(no subject)

[dirtylibrarian]

Growing up, history was one of my least favorite classes.  Part of it was because I've never had a good memory for names and dates.  But the other part was because I had a lot of trouble seeing how it fit in with everything.  Now as an adult, I can see that this is exactly the big picture I was supposed to be absorbing, but I'm not sure if there would have been a better way for me to grasp it.  Perhaps if I had read more historical fiction as a kid?  I don't know.

As an adult, I'm slightly embarrased to admit that my growing understanding of history comes mostly through teen historical fiction, and varied sources such as poetry, art books, magazine articles, all leading more and more to wikipedia.  As a librarian I have issues with wikipedia...and I have to laugh at myself when I realize my issues are with how other people are going to use it, mostly kids not understanding how to evaluate source material...but I fear adults have these problems also.  Anyways, for following my own curiosity to learn more, I find it is terrific.  Such as when I was reading a book of poetry a friend gave me for my birthday last year, and I came across a poem about Move.  I had never heard anything about this group, but was truly shocked to read that in 1985 the Philadelphia police had bombed a group of citizens, killing 11 people, including kids...and destroyed 61 neighborhood homes.  How did I miss this?  I guess at 13 I probably wasn't paying much attention to the news, but still.  It is bits of history like this that really make you think, and wonder, what else is going on in our country that the average person doesn't have any awareness about?  My own mother didn't realize the vice-president was still receiving money from Halliburton, as part of his "retirement" package.  Its stuff like this that just makes me feel ill.

Comments

[gryph.livejournal.com]

I never did well in history either, nor government. I'm more bitter that government wasn't taught better in school, because as an adult I realize how important it is to understand the process, especially is you want to see change. What I know about government is what I've learned listening to Thom Hartmann on the radio. I feel my school really failed me by not making government and history more relevant to us kids. I suppose the government likes it that way though.

Hey, good to see you're back. We should hang soon. My schedule will start to get dicey for the next couple weeks though. 2 pet sitting jobs back to back.

[(Anonymous)]

i think the reason i wanted to major in history in college is because i had really stellar history teachers in high school...but the historical fiction thing is note-worthy, too. i recommend checking out avi, harriet gillem robinet (for younger readers), mildred d. taylor (roll of thunder, hear my cry). and yes, the "young royals" or whatever journal series (their american-history series is called "dear america," i think).
-e

Alt History Series

[(Anonymous)]

I have really been enjoying the 1632 series that has been created by Eric Flint. The basic premise is that a 1999 West Virgina town gets transported into the middle of Germany in 1632. He does a great job of exploring the history and technology of the time. The publishers have even gone so far in the encouragement of fan fiction and non-fiction that they have published three book in the series that were largely fan created (Grantville Gazette). The one knock I have with the series is that the Americans are always right and damn lucky.

Stupid Livejournal :)

[(Anonymous)]

Above post from Paul

-Paul