Volume 1, Number 3 Special Edition Winter 2010
A Tribute by Alicia Fenney
Class of 2003 ~ Sturgis English Teacher
When I think of the best books, those
favorites that call to me, beckoning me from my
worldly duties, I think not of works of literature but
of the person who made literature come alive for me,
who made me love to read, and who made me want
to share this passion for literature with
others. Gretchen Buntschuh was my
senior year English teacher at Sturgis, and
even in the days before Sturgis held the
prestige of an internationally recognized
diploma program, Sturgis had its gem.
Although any fortune teller could
have read my future in the cards long ago,
I never had that moment of revelation,
the split second where I realized who and
what I was capable of becoming, until I sat
in my first Socratic Circle in Room
101. Although I fondly remember
(most of) the literature Gretchen pre-
sented to our class of restless seniors
(let’s just say I’m glad Tess Durbeyfield
has found her home in the Sturgis basement), it wasn’t
the “what” but the “how” Gretchen taught that made
me want to read more. In those Socratic Circles, we
discussed the heroism in Beowulf, astrology and philoso-
phy in Grendel, a cranky, rash, and immature prince in
Hamlet, and, oh, the sad plights of women in Antigone,
The Doll’s House, and The House of Bernarda
Alba. Through the simple gesture of letting us loose on
a work of literature, Gretchen helped me realize that I
could see simple humanity in each work, and could ana-
lyze characters and action in a way that made “reading”
literature an adventure.
If Socratic Circles made me want to study
literature, project-based learning made me want to teach
it. One of my favorite assignments from The House of
Bernarda Alba was an art assignment in which she asked
us to portray a scene from the play. I chose the suicide
of the heroine and painted a symbolic
Raggedy-Anne, clad in green, hanging in a
prison cell overlooking the ocean. Think-
ing about the effect of my art, I under-
stood the effect authors try to create in
theirs. Another “aha” moment occurred
when Gretchen asked us to present a scene
from Hamlet, recreating the direction, act-
ing, and props. As the director, I loved
manipulating the text and my actors to
create meaning. While we had the class
roaring in laughter at our Star Wars spoof
when Princess Leia returned the
“remembrances” (boxer shorts with
“Han Solo” written on the tag) to Han
Solo, we also made a connection to the
universal human emotions in the early modern
play. Learning literature could be much more than
reading and writing and I thank Gretchen for teaching
me that.
A great book is one that teaches us something
about ourselves and the world around us. And so this is
my tribute to Gretchen Buntschuh, the teacher who
helped me appreciate great books. Gretchen taught me
to read (to really “read”), to teach, and to love
every minute of it.
In celebration of
Gretchen’s
distinctive
contributions to
Sturgis and
her life-long
love of reading
Dedicated to
Gretchen Buntschuh
Poet, Teacher, Grant-Writer, IB Extended Essay Advisor
2 Volume 1, Number 3
Chris Andre, Associate Director
The Power of Myth ~ Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth is a
book I really enjoyed and one which holds a special
place for me. The book is actually the edited
transcript of a series of interviews with Bill Moyers
which originally aired on PBS shortly after Joseph
Campbell’s death. In his wide ranging discussion with
Moyers, Campbell talks about universal themes in
world religions, creation myths, and rites of passage
from all corners of the globe. From Gilgamesh in
Babylon, to the Mayan ball courts, to Luke
Skywalker, Joseph Campbell is able to capture the
essence of personal, societal and cultural journeys
throughout recorded history.
I first read the book the year after I graduated
college while teaching in Tarsus, Turkey. The
combination of being on my own, far from
home, and in an area of the world so
essential to many of the stories and topics
of the book gave it a special
significance to me that has not waned
with time. As I entered the ‘adult’
world, this book was a catalyst for
developing a personal philosophy and value
system as I tried to figure out what I wanted to
do with my life and what would (hopefully) allow
me to lead a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. Because
of the transcript format, the book was very readable
even though I was unfamiliar with some of the topics
and information. I highly recommend the illustrated
version which has stunning prints and reproductions
of priceless works and artifacts from around the
world.
Scott Arcenas, Latin
A River Runs Through It ~Norman MacLean
"In our family, there was no clear line between
religion and fly fishing. We lived at the junction of
great trout rivers in western Montana, and our fa-
ther was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman
who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us
about Christ’s disciples being fishermen, and we
were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all
first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly
fishermen and that John, the favorite,
was a dry-fly fisherman." -Norman MacLean
At the age of eleven, I was not very reli-
gious. I lived nowhere near a decent trout stream
and, most importantly of all, I did not know how
to fly fish. A few weeks after my twelfth birthday,
my parents finally grew tired of all the traffic and
the fools who congested the roadways of Fairfield
County and decided to head West.
My Uncle, Clay, whose emigrant example we
were following, was an East Coast rebel who left Con-
necticut for Wyoming at the first opportunity. When
he finally convinced the rest of us to follow, he made
it his first order of business to sell us on his new,
Western lifestyle. I wasn’t all that interested in the
cowboy lifestyle. I was deeply skeptical of the whole
idea, but just before we finally loaded up our posses-
sions for the move, my uncle sent me a copy of
Norman MacLean's A River Runs Through It.
I didn't fall in love with either the book or my
new home, but MacLean's abiding love for the
land and--perhaps even more importantly--
the simple morality practiced by its inhabi-
tants did convince me right away that there was
something fine and strong and profoundly right
about the way of life he described. It showed me that
both the West and fly fishing were more than worthy
of my attention. Although it took several years of en-
forced separation--first at boarding school and then
college--to do so, in the end, the novel did help me
learn to love my changed surroundings.
Marissa Barmash, Class of 2010
The Mists of Avalon ~Marion Zimmer Bradley
One of my favorite books is The Mists of
Avalon. If you know the story of King Arthur, then I
think you'll really enjoy it. It's basically the
Arthurian legends told from the female perspective,
mostly by King Arthur's sister, Morgaine le Fay.
In most of the Arthurian legends, Morgaine le Fay is
seen as an evil sorceress who wants to take King
Arthur's power, but The Mists of Avalon shows a
different side to the story. Morgaine in this retelling is
a priestess who goes to live on the Isle of Avalon in a
time when Celtic ways of life are diminishing and
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Winter 2010
Christianity is coming into view. This book is a
feminist interpretation of the Arthurian legends and
shows not only Morgaine's, but King Arthur's
mother, aunt and wife, Gwenhwyfar. The women are
the main characters, whereas King Arthur and his
knights are supporting characters. I won't lie, it's a
long book, 800 pages, but it's definitely worth it!
Corey Bracken, Class of 2012
Night ~ Elie Weisel
One of my favorite books is Night by Elie
Weisel which describes his experience of going
through the horrors of the Holocaust. I don't believe
anyone can paint a better picture in your head than
Weisel can of his childhood. Some of the images he
conveys leave you thinking of them long after
you put the book down. Anyone can read
facts from a history book, but this story
gives you first hand information from a
Holocaust survivor who went
through the atrocities of Auschwitz
and lived to tell the story to make
sure what happened to him and his peo-
ple would never happen again. The story
evokes many emotions. At some points you
will want to cry and at others jump with joy. The
book is not hard to read and is not very long, some-
thing you could easily tackle in a few days if you read
about 30 pages a day. I guarantee you will not put
this book down, and if you do, you will be thinking
about it until you pick it back up.
Megan Briggs, Spanish
Nine Stories and Franny and Zooey ~
J.D. Salinger
Someone asked me which fictional characters I
would most like to meet, and after only a moment’s
thought, I answered that it would be J.D. Salinger’s
Glass family, a family that stars in Franny and Zooey
and cameos in Nine Stories. These two books
entertained and enlightened me, no matter how many
times I reread them.
If you think your family is weird, if you think
your family has problems or is embarrassing—meet
the Glass siblings, a clan of seven Jewish-Italian,
egocentric, eccentric geniuses who grew up on the
Upper East Side of New York, one obsessed with
Eastern mysticism, another suicidal, another a profes-
sor by age 20—and all of them brilliant alumni of the
radio quiz show for prodigies, “It’s a Wise Child.”
I read The Catcher in the Rye for my
sophomore English class—hated it in the process, but
loved it the moment I finished it. I read it again that
summer, and again the next summer, then promptly
headed to the bookstore to see what else I could find
by Salinger. There are only a few titles by this recluse,
who is still alive but, lamentably, hasn’t published
since 1965. First I attacked Nine Stories, and it wasn’t
until I was in college that I finally read Franny and
Zooey. Though I can’t find anything concrete that I
have in common with any Glass child (except, per-
haps, that I enjoy reading), I still can’t help but feel
inextricably linked and connected to them on
some deeply human level. They are so
strange and perplexing that they must be
real. And yet, they are only figments of
Salinger’s imagination, speaking,
I think, to his own genius and his
understanding of the quirks within us all,
and within all our families.
Julie Carman-Couhig, English
The Scarlet Letter ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
No matter how many times I read Hawthorne’s
The Scarlet Letter, I still find something new. And,
trust me, I keep the work within close reach, no
matter how many times I have moved or how many
birthday candles I blow out. The tale of feisty Hester
Prynne has become like an old drawer filled with 30
years of keepsakes. Hawthorne’s language first
seduced me when I was sixteen, reading the assigned
book for English class. Having an English teacher
who was feistier than Hester herself enabled me to
discover a love for literary analysis. I remember
writing a ten page paper on the imagery of the roses,
thorns and weeds in the novel. This essay inspired the
heart of my college essay. Opening the pages again in
graduate school, my professor unpacked more layers
of interpretation in our daily discussions. I was
twenty-six at the time. When I turned thirty-six,
4 Volume 1, Number 3
I found myself proudly clutching my Norton edition
of the novel as I walked down the hallways to begin
my career of teaching at Sturgis. What excited me
most about my new job was being able to discuss the
language and criticism of the novel with my new
English Department Head, Gretchen Buntschuh.
A literary bond was made. You must encounter
Hawthorne on your own to fully appreciate the
duality of human nature through his complex
character development. Adultery, hypocrisy,
redemption, sin, hatred, love, guilt and forgiveness,
this novel stands prepped to be taught again.
Miles Cook, Class of 2010
Going Postal ~ Terry Pratchett
My most-loved book is Going Postal by
British author Terry Pratchett. The main
premise of the book is that Moist Lipwig, a
con-man, is sentenced to death and hanged
but wakes up in the office of the Patri-
cian of the city of Ankh-Morpork,
where he's offered a chance to redeem
himself. The offer is that all charges will
be dropped if he can revive the city's
Postal service. Moist has to build up the
Post-Office from almost nothing while deal-
ing with low funds, corruption, incompetent em-
ployees, and the magical dangers of his own decaying
and mysterious Post-Office. His is the most satisfying
example of character development I've ever read. The
plot is intricately constructed. The dialogue and
description is brilliantly written and laced with smart
humor of amazing consistency, as per usual from
Pratchett, who takes the unusual idea of reviving a
Post-Office and turns it into something unexpectedly
grand and exciting. The book is a hilarious sociopoliti-
cal satire, but at the same time it's as exciting and
emotionally engaging as any epic.
Dawn Cope, Art
Little House in the Big Woods ~
Laura Ingalls Wilder
I had a hard time deciding which book to
choose. I love everything David Duncan and Martha
Beck have written, and recommend them highly.
I've chosen instead a book that was read to me
by my 5th grade teacher. Little House in the Big Woods
was written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It's the story of a
young girl's life with her family during the 1870s, liv-
ing in a log cabin in the deep woods of Wisconsin
surrounded by wolves and bears. The father was a
trapper and the mother made all of the family's food,
including cheese and butter. The father played the
fiddle for entertainment and Christmas gifts were
simple and hand-made. The family had very little but
their lives were quite creative since they did
everything for themselves. This is a quick and easy
read. You may find you'll want to read the entire
series, following the family as they move west.
Ben Doane, Class of 2010
Martian Chronicles ~ Ray Bradbury
I read The Martian Chronicles by
Ray Bradbury after a summer vacation in
Maine, six years ago. It is a number of
short stories which detail mankind's
ascension and development of the planet
Mars, told through both mundane and
fantastic events that the planet's new
habitants experience. One of the reasons I
treasure this book so much is that it embodies
a crucial shift in my world perspective about the
various meanings of humanity and all of its transitory
properties. It made me consider that while my body
exists, my actions make me what and who I am, and
that was and still is important for me to remember.
Alicia Fenney, English
The Kite Runner ~ Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner is a story that follows the
harrowing inner struggle of Amir, the son of a
wealthy businessman in 1970s Afghanistan. Young
Amir is no ordinary kite flier; he is remarkable thanks
to his kite runner Hassan, the son of his father’s
servant and a degenerate in Afghanistan culture. Amir
and Hassan are inseparable until the unthinkable
happens to Hassan and Amir does nothing to stop
it. Amir’s life and Hassan’s are forever changed in the
same moment that the physical and psychological
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Winter 2010
landscape of Afghanistan is changed by the onslaught
of the Taliban.
Amir and his Baba flee to California and begin
a new life, lost of its old time grandeur, as
stereotypical immigrants. Although America is a land
of freedom for the two, neither is truly free. Amir
struggles internally to reconcile his secret shame.
Wracked by guilt and tormented by the memory of
Hassan, Amir returns to Afghanistan, risking life and
limb to atone for his sin.
The Kite Runner is a portrait of humanity
during an extraordinary historical moment. Hosseini
challenges us to ponder who the kite runners are in
our own lives and to consider the consequences of
ambition and fear.
Matt Fetzer, History
Collected Essays of
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Easily, my choice is the Collected
Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Few
books in life are true game changers. At
a pivotal point in my life on a cold Janu-
ary day, I chanced to pick up a copy that
my parents had given me for Christmas. Two
essays specifically spoke to me -- guided me in
my values and my conduct: "Self-Reliance" and
"History."
"History" speaks of a "universal mind" that
transcends time -- that we can channel the past because
we all share in the minds of Chaucer, Shakespeare,
Pindar, and everyone who has ever loved, hoped,
dreamed or faced tragedy and despair. The universal
mind is the language of the human race that speaks
across time -- it allows the present to understand the
past. It was then and there that I was born again as a
Historian.
"Self-Reliance" is a guide for life, a splendid
one for a 27-year-old trying to navigate through the
real world of stress and bills and wondering if I would
ever find a real job. It is about self-trust, walking
forward when the winds of fate blow against you,
about self-trust in a world of doubt. Always look
forward; always find your own inner peace. Strength
never makes excuses, but sees challenge as an
opportunity for growth. I have never been the same.
Andrew Fribush, Class of 2010
Slaughterhouse-Five ~Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse-Five is a book that
surprised me. There is a very certain kind of book
that makes it into the literary canon, and
Slaughterhouse-Five is nothing like it. Irreverent and
darkly humorous, Slaughterhouse-Five has been banned
for blasphemy and pornography and was received
with some scandal (some might be interested to know
it’s one of the first books to contain references to
homosexuals and their victimization during the
Holocaust). It follows the story of Billy Pilgrim, and
through him of Kurt Vonnegut himself, beginning in
World War Two (where Billy Pilgrim is captured and
spends most of the war as a POW) and skips around
to both earlier and later in Billy’s life from there.
It’s more than a bit absurd, and makes a
mockery of any kind of sense, but without
sacrificing accessibility.
Speaking of accessibility, I should
warn you, though, that the narrative is
non-linear (the story jumps through
time seemingly at random as a plot point),
but if you can put up with that, you don’t
need to analyze it on any literary level to enjoy
it. If you do, you’ll find a whole new world
underneath, but you don’t have to. All in all, it’s
probably the most accessible novel I’ve read that was
on any reading list (it wasn’t on one of mine, I read it
because I wanted to). “I thank you for your attention,
and I’m outta here. So it goes.”
Cindy Gallo, Biology
The Lord of The Rings ~ JRR Tolkien
Bored growing up in suburban NY, I joined
Bilbo’s and Frodo’s adventures through a magical land
as I read The Lord of The Rings by JRR Tolkien. My
friends and I became a bit obsessed - we spoke elvish
and wrote in both elvish and dwarf runes. This was a
great way to pass notes in class, as our teachers
couldn’t translate them. For those of you who are
unfamiliar with the concept of passing notes in class,
it was like texting messages to your friends, but with-
out the cell phone. We actually wrote on paper.
6 Volume 1, Number 3
The movies were fun, but the books are much
better and include two of my favorite characters, Tom
Bombadil and Goldberry who the movies neglected.
When my children were little, we read the books
aloud as a family and I got to see their eyes light up at
the description of Ents and saw them quiver when
they heard about the Balrog battling Gandalf.
Dragons, treasure, friendship, battles of good versus
evil (where good triumphs, of course) - what could be
better? As a kid, I memorized all the poetry in the
three books and am haunted by the fact that I can still
recite them today. When I get together with my high-
school friends or my poor younger brother who I
indoctrinated into the obsession, we have contests to
see who can remember the most.
Elen sila lumenn omentielvo!
Heather Glenny, Class of 2012
Madeline ~ Ludwig Bemelmans
The best book of all time is
Madeline. The series follows the adven-
tures of a mischievous young French girl in
Paris. She lives at an orphanage with many
other girls, but she is by far the smallest. March-
ing through the streets in rows of two was never
exciting enough for Madeline, though. She quickly
makes friends with a Spanish boy, Pepito, and
together they make all of Paris their playground.
Madeline, though small, is by far the bravest of all the
girls at the orphanage. Just because she needs a stool
to reach the sink doesn’t mean she can’t harass Pepito.
The best part about the book is when she ends every
adventure lying in her bed at the orphanage with her
brown dog curled up beside her, and together, they
peacefully drift off to sleep. Her stories are not only
for children. They will warm your heart like a French
pastry. With her blue pea coat and yellow brimmed
hat, Madeline makes for the best book ever written.
Alan Haynes, Class of 2010
A Clockwork Orange ~ Antony Burgess
A Clockwork Orange analyzes the value of free
will and the ethical implications of government
programs which can take that free will away. It
follows several years in the life of Alex, a teenage
street thug in a dystopian future society. For those
who can stomach the ultra-violence in the book, it is
a very interesting read. Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film
adaptation is a fantastic film however it does
soften some of the acts of violence.
Jake Henry, Class of 2012
Conceptual Physics ~ Paul G. Hewitt
I think the best book I have ever read is
Conceptual Physics. Before reading it, I was blind.
This book has enlightened me greatly and now I look
at everything with a different perspective. Conceptual
Physics treats a variety of topics including friction and
momentum. The clear descriptions and colorful
adjectives tantalize my thoughts and force me to
think with a totally different mindset.
My favorite part of the book is the part that
area plays on force, as it shows a picture of a
man lying on a bed of nails with a
“blanket” of nails on top of him while
another man hits the “blanket” with a
hammer. It shows that greater area causes less
force, and the “victim” is not seriously injured
because there is very little force. After reading parts
of this book, I have been able to improve my grade in
Introduction to Physics, which shows the true effect
of this book on my luminous mind. This is the best
book ever and I think everyone should read it.
Eric Hieser, Director
For those interested in leadership, the cutting
edge of education reform, and developing vibrant
school cultures, I recommend the following books for
providing me with many of the guiding principles for
what we do at Sturgis:
♦ Leadership from the Inside Out ~ Kevin Cashman
♦ The Human Side of School Change ~ Robert Evans
♦ Good to Great ~ Jim Collins
♦ The Culture of the School and the Problem
of Change ~ Seymour Sarason
♦ The Fourth Way: the Inspiring Future for
Educational Change ~ Andrew Hargreaves
♦ Shaping School Culture: Pitfalls,
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Winter 2010
Paradoxes, and Promises ~
Terrence Deal & Kent D. Peterson
♦ Working with Emotional Intelligence ~
Daniel Goleman
Denise Hyer, Administrative Assistant
Clara Barton, Red Cross Nurse
One of my all time favorite books was Clara
Barton, Red Cross Nurse. I read it at least three times
in my 4th and 5th grade years in school and credit it
for my enjoyment of a good biography. I was fasci-
nated with Clara's bravery in caring for soldiers on
Civil War battlefields and I remember I discussed it in
my first book report. Though I don't recall the au-
thor, I can still see the dark red hard cover with the
thread bare edges that I carefully handled each
time I borrowed it from the library, gently
turning its pages as I learned about this re-
markable young woman. I haven't read a
book about Clara Barton since that
time, but perhaps I should pursue that
and gain a new appreciation for this woman
who was a great heroine and humanitarian.
Diane Klaiber, Librarian
Little Women ~ Louisa May Alcott
Perhaps it is the season, but I chose Little
Women as my favorite book. The March’s parlor at
Christmas where the family gathered to play, sing
carols and recite poetry is so vivid to me. The book is
filled with the joys, sadness and losses of the March
girls growing up. I grew up with three siblings and
similar struggles of poverty and relationships. It was
easy to relate to Jo who was the middle child. We
both seemed to keep our families together in difficult
times. Jo’s inner strength as a woman gave me a great
role model. The setting of the book during the Civil
War and Victorian era helped to make it my all time
favorite because those time periods have always given
me much to reflect and study.
While Louisa May Alcott has recently been
critiqued on Masterpiece Theater, I still enjoy believing
that she wrote Little Women as a way to emulate her
own family values which were similar to my Mid-
Western upbringing. That is, we should help one
another, love each other, care and share with others.
These values are still ones that I try to achieve in daily
living. That is why this book had such an impact on
my outlook and relationship with my family. I truly
believe what Ms. Alcott said so well: “Life is my
college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors!”
Bill Knittle, Chemistry
Robot ~ Isaac Asimov
I read several series of novels but the one I like
best is the Robot novels by Isaac Asimov. This series
began as short stories in science fiction magazines
which grew into stand alone novels and trilogies.
Eventually Asimov tied all these works together into a
series which explores the culture and ethics sur-
rounding artificial intelligence as well as the
growth and demise of various forms of
civilization throughout the galaxy. The
early novels are murder mysteries while
the later ones are international thrillers
set on a galactic scale. Unfortunately,
many new readers of this series will come
with preconceptions formed by the I Robot
movie. The books are different. Asimov is an easy
read and he deals with timeless issues. Read one.
Debra Kochka, Business Assistant
Reading Lolita in Tehran ~ Azar Nafisi
I loved Reading Lolita in Tehran due in part
to my personal experiences of living in Saudi but I
think it's more than that.
For a couple of years before she left Iran in
1997, Nafisi invited seven young women, all former
students, to her house every week to read and discuss
banned works of Western literature. They came from
various backgrounds and experiences: conservative
and religious families; progressive and secular homes.
Several had been in jail. They began shyly, uncomfort-
able speaking their minds, but soon began to open up
and share more freely about the novels and them-
selves, their dreams and disappointments. Their lives
reflected and intertwined with their reading—
Pride and Prejudice, Daisy Miller and Lolita—their
8 Volume 1, Number 3
Lolita, as they pictured her in Tehran.
I love the book because the author clearly
expresses the contrast between the individuals in her
reading club and the community of their society. She
shows us the vivid colors of each woman's personal-
ity against the stark black and white world of
Tehran's identity. It's inspiring and baffling to know
we each have a life with some black and white but
can be a person of vivid color. Azar helps us see the
greatest literature of the world expresses universal
truths and individual perspectives all through inter-
pretation. Women in this story help us know that
outside our cultural differences, we are the same. Yet
as individuals, we are all different in the ways we
express and understand the world we live in
and create on a daily basis.
Anna Lieberman, Class of 2012
The Cider House Rules ~
John Irving
When I'm asked what my
favorite book is, I automatically and
adamantly say that it is The Cider House
Rules. It tells the life story of Homer
Wells, an orphan – from his mother’s life before
his birth to his death, and every little detail in be-
tween. It does not only focus on Homer, though.
TCHR delves into the lives of the people who sur-
round him – his father figure, Dr. Larch; the girl he’s
in love with, Candy; the boy she’s in love with,
Wally. Irving writes in an excitingly candid manner,
covering topics ranging from adoption to apple farm-
ing to abortion to the Vietnam War. The reason this
book is so incredible is Irving’s writing style: he
mentions every little detail of Homer’s life, yet man-
ages to make everything incredibly intriguing. By
the end of the book, the character of Homer Wells is
so very real that you don’t want to finish reading,
because you want to hang on to him for just a little
longer. Whether you’re big into literature or not,
this book houses something for everyone. Delicious
language, a page-turning plotline, a detailed cast of
characters – what’s not to love?
Elias Lieberman, Father of Ben and Anna,
Classes of 2008 and 2012
The Lives and Times of Archy and Mehitabel ~
Don Marquis
In a place of honor on my bookshelf sits
The Lives and Times of Archy & Mehitabel, Don Marquis'
extraordinary work which originally appeared as a
column in the New York Sun and other newspapers,
beginning in 1916. Recording the poetic musings of a
cockroach named Archy, Marquis created a forum in
which to express himself on all manner of human
foibles. It is all rendered in lower-case type since Archy
would dive headfirst onto the typewriter, one key at a
time, to express himself and was unable to operate the
shift key. Archy claims to have been a free-verse
poet in a former life and he turns his critical
little eyes on humanity and waxes
philosophical, all the while trying to survive
in a rat-eat-insect world. His companion, a
libertine alley-cat named Mehitabel, regales
him with tales of her former life as
Cleopatra. With occasional illustrations
by George Herriman (of "Krazy Kat" fame)
and an introductory appreciation by E. B.
White that establishes the context for Marquis'
offering, one need only open the book at any page to be
delighted and beguiled by this insect wordsmith
and his feline companion.
Jeff Lyman, English (2001—2005)
The Art of Racing in the Rain ~ Garth Stein
I think every reader enjoys a novel filled with
love, humor, heartbreak, and family values. This
wonderful book has it all but with a twist. It is told in
the first person perspective by a dog! Enzo loves his
family, especially Denny, a racing enthusiast who
teaches Enzo the intricacies and excitement of hurtling
around a track in the heat of a race. Enzo is the
epitome of the faithful family dog, caring for Denny,
his wife Eve, and their daughter Zoe. He spends his
days watching television and expounding on the
fickleness and tenderness of humans. When his family
is faced with a terrible tragedy and an aftermath of
recriminations and legal maneuvering, Enzo provides
9
Winter 2010
an insight and understanding few humans could ever
possess. Prepare yourself to laugh, to cry, and to feel
encouraged with hope. Enzo is a hero, and we are all
richer for having known him.
Steve McDowell, English
Catch-22 ~ Joseph Heller
Assigned as one of the texts in my high school
English class during the sixties, Catch-22 was a favorite
of mine from the first read. Witty, irreverent,
satirical, and just plain hilarious in its absurdity--the
book became a friend and a kindred spirit. In college
and then over the next few years, I must have re-read
it a half a dozen times. Each time I could connect the
absurdities that Yossarian encountered in the
military with the daily chaos of the life I
encountered in the various bureaucracies that
make up our modern world. I often found
myself muttering under my breath,
"That's a nice catch, Catch-22!" It helped
me keep some of the inexplicable
absurdities of our existence in humorous
perspective. And although I haven't re-read it
for a long while, its world view is still a vital
part of me. Nice catch? "It's the best there is!"
Paul Marble, English
Where I’m Calling From ~ Raymond Carver
Freshman year of college felt like a sucker
punch. I struggled adjusting to what I discerned to be
a vastly different world than my hometown, and soon
found myself feeling distanced from those I knew
and incapable of understanding those around me who
I didn’t know.
Thankfully, everything about Raymond
Carver’s short story collection Where I’m Calling
From made sense to me at the time, though I couldn’t
comprehend how it made sense, or why it made
sense. Nevertheless, reading those stories registered
emotionally at a time when so little else did.
Move ahead ten years, or so, and I introduce
Carver’s text to my senior IB English class. We take
two or three days on a given story, sharing our
observations, asking thoughtful questions of each
other, listening and reflecting. My students notice the
despair, the longing, the dysfunction, the rage, the
trauma, the broken attempts at communicating, and
so much more. They share these carefully gleaned
interpretations, as I listen, and learn, intently.
From Carver, I think I’ve learned a great deal
about my soul and my perception of the world. My
students taught me much about his world, and about
theirs.
I am thankful for everyone who has helped
me to understand Where I’m Calling From and my
own reaction to it, and especially to my students for
their inspired emotional and communal investment in
understanding the text, each other, and the intense
and intricate human condition.
Magaly Morais,
Portuguese Instructor
Vidas Secas ~ Graciliano Ramos
Reading Graciliano Ramos’
novel, Vidas Secas, opened a new world
for me. This book led me to understand
the importance of communication. As hu-
mans we must be able to express our inner
emotions and doubts, but also be able to defend
our thoughts. The United States Constitution assures
the right of free speech; however, I learned the impor-
tance of self expression and its impact from a dramatic
story. After reading Vidas Secas, I have a new perspec-
tive about society, family and individuals.
The main narrative describes the life of a
family in northeastern Brazil, where the climate burns
out the soil, almost turning it into desert. Few
families can survive there and usually move out,
hoping for a better place with rain. The main charac-
ters are Mr. Fabiano, his wife, two children and a
female dog called “Whale.” Throughout the book, the
reader is immersed in the suffering of that family.
The only voice is the narrator’s and the drama
describes a family unable to express feelings and
emotions through words. Their thoughts are
confused; they try to express themselves by making
gestures and noises. I thought it seemed like torture to
be human and not be able to express oneself. Writing
this essay in a second language and finding the right
10 Volume 1, Number 3
Pamela Olson, Librarian (2002—2007)
Night Gardening ~ E.L. Swann
(Pseudonym for Kathryn Lasky)
This is a story about hope and miracles, no
matter what your age. It is a love story woven
together with the joys and wonders of gardening.
Maggie and Tristan, the main characters, are drawn
together through a chance encounter. (You might call
it fate.) They give each other many gifts through their
love of gardening and life itself.
Each chapter begins with a quote about
gardening. Tidbits of information about different
plants and types of gardens are part of the story.
The descriptions through Maggie and Tristan’s eyes as
they “night garden” bring images to mind of what
these gardens look like.
It is not a perfect story but it left me
feeling inspired by the possibility of
overcoming obstacles by having friends who
support us with unconditional love. Of
course, my love of gardening contributes to
why Night Gardening is one of my all time favorite
books and part of my personal bookshelf.
Michelle Peck, History
Five Smooth Stones ~ Anne Fairbairn
Five Smooth Stones is one of my favorite
books. I read it in 1972 during the first year of my
university studies at a time when I was searching for
the “meaning of life.” The book is the story of David
Champlin, an African American growing up in New
Orleans in the 1950s and 60s. It is a great
commentary on the struggles of the Civil Rights
movement in which the reader has a chance to follow
characters who are really engaging. You cannot help
but get attached to David as he struggles to confront
the unfairness in life and tries to organize people to
join the Civil Rights movement to make necessary
changes in our country. This book pushed me to join
organizations to confront the injustices in our society
and to make a difference in life in a positive manner.
words and sentences proves how deeply this story has
touched me.
Emily Morin, Class of 2012
The Lorax ~ Dr. Seuss
One of my favorite books is The Lorax by
Dr. Seuss. This book is the tale of the Lorax, and how
the forest was destroyed by one businessman with no
courtesy to the animals. I really loved this book when
I was a child. I checked it out of my library all the
time. In English class last year, we read some Dr.
Seuss. The analysis changed my view of the story. As
a child I never picked up on his political sub-plot. I
feel a sense of gratitude to Seuss because of his views
to save the planet’s resources and lower man’s
impact. He was a man before his time, and
that is why he is such a controversial fig-
ure. The book could persuade young
readers to change their minds and
opinions. This book is an example of
Dr. Seuss’ choice to vocalize his opinions
and try to change the world. The Lorax is an
excellent way to tell children about man’s impact
on the environment and how to be good stewards of
what we are given.
Patrick O’Kane, Spanish
Marathon Man ~ William Goldman
Impossible. It is impossible to choose your all
time favorite book. It’s as impossible as choosing
your favorite song. There are too many great ones
out there. The question is unfair. Besides, when you
choose an all time favorite book, others inevitably
label you. Reading Hoop Dreams? You must be a
jock. Message in a Bottle? You’re a hopeless
romantic. Communists read Marx. Peaceniks read
Gandhi. Reading Kerouac? You must be a beatnik. I
am not ready to be labeled by a single book.
The solution? I recall the words of a friend of
mine who is a wine aficionado. When I asked him
what his most prized bottle of wine was, he replied
simply, “Whatever one I am drinking at the
moment.” So my favorite book of all time is…
Marathon Man. (I’m up to page 126).
11
Winter 2010
Amy Peterson, Technology Coordinator
Good Night Moon ~ Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrations by Clement Hurd
Good Night Moon has been a right of passage
between parents and pre-language children since 1941.
My first son and I traveled that journey together
through 'the great green room' at least 500 times. The
mouse explores the room with reckless abandon as the
kittens engage in the last tussle of the day. The
gradually brightening moon highlights the books on
the shelves, the lit doll house on the floor, and the
warm bowl of mush on the bedside table. The cadence
of the book, as the protagonist bunny slowly climbs
into the bed, provides warmth and security. We never
tired of the story due to its diverse subplots and
comfortable, recognizable objects.
Margaret Wise Brown lived and worked
among the bohemians who cultivated the
Age of Modern Art at the turn of the
twentieth century. She affected children's
literature by refuting the recapitulation of
fairytales and fables and embracing a writing style
that depicted stories germane to a child's own
experiences and age-appropriate points-of-view.
Clement Hurd participated equally in the
communication process with illustrations that have
the ability to tell the story standing on their own.
Brown recognized the importance of the illustrator's
visual power to children's literature and broke the
norm by demanding that her illustrators be
recognized with royalties equal to her own.
The experience of sharing Good Night Moon
with my son gave me the opportunity to witness the
burgeoning cognitive awareness of my child and as a
result, to grow personally, as a parent, and eventually
as an educator.
Arthur Pontes, English and History
The Razor’s Edge ~ W. Somerset Maugham
There are favorite books and there are books
that are something more than “favorite.” I have had
different books influence the way I thought and lived
at different stages of life. The New Testament of the
Bible, Albert Camus’ The Rebel, Suzuki’s Zen Mind,
Beginner’s Mind all made changes in my sense of what
life is or could signify. I find it interesting in that
none of these is a novel. Yet interest in all of them
came from having read a novel. It was a novel that
was the source for much else and was a reason that I
ended up studying both English Literature and
History in college. This work was W. Somerset
Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge. I read this when I was
fifteen years old and never could return to the self I
was from before having read it.
I have not been able to bring myself to read
the work again (knowing that I will not find the same
things in it at my age that I found at fifteen) though I
read it two or three times when young. What I
remember is that the protagonist is a disillusioned
young veteran of the First World War who rejects
the materialistic values of the Roaring Twenties
and travels across parts of Europe and Asia in
an effort to make sense of his experience at
war. He loses his girlfriend in the
process and she marries another for
money and social position only to lose it all
in the depression of the thirties. They meet
again after her “fall” from society and evaluate the
“meaning” of their respective quests.
The book made me aware that life did not
have an obvious meaning and that one had to actively
decide on what kind of life was worth living. It made
me aware that material success was not the same as
success in living life. It made me interested in the
world outside of the USA and made me want to find
out about the histories and religions of the
world. Most of all, it made me see that, by reading
books, I could find both questions and answers that
truly matter.
Connor Read, Class of 2012
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time
Indian ~ Sherman Alexie
One of my favorite books is The Absolutely
True Diary of a Part-time Indian. It is an absolutely
hilarious book about a boy with a poor family and a
hectic life. He's very much your typical teenage boy
in many ways, but at the same time his situation is
unique. His goal is to go to an all-white high school
outside of his reservation but that is frowned upon
because he's bound to be bullied there. His best friend
12 Volume 1, Number 3
is tough, really tough. He throws a book at one of his
teachers. He has a lisp, gets frequent seizures, and has
over-sized extremities. He's poor, and his family
rarely has money for gas. Yet, these things don't
bother him; he gets through his life by fulfilling his
passion for cartooning. You'll see some funny
examples of this in the book. I like this book
because, well, I really don't like reading. The only
time I read something is if it's assigned, comical, or
different from your average book. The Absolutely True
Diary is both funny and unique. If you're a teenager
who wants a quick, easy, and extremely entertaining
read, then this is the book for you!
Peter Richenburg, Art
The Uncommon Reader~
Alan Bennett
How does Her Majesty, The
Queen of England feel about artist David
Hockney? How does the Royal House-
hold tolerate her recent fondness for a
worker from the kitchens and his
recommendations for reading material? How
does the Prime Minister deal with Her Majesty's
new-found passion for book reading? All is revealed
in this 120 page satirical romp.
Gabe Roderick, Class of 2011
Slaughterhouse-Five ~ Kurt Vonnegut
If I could choose a book that changed who I
am today, it would be Slaughterhouse-Five. I must
have read it a dozen times. This book is one of my
favorites because it goes where no book has gone
before in plot, theme, and character development. In a
weird way, I think we can all relate to Billy Pilgrim,
the main character. I think of the book as a fictional
Bible because Billy sees his death and birth numerous
times and knows when he dies that he will be born
again. He even says, “You can be dead in one moment
and alive in another.” When I first read this novel, I
honestly didn’t understand it. After I lost someone
close to me, Slaughterhouse-Five made true sense. He is
basically saying that a person may be dead at one
moment but in other moments, they are still alive.
It changed my outlook to see life as continuous, like a
circle that never ends. If you are interested in this,
Slaughterhouse-Five is your ticket. It’s a great read.
Chloe Roselander-Ginn, History
The Good Earth ~ Pearl S. Buck
In considering which books fall under the
category of my “all time favorites,” I drifted towards
that select group of books I’ve made room for in
crowded dorm rooms and cars headed for cross
country moves. Among these, I’ve always made space
for The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. This book was
first read to me in the Roselander family book
club, which consisted of my Mom reading to
my brother and me everyday after school
while I pigged out on chips and salsa.
Every book my family read together
during my elementary school years
holds some sentimental value for me,
but The Good Earth is the book I have
returned to the most throughout the years.
I have appreciated the story of Wang Lung
and his family’s changing fortunes in a different
way each time I revisit the book. In its ability to
inspire compassion and curiosity in me as an eight
year old, high school student, and now supposed
adult, The Good Earth underscores the ability of
literature to give a powerful glimpse into the human
experience. Score one for literature, if a squirrelly
eight year old chomping on chips and salsa can
become invested in the struggles of a rural peasant
family in 1930’s China.
Sean Sabella, Class of 2010
Till We Have Faces ~ C.S. Lewis
It takes me a bit to think of my favorite book.
My first process of elimination is to think of my
favorite authors, how they’ve affected me, what
impact they’ve had on my life with their works. This,
for me, isn’t much of a stumbling block: at the end of
the day the writer I always admire, imitate, and envy
the most is C.S. Lewis. However, choosing a favorite
from his body of work is a much larger challenge,
made difficult by the fact that Lewis has had his hand
13
Winter 2010
in every genre from allegory to satire to fantasy to
science-fiction. However, his most mature, lucid,
layered work has to be Till We Have Faces, a work
that contains elements of myth and fantasy, written in
an autobiographical first person style, ultimately
taking the form of a giant accusation against fate from
a bitter, lonely old woman at the end of her life. The
story is sweeping and powerful, tackling a multitude
of human issues. Some of its interesting elements are a
combination of different cultures (with Greek and
something that seems Northern European at the
center), an extravagant, allegorical rewriting of the
myth “Psyche and Cupid” as a plot and thematic
center, and an enormous exploration of the human
capacity for running from our true emotions.
It is ultimately a powerful and deep read,
yet at the same time is written with a
perfectly understandable style. It is
personally significant to me because,
more than any other book, Till We Have
Faces has taught me the power of words. I
have learned the damaging power that
words spoken to ourselves and to others can
have, and because of this have taken my ability
to affect people’s lives with what I say much
more seriously.
Lydia Shannon, Class of 2010
The Andromeda Strain ~
Michael Crichton
The Andromeda Strain is one of the best sci-
ence fiction novels I have ever read. It is particularly
good because it is unique from the average, fantasy-
based sci-fi books. The Andromeda Strain is based in
realistic science and integrates some rather complex
and interesting scientific ideas into the main plot of its
story. This formula makes for an intellectually stimu-
lating, yet still dramatic and entertaining book. It is a
good read for those of you who enjoy science fiction
novels with a more rational and sensible foundation.
Robin Singer, Math
Foundation Trilogy ~ Isaac Asimov
When I was asked to select my favorite book,
I was daunted by the task. So many were enjoyable;
so many shaped my understanding of the world.
Which one was most significant, or most influential?
I chose Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy.
These stories tell of the rise and fall of the Galactic
Empire and of mathematician Hari Seldon who
invented “psychohistory,” a theory which postulates
that the future can be predicted on the basis of the
predictability of human behavior, if the sample size is
the population of the entire galaxy. In other words,
statistical analysis can be used to predict highly
probable future events, just as quantum mechanics can
be used to predict the highly probable positions of
electrons.
I read this series some 40 years ago and
these ideas are still central whenever I think
about human history. I barely remember
the empires, planets, events or charac-
ters in Asimov’s tales. But the concept
of the predictability of human events
based on the behavior of humans, not as
individuals but as populations, has stayed
with me.
Today’s central conflicts, i.e. the “war
on terrorism,” were predicted decades ago by his-
torians looking at demographics, population growth,
economic trends, and resource dynamics. The ability
of scientists to use mathematical analysis to see the
future and help leaders steer us past the shoals of
social disruption, may be the key to our civilization’s
survival.
In the Foundation Trilogy, Asimov weaves
stories of the future around a frame of fascinating the-
ory and truth, applicable to our own lives and times.
Peter Steedman, TOK and IB Coordinator
The Autobiography of Malcolm X ~
Alex Haley
I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X as a
freshman in college, and to this day it is the book that
has had the most profound impact on my life. The
book was assigned to me by my African-American
studies professor, in part because many in the class
had been influenced by the 1995 documentary, Eyes on
the Prize. The PBS program led many of us to believe
that the vision of Dr. King and the SCLC was the
only acceptable path towards integration in the U.S.
14 Volume 1, Number 3
I had also heard that Malcolm X was a racist. Reading
about how Malcolm Little, born in Omaha but raised
in Roxbury, transformed his life from petty thief and
drug addict to a national spokesman for the Nation of
Islam had me riveted from page one. His life story
was, like most, impossible to compartmentalize. His
complexity as a man is beautifully told by Alex Haley,
who wrote the book years before he published Roots.
Although Malcolm X was blessed with intelligence
and eloquence, his naïveté towards the power struc-
ture of the Nation of Islam would shatter him. Fol-
lowing his disillusionment with Elijah Muhammad,
Malcolm is able to evolve once again by taking the
pilgrimage to Mecca, or the Hajj, where he is
introduced to an Islam that does not tolerate racial
prejudice or bigotry. By sharing prayers with
people of all colors and races, Malcolm
returns to the U.S. with a fresh vision for
the urban civil rights movement.
Unfortunately for Malcolm, his new
organization was seen as a threat by militants
and he was assassinated a few months upon his
return from Saudi Arabia. Haley’s book of struggle,
revelation and redemption will serve as a testament to
the power of personality over circumstance. I would
suggest that anyone interested in this book should try
to find an edition that includes the eulogy given by
actor Ozzie Davis at Malcolm’s funeral. Davis’
words will move you as he asks us to re-evaluate
any preconceived notions one may have had of the
Civil Rights icon.
Jim Stewart, Latin
Ball Four ~ Jim Bouton
My favorite book is Ball Four. Although it is
not a book one would consider an all time classic,
there are several reasons for my selection. First and
foremost was that my parents had forbidden me to
read the book when it was published in 1970, as it was
seen at the time to be extremely controversial for
going inside the locker room of baseball and
discussing what went on in there. I got around the ban
when we were in Europe in 1972, purchasing the
book without my parents' knowledge at the Army
PX in Germany, on our weekly trip to get US
magazines and reading material. I took it with me
when my brother and I went to the UK to see the
1972 British Open- no parental supervision!
What I found fascinating, and still do, was the
inside story of what goes on inside the world of
professional baseball. I had grown up with heroes like
Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Bouton showed in
his book that they had flaws and were every bit as
human as I was. For a teenager in the early 70's, this
was an experience that awakened me to the world. But
I also found the stories witty - and to this day have a
copy of the book (autographed by Mr. Bouton) in my
library. The 1969 Seattle Pilots, around whom his
tale is woven, have become one of my favorite
baseball teams, and the players on that team are
as well known to me today as they were
when I first read the book.
At times today, I will pick up
the book and thumb through certain
sections, reading about the practical jokes
that went on in the clubhouse, the songs
players would come up with about the
manager and the relationships that are part of
any professional organization.
Rachel Todoroff, Administrative Assistant
The Bible
My favorite book is one that changed my life,
one I re-read, one I keep on my book shelf (several
copies, in fact), one I carry with me most
everywhere I go. Every morning, I sit in my chair
with my first cup of coffee and read this book.
The margins are marked up, the text is often
underlined or highlighted, and the binding is falling
apart. I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that I am
speaking about the Bible.
James is one of my favorite books in the
Bible. I have actually memorized the entire book be-
cause it struck me as so important. It starts with the
key to all understanding: “If anyone lacks wisdom, let
him ask of God” (remember that as you prepare for
I.B. exams). Chapter 2 should guide all religion:
“Faith without works is dead” and “For he shall have
judgment without mercy that shows no mercy, and
mercy triumphs over judgment!” I wish all the
15
Winter 2010
governments of the world would live with mercy as
their core policy. In James, you will find the Royal
Law: “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Then, there
is the sobering thought “For what is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes”.
If we could be guided by the principles laid
down in the book of James, we would be humble,
treat others with love and respect, meet the needs of
widows and orphans, show no partiality, and bring
our worries to God in prayer all while keeping the
perspective that life is short and should be lived with
a clean conscience towards both man and God.
Marion Weeks, Librarian
West with the Night ~
Beryl Markham
Beryl Markham grew up on
a farm in East Africa and lived a life
of high adventure as a bush pilot and
horse trainer. West with the Night
chronicles her exceptional life. The memoir
opens with stories of her hunting barefoot as a
young child with the Nandi Murani. The Murani
taught “Beru” how to track animals, and more im-
portantly, how to be perceptive and self-reliant. By
the time she was twenty, Markham was known in
Kenya as a successful trainer of thoroughbreds. She
took up flying and worked as a bush pilot delivering
supplies and mail to remote areas. Her descriptions
of the early days of aviation in a wildly undeveloped
landscape are fascinating. In 1936, she became the
first pilot to fly solo west across the Atlantic.
West with the Night is not just a great story;
it is also gorgeously written. Hemingway once
wrote to a friend: “Markham has written so well,
and marvelously well, that I am completely ashamed
of myself as a writer…she can write rings around all
of us who consider ourselves writers.”
I discovered her book in 1983 while I was
living in Africa. Now, more than 25 years later, I am
reading it again for the Audible Local Ledger, a radio
service for the visually impaired. Reading out loud
helps you savor every word. As I record West With
the Night, I feel like I'm visiting an old friend who
tells her fantastic stories of Africa so well, I could
listen to them over and over again.
Marsha Yalden, English
To Kill a Mockingbird ~ Harper Lee
This is a VERY hard question to answer,
but if pressed I would have to say my all time
favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper
Lee. Obviously the storyline is a memorable one:
The story of a young white girl growing up in the
deep South while her father, a lawyer, defends a
black man who has been wrongfully accused of
rape. Obviously the characters are memorable:
Honorable Atticus, Gentle Tom, Motherly
Calpurnia, Boastful Dill, and, of course, naive
but sincere Scout. But the thing about To
Kill a Mockingbird that is the most
memorable and what keeps me riveted
every time I read it (and as an English
teacher I've read it MULTIPLE times) is
Lee's writing style. The story is told by Scout
as a flashback, and I have to say I don't think any
other author I've ever read has so accurately cap-
tured the true essence of viewing the world
through a child's eye. Scout is so sincere in her
telling of her tale, but can't help being hilarious in
her naivete of the world around her. Most of my
students miss the subtle humor Lee injects into
the story. For example, when Scout calls the
snowman she, Jem, and Dill have built an
"absolute morphadite" most people miss why
Atticus is truly horrified (if you don't know what
I'm referring to, look it up and figure it
out!). Lastly, To Kill a Mockingbird reminds us all
why we must all fight for what we know is right,
even if we lose the battle before it even begins.
When Reverend Sykes turns to Scout in the
courtroom and says ''Miss Jean Louise, stand
up. Your father's passin" the reader is filled with
a sense of awe for the kind of man Atticus is to
command such respect from so many. The story
may be a work of fiction, but there is nothing
fictional about the lessons learned and pure joy
that comes from reading such a true masterpiece.
Winter 2010
16 Volume 1, Number 3
All Time Favorite Books
Is dedicated to
Gretchen Buntschuh
Who inspired the creation of Sturgis Soundings
Sturgis Soundings is a compilation of book reviews that reflect
the various interests and enthusiasms of the Sturgis community.
Editors: Gretchen Buntschuh and Marion Weeks
Graphic Design: Amy Kaye Peterson
Sturgis Soundings is also available online: www.sturgischarterschool.org/Soundings
Sturgis Charter Public School
An International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
427 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
508 778-1782
www.sturgischarterschool.org
Gretchen Buntschuh ~A Profile
By Alicia Fenney, Grade 12
She explains herself as "a seasons person." When
her dog Zephyr wakes her up in the morning, the first
thing she thinks of is how light or dark the room is,
and how long the light days will last before winter takes
over. Mrs. Gretchen Buntschuh: mother to three,
grandmother to two has always loved teaching.
Her three daughters are Ingrid, Erika, and Lise.
Erika lives in Germany with her two children ages
eight and ten, to whom Mrs. Buntschuh adores reading.
She also has a foster grandson who lives in New York
with her oldest daughter, Ingrid. She was born in a
small town in Ohio where she lived with her two
brothers, but first got out into the world when she
spent four years in a Wisconsin prep-school.
After college she moved to Boston and began
her teaching career. It was in Boston that she married
and had her three children. After living in Bedford for
fifteen years, the family moved to Chester, Vermont.
It wasn't long before her oldest daughter went to
college, and their family moved out to sunny
California.
Both in Boston and in California,
Mrs. Buntschuh worked as a model, and an actress in
the theater, independent films and commercials. For
five years she worked at a rare book auction house and
brushed up on her own collection of first editions,
including works by Charles
Dickens. However, she
missed the everyday
contact of people. In San
Francisco, she acquired a job
teaching at an all French
school where the only
English spoken was
in English class! She
remained there for eleven
more years before moving
back to the East Coast.
Now what does she really think about teaching?
"I've never gotten tired of it. It's wonderful. Working
in a place like Sturgis doesn't happen everyday." Mrs.
Buntschuh taught at public schools in Lexington and at
private schools in San Francisco. Sturgis was a perfect
fit, “the best of both.”
Often she falls asleep after reading, puzzling
over a mystery or the characters in a novel. She likes
each type of writing on its own: Victorian literature
for its density and complexity, ancient medieval pieces,
and classics like the Odyssey. She enjoys reading
Shakespeare, Dickens, Byatt, and Gardner, but she
cannot choose between them. "I love beautiful words.
I love to dance through the language.”
Reprinted from Sturgis Charter School Newsletter,
October 2002
