Already read Uncle Tom's Cabin, is there a similar book as a substitution?

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  • July 2, 2012 at 9:58 pm
    Betty Dickerson
    Participant

    Hi There,

    We are going to be using Notgrass’ Exploring America with my 3 high schoolers.  Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one of the suggested reading books for the curriculum but my oldest daughter has already read it.  Is there another book that would be a good substitute?  She’s a strong reader and is going to be 17 yrs old.  She would like to read about Harriet Tubman but alot of the books I’ve found are a little young for her.  My dh suggested Gone With The Wind, but neither of us have ever read it.  Is that just a glorified romance?  I’ve seen the movie and would rather just watch the movie, but hubby is leaning towards her reading the book.  Have any of you all read it?  What is your opinion of letting your students read it?

     

    Many Thanks & Blessings!

    Betty

    July 2, 2012 at 11:19 pm
    Tecrz1
    Participant

    I read Gone With the Wind when I was 12. I’m not sure this was wise but my mother named me Tara after the plantation in t so I was interested. It would definitely be great historical background on the Civil War! It has quite a few adult themes however. Scarlett is married three times and not once for love but rather revenge and money. She steals two of these men from a friend and then her sister. She is not very moral and those with morals are portrayed as weak. She flirts and charms, steals and lies. She is in love with a married man and tries several times to seduce him away from her good friend. She treats people terribly but is glamorized as strong and a survivor. She is a selfish, conniving woman and unfortunately for some reason this never changes.

    It is kind of like a historical soap opera. I’m not sure it is a great history book, more a thrilling romance. All told – I love the book. I’m just telling you the things that would make me hesitate when giving it to my someday teenage children. They would need to be fairly discerning. Also, slavery is not treated quite fairly I don’t think. It’s more glamorized.

    Just my thoughts,

    Tara

    July 2, 2012 at 11:21 pm
    zillymom
    Member

    Maybe Richard Wright’s Native Son? I know Uncle Tom’s Cabin had a huge influence on this novel. I read it in high school for an American Lit class and enjoyed it. In school we read the abridged version… there is a particularly graphic scene in the original that I’m fairly certain was omitted in the abridged version. But it was a powerful read. (I ended up reading more by Wright on my own because of it.)

    July 3, 2012 at 8:44 pm
    Betty Dickerson
    Participant

    You know, that’s what I was thinking about GWTW.  It seems like it is a glorified romance novel with a historical setting.  I think watching the movie will be enough.  I did notice from what I read about the book that those without morals are the ones seen as strong and survive (like Rhett and Scarlett) and the moral ones are the weak ones.  I think that message alone is a big reason why I’d rather just watch the movie for historical content than invest that much time reading all 1,000+ pages of it! 

    Thanks for the tip on Richard Wright, I will look for an abridged book! 

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