Collideoscope

Posted by: Denelle

This week over at 90&9, the mothership is abuzz with talks of great literature.

Sarah Holland's article, "Essential Literature: Titles That Can't Be Missed," immediately caught my eye. Not just because of the excellent picks that were on her list - To Kill A Mockingbird, Huckleberry Finn, Pride and Prejudice - but because of some of the choices that I absolutely have to disagree with.

Say What??

That's right. Our illustrious Sarah picked several choices for "essentials" list that I simply cannot agree with.

The Great Gatsby - maybe it was because we were forced to read it in school, maybe it was because no one could just read and enjoy the book without looking for the symbolism (green grass = money, white dress = purity, etc.), or maybe it was the movie they made us watch when it was all over, but if I never, ever, see or hear about this book again it will be too soon.

Jane Eyre - the only thing more painful than reading Jane Eyre was reading Wuthering Heights. Clearly I blame the Bronte sisters. Enough said.

Of Mice and Men (from the special mentions list) - I don't even know where to begin with how much I disliked this book. Maybe it's the violence or the continual cruelty toward things that are weak and innocent. Whatever the cause, it is a book that I am continually astounded that so many people claim is their favorite.

Thankfully, she omitted my least favorite short story ever (The Gift of the Magi) or I might have been reduced to tears. And I am not a total buzzkill. Like I said, Sarah had some excellent choices, I just think her list was a bit lacking. So, here is my essential literature list.

My Top 10 Picks

10. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - If you've been around Collideoscope very long you know that this book is also on my list of top books for children/young adults. However, it is such an excellent and well written story that I think it deserves a place here too.

9. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll - Beautifully written with great appeal to the imagination. Even more fun as an adult when you can read it and pick-up the double entendres that Carroll has placed throughout these stories.

8. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare - My favorite Shakespearean play. It tells the story of a long single and yes quite shrewish young lady, who has a beautiful younger sister that everyone wants to marry but who's wealthy father refuses to allow the younger to marry before the elder. All of the suitors of the younger sister feel there is no hope because who would ever want to marry the elder. Then an enterprising young man shows up in town and vows to marry the shrew (in exchange for a hefty amount of money) and tame her. Witty, and moving to the very end.

7. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - I struggled between this and Oliver Twist but ultimately it was the story of David and the many twists, turns, betrayals and triumphs that won out.

6. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott - Surprisingly, perhaps, I prefer Alcott's sequel to Little Women even more than the original. A delightful story of a bunch of misfit and unruly boys with no family or home of their own that are taken in and educated at the school run by Jo and Fritz.

5. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - A man, unhappy with his lot in life, runs off to find adventure. Instead he ends up having to face himself and truly discover what life is all about. A highly religious work without being overtly so.

4. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - Again it was hard to choose between this and some of Dumas' other stories. This is also one case where I would recommend the movie version (with Jim Caviezel) as well.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - see Sarah's synopsis but I had to add it because it is quite possibly my favorite book.

2. The Hobbit/The LOTR Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien - Mr. Ludwig, my fifth grade teacher, deserves all the credit for my love of Tolkien. He use to read us The Hobbit after recess. If possible, I love these stories more every time I read them because there are so many layers and things that you notice that you haven't noticed before. It is also fun to put together the Christian themes that you see running through the stories.

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Sarah covered this admirably.

I suggest you read all of Sarah's list and all of my list and decide for yourself what you like. Even if you don't care for all of the books listed it is never a bad idea to know your classic literature.