What's the best book you read that was assigned as school reading?

Question

Why was the book enjoyable &/or how did it touch your life?

Answer 1

Oh, so many!

Crime and Punishment (I adore Rodya even if he's crazy as a loon)
The Sun Also Rises, 1984 (Really a spectacular novel!) Hedda Gabler (and other Ibsen plays, go Norwegians!)
I pretty much love all books!

but the best wasn't actually assigned at all, it was a gift from my 12th grade AP english teacher, and it is so marvelous -- The Magus, by John Fowles.

It sounds silly, but I was going through some really tough times while reading it -- me two "best" (haha) friends were cutting me out of their lives without telling me why -- and I drew strength from the trials of Nick Urfe. The end especially helped me deal. So I would definitely recommend that one, though it does start a bit slowly the entire thing is magnificently written and has a wonderful story.

Answer 2

I can't think of any "assigned readings" in high school that would qualify in the "best book" category. As an English major in college, however, I read many books for classes...most of them enjoyable. However, my pick would be a graduate school selection in a library science course. ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card was assigned for an intro to ya lit class...and I absolutely loved it. I never would have picked up the book otherwise. I had never read any science fiction before. And reading the book really did change my life. Since that time I've read anything and everything by Orson Scott Card...many multiple rereadings too. He is such a great author!

Answer 3

In 12th grade AP English, our teacher had us read "Rag Time" by E.L Doctorow. This was a couple years after it first came out. 10+ years later they made a movie and Broadway show based on the book.

Until this book, all the books we read in school were the "classics" written 50 or more years earlier. Rag Time helped me realize that there are great books being written all the time, and I should always try and read something new once in a while, rather than sticking with what everyone else says you should read.

Answer 4

When I was a Freshman in college for English 105 Contemporary Women Writers my instructor was friends with a lot of local writers and she would bring in books that were self published or published by little publishing houses here in Seattle like Full Moon Press. One of the books she brought in was "Little Alters Everywhere" by Rebecca Wells. You may be more familiar with "The Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood." I loved Little Alters and still have the original first printing of it by Full Moon Press.

Another book she assigned was "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood. Margaret even came in and gave a lecture. Every once in awhile I re-read Handmaid's Tale because it affected me so deaply.

She also assigned "Gibbons Decline and Fall" by Sherri S Tepper.

All of these books have a definite feminist leaning and really empowered me as a young woman in a man's world.

Answer 5

Cold Sassy Tree, I'm not sure who wrote it, but if was for freshmen english in High school, Only one teacher assigned it, but many others read it. The teacher had taught for many years and parents were always telling us how much they enjoyed the book when they were in his class. I suppose the fact that the book was interesting helped, but I think it was because of the teacher that everyone loved it so much.

Answer 6

Hands down, "The Catcher in the Rye". I still love that book and it was one of the few books I was so greatful to hae been forces to read. I really related to it as a teen and was so amazed that it was written so long ago but still spoke to me as a teen in the 90's. I have reread it as and adult and still think it is such an amazing book it is so true about life and personal struggle.

Answer 7

I had The Yearling by Rawlings on a list in high school. I avoided reading it then, but recently read it. Wow, beautiful story about a boy and a fawn that he raises. It gives a lot of pioneer history of Florida that I never knew about.

Answer 8

"After The First Death" and " I Am The Cheese" by robert cormier ... well written and thought out ...
you can read it on your own its not high class or boring...
its written very realistically and with both books it not in chronological order meaning you have to think about the mysteries he poses... they deal with secrets of the government and stuff like that but how it effects the children of these people..

The Wave - its really short but its a really shocking book , it's about children in a school who are studying hitler and then decide to do an experiment. read this one....

Answer 9

The Lord of the Flies or Animal Farm, I thought that they were both very interesting. I like books that play with a person's psychi.

Answer 10

Billy Budd, by Herman Melville