Classic Novels With Literary Merit

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I didn't search for this topic (even though I should have; I feel lazy today), but I was wondering if anyone could help. For my research project for AP English, I have to choose a novel that has literary merit. I've looked at a few, but they don' seem to be my cup of tea. I've looked at One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and that one seems interesting, but I wanted other's advice on which novel I should read. I've tried looking up "classic" books, but, for some reason, they all seem to contain Harry Potter or other novels/books that, to me, do not have literary merit. I've also looked at the 10 Essential Classics from Penguin Classics, and I've already read half of them and most of the others don't seem too appealing. On that list is Pride and Prejudice and I've wanted to read that one for awhile, but I don't know if I would like the old English writing (if you'd call it that). I also have Things Fall Apart (not on that list) and I might be interested in that, but I'm not sure about that one either. If anyone has any opinions on this subject, it would be very helpful. I've read a lot of the "classics" already because I've been in the Honors English classes the past four years, so if anyone can come up with anything, that would be much appreciated.

[blackcauldron85]

Pride and Prejudice would be good (if you like that kind of English!), or Jane Eyre. How about To Kill a Mockingbird? Would something like Animal Farm work for the assignment? The Catcher in the Rye? Gone With the Wind! Those were off the top of my head; if I think of more, I'll post them!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Pride and Prejudice would be good (if you like that kind of English!), or Jane Eyre. How about To Kill a Mockingbird? Would something like Animal Farm work for the assignment? The Catcher in the Rye? Gone With the Wind! Those were off the top of my head; if I think of more, I'll post them!

I've already read To Kill A Mockingbird and Animal Farm. Actually, I didn't really like To Kill A Mockingbird, probably because I read it when I was only 15 and didn't understand most of it. I heard that Jane Eyre was kind of like Wuthering Heights. Do you know if that's true? I have Wuthering Heights, but when I picked up, I wasn't too intrigued. And, I don't know I would like Gone With the Wind. Isn't it kind of lengthy? Wow, I kind of sound mean. I really do appreciate the help, considering that you were the only one that has contributed so far. I did want to read The Catcher in the Rye a couple of years ago. Maybe I'll look into that one. Thanks!

[Marianne81]

Pride and Prejudice would be good (if you like that kind of English!), or Jane Eyre. How about To Kill a Mockingbird? Would something like Animal Farm work for the assignment? The Catcher in the Rye? Gone With the Wind! Those were off the top of my head; if I think of more, I'll post them!

Thes are all wonderful suggestions. If you get to choose, I think it all depends on the personal taste and what you think you'll enjoy reading. Pride and Prejudice is wonderful, and in fact anything by Jane Austen is. I also suggest Nothernager Abbey. It's lesser known but a bit easier to read than some of her other novels. I love Jane Eyre , and also enjoy Wuthering Heights, which is a shorter novel (That might be appealing to you). But you're right. These books have a very specific, elevated english style of writing, and you have take you're time with them. I think it's well worth it though. If you'd enjoy romantic, deep stories you'd love these.

To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye I agree are both excellent. I also recommend The Great Gatsby and The Awakening.

There are also many great clasic children's novels. Though I know some don't consider children's books on the same level as far as literary merit, I heartily disagree. You'd have to ask your teacher how they feel. Some of my favorites are The Secret Garden, Little Women, The Princess and the Goblin, and Alice in Wonderland stories.

What is your taste in both story and style of writing? Are you open to anything or are you looking for something specific? I'll post a few more recommendations when you answer. I have a Masters in English and have read A LOT in my classes. I'm happy to pass along any recommendation.

Marianne

[Escapay]

Several that I'll recommend:

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

BTW, T-SoD, you asked for novels a few years ago in this thread, but for a different reason, so I understand why you didn't bump it up. It's still worth checking out, as memnv provided a lengthy list of good novels.

ETA: I second the recommendation for Wuthering Heights. Can't believe I forgot it when I first was making this post.

albert

[TheSequelOfDisney]

What is your taste in both story and style of writing? Are you open to anything or are you looking for something specific? I'll post a few more recommendations when you answer. I have a Masters in English and have read A LOT in my classes. I'm happy to pass along any recommendation.

I like most type of novels. Except, I hate Hemingway; I'm not a big fan of his writing style (too journalistic/simple/to the point/iceberg theory). I don't like Faulkner, either. The Sound and the Fury took care of that. Anything else really I'd be willing to try. I'm kind of between One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Pride and Prejudice and Things Fall Apart. I've started the later two, but I only got a couple pages in. I mean, Pride and Prejudice is on the Penguin 10 Essential Classics, so I figure I should read that, but I don't know if I should do that now. I'm not sure if I'd like Things Fall Apart. I've already read The Poisonwood Bible and Heart of Darkness, would that be too much African overkill? And I'm not sure if I would like reading about "crazy" people in OFOTCN. Of those three, what would you recommend?

[Wonderlicious]

Ooh, where to start? I'd be careful even looking at the Penguin Classics list. Don't get me wrong, they're an excellent series; it's just that many of the works are essentially popular classics of their era and don't have the type of real literary merit that I think that you're searching for. I'd recommend one of these (the ones with stars by them are novellas/short novels, so do check with your teacher before reading them in earnest):

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Animal Farm by George Orwell*
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (either one or both of them - "The Annotated Alice" is a good handbook)
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck*
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson*
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens*
Dracula by Bram Stoker (actually an interestingly structured novel)

...and if my assumptions are right and you can read translated literature (in England, we only ever read English-language literature in English lessons), perhaps go for one of these (AND GET A FAIRLY RECENT TRANSLATION, MOST LIKELY FROM A COLLECTION LIKE PENGUIN CLASSICS):

Candide by Voltaire*
Onithsa by J.M.G. Le Clézio
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

And instead of doing Pride and Prejudice (a very good idea), how about Plots and Proposals instead?

[Marianne81]

I'm kind of between One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Pride and Prejudice and Things Fall Apart. I've started the later two, but I only got a couple pages in. I mean, Pride and Prejudice is on the Penguin 10 Essential Classics, so I figure I should read that, but I don't know if I should do that now. I'm not sure if I'd like Things Fall Apart. I've already read The Poisonwood Bible and Heart of Darkness, would that be too much African overkill? And I'm not sure if I would like reading about "crazy" people in OFOTCN. Of those three, what would you recommend?

Berween those three I would recommend Pride and Prejudice. I personally did not care too much for Things Fall Apart- it is very serious and can be somewhat depressing. The same could actually be said for Cuckoo's Nest. But that's my own personal taste. How long do you have to read and do your report? Because, like I said, you have to take your time reading it. What haelped me when reading it is that I watched the miniseries (The one with Colin Firth) afterwards. That helped me to fully visualize evrything I read. But the movie should never be used as reference; that's what the book is for and there are some deviaitions in the film.

Hope ths helps

[yamiiguy]

Have a look at Atlas Shrugged, Ulysses, Brave New World or Lolita.

[Disney's Divinity]

Things Fall Apart is definitely a worthy book. I remember reading that in around 11th Grade and it had to have had literary merit or we wouldn't have read it (my English teacher didn't read filler books).

I would disagree that HP doesn't have literary merit though; of course, I'm sure that's not what your teacher is looking for with the assignment so it would be best to choose something else. It's just that most people seem to disregard anything that's new and popular as possibly being "serious" or "classic" literature. If that were true, we wouldn't still read things like Uncle Tom's Cabin or The Scarlet Letter.

[blackcauldron85]

A thought I just had: Great Expectations or another Charles Dickens book.

[KubrickFan]

I would disagree that HP doesn't have literary merit though; of course, I'm sure that's not what your teacher is looking for with the assignment so it would be best to choose something else. It's just that most people seem to disregard anything that's new and popular as possibly being "serious" or "classic" literature. If that were true, we wouldn't still read things like Uncle Tom's Cabin or The Scarlet Letter.

I think it has more to do with the HP books set up like 'painting by numbers'. It's all been done before and probably better as well.

[Margos]

I agree with you completely about Hemingway and Faulkner! I also second most of the suggestions I've seen on here, but I'm adding Les Miserables by Victor Hugo to your list. I just finished it yesterday, and it was brilliant! I reccommend an abridged version, though. Mine was abridged, but it left in a lot of things that most abridged versions cut, and some of it felt kinda superfluous. It was still a very good book, with almost everything you could want: action, adventure, romance, danger, politics, history, drama..... oh, it's wonderful!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I would like to thank everyone for your input. I have chosen to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because it's not the "typical" classic. Before the AP exam, I'm pretty sure I'm going to read Pride and Prejudice and maybe another suggestion (it depends because we're reading Hamlet in class starting this week, and we're supposed to read our independent novel at home at the same time). I might read Brideshead Revisited or another novel, I'm not sure yet. Thanks everyone for your input!

[DaveWadding]

Don't read the Great Gatsby. Unless you need a sleep aid.

*ducks Escapay*

[Escapay]

Don't read the Great Gatsby. Unless you need a sleep aid.

*ducks Escapay*

*throws at the right angle to hit someone who'll intentionally duck*



BTW, T-SoD, if you decide to read Brideshead Revisited and want to watch a filmed adaptation after you're done, go for the 1981 miniseries before you watch the 2008 film. But if you don't have 12 hours to spare, go for the 2008 film.

albert

[ajmrowland]

The great Gatsby was confusing, but a good read nonetheless.