This week's theme: Top Ten Books I Was Forced to Read
1. To Kill a Mockingbird: Freshman Year, High School English
This class was practically torture. It was sixth period, in a portable building (a.k.a. a trailer) towards the end of summer. It was hot and muggy in that room and the teacher smelled, well, like he had been in a hot trailer all day. But, I was introduced to a book that I could not put down. Not only that, but it's the only book I have read more than twice. In fact, I have read it about seven times. I love it!
2. Dracula: Book Club, last year
I picked up this book about a year ago before Halloween. While it has a few parts that drag, I found it thrilling and exciting.
3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: College Freshman, English 101
This was my first quarter in college and the professor had a whole slew of "banned" books for the curriculum. After we read this one, we had a huge debate about whether or not it is considered a "racist" book. I am still in awe that I was one of the few who said absolutely not.
4. The Secret Garden: Sixth Grade
I read this book in the sixth grade. I didn't want to at all. A book about a garden? Ugh. But I loved it!
5. The Outsiders: 8th Grade, English
I had never even heard of this book before this class and I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite it making me very sad.
6. The Odyssey: Sophomore Year, High School English
We also read The Iliad this year, but it was the Odyssey I really enjoyed.
7. James and the Giant Peach: 4th Grade
I honestly can't remember the full plot of this book, other than I loved it when I was a kid.
8. The Diary of a Young Girl: 6th Grade
Every person should read this book. Everyone.
9. Langston Hughes: Freshman, Poetry 101
I didn't read this book, just a bunch of his poems. He was pretty awesome.
10. Romeo and Juliet: Freshman Year, High School English
Ok, so I am not a big fan of this play, BUT....this was my first Shakespeare play and I have gone on to read many more. It was my gateway drug. :)
Great list! I've heard of most of these titles but I actually never studied them at school or read them on my own (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders) except for Homer's The Odyssey (read this at uni; been meaning to re-read it!) and Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (read it in high school).
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Most people I know have had to read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. I work with teenagers and a bunch of them had to read it and hated it. I seriously think its just because they were forced to read it. So if I were a teacher, I would hate trying to choose required reading. I'd have so many great books, but knowing you'd be making a bunch of kids hate that book just because they were forced to read it would make me sad.
DeleteThis is an awesome list! I also read TKAM and The Outsiders in class and loved both. The Secret Garden was also my favorite book in elementary school :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: http://fangirlsoffiction.blogspot.com/2013/10/ttt-1015-top-ten-books-elizabeth-was.html
To Kill a Mockingbird is easily my favorite book still to this day.
DeleteOh man this list has so many good books! Pretty much every book on this list I've read, I loved (although I'm with you on Romeo and Juliet - not one of my favourites, but important). Seeing The Secret Garden and James and the Giant Peach has made me so nostalgic!
ReplyDeleteThanks! And yeah, those two books do take me back to very different days when I was in elementary school. Good times!
DeleteI love To Kill A Mockingbird. It's actually one of my favourite classics. I read it outside of school, and I was surprised how much I liked it. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised too when I really liked that book. There have been many books I was forced to read and hated, but I LOVED that book.
Deletereally great list, come absolute classics in there. Your schools did a great job at choosing their required reading, in England we had a LOT of Shakespeare!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I have read much more Shakespeare in classes as time went on as well.
DeleteI like your choices! I have been meaning to read To Kill A Mockingbird for a long time now. Great choices.
ReplyDeleteHere is My Top Ten Tuesday
Xoxo. Daisel @ Owl Always Be Reading
I can not recommend To kill a Mockingbird enough. Seriously, read it soon!
DeleteTo Kill a Mockingbird, Huck Finn, and Anne Frank are all on my list as well. They are few of the books I actually loved that I was required to read for school.
ReplyDeleteSame here. Thank goodness for English teachers!
DeleteI noticed that most books on people's lists are classics! But yours is a great selection! I like Romeo and Juliet though I wasn't forced to read it. DNF-ed Dracula though but glad you liked it! :)
ReplyDeleteMy sister didn't finish Dracula either, but I enjoyed it. Thanks!
DeleteLove anything Roald Dahl, The Secret Garden and To Kill a Mockingbird was on my list! Couldn't agree more about the Diary of Anne Frank. I read it when I was at the end of elementary school, and as horrifying as it was, it was an important experience for me. It taught me about the cruelty and evil human beings are capable of, on the one hand, but also the ability we have to love one another and overcome our circumstances. Definitely a must-read. Great list!
ReplyDeleteM from Backlist Books
Anne Frank is definitely a very sad book that really gets to you, but I think it is so important. We need to learn from our mistakes kind of thing. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteYou have some great books on your list. Chapters 1-3 of Dracula are just plain dull but it gets much better once Dracula starts crawling down walls. I love To Kill a Mockingbird too and The Odyssey. Here's my TTT
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. When he goes all Spiderman, that's when you are like, ok, I am hooked!
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