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In a message dated 5/10/02 4:49:21 AM, ElissaJC@... writes:

<< I can't just enjoy the book, knowing that later I'll be "tested" >>

Just lately I read a book (Cinnamon Gardens) and really enjoyed it! Than at
the end there was a list of discussion questions, I guess for readers' groups
that might not be able to think of good questions on their own or something.
Some of them were reasonable questions. Some were "DUH!" (no one could have
come to the end without having thought those things), and some were not good
questions. Just like the questions after a short story in a high school
literature book. And for me, that cast a sad pall over what had been a great
novel.

It would also have enabled book club members who didn't really read the whole
book to skim for the passages which would be discussed at the club meeting.

So I wonder to what extent readers' clubs are fulfilling needs in the members
to continue what they did well in school, or to finally do well what they
failed to accomplish well in school, or to use other people to pressure them
into reading since they were "trained" to read only with deadlines and
reporting requirements and tests.

Sandra