Yellow Wallpaper

You know....it is all right NOT to like a story.

There is a mistaken view that every English or literature instructor, especially a college professor, likes every single story or poem or novel or play that has ever been written.

Now think about it.  Would a car manufacturer like every type of car ever made?

Would a fashion designer enjoy all styles of dresses or shoes or pants?

There are favorites, naturally.  Those favorites are based on personal preferences, background, outside influecences, even something that reflects to one's childhood.

For me, I don't care for the Twilight series of books.  No, I have never read them, nor do I intend to read them.  I have heard about them, I have listened to explanations, and I have been patient with My Daughter the Librarian while she tried to shove those books into my hands.  But I don't like that style of writing.  I don't care for Harry Potter either.  I have read two in the series, and that was enough for me.  If others enjoy them, go for it.  I would rather read something else.

Such it is for me and "The Yellow Wallpaper." I have never liked that story. Why?  I don't know, and I can't explain it.  I. Just. Don't. Like. It.  When I taught high school juniors, I always skipped over it.  If a student asked about it, I always said we just didn't have enough time to read everything in the book.  Free reading time could be spent enjoying the short story, however.

Why is it included in the Pod?  This is a survey class.  Included are a variety of short stories, poems, and a couple of novels as well as a play.  "The Yellow Wallpaper" fits well into the second Pod.  My Daughter the Librarian counts this short story as one of her favorites, plus she shared that her students, when she was teaching high school juniors, loved it!  Since she helped me develop this course, she pressed me to include it, and I obliged.  This course is not all about what *I* like; it is about my students reading a variety of literature by various authors during the specified time period.

The result is that many of the ENGL 223 students over the last 8 years have enjoyed reading this particular short story.  Many of them have shared how much they like the story.

Caleb even told me that he was disappointed that we did not discuss it during the recent BB IM session. (My response to him was that he should have introduced the topic for discussion because *I* was not going to do it!)

Is it acceptable to NOT enjoy a particular short story or poem or novel?  Of course.

I don't like "The Yellow Wallpaper."  My Daughter the Librarian doesn't like The Great Gatsby.

Moving on.......