The Book Thief (2007) by Markus Zusak was recommended to me by multiple people. First Lauren recommended it to me, and also Ms. Weygandt recommended that I read it. I've always had great experiences reading books Ms. Weygandt has recommended. The book is 560 pages long, so I may struggle with sticking to it through the end, because I sometimes struggle with long term commitment to books, but I feel confident that I'll find this book an interesting read, with a more serious shift from some of the more lighthearted books I've been reading lately.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain wasn't recommended to me by anyone, but I found that this book is frequently on the AP Literature exam. I also know Mark Twain is constantly referenced, and this book is one of his most famous works. The last Twain book I attempted to read didn't really work for me, I feel Twain's writing style might be hard for me to follow. Even though this may prove to be a more challenging read for me, I think it will be worth the time to have this title under my belt for the Literature exam.
Fahrenheit 451 (1987) by Ray Bradbury has a very intriguing storyline. I learned first about this book in Oral Communications last year when Ms. Pickett showed the class the movie of this book. I have no doubt that the book will be very different from the movie, but I am confident that the plot will entertain and educate. I learned from research that Ray Bradbury is the kind of author whose words change how people think, so hopefully this book can have a positive impact on my life and thoughts on the value of the written word.
The Thirteenth Tale (2007) by Diane Setterfield was also recommended to me by Ms. Weygandt. Upon further research, the plot looks very interesting, and I'm excited to read this work. Upon glancing over the Google book preview, the text seems to be written on an intermediate level. Well above teen fiction, but not quite on the level of Homer. I may need a dictionary ready on some pages, because I came across a word or two I didn't know in the preview. From the description, the plot seems to have a nice twist of mystery. This book should prove to be a great read.
Lord of the Flies (1959) by William Golding is a book that has always intrigued me. I've always found survival books to be a great source of entertainment. And I've heard great reviews of this book from multiple friends. Golding's writing style doesn't seem to be too difficult to read and the book is definitely a novel, not an epic volume, so it should prove to be a fun, and quick read.
Catch 22 (1961) by Joseph Heller is a novel I found while just browsing the internet. I found it on a list of 100 books every man must read so I figured, why not. Upon further research, I see that this book is supposed to be full of contrasting things. Horror and hilarity for example. I'm pretty excited about giving this book a shot to read.
Les Miserables (1987) by Victor Hugo has been recommended to me by multiple people, including Natasha and Ms. Weygandt. The prospect of this book is kind of daunting to me, because it is so long, and Hugo's language is somewhat complex, but I figured it would be good to give this book a shot, especially because I'm going to go see the play in September. This book is world renown as being an amazing read, so I'm looking forward to it.
Atlas Shrugged (1996) by Ayn Rand is a book I found on the same list where I found Catch 22. I noticed this book was by Ayn Rand, and I've read some of her other books, like Anthem, which I loved, and her books aren't very difficult to read, so this should be an intriguing easy read.
The Highest Tide (2007) by Jim Lynch is a relatively new book, recommended to me by Ms. Weygandt. I've mostly just chosen this book because the plot seems intriguing, and since it is still classified as a young adult novel it should prove to be a leisurely read.
The Lord of the Rings (1954 ) by J.R.R. Tolkien has always been a book I've wanted to read. When I was younger I attempted to read through the first book, and I made it, but I did so with little comprehension or retention of the novel. Most of my memories are those of the movies. I'm excited to give this book another shot now that my reading level has improved since those days. If my memory serves, Tolkien's writing style is heavy on detail, so I may have trouble getting onto his style. But the book should still prove to be a good read.
