Guest Post: Wayne Josphson
Oct •
23 •
2010
Classic’s. The Odyssey. The Red Badge Of Courage, etc. I could go on and on.
We have all been forced to read them. We have all sat at a desk for countless hours trying to write an essay over something we barley understand. And we all cheated! We used sparknotes, help for friends, or parents who know this story better then we do. We are even forced to watch the classics in super boring old school movies. If one I learn in high school, is to appreicate literature. Even though half the time, I had no idea what was so good about it and plus, I had other bigger fish to fry. Boyfriends, friends, drama, etc…..
So enter Wayne Josephson. A great writter who has perfected a way to re-write classic literature to help us readers better understand them.
Hello Fellow Readers today we have guest post. Please help me welcome Wayne Josephson!
Readable Classics – Making Literature Less Frustrating
“Last year, when my 10th grade son was assigned The Scarlet Letter in English, he
moaned and groaned and went online to SparkNotes. That took me back to my own high
school days, when I did the same thing to avoid reading Moby Dick, and got a C on the
exam.
That gave me an idea. I gently edited The Scarlet Letter to flow more smoothly and
make it less frustrating. It still felt like the original because, essentially, it still was the
original—I just made it more readable.
My son read my version alongside the original, chapter by chapter, and was able to
understand and appreciate it. He got an A on the exam. I published the book.
Readable Classics was born.
I was on a roll. I had a score to settle with my past. So I rewrote Moby Dick. With the
brooding obsession of Captain Ahab, I conquered my nemesis, the White Whale.
Then I rewrote Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and The Odyssey. I’m now working on
The Red Badge of Courage. The reviews on Amazon are glowing–even the literary
purists like them. And students are ecstatic.
I also recently published a mashup, Emma and the Vampires, with the intent of
introducing a gently-edited Jane Austen to young adult readers in a friendly way, laced
with Twilight-type vampires.
My work is challenging, enjoyable and satisfying. The classics have opened up a
whole new world to me. I finally understand why these books have been continuously
published for two hundred years–they have something important to say.
Jane Eyre was the first novel in English literature where a woman was the hero. Pride
and Prejudice was the first novel to challenge the ridiculous notion that women were
second-class citizens.
But the best part of writing Readable Classics? Students and adults have told me that
my books have helped them overcome their fear of great literature. And that is the most
rewarding part of all.”
Thank so much Mr. Josephson for being here today! If you would like more information on his books please visit his website at Readable Classics. He has an amzing list of books to read!
He is also offering one copy of his lastest book
Emma and the Vampires!
“Blithely unaware of the presence of vampires in Highbury, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. When her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she’s the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart — his (literally) undying love for her.”
It is for US ONLY! Ends October 31, 2010!
Enter HERE!
Good Luck and Happy Reading!
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Wow, what a great post! I remember trying to tackle Moby Dick in high school and it still remains ever elusive. Same with Crime and Punishment. Got a D on that exam because I just couldn’t find anything to latch onto to help me understand it better. What a fantastic idea he had and a great way to help students (and adults) learn and appreciate classic literature!
Though (in school) I loved Homer and Edgar Allen Poe, getting me to read Shakespeare or Jane Austen was worse than pulling teeth for me. It’s a wonderful idea and something I wish someone would have thought of years ago and saved me a few of the ye old head pains. Fantastically brilliant!
Readable Classics really is a great idea! I wish it had been around when I was in school. Although I would probably still like them now – I still find the classics quite difficult to plough through 🙂