Literature for High School

Thursday, November 10, 2011

This past year I have taken on the goal to read more literature to make some decisions on what my boys will read in their high school years (We homeschool).   It has been a great adventure! I have re-read some of my favorites and enjoyed new stories I have never read before.  Here is a brief rundown of some of what I have read...

To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition-This was a first time read for me.  I would have to say that To Kill a Mockingbird has been one of my favorites!  I love how Atticus understands people...that they consist of both good and bad.  I will be requiring both my boys to read it.

The Count of Monte Cristo-Also another great read.  The only problem is the length.  I, unknowingly, picked up an abridged version which confused me because there were some "holes" in the story.  The abridged version was awfully long...can't imagine reading the complete text.  With that being said, I loved the storyline!  Definitely, a book that explores how a person deals with their enemies.

A Tale of Two Cities-Loved this one. I will have my boys read it. Such a story of self-sacrifice.

Fahrenheit 451-Not one of my favorites, but I think I will at least have my oldest read it since it deals with technology.  My oldest adores anything to do with technology.  Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates the effects of losing literature...such a sad outcome.

Lord of the Flies (Perigee)-Just finished reading this one.  About halfway through the book I was gripped.  I enjoyed the way William Golding writes, but I have to say that the storyline is brutal.  Definitely Lord of the Flies is a book for boys.  I am probably going to have both my boys read it since the themes of good and evil (and where evil comes from) flow throughout the book.  There is a plethora of discussion topics there.

Wuthering Heights-This was a re-read for me.  Loved it as a teen, not so much as an adult. The characters are truly obsessive and dysfunctional.  I am thinking that neither of my boys would do well with this book.  Girls on the others might fare better.

Great Expectations-Also a re-read.  Love this book! The characters jump off the page into your head so that you never will forget them!  Miss Havisham will forever be burned in my memory! Going to get both my boys to read this Dickens novel.
Heart of Darkness-Another re-read.  Once again, like Wuthering Heights, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time.  Heart of Darkness  and Lord of the Flies are very similar in theme...how men fall into depravity and that there is evil lurking in all of us.  It would be interesting to read both and then discuss the similarities and differences.

So what am I moving on to next?  I have never read Of Mice and Men or The Grapes of Wrath.  So I will be tackling one of those soon.  What have you been reading lately?


3 comments:

MamaMunky said...

I'm a high school English teacher, and I think those are great titles. I hate Wuthering Heights and I refuse to teach it. It literally disgusts me. All the rest are favorites. Of Mice and Men is shorter than the Grapes of Wrath but both are equally beautiful. If you like The Count of Monte Cristo but it is too long, you might want to try The Three Musketeers. It's been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember reading. Good luck with your boys!

My Little Corner said...

I read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' for the first time this year too. Great book!!!

C.G. Koens said...

You know, I was an English major in college and I never once read "To Kill a Mockingbird" - sad. However, I've read the unabridged version of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and I loved it - the second time I tried reading it. I started it in high school (I was also homeschooled), but I just couldn't get into it. I tried it again in college and loved it. You might just have to see how it goes. Lots of good books on your list!