Challenge #25 - a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't

[Jessa]

Post the title, description, and your opinion of the book you read.

[Amanda]

The Lord of the Flies. (You all know what it's about. A group of boys crash lands on an island, without society's rules, they descend into violence.)

It was the only assigned book I didn't read in high school, and I'm actually kind of bummed we didn't get the opportunity to discuss this one as a class. It was really interesting, and I think would have made for better discussions than some of the books we talked about, instead (looking at you A Separate Peace).

[Liz]

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.


This book follows a period of time in the life of Esther Greenwood. From her summer internship at a magazine in NYC to her complete mental breakdown, resulting in being institutionalized, The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical account of what happened to Plath during her earlier days.

I was assigned this book in an early undergrad English class, but I can't for the life of me remember why I didn't actually read it. But alas, now I can say I finally got around to it. I understand why this book is considered a classic (the idea that it deals with the slow progression of depression, the fact that Plath herself suffered from the illness, etc.) but I can't say I loved the book. For me, it was an OK read and I'm glad I finally read it, but it's not one of my top faves and I won't be recommending it to anyone in the near future.

[Katherine]

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare was required summer reading for future fifth graders, but I just could not get through it at the time. After re-reading it now, I’m not sure what the block was, but I thoroughly enjoyed it this time around. The book is about 16-year old Kit Tyler who sails to the New World from Barbados to live with her Aunt and Uncle after her Grandfather dies. As Kit becomes accustomed to the hardships of her new life, she befriends an old woman who lives on the outskirts of town. When the woman is accused of witchcraft, Kit finds herself in the crosshairs as well. The book is simply written but very compelling. The heroine, Kit, is very strong and impulsive but good-hearted. It was an enjoyable read.