February 5, 2007

Please note that I did not include poetry as this was the only way to shorten the list to (approximately) 10 essentials and justify not including Sir Gawain and Chaucer, etc. 

11.  Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Okay, so maybe Mitchell’s civil war drama doesn’t make the list of most literature must reads, but it was the first novel to truly capture my heart, making me both love and hate the heroine, and dream of a Rhett Butler of my own.  For this reason I will be forever loyal.

10.  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

When parents of elementary students ask me what literary works to buy for their students, I always suggest Lewis’s great allegory.  Read it as an adult and see if you aren’t swept away into the magical land beyond the wardrobe.

9.      Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Few realize that the movie representation is a far cry from the intricate novel penned by a teenage Shelley.  Instead it is the story of the amazing link that exists between the creator and his creation, and what happens when one becomes obsessed with taking life into their own hands. 

While these works are vastly different, I couldn’t choose between the stories of men who couldn’t escape their pasts, and were willing to sacrifice everything for love. 

7.      The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

From my first glimpse of the green light across the water, I fell in love with Fitzgerald’s tale of the extravagant Twenties and a man who, having once tasted love, could never be complete without it.

6.      Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Huck Finn may seem the comical tale of a young boy’s adventures, but it is Twain’s own commentary on the Southern culture of his youth.  One of the most banned books of all time, read it to see what all the fuss is about!

5.      Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This Gothic Romance is the story of a governess whose heart is captured by her enigmatic employer only to discover he has a dark secret that nearly destroys them both. 

The first time I attempted to read this work I couldn’t make it past the first three chapters.  I picked it up again as a teenager, and was immediately caught up in the story of a young girl dealing with a haunting first wife.  The novel is so filled with twists that upon completion I had to immediately read it again to see just how the author achieved her end.   

3.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

A very proper Austen love story of the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennett and her prideful Mr. Darcy.  I read it at least once a year!

2.      To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Set in Maycomb County, Alabama during the Depression, this is the story of prejudice and acceptance as told by the young tomboy “Scout.”  Everyone must read this book at least once in their life.  If you haven’t yet, then you’re overdue. 

1.      Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The young prince of Denmark finds himself following the bidding of an apparition and unable to trust anyone, as Shakespeare creates a play within a play and a character that's not quite crazy.  My No. 1 pick of works you must read. 

Honorable Mention: 

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

As You Like It by William Shakespeare 

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© 2007, Sarah k. Holland

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Sarah k. Holland is an associate editor for ninetyandnine.com.