I took AP English all through high school, and then majored in English Literature in college. It's no secret that I love books, but it's no secret that all I despise these.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
What happens when you drop a bunch of preadolescence boys to survive on an island with no society? Anarchy.
This book feature disgusting images of wild pigs, children becoming beasts, and the bullying of others to the point of murder. This is a classic book for people to read in high school because the symbolism is so obvious and heavy-handed. You will finish the book more disturbed than you might expect. The only saving grace is that this book is shorter than many literary merit novels.
I rarely ever condone this, but just skim this one. Trust me.
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE.
This joke is shared by anyone who has ever attempted to read this novel, because Melville described the color of Moby Dick for so many pages. So many.
Not only this, but the majority of the book is not actually about the well-known battle between Ahab and Moby Dick. Actually, almost all of the story gets jumbled up in in-depth descriptions of sailing techniques, such as tying knots for rigging. Not the most boring book I've read for a class, but definitely one that you'll struggle to keep your attention on.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Anyone call for some ethnocentrism?
Ethnocentrism is evaluating other cultures according to preconceptions based on standards and customs of your own culture. Let me tell you, Conrad was not from the Congo River.
The books title is meant to reference the characters travelling to the center of Africa, aka The Heart Of The Dark Continent. The entire book focuses on imperialism and racism in relation to the African 'savages'. The book tries so hard to be ambiguous that once the reader finishes it, they are just left confused.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I'm going to be completely honest with you: the first time I was assigned this book, I read a few chapters and then went to SparkNotes for the rest.
I had a whole summer to read this book the first time and didn't make it. Only once I got into college did I go back and read it because Dickens is such an important author to know.
This book is so long. Too long. I can't even tell you a summary, because there are at least four or five distinct sections as far as plot goes, with their own sub summaries for what happens. The book spans YEARS of the main characters' lifetime.
Read the beginning and the end of the book, but the entire middle is a waste of time in my opinion. I made the right choice the first time to look up the plot online.
