make it interesting

In reference to yesterday's post, some people have commented that it's important to find works that will appeal to students, to get them interested.

Certainly we realize that we can't reach everyone, but how do you teachers make the attempt to reach the majority? Do you see the tastes changing over time, or are the quality books from the past still worth reading? I would imagine that books which might be older than your students are unfamiliar to them, but once they get in to the story find that they indeed are still worth reading.

How current do you teachers of high school literature stay on the market? Do you read award winning books each year? Does it even pay to stay current or are you saddled to the past due to textbook and budgetary concerns?

In an era where kids are so reliant on instant gratification (such as posting blogs, sending instant messages, and cell phones), how do you make a book seem interesting? A book, which might require four or five days worth of reading?

I am interested in this because it is the students today who are shaping the way publishing and reading will become in the future.