<p>i've paid $$ and registered classes for this fall. i've also returned dinning and residential stuffs and recieved dorm stuffs...
what else do i have to do before i get there??
(i know i have to read a book. eewwwwww)</p>
<p>i just feel like i need to do something but i dont know what it is.
is there some kinda list that upcoming freshmen has to do with deadlines and stuffs ?</p>
<p>thanks :D</p>
<p>Well there was that list of stuff that had to be done by June 10th, and obviously you have that covered. I think all that's left is to get ready to leave...no deadlines and all.</p>
<p>the book is really good actually, Im almost done with it</p>
<p>...and its not like u actually HAVE to read it. I definately read not one page of our book last year and there were no consequences for it.</p>
<p>haha...CaptainM...how many people are in the discussion groups and whatnot? Can you get away with just being silent?</p>
<p>That kind of attitude is so lame, in my opinion. This year's book is really good, and last year's was pretty good too. Why not read them, if only to be educated? Yes, you can get by without reading it, but you won't seem cool or rebellious or anything. The program is there for a reason, many upperclassmen (as well as administrators) have put time and effort into it for you, and you can't read a fairly easy and interesting book that most people have read anyways? That's just sad and doesn't bode extremely well for your time at Duke.</p>
<p>well mainly because i dont have the patience to spend 30 hours reading a book... or however long it will take.</p>
<p>^haha-its a great read,and you wont spend 30 hours.And if you do,itll be worth it,trust me;)</p>
<p>yeah it took me a day</p>
<p>well the daytime part of the day :)</p>
<p>speaking of books, has anyone here ever read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Since Maya Angelou is coming to Duke, I wanna read it b4 orientation</p>
<p>I read one of her shorter stories in my AP english class called "My Name is Margaret." I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to listen to her speak.</p>
<p>The book took me about 4 hours. It's a New York Times bestseller and has had rave reviews. You got it for free. Get over it.</p>
<p>dukegirl- I wasn't suggesting I wasn't going to read the book...because I definitely am. I've heard nothing but good things. It's just I'm a math/science kind of person, and in book-related discussions I prefer to sit back and listen to what others have to say because I'm not a good literature person.</p>
<p>To answer your question loveduke, I dunno what the discussions were like because I didnt attend any of them but im sure its not big deal at all you can surely just sit there and not say anything. And dukegirl, first of all last years book was definately NOT good because i attempted to read it but made it through about 30 pages before I was bored out of my mind. Why struggle through an awful book im not interested in? Dont i have to do that in class anyway so whyd I want to do it during the last few weeks I have of summer vacation. As for the fact that people work hard on the program, that doesnt make me anymore inclined to read a book that I wouldn't want to read. Im sorry, just doesn't. Also, I never encouraged anyone not to read it, I merely provided the information that you didnt HAVE to read it if you didnt want to. And finally, no, it never occurred to me not to read the book to look "cool or rebellious".</p>
<p>The discussions aren't designed to be about the book as literature, so much as topics the book presents that are relevant to life. So it's more theme based than literature based. Most of the time you probably won't be talking about (for example) page 254 and this sentence, you'll be talking about the military efforts in Afghanistan or class relationships or something. Relevant to everybody in this day and age.</p>
<p>As far as last year's book, I would encourage you to use your opinion when talking about it. In YOUR OPINION, it was not good. You did not appreciate it (Mountains Beyond Mountains, which is about Duke alum and amazing Dr. Paul Farmer and his work in Haiti and on global health issues). Most people who I know who read it found it incredibly interesting and inspiring. I think this is in part attested to by the great attendance when Dr. Farmer came to speak, as well as the enthusiastic audience response, large number of questions and ridiculously long line to get books signed afterwards.</p>
<p>Finally, maybe you should consider taking classes that interest you so that you aren't continually struggling to get through your reading. You might enjoy college more.</p>
<p>I believe I did use my opinioin when I said that the book was "definately NOT good". Im pretty sure that when people read that they assume that is an opinion since by definition describing a book as "good" or "not good" CANNOT be a fact and thus must be an opinion. Also, thanks for the advice about taking classes that interest me, never thought about that before, its just that I have major requirements that mandate the reading of chemistry textbooks and things of that nature that tend to not be the most enjoyable things in the world. Oh, and I do enjoy college very much, my struggling through reading aside.</p>
<p>Wow, somebody's defensive. Anyway, my entire point on this thread is that it's a great book, and in the discussion it will most likely be used as a jumping off point to talk about all sorts of relevant other things. Like it says in President Brodhead's letter at the front of your copy, it's designed so that you have a common academic experience to start off your time at Duke. Your FAC should be pretty excited to discuss it with your group, particularly since it covers such interesting (and intense) ground.</p>
<p>I dont think it was as much me being defensive as it was you being wrong about everything you said and my feeling the need to correct it.</p>
<p>Well I'm just gonna say I'm excited to read the book...and it seems like there will be alot to talk about. Now that I know it's not going to be as literature-based as I thought it would be i feel better.</p>