Thanks to Cindy McConnell, Curt Fewkes, Tiana Tucker, Patti Littlehales, Marian Brown and Marlene O'Neil for their hard work that made the "Ender's Game" kickoff a smashing success! Over 100 community members of all ages congregated at the Newport High School in the Boone Center for an evening of intellectual discussion and what might be considered "mindless" video games. 
The evening began with a surprise, distinguished award presentation for Cindy McConnell from the College of Education Alumni Association. After a few words from Curt Fewkes, chair for Newport Reads! and NHS principal, Jon Zagel, Science Fiction professor Margaret McBride from the University of Oregon gave a very interesting talk about styles and forms of science fiction. As most of our "older" generations found out first hand - video games take primal skill and intense focus. 
For the students of today, born with video controllers in their hands, the games are instinctive. For the 40 somethings and up, the hand eye coordination required in many of these games is challenging and takes a new level of concentration.
It was fantastic to see Ms. Tucker battling her nemesis 
at the Play Station, library director Wyma Rogers attempting to play Barracuda on the Guitar Hero, and Ms. McConnell kicking up her heels on Dance, Dance Revolution! The night was deemed a success for all who attended and the library is proud to be part of a program that brought today's generations together in the name of the future - science fiction!
In the meantime, keep reading Ender's Game!
Friday, March 7, 2008
What a success!
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30 comments:
enders game was a great book and i had a fun time reading it, i also loved reading the book speaker for the dead which is another book which orson scott card wrote. coming to school and playing video games was fun and i had a great time, we should do it again sometime.
-kassandra
I really enjoyed reading Ender's game. I would recommend it to anyone who does not have a problem with not being able to stop reading. It was a great book through and through.
-Karisa
Ender's game was a very intresting book, which i loved. I usually do not read science fiction books, but i really enjoyed this. Ender's game kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time and was intense.
-Robyn Wilde
Ender's Game itself as a book I didn't enjoy. Just not my cup of tea. But the video game night was pretty fun.
-Sam Marvin
I think it’s absolutely fantastic that Newport as a community can connect by all reading one book, the blending of the age groups makes it all the better. Although, I must say I found it unfortunate that Ender’s Game was the chosen book to read, and I was even more displeased that the theme was “Read What Teens are Reading!,” I mean seriously, it’s a new age, shouldn’t we be trying to overcome stereotypes? Sure, some teens enjoy books with terribly developed characters, disgustingly large print, and overly simplistic plots; but don’t mislead the masses with a slogan that groups all the teens together as enjoying this kind of book. Perhaps I’m being a bit too cynical, I suppose it was an entertaining book, and it did have some interesting technology in it (Ex. Computer like desks), but it really just wasn’t that interesting or thought-provoking. One of the main issues I had with the book is the way Peter and Valentine were portrayed; if you’re going to have two children supposed to be super-geniuses yet show them talking like normal kids, and writing supposedly world-altering columns yet the writing is just mediocre, then how am I, as a reader, supposed to believe a boy even younger than them is a genius that saves the world! Anyways, I did really enjoy the uniting of the community, and the opening event was very fun, but next time, please pick a slightly more intriguing text and a slightly less degrading slogan.
-Sincerely, Miri Goldade
Enders Game, By far the best book ive read in my 3 years at high school. it keeps your intrest all the way through. I so wish I was Ender Wiggins. Video game night was Bomb digg. who doesent love beating your Friends in Mario cart, I always knew Donkey kong was the best player.
-Tanner (T-fiddle) Ferguson
Enders Game was an exciting book that kept me entertained the whole time. Going to the library and playing games with my classmates and people from the community was a great expirience and a lot of fun.
-mariah
On the whole, I felt Enders Game was a very good book. It was an excelent piece of Military SciFi. As and avid reader of Military SciFi, I give it full marks. However, there is one thing I would correct in the current edition; that is to change the cover of the classroom copies of Enders Game to their original state. The current cover that the publishers chose makes the novel seem childish and completely misrepresents the seriousness of the story. The text style was also degrading to any teenage that has a competent reading ability. It is a lovely novel, marred by neo-commericialism and a vague representation of American Gladiator that bestowed it's cover. And American Gladiator is the most evil thing on Earth.
-Rafe P.2
Well, if my long, reasoned post about Newport High School's internet development isn't going to be approved, I might as well right something short and predictable about Ender's Game.
It was a fine book, but one that I read 6 or 7 years ago. While it is well written, and can certainly be analyzed, I felt that we were often grasping at straws to find things to say about it.
Logan Williams
Enders Game was a great outstanding book. One of such great magnitude that i could put it down. What i believe though, was the fault of the entire process was that it was "read what teens are reading". Who would on gods green earth relate to children using a book that was written trillions of years ago?
i would not. this book is good. but the way you brought it upon us only showed what people in power can do to those who are seemingly "ignorant of knowledge". You would have better luck learning from teens through some melodramatic sitcom, where sex and drugs are the key points. The book though was great. Gave great foresight into the fact that we need a space weapons program to take down the evil martians. Great book though...
~~~~~J03 H4NN4N~~~~~
P.2
Ender's Game was a great book, even though it seemed to be aimed mostly for fifth or sixth graders. I mean it's okay that we as a community are connecting with each other by reading a book, but Ender's Game seemed too childish for my taste. I still enjoyed reading it and I am glad that different generations are coming together.
-brenda aparicio
Absolutely. Loved. Ender's Game. And I say that about very few books. It inspired me to go on to read Speaker for the Dead (I'm almost done with Xenocide, and plan to continue), however, I can still honestly say that Ender's Game is by far the best in the series from what I've read. Although I would recommend reading on to find out just what else Ender gets himself into.
Odds are, I would never have picked up this book without Newport Reads. It is because of this program that I was spared hours of boredom with no books to read. Thank you so much.
--Sam B.
I enjoyed reading Ender's Game. It was one of the few that i have enjoyed reading in all of my english classes. I'll admit when we first recieved the book and i looked at the cover i wasn't interested at all; but when i started to read it, it caught my attention and i enjoyed it.
-Kelly Hogan
Ender's game in all wasn't a terrible book, but the thing that bugged me about it most was how utterly boring and straight forward it was. There were no plot twists or suprises at all, maybe thats just me, but it really made the book less interesting. Besides that though it was a comfortable, easy read and besides it being so straight forward id recommend it to most anyone.
-Jon Dean
I thought Ender's Game was a pretty good book. It is one of those books that is hard to not stop reading; always wondering what might happen next. It is also interesting to think of how Orson Scott Card thought of all the technology that this book contained without actually knowing about it first. With the "net", the desk computers, and the different types of messaging, etc., for being written in 1985, this book was way ahead of it's time. I would recommend Ender's Game to both kids and adults, its a very good read.
I thought Ender's Game was a pretty good book. It is one of those books that is hard to not stop reading; always wondering what might happen next. It is also interesting to think of how Orson Scott Card thought of all the technology that this book contained without actually knowing about it first. With the "net", the desk computers, and the different types of messaging, etc., for being written in 1985, this book was way ahead of it's time. I would recommend Ender's Game to both kids and adults, its a very good read.
-Sara Fox
Upon receiving Ender's Game and looking at the cove I thought we were going to read a book meant for my little brother. After the first chapter of the book I could not put it down, although some say it was childish and had no plot twists, I thought it was a great book. To be honest I am not to fond of most books we are forced to read in school but Enders Game excellent and I am glad it was the Newport READs book this year.
-Kevan Johnson
I was pleasantly suprised how enjoyable Enders Game was. Looking at the cover, I honestly was a bit discouraged and I would have never expected it to hold my attention as much as it did. Although at times it did seem to be focussed more for younger children. Yet for the most part, it's probably one of my favorite books. I really enjoyed reading this kind of sci fi that has emotional and mental conflicts and barriors, rather than just killing aliens on a wild rampage. Enders Game had more meaning and substance in it. It is definately living proof (to me)that you can't judge a book by it's cover.
-mandy
The thing i enjoyed most about Enders game was that even though it was written awhile back, the same themes used in the book can be used as a metaphor for todays society.
In my opinion, Ender's game was a mediocre book. It wasn't horrible, but I would not have read it, had it not been assigned. I could not attend the opening night, but from what I hear, it was a lot of fun. The fact that the adults of the community are interested in connecting with the youth is astonishing. However, I think that next year's book should be chosen by the youth - that way the community can connect with what teens are really reading.
-Sierra
Enders game was a great book and i would recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction. The game night at the library was also fun and i think we should definately do it again.
Jason K
enders game kept me interested the whole time and I would recomend it to anyone who like fiction. I also enjoy the extra activities we did while reading the book, like video games in the library.
-Brett Stevens
I loved this book! i couldnt put it down, it was a real page turner. It takes a lot to get me into a book and this was one that i just loved.
I brought my nintendo 64, and all my games, they are old ones so not to many people wanted to play it. one little boy did love it thoe, he couldnt put it down. I had a lot of fun there the speaker was awsome and fun to listen to. i didnt get to really play any of the game, was to busy having fun taking pictures for the School paper. but all in all i had a really good time!
-Julie Gibson
Ender's Game was an okay book. It had some interesting ideas (kids being so mature and smart, as well as the computers that adjust to teach the person using them). I didn't exactly enjoy reading it, though; it's so depressing, because Ender has no hope of ever living a normal life. I was also constantly skeptical when reading it that one kid could be the key to victory. It seemed like they didn't even need to attack the buggers in the first place. The aliens had shown no signs of further aggression after the first war, so the war only really existed because of a lack of understanding and a communication barrier.
-Alexander Rose
Ender's Game is not a book that would catch my interest normally. Not to read a book by it's cover, but the cover of Ender's Game turned me off immediately. I was worried at first, the beginning of the book was not intriguing for me, but appeared to be somewhat childish. I imagine I'd most likely read it in middle school rather than my junior year of high school. I'm glad it got a little better as I read on, though. It was still hard taking the time to read Ender's Game while I was also reading Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres (a novel I can't put down). The game night was fun, and I appreciate the idea of Newport Reads in general. Next time, though, I hope we can read a book that's more thought-provoking or at least a classic on a college list.
~Kate Bigelow
I had read Ender's Game twice before this so I obviously liked it. I have never actually taken time to analyze it however, and I find it to be a better book when it is just read for pleasure. I will say that the book was still not boring, even though this is my third time reading it and that must account for something.
-Elon Martin
I read Ender's Game once when I was in elementary school, and felt it was a good book. Im glad we read it again because there was so much of it i didnt remember, and now i see again how good this book really is. I also enjoyed the video game night we had in the library at school. It was fun.
I was happy to hear that the theme this year was "Read what your teens are reading." This theme gives adults a good excuse to read some literature that inspires the younger generation. However, with the choice of "Ender's Game" I was a bit disappointed. I think that a book dealing with problems and situations with a teenager would have been more appropriate. It was also, I believe, a bit off with the genre of science fiction. Most teens I know prefer realistic fiction, historical fiction, or fantasy. I did think that the video game night was a nice event. It is something teenagers really do, and it was a nice connection.
-Austin Wilson
This book was an exciting one and it was a great way for the adults to have something in common with the high schoolers because I feel like they possibly don't really connect with all these new things that the teens have that the adults probably don't understand. The book was good so that's my post.
-Josh
Ender's game was a good sci-fi read that showed a different side of war. I liked how it shows Ender as a boy and yet an adult in many ways, not just a dumb kid. It made him Human, and in a sense super human, which was good. I think it was a good pick for a Newport Reads.
-Adrian
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