Required Reading

Today's Top 5 Wednesday topic is Required Reading. We were all made to read books in school, I'm going to detail some of my favorites. I don't remember a lot of what we had to read, but I do remember some.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - I can't remember if it was 9th or 10th grade when we were assigned this one, but I do remember being very excited because I already had a copy. I am very grateful that we weren't assigned Great Expectations like many other high school students. I have read that since then, and I feel like it was a better experience for not being forced to read it. I did enjoy A Tale of Two Cities even though I was forced to read it. My copy had beautiful, full color illustrations.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - This is my all-time favorite book. Now. When I was first introduced to it in 10th grade, I hated it. The irony and humor was lost on me. I thought Darcy was an ass. Luckily, I was assigned it again in college and fell in love.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - I was assigned this in 10th grade when I was at home sick for a month with mono. I read the whole thing in one day and loved it. I assume that was because I was ill. I've tried to read it since then and was unable to get through it.

The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford - I still have my high school hardback copy of this book. The dust jacket is long gone. These stories really grabbed me back in the day. I remember almost nothing about them now, but I remember being just enraptured at the time.

The Catcher In the Rye by J. D. Salinger - I'm sure no one is surprised that angsty teenage me loved this book. I really related to the grumpy main character. I was also grumpy and angsty. I read it again about 15 years ago and it just made me angry.

What are your favorite required readings?