Cynthia AndersonTeen Literature Day
For this list I have excluded religious texts, plays, short stories, and books from a series. These five books meet a certain criterion I have established for myself to separate abominable, poor, average, excellent, and life-changing literature. A book must:
Instruct
Warn
“Entertain”
Thus, these are my favorite books:
The Once And Future King by T.H. White
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
This book is a masterpiece of philosophy: those who look at life on a level far below the superficiality of vampire romance and gladiatorial warfare among children, will relish in the questions: how does a structure built upon principles of valor, altruism, and camaraderie fall into corruption? Do corrupt leaders corrupt their followers or do corrupt people elect corrupt leaders? Which principles of leadership should be encouraged and which should be weeded out? Human nature is a complex society of emotions which brings about great and horrible outcomes. The Once And Future King elaborates on this society like no other book.
