May 10, 2004 In this issue: -Congrats Grads! -Congrats Phi Beta Kappa Inductees -UHON 395H Sections with Lots of Room! -Recommended Summer Reading by Dr. Berger, Dr. Lyons, and Dr. Partridge -- Congratulations to the 120 students who graduated on Saturday! -- And more congratulations to those Honors Program students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. -- Two UHON 395H classes have quite a bit of room in them. If you need another Honors class in the fall, consider one of these: UHON 395H: English - Contemporary Nebraska Writers Call No.: 8719 Section: 006 430-545p TR - arr. - R Faber Most UNL students have had some exposure to Nebraska writers, such as Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, Wright Morris, or Bess Streeter Aldrich. However, many readers aren't aware of the writers--in many genres--who are currently writing in and about Nebraska. These writers have a variety of ties to Nebraska and have received national recognition. Our approach to Contemporary Nebraska Writers will explore fiction, non-fiction, and poetry with recent publications dates. We will consider the topics addressed by these authors and the ways in which their writing may seem "traditional" and/or "contemporary," as well as consider if it might be categorized as regional in scope or perhaps more universal. Authors covered may include (but are not limited to) Kent Haruf, Ted Kooser, Jonis Agee, Don Welch, Roger Welsch, Mary Pipher, Lisa Knopp, and Bill Kloefkorn. Requirements will include reading, writing, class discussion, and developing a final project that will culminate in an oral presentation to the class. - UHON 395H: Journalism - Social Controls of Information Call No.: 8306 Section: 001 130-245p MW - ANDN - Bender An examination through readings, discussions, and papers of the internal and external social and economic pressures that limit the flow of information through the mass media. Among the issues we will address are owner and staff bias, siphoning of profits, monopolies and mergers, staging of news, self-regulation, news management, citizen group pressures, sponsor pressures, and media criticism. -- Dr. Berger, Dr. Lyons and Dr. Partridge have suggestions for summer reading books. They'll be happy to visit with anyone about their recommendations in the fall. - Dr. Berger recommends: C.J. Burkhardt, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy. (a classic re-read) Arno Mayer, The Furies Clare Crowston, Fabricating Women William Beik, Absolutism and Society in 17th century France Ron Chernow, Alexander Hamilton Plutarch, Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans.... wow! such good stuff Jean Echenoz, Piano Jean Echenoz, Chopin's Move.... fun! - Dr. Lyons' idea of summer reading fun: The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde. A witty, wicked satire on detective fiction, on the British love for first editions, on revisionist history and on the novel after which it's named. It helps to have read Jane Eyre and to know that the Crimean War lasted from 1854-1856, that the border between England and Wales is virtually unnoticeable, and that Hitler did, in fact, not win WWII. (And when you finish that, go on to Lost in a Good Book and The Well of Lost Plots, also by Fforde.) Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi. A poignant memoir of a woman teaching women in Iran during the time the veil was brought back. She is now in exile for refusing to capitulate. We hope the author will be an E.N. Thompson speaker at some point. Any murder mystery by Margaret Truman, who's the daughter of Harry Truman. All are set in Washington, D.C. and its environs, and all involve political intrigue as well as the usual challenge in problem-solving. Don't know which to select? Start with her latest in paperback–Murder at Ford's Theatre. Dreams of Trespass, by Fatima Mernissi. The story of growing up in a harem in Morocco during WWII and shortly thereafter. Investigates the ways in which women bond in a seemingly unfriendly climate, the ways in which children fit into this system, and both the difficulties and advantages of it. Personal History, by Katherine Graham, autobiography of the former editor of the Washington Post. And a classic: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. If you've not read it, you should–follow Elizabeth and Darcy through their struggle to overcome class and personal prejudice, while dealing with the blow-hard Mr. Collins, the overbearing Lady Catherine, the "nervous" mother, the distant father, and the fatuous sisters. Then watch the production with Colin Firth as Darcy (as always, though, the book is better than the movie). Then move on to Sense and Sensibility. - Dr. Partridge suggests: John Muir. Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays John Muir. The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures John Steinbeck, Writer: A Biography John Steinbeck, Travels With Charley: In Search of America John Shillinglaw. America and Americans and Selected Nonfiction by Steinbeck John M. Barry. The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History (Chronicle of 100 million deaths) John M. Barry. Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America Personal Interest Jimmy Carter, The Hornet's Nest (An historical novel; characteristic of former President Carter it is a very even handed treatment of the three major sides (American Indian, American Settlers, and Europeans) in the struggles for the south during the establishment of the United States.) David McCullough, Truman (Detailed, and exquisitely written – a must read in addition to John Adams) Beach Reading John Grisham, The Last Juror (Purely for pleasure)