Rereading High School

It's the first day of school here in central New York... the perfect time to share a project that's been in the back of my mind for some time. What would it be like to reread some of the books assigned to me in back high school?

The seed for this idea was planted in 2012 when I reread The Old Man and the Sea  on a whim... you can read that post here. Last year's reread of Flowers for Algernon  turned out to be a highlight of my reading year. That made me wonder, once again, about other high school books I may not have fully understood or appreciated as a teenager. And naturally, a list was made.

High School Books I'd Like to Reread

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I reread this every decade.

Tender is the Night  by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I enjoyed it more than Gatsby back in the day. Would that still be the case? 

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Steinbeck is a favorite. I've reread many of his books over the years, but never this one.

The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck

A favorite from high school, but would likely have more of an impact now.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

Not a favorite at the time...

Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe

I have little memory of this book beyond liking it. Recent visits to Asheville, NC have made me curious.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I actively disliked this in 10th grade. Maybe it's time to give it another try? 

1984 by George Orwell

A reread is even more urgent given today's political climate.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Another book I was just lukewarm on decades ago, but may appreciate more as an adult.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

I've wanted to reread this for years and probably should have put it at the top of the list.

This list is a starting point. I'm not imposing any special parameters or deadlines and, since my high school years were so long ago, I can also add these titles to my Classics Club list! Have you ever revisited any of your high school reading assignments?




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Pre-Holiday Update: December 22, 2017

Home at last... what a week! If you follow me on twitter or instagram, you may have noticed we were caught in the Atlanta airport power outage last Sunday. Overall we fared better than many, but still have plenty of stories to tell... Station Eleven, anyone? We spent Sunday night in a downtown hotel and finally arrived home around 1AM Tuesday. I still cannot fathom how the busiest airport in the world lost power, backup power, internet, and cell service for twelve hours...  apparently without any kind of disaster plan in place!!

The rest of the week has been spent decorating, shopping, and baking. Our two daughters in NYC are coming home (on separate trains!) today. My husband will provide shuttle service, while I spend the day wrapping.

Finished this week//

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History

by Erik Larson, narrated by Richard Davidson

This book is about the disastrous Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900. It was interesting to learn how far we've come in terms of tropical storm forecasting and the sections about the storm itself were positively gripping. Overall I didn't think it was as good as Larson's later work, but still recommended for weather buffs.

Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

My Rereading High School project is off to a strong start. I remembered only the barest plot essentials and had vague positive associations with this book, but did not recall having such a strong emotional response. In addition to Charlie's story, at this stage in life I'm struck by his parents response to their mentally disabled son. Bottom line: I loved this book and am glad it's still assigned to junior high/high school students.

Currently reading//

Hot Milk

by Deborah Levy

I purchased this Man Booker nominee as a kindle daily deal nearly a year ago and also borrowed the audiobook from my library via hoopla. It seems to be a character-driven, interior novel and I tend to enjoy books like this. We'll see...


Coming up//

Sheila at Book Journey is continuing her New Years tradition by hosting the fifth annual First Book of the Year. I love this event and look forward to participating once again. Check out the details here.


I'll be back sometime next week with my 2017 wrap-up and list of favorites. In the meantime, I wish you all peace and joy during this holiday season.