Ten Year Reading Syllabus

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847): A classic novel, I’m not sure if I want to read this because it’s so highly regarded or because it was mentioned twice during the AP test, and I feel excluded from an inside joke for not getting the reference. But this book follows a heroine that rises above her life’s challenges and reaches success, which is always something I love to read. 

2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847): I definitely have heard this book recently and I can’t put my finger on where and when. Subliminal messages to read it maybe… I don’t know. It is a “toxic romance” so says google, and I’m not sure what that means but it definitely sounds intriguing, and I’m excited to read this!

3. The Awakening by Kate Chopin (1899): Okay this one is a little ironic, this book is controversial for challenging the stigma at the time of women only serving a role in the domestic sphere, whilst that is literally my goal for my life. (Lol). However, I think this is something I will really benefit from reading, especially since it directly relates to personal aspirations I have for myself!

4. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf (1929): This feels like it’ll be one of the reads that subtly influences the way I think. I’m drawn to the idea of carving out literal and metaphorical space to think, to create, to exist. I’m expecting it to be reflective and smart, and maybe it’ll help me understand why I prefer solitude when I’m working on something important.

5. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (1937): There’s something powerful about following a woman’s journey toward self-definition. I’m really interested in how Janie finds her voice and her freedom, especially through love and heartbreak. I can already tell this is going to be such an emotional rollercoaster!

6: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951): I can’t tell if I’m going to love or hate this book haha, but either way, I’m curious about Holden’s perspective, it could be super interesting to read in the future because I’m currently in a similar period between innocence and adulthood right now, but I will likely have a new perspective a few years down the road about the transition to adulthood.

7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (1967): Okay I already know this is going to be a little boring but that’s what entices me into reading it. I want to be pulled into a story that’s big and strange and layered. The idea of blending the magical with the mundane fascinates me, and I’m hoping this book teaches me something new about how stories can be told.

8. Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum (1989): I’ve also heard of this one a lot, but honestly I had no idea what it was about until I just researched it haha. It kind of seems interesting, and in a way it reminds me of our AP lit class, which entices me to read it.

9. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992): Saving the best for last, I’m so ready for this one. I want twisted friendships, gorgeous writing, and that kind of slow-burning suspense that messes with your head. This seems like a perfect blend of a lot of literary topics I enjoy, and I am very interested in reading it.

10. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (1997): After reading “The 5 People You Meet in Heaven”, I need to read this one. I put it last not only for the publishing year, but also because I need 10 years to emotionally prepare for what I know this book has to bring. Albom is one of my favorite writers so far, and I’m sure this book will leave a lasting impact on me just as the last did.


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