If you are one of those people whose mother has to tell them to put down those g-darn books and go outside and get some sun, then you are one of the lucky ones (we’d still advise you to go outside, because ghastly white is very rarely a good color on anyone.)  If you dislike reading, or even loathe it, then I’ve made this list considering you as well.

Here is a brief list of books which many have found useful for both gaining comprehension as well as for use on essays.  Some of them are erudite but extremely helpful, while others are more pleasurable and have significantly less literary value.  In general, you would want to stick to the classics – if you don’t know what the classics are, just think about the books you have to read in school.

Anish’s favorites:

Harry Potter and the Mysterious Noun and Prepositional Phrase – J.K. Rowlings
Ok, so this really isn’t quality literature, although Ms. Rowlings does use quite a bit of vocab.  Do not use this on an SAT essay as an example.  I suggest this book only for those who absolutely hate reading, because this would be an excellent gateway book into the world of reading.  It’s easy and fun to run, and hopefully you’ll get carried away like just about everybody and their mothers.

Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
Again, this isn’t really what most teachers would consider literature (but I disagree).  Science fiction and literature are considered by many to be mutually exclusive, but this novel is a Hugo Prize Winner and is on myriad school reading lists.  It’s another page-turner about a child prodigy who saves the world (or does he?).  When I first heard about this book, I was told, “It’s so good, I’ve read it eight times.”  Two minutes later, a college student walked by and said, “Ender’s Game – that book is so good: I’ve read it eight times.”  If that coincidence doesn’t make you want to read it, I don’t what will.

Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Vonnegut is the man.  Probably one of the few people who was on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show and actually funnier than Mr. Stewart.  Jon Stewart himself said that Vonnegut was the only thing bearable about school reading.  This book is a time-warped tale about a man and his life in war and in an alien zoo and walking in on his son while his son was pooping.  Definitely considered literature, lots of symbolism and other sweet literary devices, and actually fun to read.  Vonnegut’s other books are hoots too – read Cat’s Cradle – the book whose concept of Ice-9 is alluded to by Al Pacino in such movie classics as The Recruit.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey
To be honest, I don’t remember why I liked this book.  It’s short – so for all of your non-readers out there that should be enough of a reason to read it.  But its about a guy, played by Jack Nicholson in the movie, who goes to a mental institution and what he discovers there.  I first heard the term “to goose” from this book and although I still don’t know what it means I’ve since used it as a threat to get people to do what I want.  So you better read this book…or I’ll goose you with my thumb.

<Editor’s note: Colloquially, the term “to goose” means to “pinch in the buttocks.”  In no way does ScholarHoller.com advocate this author’s threat “to goose” others.>

Continue onto part 2 of the Reading List