Beloved Reads from My English Classes at BFS

After recently reading Shakespeare's Macbeth for my English class unit, I have found myself reminiscing about the years when I had enjoyed reading canonical English literature books at BFS. With due respect to the esteemed work of Shakespeare, analyzing his literary language feels like a chore, as I’m sure others in my class can relate. Nonetheless, over the past few years, there have been certain English class books I have read here at BFS that have left an indelible mark on my perspective on literature, showing me why these books deserve their titles as staple texts in most school English classes. Here are a select few books I enjoy from my reading list that I believe would be particularly familiar to students:

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Catcher in the Rye: A beloved read for many adults because of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, whose distinctive outlook on life adds an element of authenticity and representation lacking in the more traditional coming-of-age stories. I've encountered this book three times during various school years, and on each occasion, I found myself hating it for the reason of my personal hatred towards Holden's immature and enigmatic disposition. It wasn't until my fourth reading last summer that my feelings had changed towards the book. Call it maturity, growth, or a combination of the two, but at some point, I was able to appreciate what Salinger was trying to convey with Holden's character – even if that meant making him somewhat insufferable. I guess growing older and reading the book as I aged added a capacity to relate more to Holden, leading me to admire the authenticity of the story to confront the taboo topics of self-identity and emotional struggle for its time. Still, the timeless, universal themes the story explores remain true today, making it an enduring classic.

Animal Farm by George Orwell 

There's something funny about how, when explaining the intricacies of life or literature, it seems people always somehow end up nodding to Animal Farm in the grand tapestry of existence. Although most famous in the West for its critique of the history and rhetoric of the Russian Revolution, Animal Farm also manages to address the general themes of politics, power dynamics, and social structures all within an animal world. When I first read Animal Farm in the seventh grade, I interpreted it as a cryptic crossover with Charlotte’s Web – A group of farm animals building a hierarchy and rebelling against their human farmer just sounded silly. I vividly remember, as a 13-year-old, laughing at the pigs quibbling over their power within the farm and the whole irony of animals rebelling against their human oppressors and then becoming oppressors themselves. The animated movie my class watched while reading the book only increased my view of the humorous absurdity of the story. Although its themes and significance were discussed in a classroom setting, it wasn’t until I began hearing people referencing Animal Farm to real-world events and leaders in future years that I began to realize that it was more than just a children’s story and actually a work of satirical genius. To use humor as a tool to convey a political allegory was both thought-provoking and entertaining for me as a child. I consider this book as one of the best books for introducing critical thinking and skepticism to children.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding 

There is always a special place in my heart for Lord of the Flies, a simple read in terms of language and writing style but packed with complex themes of morality, power, innocence, and so much more. I love a good psychological thriller novel, especially one like this, that’s not afraid to delve into the darker aspects of human nature. I read this in the eighth grade, and it was a truly captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Unlike the other books I've mentioned, this is one of the few books I've read for an English class that I have admired for the plot and beautiful writing, rather than for its themes. The careful craftsmanship with which Golding wrote provided me with an almost instinctive comprehension of its nuances. Throughout the novel I frequently found myself contemplating philosophical questions about morality, wondering if I would or could reach the same desperate measures as the boys stranded on the island. There's such a unique quality to a book like this that it is able to immerse you so deeply in a character's experience, prompting introspection into your own sense of morality.