Purple Polka is a lot of things, but something that it very rarely (if ever) does is go deep into my personal life. I like it that way. Life is serious and the internet isn't. The internet is a big, fluffy ball of silly absurdity and I would be doing it a disservice to do something like talk about my problems as if this were a Xanga. There are certain communities where that is okay and I did not decide to join them.
However, I'm going to reveal a snippet today. As I've stated before, I'm reviewing my syllabus for Materials for YA. One portion of the syllabus allows you to choose your own books revolving around a theme for a final project. While I should probably finish Learning Theory from last semester before I focus on my final for Spring 09, this is something that has to be addressed now. A week (or maybe two, everything from that time is muddled and confusing) before Christmas, my stepfather Jack took his own life. This is understandably troubling for numerous reasons I don't believe I have to go into. As a result, I decided to focus my final project* on books dealing with suicide, more specifically, the aftermath. The survivors.
I would rather read the books at the beginning of the semester, therefore, at a time when I need them. A time when the mere thought of suicide, even in distant contexts like the suicides from the Great Depression shown in fuzzy black and gray footage in a documentary, leads me to tears. That said, for the five reviews necessary for my final project, Purple Polka won't be an inane distraction that occasionally attempts to take itself seriously. I cannot say what I will do from one day to the next, but it is most likely I will first review the book and then reflect on what it means to me and perhaps other people in a similar situation. I also plan on beginning every review with a link back to this post, in attempt to explain the sudden serious tone.
Thank you for your time and for letting me get a little personal. :)
*Though, come to think of it, I haven't quite asked Jill if this is okay. Is it, Jill?
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7 comments:
Wow, Kristi! I'm so sorry.
One YA book that I recommend the deals with suicide is Stay With Me...
Again, sorry about your stepfather. That's awful.
That's actually the one I'm reading now! It's actually been very helpful and the book that inspired me for my final project idea.
Thank you for your condolences.
I'm going to answer your question on three levels...
On a procedural level, most people don't tell me what their project topics are until they present them, so asking in advance is certainly not required.
On an academic level, one of the running themes of this class is that literature can be both a validation and an extension of one's experience (both a mirror and a window). Librarians who agree with this idea will collect - and share with teens - texts that can be read alternately as "this is exactly what my life is like, and now I have some ideas for how to deal with things" and "gosh, I don't know anyone in real life who ____, but now I feel like I do." So your argument in choosing this topic is a very legitimate one.
(On a personal level, I'll answer you elsewhere.)
By the way, Thirteen Reasons Why was on the syllabus last time around, representing, essentially, one of the most-discussable YA books of 2007.
I think that focusing your project around the aftermath of suicide is an awesome idea. It's bibliotherapy for you that also helps others in your class so that they might have some titles to recommend should such a tragedy occur among the youth they serve. I'm sorry to learn of your loss, and admire your choice to address it in this way that might help others while enabling you to work through it. If I think of some other titles (other than You Know Where To Find Me), I'll pass them on...
Thank you everyone! :)
If it isn't already on your list, I'd like to suggest Looking for Alaska.
Good luck with your project. I am so sorry about your stepfather.
Hmmmm... I have that one checked out, but had no idea it was about suicide. Guess that means I should get around to reading it faster, huh? Thanks, Renee!
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