So much of our current culture draws upon literary references from ages ago, and it's also really helpful foundational knowledge to have
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Basically required reading at every high school, or in advanced reading earlier on. This is constantly referenced in culture, and I also find the story fascinating - it’s hard to get through though, takes time to adjust to the writing style
The Odyssey - By Homer (paperback) - Target
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Actually one of the most captivating storylines that's full of drama, sabotage, and revenge
Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo
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One of my favorite books of all time and so beautifully written... also just something you should have a basic knowledge of because of its cultural impact
The Great Gatsby (reissue) (paperback) By F. Scott Fitzgerald
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A classic play and also what first really got me into reading plays, even though it was mandatory reading in IB English
A Streetcar Named Desire (Penguin Classics)
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This isn’t a “classic” you’ll see on book lists in school, but it’s a book that’s had such an immense impact on me and is so widely beloved, it’s definitely worth a read
The og enemies to lovers period piece that's so often referenced in Rom Coms or books
Pride And Prejudice - Target
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It's been a minute since I read this one, so it's probably worth revisiting for me as well
Little Women - By Louisa May Alcott (paperback) - Target
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A classic for a reason, really formative and also features a coming of age tale set in the south, and a court room drama
To kill a mockingbird.: LEE, HARPER
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Juicy and bite sized reading, basically like “be careful what you wish for” and explores the price people pay for beauty and making deals with the devil - his quest for eternal youth and beauty that ultimately leads to moral decay
The Picture Of Dorian Gray - By Oscar Wilde (paperback)
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One of my favorite explorations on the human psyche, a beautiful prose collection about love, and a book almost every single creative writing major will have as required reading
1 Annie Dillard, "Total Eclipse." From Teaching a Stone to Talk
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I read this one in high school and the meaning of it has stayed with me ever since… a heart wrenching exploration of familial expectations
Death of a Salesman - (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics ...
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This one is a classic for a reason and provides a moral take and deep insight into the roles of men and women back in the day
A Doll's House And Other Plays - By Henrik Ibsen (paperback)
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A heartbreaking love story that’s equal parts captivating and excruciating (you will scream at the characters, but enjoy every second of it)
Anna Karenina - By Leo Tolstoy (paperback) - Target