I'm not saying not to read classics. There are some good one's out there. However, I do think modern/pop literature should be covered too. I hardly think you have to be 20 years dead for your work to be recognized as quality literature.

I had to read "Something Wicked this Way Comes" the summer before eighth grade XD I've read all those books minus "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Tragedy of Julius Ceasar" >.> I'm enjoying Catcher in the Rye at the moment which is what we're currently reading :P

The Odyssey is not very interesting I'm afraid and it's better to read the whole thing than just bits and pieces. Wishbone though XD There's a show I haven't watched in a long time!

A lot of my problem with "classics" is the antiquated writing style of many of them. It often makes them more difficult to read and less interesting, even if the basic premiss is pretty good. For example, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a great movie, a great story, but the book is really onerous reading. "Les Miserables" is the same way. I'd rather watch the musical.

I don't get burnt out, I enjoy it, until we have to analyz the living crap out of the book. I don't read books, then "read between the lines," I read the book, and think about what happened then I go on with life.

but there is only so much in a year to teach. You can't teach it all. And there are other classes that go that way for those who are intersted.

I was the only one in the whole school that liked "Something Wicked This Way Comes." And I was one of the few who understood it. The same with "To Kill A Mockingbird." My best friend didn't like it because it was "Too detailed," as she put it.... *sigh* It's lonely where I stand.

I agree [dmeredith].

  I've done fairly recent stuff in my English classes. I've done various works of Margaret Atwood, and Robertson Davies' Fifth Business.

  I think I was the only one in my class who enjoyed Lord of the Flies.

I get really into the writing styles and then can't form regular sentences for a week or two after reading them ;)
Heh, infact... it's not quite the same, but I"m rather into regency novels (georgette heyer etc, old fashioned romances from the days when soirees and balls with princes actually happened :P) and for weeks after reading one of them I'll be speaking as if I were living minus 200 or so years ;)

Heehee. My speaking is influenced by the media I take in, too. Especially old movies.