[etni] The Wave
- From: Avi Granit <judiavi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ETNI <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:47:32 +0300
Dear All,
On first learning that there was to be an alternative to "All My Sons" in the
new lit program I was terribly excited. I was especially pleased that it
seemed to be a book with lively and interesting relevant background that our
kids would be able to relate to and engage in.
However, this was before I actually read the book. I was astounded to
discover that the book is absolutely terrible, and in no way deserving to be
called "literature". It is a flimsy, second rate storybook written
specifically for teenagers based on the movie of the same name. How on earth
was this chosen as a piece of "literature" ? The writing is banal, the
characters not at all well defined or believable and in fact the plot is
unconvincing - I'm sure the actual account of the real experiment that the book
is based on would be a much better read.
Can somebody explain to me how on earth this "book" was chosen? As I read it,
I simply couldn't believe it, I thought I must have the wrong book in my hands.
If the ministry wanted to choose a teenage novel for a literature piece, at
least they could have chosen a decent well-known author of an original piece of
work rather than a knock-off "book of the movie"!!!! I am curious to know
what literary devices can be gleamed from this appalling book? With the wealth
of English language literature that is "out there" - why would this silly book
even be in the running? Let them kids read Winnie the Pooh, Alice in
Wonderland, or The Wizard of Oz or even a Judy Blume novel - all are fine
examples of great children's literature. If "The Wave" was chosen simply for
its theme, why not something like "Night" by Elie Wiesel which many schools
already read?
I haven't seen the movie which I believe was a "made for educational TV" thing
rather than a general release movie that played in cinemas. However, I've been
told that it is well made and is very powerful. Most of the teenagers that
I've spoken to who saw the movie said it made a great impact on them and was
something they'd never forget. This can hardly be said of the book so most of
our students will justifiably see the movie rather than read the book.
I know that I don't have to teach it and can indeed continue with "All My Sons"
for the literature exam, but I am still totally flabbergasted by the ministry
decision to include the book "The Wave" and would appreciate hearing from
somebody 'in the know' - to explain why and how the "book" was chosen.
Am I the only person who thinks this?
Judi G.
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