What book were you required to read in school that you actually ending up liking?

[missypie]

Did you actully end up really liking any of the books you had to read in high school or college? We're going on vacation soon, and I'd like to take along a few "classics" that I should have read, but haven't. Is there anything from the "required reading list" that is actually a really good read?

 

[Davids-Coco]

I enjoyed "The Awakening" (the first three times). But even as an English major, I can't say that I remember a ton that I liked. I do remember having to read Moby Dick one term and have to say that it can be kinda fun when you realize how many "adult" undertones exist.

 

[CEDmom]

It's been a while since I had a required reading list but I remember liking Catcher in the Rye, Pride and Prejudice, Of Mice and Men. That's about all I can think of. I do have to commend you though. I usually enjoy reading mindless smut when I'm on vacation. I just read Jesus Land. It's a great book - very mind opening in a frightening way.

 

[Crankyshank]

Far too many to list I very much enjoy reading the classics
I think an easier question is which books I didn't like.

 

[Tracey1974]

I think my favorite was To Kill A Mockingbird. Of Mice and Men was good too.
Didn't really care for Catcher in the Rye though.

 

[golfgal]

Two that I remember are Old Man and the Sea and My Antonia. There was another one that I can't remember the title about the meat processing plants in the early 1900's.

 

[Rajah]

Count of Monte Cristo, Les Miserables (sp?), and To Kill a Mockingbird

 

[Mkaz]

My English teacher was a huge Edgar Allen Poe fan. We ended up reading quite a few of his stories.

The Raven
Tell Tale Heart
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Cask of Amontillado (not sure of the spelling)

There were others, but I can't think of the names right now. I never thought I would get into reading these, but I did.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm a nerd. I'm a big reader and I enjoyed most of the books I read for HS and college--but even then, I read a lot of classics that weren't required so I don't know exactly which ones I read in school and which ones I read on my own.

Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Frankenstein, most of Dickens, Catcher in the Rye, Farenheit 451, Jane Eyre...oh, the list goes on and on.

Two I really disliked are Germinal by Zola and Wuthering Heights.

DD loves that she can ask me questions about just about any book she's reading for English class and I can answer questions about it.

The classics are classic for a reason--they withstand the test of time.

 

[BelleMcNally]

Two that I remember are Old Man and the Sea and My Antonia. There was another one that I can't remember the title about the meat processing plants in the early 1900's.

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair?

 

[Megster]

Of Mice and Men, 1984, The Great Gastby.

 

[Alice's Mom]

Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Shakespearan sonnets and plays, Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm.

I love reading though, I am very excited that I get to share Anne of Green Gables and other great reads with my daughter soon as she has just started reading

 

[MinnieM3]

Jane Eyre, Count of Monte Cristo and Waiting for Godot.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Lord of the Flies.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

Lord of the Flies.

I also remember liking this book in school...but right now for the life of me I don't really remember what it was all about.....I remember lots of "symbolism" though.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

Another vote for Pride & Prejudice. I'm an English major and we just finished this one. I LOVED it!!! So, of course, had to go buy the movie Tuesday when it came out and it wasn't half as good as the book. Oh well!

 

[Thumper's Tara]

I am a big reader, so I have quite a few! My top choices would probably be

Pride and Prejudice
The Catcher in the Rye
Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows is a middle school book - I am not sure that counts though!

 

[Thumper's Tara]

Another vote for Pride & Prejudice. I'm an English major and we just finished this one. I LOVED it!!! So, of course, had to go buy the movie Tuesday when it came out and it wasn't half as good as the book. Oh well!

I haven't seen the recent movie, but the BBC version is awesome! Almost as good as the book (In my opinion).

 

[Jockaroo]

To Kill a Mockingbird, A Separate Peace, Farenheit 451, and Ray Bradbury short stories were my favs. It is interesting how many have mentioned Mockingbird--it is a wonderful book and a great movie too.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I did like "The Great Gatsby", come to think of it. But none of my other required reading did anything for me!

Wuthering Heights
Return of the Native
The Stranger
The Sun Also Rises
The Grapes of Wrath (HATED that!)

Some of my friends had to read "Lord of the Flies" and I started reading it out of curiousity. It started out pretty good but by the middle I wasn't so into it anymore.