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Dave Schaafsma

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Dave Schaafsma

Goodreads Author


Born
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, The United States
January 06, 1953

Genre

Member Since
August 2007


Dave Schaafsma is a Retired Professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago, having taught English for 50 years, 37 years in English Education, 26 years at UIC. He's the author or co-editor of six books and is in the process of writing more, but every day he obsessively reads and writes (sometimes sloppily in part because of vision issues, sorry) reviews here on Goodreads.
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Dave Schaafsma Jon, I am going to answer this question, but I am going to look through my books first... I love this kind of question, and will take it seriously...
Dave Schaafsma Hi, Marianne. It's an honor to hera from you! I found Charlotte Diary in Pictures" through my library system here in the western suburbs of Chicago. A…moreHi, Marianne. It's an honor to hera from you! I found Charlotte Diary in Pictures" through my library system here in the western suburbs of Chicago. A lot of the books I read are things I find in my Goodreads feed that people are reading and love. A few people had just read and loved her book, Life or Theatre? and I tried to get it, but no one in the Chicago area could find it for me. Yet. Will look again.

So I did see her Diary listed and I thought it was fabulous. My interest in it stemmed initially from the idea of a diary or journal in pictures; I am a kind of student of what people are calling now graphic memoirs, or comics memoirs, and someone named this as an early example of that, and I agree it is.

My interest in the Holocaust I think began with reading American postwar Jewish authors such as Isaac Bashevis Singer, Malamud, Roth, who led me to survivor literature, studies of the camps. I'm agnostic now, but when I first was teaching English in 1975 I taught Rabbi Chaim Potok's The Chosen and My Name is Asher Lev to my Dutch Reformed high school students, and we looked at Life Magazine's pictorial of Hasidic life in Brooklyn to help us understand what I understood to be extreme religious devotion by the ultra-orthodox Jews there. I was, after all, teaching ultra-orthodox Christians who were also struggling, as Asher Lev was, with how to live IN the world and yet not OF the world.

I would love to read Aftershocks and am going to read it, as soon as possible, so I can have the honor of talking with you about it. Again, I am thrilled you contacted me; I will read it!(less)
Average rating: 4.24 · 116 ratings · 26 reviews · 6 distinct worksSimilar authors
Growing Up Chicago (Second ...

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On Narrative Inquiry: Appro...

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Eating On The Street: Teach...

4.19 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 1994 — 4 editions
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Jane Addams in the Classroom

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4.40 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
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Language and Reflection: An...

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4.07 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 1991 — 3 editions
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Literacy and Democracy: Tea...

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1998
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More books by Dave Schaafsma…

The End of Reading

I thought this might interest the Goodreads community, an article about the decline of reading in these crucial times. The point is that the majority of high school grads across the world never read even one book after graduation. (Clearly, we live in a bubble, here on Goodreads!). Then, the way most people--and often including me!--is quick skimming of headlines and short pieces, doomscrolling, n Read more of this blog post »
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Published on July 28, 2026 08:29
The Last Devil to...
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The Smythes
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2026 on Goodreads
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Dave Schaafsma Dave Schaafsma said: " Goodreads 2026
Update d July 9, 2026 (half way in the year!) Thus far I have read 210 books, including comics, picture books, poetry, plays, fiction.

So far:

Top books of any kind this year?
*Five Gears in Reverse (2026) Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips a
...more "

 

Dave’s Recent Updates

" Okay, Janet, with apologies. Send me a pdf again so I can review it, finally?! "
"Outstanding debut novel mixing detective fiction and historical fiction with a liberal dose of noir atmospherics. Shamus Dust is a surprisingly good debut detective novel, one of the best mystery debuts I have read. It's no accident that this fin..." Read more of this blog post »
Dave Schaafsma rated a book it was amazing
Absolute Wonder Woman, Vol. 2 by Kelly Thompson
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Absolute Wonder Woman: Volume 2, As My Mothers Made Me (2026) continues the high bar set by Volumr One, so is one of the best comics of the year I see from the practically unified comics crowd rating. Congratulations for the 2026 Nomination for the E ...more
Dave Schaafsma rated a book it was amazing
The Knives by Ed Brubaker
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Congrats for a 2026 Eisner Award Nomination for Best Penciller/Inker to Sean Phillips for my fave comic of 2025!

A major comics event for 2025, without question: The 11th volume of Criminal: The Knives, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the very GOAT
...more
Dave Schaafsma rated a book really liked it
Do Admit by Mimi Pond
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Congratulations for a 2026 Eisner Award Nomination for Best Reality-based Work (Ben Passmore won for Black Arms to Hold You Up), and it was my second fave in this category, after Guy DeLIsle's Muybridge, but there's strong stuff in this category.

"Sis
...more
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Oasis by Guojing
Oasis
by Guojing (Goodreads Author)
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Congratulations f0r a 2026 Eisner Award Nomination for Best Pub for Kids (Raina Telgemeier and Scot McCloud won for The Cartoonist Club, but this was my choice, so far!).

A children's graphic novel where Cormac McCarthy's The Road meets Peter Brown's
...more
Dave Schaafsma rated a book really liked it
The Department of Truth Volume 6 by James Tynion IV
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Congratulations for the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Painter to Martin Simmonds, to Jordie Bellaire for Best Colorist!, and to the Image team for Best Continuing Series. My favorite Tynion series by far, rooted in real world histor ...more
Dave Schaafsma rated a book really liked it
Ice Cream Man Volume 11 by W. Maxwell Prince
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Congratulations for the 2026 Eisner Award Nomination for Best One Shot Issue (Daniel Johnson won for his Absolute Batman 2025 piece). This, Ice Cream Man #43: “One Page Horror Stories,” by W. Maxwell Prince and others (Image) was my choice, a series ...more
Dave Schaafsma rated a book really liked it
Indignation by Philip Roth
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“It’s about life, where the tiniest misstep can have tragic consequences.”

Philip Roth, one of the great American novelists, died in May 2018, so I decided to read Sabbath’s Theater, his final National Book award winner, and then his uncharacteristica
...more
Dave Schaafsma rated a book really liked it
The Department of Truth Volume 6 by James Tynion IV
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Congratulations for the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Painter to Martin Simmonds, to Jordie Bellaire for Best Colorist!, and to the Image team for Best Continuing Series. My favorite Tynion series by far, rooted in real world histor ...more
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Topics Mentioning This Author

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THE Group for Aut...: 'Author's Writing' section on profile page 17 70 Sep 27, 2016 02:10PM  
Read Women: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui 20 100 Jul 09, 2018 04:36AM  
Barry Lopez
“Conversations are efforts toward good relations. They are an elementary form of reciprocity. They are the exercise of our love for each other. They are the enemies of our loneliness, our doubt, our anxiety, our tendencies to abdicate. To continue to be in good conversation over our enormous and terrifying problems is to be calling out to each other in the night. If we attend with imagination and devotion to our conversations, we will find what we need; and someone among us will act—it does not matter whom—and we will survive.”
Barry Lopez

George Orwell
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
George Orwell

Barry Lopez
“Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion.”
Barry Lopez

Barry Lopez
“Remember on this one thing, said Badger. The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other's memories. This is how people care for themselves. ”
Barry Lopez, Crow and Weasel

Antonio Gramsci
“Pessimism of the spirit; optimism of the will.”
Antonio Gramsci

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A room for lovers of theatre, theater books, texts on acting, directing, theory and scripts.
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Comments (showing 1-38)    post a comment »
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message 38: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Mir wrote: "Grand Rapids? I thought you were Chicago-adjacent. Did you move?"

I am in Oak Park, just two blocks west of Chicago. But I grew up in GrandRapids, lived there for 30= years.


message 37: by Mir

Mir Grand Rapids? I thought you were Chicago-adjacent. Did you move?


message 36: by Joseph

Joseph Thank you kindly for the friendship!


Caroline Thanks for the friend-vite!


message 34: by Richard

Richard Dominguez thank you for the friend


message 33: by Richard

Richard Hey, Dave — I just saw your review of Kate Beaton's book. I was going to link to the excellent review at the NYTimes (with a paywall-skipping gift link), but of course Goodreads doesn't allow links anywhere but in reviews anymore. Anyway, if you want to add it to your review, here's that link, modified so I can at least DM it to you:
nytimes.com / 2022 / 09 / 12 / books / kate-beaton-ducks-canada-oil.html?unlocked_article_code=gT0YdCu1dfrsJo_hLSA1jK0-cpHozTywKGSfeOH2zdsuWpNuUUbLUgr8AH_3enqzXB4ZVQnO2iJYOzqaE4KdkovE2M-GutNsCmEzHEtVzrVNfvw64_pzz--Fh_lmPWdHXRy5wSyJVJANUqOF1H7BCdmPqKRN-ySUHBKin32GWcZJxLPQ2qtShzB_NSt2oe87cH0wAKc7ckgDFN4D5OttzQyqgQj-NQFoWwNlntl68mDdNx0_jh7h1UWO1gjWGLXj48qKO-taoQ3JOb5vUd5ICSX94vJd-XTgz6XM6NhBpi_U13KvSLaSbYATUIfL9bGuIsAnluF1q7DydBZgXZgzlSyGNSc&smid=share-url


message 32: by jana

jana Thank You for accepting my friend request Dave. :)
I am looking forward to reading your reviews...


message 31: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Kristine wrote: "Dave, thank you for taking me on as a friend. Professor of Literature sounds like my dream job. Thanks for taking me on as a friend. I always write reviews, whether they are decent is certainly deb..."

Do the dream! You get to read a lot, for sure! :) Good luck with your reading (and reviews!).


Kristine Dave, thank you for taking me on as a friend. Professor of Literature sounds like my dream job. Thanks for taking me on as a friend. I always write reviews, whether they are decent is certainly debatable, but I try.


message 29: by Mizuki

Mizuki Glad to know another comic fan.


message 28: by Michael

Michael Hello David,

I am reading your reviews for quite some years now, so it was a very pleasant surprise to receive your friend invite; thank you very much!
I am looking forward to interesting discussions and comic book findings,

Michael


message 27: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Hanneke wrote: "Happy New Year, David! Hope health, happiness and good books come your way!"

And to you, too, Hanneke!


message 26: by Hanneke

Hanneke Happy New Year, David! Hope health, happiness and good books come your way!


message 25: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Cathy wrote: "Merry Christmas David and thanks for goodreads friendship." The same to you, Cathy! :)


message 24: by Cathy

Cathy Merry Christmas David and thanks for goodreads friendship.


message 23: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma David wrote: "Ted wrote: "David, what genre was that that you and your family were reading all the candidates for the GR book awards?"
Picture Book"
And I can help you by compiling--soon--my/our favorites, but A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals
by Lucy Ruth Cummins was our top favorite. I finally found for Ida, Always, because the lion book was out of the running. I liked Klaasen's Hat book, but the kids liked it less.


message 22: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Ted wrote: "David, what genre was that that you and your family were reading all the candidates for the GR book awards?"
Picture Book


message 21: by Ted

Ted David, what genre was that that you and your family were reading all the candidates for the GR book awards?


message 20: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Majenta wrote: "Good evening, David! Friend Request accepted, thanks for Requesting! Congratulations on all your publishing success! I hope this has been a good week for you, that you'll have a nice weekend, and t..."
Thanks for accepting my request, and glad to now know what you are also reading. And thanks for all the wishes! I hope you also have a terrific weekend.


message 19: by Majenta

Majenta Good evening, David! Friend Request accepted, thanks for Requesting! Congratulations on all your publishing success! I hope this has been a good week for you, that you'll have a nice weekend, and the week ahead will be...even better! (And the week after that, and the week after that, and the week after that....) Be blessed!

Best wishes from Majenta


message 18: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Melki wrote: "I guess finals are over by now. Enjoy your summer!"
So nice of you to say! I wish you the same, a terrific summer! Keep reading and reviewing. You make me happy!


message 17: by Melki

Melki I guess finals are over by now. Enjoy your summer!


message 16: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Matthias wrote: "Thank you for accepting David! I see you teach Young Adult Fiction? That's very interesting, I never figured that was a seperate course, but it makes sense now that I think of it. Looking forward t..."
Well, the Young Adult Literature course is a typical one for the preparation of English teachers in a lot of universities and colleges. I have been teaching it for maybe 15 years, but haven't been reading that much of it lately. Mostly comics. Will next year, maybe. Oh! And this summer I will teach a course on Young Adult Graphic Novels, just to try something different.


Matthias Thank you for accepting David! I see you teach Young Adult Fiction? That's very interesting, I never figured that was a seperate course, but it makes sense now that I think of it. Looking forward to reading your reviews!


message 14: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Jonathan wrote: "I saw you liked my status on the book about pursuing a further academic studies in Humanities! If you want to find a way to sneak me into an assistantship program at UIC....*wink wink nudge nudge*"

well, I am glad to help you in any way I can. Let's talk!


message 13: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Thanks for the link to Lee, Ted. And thanks for the reminder to read the Wittgenstein novel I had initially intended to read. Just ordered it, finally!


message 12: by Ted

Ted Thanks for the friend request, David. I'm always pleased to connect with a prof. You might be interested in one of my friends, Lee Klein. This is his regular GR page, I believe he also has an author page. https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9...
(I don't think he's a prof, but he's a learned reader and an interesting writer.)


message 11: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma I will have a more education-oriented year, now that I am going off sabbatical. I have followed Kozol for years, one of the greats.


message 10: by Karan

Karan Bajaj Hi David ... thanks for connecting! Good to meet a fellow Kozol fan ... amongst many other titles!
Karan


message 9: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Fatty wrote: "Thanks for connecting, David, and a happy new year to you! :) That's the largest collection I've seen on this site. Incredible!"

Well, I read a lot, like many on Goodreads, but I have recently taken to recording and writing reviews of EVERYTHING, kind of like an autobiography through reading. I don't know why, exactly. I just am enjoying it. Not many people read my reviews, so I just write for myself, mainly, but am glad to connect to you and anyone through books!


message 8: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Fionnuala wrote: "I think we have some books in common, David - but a passion for reading definitely, judging by your large quantity of 'read' books!"

Well, I am getting older, an English major who became an English prof, so the books I have read.. they'll accumulate. Honestly, I am sure there are many more unrated. Things in areas I have read I just haven't thought of. But that's not bragging. Just saying that if you read your whole life, you will have read a lot of books! I still have a passion for reading, no question! Glad to begin to get to know you!


Fionnuala I think we have some books in common, David - but a passion for reading definitely, judging by your large quantity of 'read' books!


message 6: by Dave (last edited Aug 08, 2015 05:03AM)

Dave Schaafsma it seems like gravity's rainbow was actually a really fun (albeit difficult) launching point!
Well, Jonathan, Gravity's Rainbow is one difficult book with so much richness in it. The most difficult book we read (started) in that Postwar American Fiction class, for sure (though Lolita might have been a match for sheer complexity). In Slow Learner you get how he was getting started, trying out ideas he would elaborate on for the rest of his career, so in that sense it is worth it to check it out..


message 5: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Jonathan wrote: "Professor S! How have you been this summer?"
"I'm good. Not teaching in this second summer session, so reading and writing a bit more… you?


message 4: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Nick wrote: "In the past, I'd typically hop on my computer (or now, more realistically, my phone) between 6 am and 7 am and go to the following sites, in no particular order: Facebook, gmail, reddit. Your profi..."

I only just saw this now! Hi!


message 3: by Dave

Dave Schaafsma Nick wrote: "In the past, I'd typically hop on my computer (or now, more realistically, my phone) between 6 am and 7 am and go to the following sites, in no particular order: Facebook, gmail, reddit. Your profi..."

Jane wrote: "Hi David!"

Hi, Jane! Do I know you? Either way, hi! :) Welcome to my Goodreads world!


message 2: by Jane

Jane Hi David!


message 1: by Nick (last edited Oct 21, 2013 09:28PM)

Nick Szewczyk In the past, I'd typically hop on my computer (or now, more realistically, my phone) between 6 am and 7 am and go to the following sites, in no particular order: Facebook, gmail, reddit. Your profile alone has managed to make goodreads usurp reddit in that rotation. I just don't have the requisite time to browse reddit these days, but I always have the time to read a review or two... :)

(Just a random thought, as I'm currently on, and there's not a 6:30 am review for me to read for a change. sadness.)


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