Interviews Doctor Coccia – Emma Smithwick Doctor Coccia steered the school through the dark months of the pandemic and she was a beacon of hope for the Bishop Eustace community. Since many people escape the troubles of the world through reading, the editors thought that it would be interesting to find out what type of literature Dr. Coccia enjoys to read when she has time. Emma: Dr. Coccia, what is your favorite type of literature? Dr. Coccia: As I mentioned, many of my favorite books fall into that "literary realism" genre. Many of the books I have enjoyed over and over again are The Great Gatsby and Invisible Man. I am drawn to books about relationships and the human experience. Emma: What is your favorite book? Dr. Coccia: My favorite book is The Great Gatsby, but when I was a child, I was particularly drawn to myths, fables, and fairy tales. Again, I always enjoyed learning about human nature and the experience of others as a way to make connections Emma: Who is your favorite author and poet? Dr. Coccia: My favorite author is F. Scott Fitzgerald, and my favorite poet is Emily Dickinson. When my college schedule allowed opportunities to enjoy electives, I chose topics like Emily Dickinson and Creative Writing. Emma: What is your favorite book series? Dr. Coccia: My daughter and I share a love of reading. She enjoys reading so much, she is now pursuing her Ph.D. in English and teaching Literature at University of Michigan. My fondest memories are of the countless hours we spent reading books together. When she was around nine years old, she particularly loved a series about medieval mice called Redwall. Now that she is grown, we still try to read together when our schedules permit. We just started My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, and this is also part of a series. This book also explores relationships over time. Emma: What is your favorite play? Dr. Coccia: I love to see A Midsummer Night's Dream on stage. It is a beautiful production, and, like many of my other favorites, explores relationships. Another favorite is Ibsen's A Doll's House. I remember reading this as part of my summer reading in high school, but I did not really engage with the text until we returned to school in September. My teacher led us through a close reading of the play followed by a trip to see it on stage. An enthusiastic teacher who displays genuine passion for literature makes such a difference.
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