Best and Worst Books You Had to Read in School

[FrostRanger]

Hands Down for me, "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, got an "F" on my paper, I can't believe I remember the author., Junior English, 1967, Vietnam era, best read was "The Ugly American", same yr same teacher, only A+ in the class. The ol' if I'm interested I'll engage, if not, C Ya.!

I had to read the scarlet letter in 12th grade ap lit, it was fine, not great but I've read worse, I certainly wasn't that interested in it either, I do wish schools would provide more interesting required reading material, horrible books that one is required to read killed the love of reading for many sadly

 

[FrostRanger]

Best: The Remains of the Day. Follows the life of an English butler, whose employer is a Nazi sympathizer. Highly recommend.

Worst: Grendel. It's a 70's twist on Beowulf, a story so old it probably pre-dates Jesus. Grendel is the monster in Beowulf. This "reimagining" is from his point of view.

Grendel has a surprising amount of feelings for someone that likes to eat people. Grendel looks out at the sea and contemplates life. Grendel has an overbearing mother (author projection?). Grendel has the hots for the king's new wife. It did drop the c-word at one point, which was about the most exciting thing to happen in the book. Worst of all, we had to discuss Grendel in English class for SIX MONTHS! I kid you not.

I actually tried to read it again 25 years later, thinking it couldn't have been that bad... I could not keep my eyes open. Sorry, Grendel.

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Best: The Remains of the Day. Follows the life of an English butler, whose employer is a Nazi sympathizer. Highly recommend.

Worst: Grendel. It's a 70's twist on Beowulf, a story so old it probably pre-dates Jesus. Grendel is the monster in Beowulf. This "reimagining" is from his point of view.

Grendel has a surprising amount of feelings for someone that likes to eat people. Grendel looks out at the sea and contemplates life. Grendel has an overbearing mother (author projection?). Grendel has the hots for the king's new wife. It did drop the c-word at one point, which was about the most exciting thing to happen in the book. Worst of all, we had to discuss Grendel in English class for SIX MONTHS! I kid you not.

I actually tried to read it again 25 years later, thinking it couldn't have been that bad... I could not keep my eyes open. Sorry, Grendel.

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Huh, I read Beowulf in 12th grade but I don't recall if our teacher mentioned the spin off, she might have but I graduated years ago so I don't remember

 

[OnlySympathy]

I honestly just don’t ready them . I’ve always got some of the highest scores on the essays for them even without reading them so I don’t see the point. And yes I know it isn’t a good habit or anything but half my classes are college level so the more time I have the better

I read them up until like halfway through 9th grade but I have 0 memory of what any of them were called but I know I didnt like any other than the ones about WW2. i did half read (just skimmed the entire book basically) The Metamorphosis last year and have no clue how I feel about that one. I liked and hated it at the same time

 

[FrostRanger]

Best: To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best books I've ever read. I've read it several times, and it is different every time, due to different amounts of life experience.

Worst: My early American History textbook.

Yes, I agree, The Grapes of Wrath was long and tedious.

My mom and I both read Condominium one summer. We both hated it. Why? Neither of us gave a damn about any of the characters. I felt the same way about Gone Girl. I disliked both the main characters. Now if anything is compared to it ("It's the next Gone Girl"!), I don't even give it a glance.

Pretty much how I felt about the great Gatsby, all the characters were awful and everything is happening because they're awful, what was even the point of all that?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Pretty much how I felt about the great Gatsby, all the characters were awful and everything is happening because they're awful, what was even the point of all that?

You're supposed to learn not to be awful?

 

[thecatumbrella]

horrible books that one is required to read killed the love of reading for many sadly

Yep. I loved to read as a kid. High school killed it for me. Finally rekindled my love for books in my 30's.

I honestly just don’t ready them

I don't blame you. The time commitment on a lot of required reading is pretty heavy.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Best: 1984.
Worst: 1984.

A heck of a lot more people should have read it, and not just the Cliff Notes.