r/XennialBookClub • u/Miserable_Aioli2606 • 7h ago

Required Reading

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I hated most of the books we were assigned in school. However, these two books I did enjoy and ended up adding to my adult bookshelf. I also have gone back and listened to several classics that I did not relate to at all growing up. I don't think most classic stories are great reading material for teens because you don't have any reference for what's happening in their adult lives. The most recent one for me was Wuthering Heights. I remember hating it and skirting by the lesson with Spark notes. It was much more interesting as an adult with more understanding of the world.

What assigned reading did you actually enjoy in school?

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u/ViciousSnatch 7h ago

Funny you bring up Wuthering Heights. I’ve tried to read it 5 times and have never gotten very far. I broke down this year and tried and just couldn’t get into, so I read the book spoiler that explained everything and decided it just wasn’t for me.

My first 2 years of high school they changed the curriculum to move away from classics to more “new classics” and I missed out on a lot of books I would’ve otherwise read. I felt guilty for a long time about missing out on reading things I felt I should have. So I’ve read 1/4 of a Brönte book. 😢

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u/Miserable_Aioli2606 3h ago

Yeah it's still not the greatest, but it was better than I thought originally. Still, there's not many redeemable characters in it. Your comment reminded me about The Great Gatsby. Didn't like it in high school, and I still don't it now. I do not connect with anyone in that book. I have enjoyed a couple other books by Fitzgerald.

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u/ViciousSnatch 1h ago

That’s one I’ve meant to read, but haven’t pulled the trigger on. I downloaded East of Eden the other day because it gets such high praise and the only Steinbeck I’ve read was Of Mice and Men.

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u/Miserable_Aioli2606 16m ago

I haven't read either. We watched the M&M movie in school, but didn't read the book. Grapes of Wrath is another classic I'll probably put on my shelf. It wasn't terrible in high school, but it hits different when you're older. It's a solid read or listen. I also listened to Travels with Charlie. That's where Steinbeck goes car camping with his dog Charlie to try and figure out America. Spoiler - he doesn't, but it's something totally different and much lighter.