?…I’m not really sure what a children’s drama thearapist is. But I can see the appeal of bringing a YA author to this kind of affair.
Now, the 64,000 dollar question is, of course, would I consider teaching some of her novels based on what I heard. The answer is…um…no. I wouldn’t. I didn’t think what she read was “bad” per se…but its just not my cup of tea, and I don’t think I could teach book whose style I don’t care for. And yes its the style that I don’t like. And yes, I’m pretty aware that that style which I don’t care for is based on a the writer trying to convey her own African American voice. I…I don’t know what to say. But then again, maybe its not that her style is African-American, maybe its just that it felt so…emotionally sloppy. What she read, it sort of reminded me of a piece of French Toast that’s been left in syrup for too long and turns into a square of French Toast soup. The taste is pretty good, but the texture is a bit, well, unsavory.
Well, I suppose you all saw that coming from the guy who said if you don’t like literature it must be because you’re dead inside. I’m really trying not to be too contravertial here, and I really should say that, althought like I said I didn’t care for what I heard, I didn’t here much, so maybe she’s written something that I might find a bit more pallatable to my tastes. Mabye I’ll look into her more…maybe.
