Top Ten Books For College Bound ... and Beyond.

School is just about to start again.  The sounds of eager students who want nothing more than to get back into a normal routine can be heard in every neighborhood, city and state across this great nation.  Not.  Well, maybe some are eager to get back to school but for others not so much.   This is also the time of year that the questions come up, what books should a college prep student should read or should have read by now?  Love that question for a million reasons, but for the sake of time and space,  only one will be given here.  Asking this question  proves that books challenges the reader to consider another point of view.   It doesn't mean the reader will necessarily agree to the point of view.   It will however open their eyes that there are more than one viewpoint to every situation.  The reader's job is simply to consider the one presented before them.  Having said that,  these titles should be read by every student.  Not just the ones who will continue their academic endeavors after high school.

Everyone has a "'top ten" list of books students should read before college.  Each has its own unique twist and view of what makes good literature.  The list presented here is a mix of traditional and modern titles.  After all, the classics can not be ignored and a list containing only classical works is quite easy to do.  There are so many titles to choose from.  Having said that the modern titles are a little harder, some have been tested over time while others may not have passed the time test, it is  very likely that fifty years from now,  readers will still want to pour over the pages to find out what happens next.  Or at least be reminded of what happened next.

When suggesting a list of must reads for college bound students, it is important to provide a list that covers a wide range of ideas, cultures and points of view.  The following top ten list are titles that have left a lasting impression on readers of all ages.  The titles are timeless and they remain on librarian's must read list for years.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is without a doubt a classic example of  wit, wisdom and romantic story that even men can enjoy.  If reader's have not been introduced to Mr. Darcy, then life simple pleasures like laughter and love can not be experienced fully.

Everyone should know of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.  Plays are often difficult to read but this one is well worth it. If reading old English seems daunting by all means pick up one of the Everyday Shakespeare's paperback to help gain a better understanding of the plot.   The death of Hamlet's father brings to surface the lies,  greed and insecurities of each character in the play.  Specifically Hamlet who is determined to uncover the truth about his father's death.

There are two Russian novels that should not be overlooked but often are left off of lists similar to this.  Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago.  One of the best kept secrets of Russian literature which gives a realistic picture  of the Bolshevik Revolution from the point of view of a middle class doctor.  Another stunning view of Russian history from Stalin's gulag is A Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.  Both of these novels provide an unforgettable glimpse of life in Communist Russia.

Staying on the theme of gulags and prison camps, which admittedly is very depressing, but necessary to read about.  Two books come to mind that should not be missed.  Ellie Wiesel's  Night is a tragically unforgettable account of life in the Nazi Germany's concentration camps.  Along side that another book that should be read is The Boy In The Stripped Pyjamas by John Boyne.  Both of these books are life changing reads.  That is not an overstatement either. Both books are that powerful!

Harper Lee's time-tested To Kill A Mockingbird introduced readers to a small town that is turned upside down due to a high profile  murder trial.  Mix into that, a bit of racism and standing up for what is right makes the story one of the best in American literature. Frankly, one of the few stories that show lawyers in a positive light.  Atticus Fitch is the lawyer that every person would want to have on their side should trouble come their way.

The list would be dull without Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.  The scary vision of what a world would be like if every moment, thought and breath were controlled by a government.  Scary yet eye opening   What is most powerful about this work is that it stirs up passionate debate about how far a government should or could go.

The Alchemist is a new classic favorite written by Paulo Coehlo.  that should be on every reader's list.  It is a wonderful story of a journey to find one's purpose in life.  This is definitely a book to read over and over again.

Autobiographies rarely make the list of must reads most likely because they are not fiction thus not classified as classic literature. However, this list attempts to change the definition slightly of classic literature to include this genre.  One of the most inspiring and well written biography  is The Story of My Life by Helen Keller.  After reading Keller's life story there is simply no excuse for not going out and conquering the world.  After reading this, one can only conclude  that if Helen can make a difference, we all can make a difference.

This is just a small list of the best of the best in literature.  As the school year goes on,  more titles will be suggested but for now,  one of these ten titles should be enough to get started on a literary path to a well rounded reader's life.

The Complete List ot Why, When, Where, Who and How to READ. From A To Z

It's time to get back to basics.  Maybe this feeling comes on stronger now because school is starting soon.  It's that time when the mind goes back to the days of reading, writing and arithmetic. It is this time of year that libraries will be filled with students and backpacks clamoring for the books on the reading lists assigned to them.  It is also the time when reading skills are tested.  It has been suggested  that due to the digital age reading is becoming a lost art and form of entertainment.  Perhaps it is for some but not for all.  This list is for those who have forgotten why  reading is so important.  It is also for those who love to read and need help in defending their addicting habit.  Even perhaps get their families hooked on reading.  The challenge is always to come up with ten ways that an certain activity will improve life.  Well, overachievement is never an understatement here.   Getting carried away with the alphabet to list when, why where , how and who should be reading from A to Z was far to easy and fun.  It is hoped that it is inspiring as well.

A  Anytime is a good time to read.  Anywhere is a good place to read.  It's really quite simple, reading is an activity that can be done virtually anywhere.  Well, not in a dark cave unless you have a flashlight handy. 

B Babies and books naturally go together.  Reading to babies stimulates vocabulary, imagination and love of books.

C Classic Literature is always in style.  Whether it's a classic children's book that has stood the test of time or classic literary novel that was read in high school.  Classic literature bridges the gap between generations of readers. 

D Donating books to the library or school is an act of paying it forward.  Clear out the bookshelves and spread the joy of reading to others.

E  Everybody in the family should read.  Even if it's only fifteen minutes a day, the routine of reading everyday is a tremendous investment that results in value.

F Fictional characters become life long friends.   Don't misunderstand, reading will not have you walking around speaking to imaginary friends.  However, some fictional characters have a way of staying with readers long after the last page has been read. 

G Goodreads is the  Facebook for bookworms.  It is one of the best sources to get honest reviews of books from friends, which helps in picking out he next must read book.  Sign up with a Facebook account or at www.goodreads.com.

H Holiday are always better with a story that brings out the best of the season.  Ever tried reading a Christmas book in July?  It's a real treat when someone asks "What book are you reading?"  The look on their face is hilarious.  What ?  Why read that now?  Because I can!

I  Independence is the goal for all readers.  It has been clearly demonstrated that once a person learns to read their confidence is increased.  This naturally leads to a reader becoming independent thinks.

J Join a book discussion. Local public libraries have wonderful programs for i for readers who just can't get enough of the book they are reading.   Sharing with peers views about the author's style, characters and plot makes for interesting conversation.  Not only that, it encourages the reader to find more books to read and discuss.  It's a wonderful never ending cycle.  By the way, if your library does not have a program be daring, start one of your own.

K Kindle may have changed the way readers pick up a book but it hasn't transformed readers into non readers.  (Thank goodness)  In some cases, Kindle may have converted a few non readers to lifelong readers due to mobility of the gadget.  Will Kindles ever replace hardcopies of books?  The verdict is still out on that idea.  There are futurist who predict electronic versions of books will completely replace hard copies in five years.  While others say there is a growing consensus that there is a place for both digital and paper copies.

L Libraries are here to stay. As long as there are readers in the world who demand to be nourished by the written word (and yes, admittedly this is a bit dramatic) there will be a need for libraries.  The statistics have proven that in a rapidly changing technological era, libraries still remain relevant in our society.

M Movies need books, writers and readers. Since movies began taking the books to the silver screens, readers have faced the age old questions.  Should the book be read first?  Yes.  Always yes at least from  the avid reader's view.  Will the movie ruin the book's plot and intent?   Sometimes and when it does, have pity on the director for he (or she) will have to face the wrath of many angry readers and fans.

N Night time reading is always the best time to get ready for sleep. It works wonders with children and for adults as well.  Turn off the tube and pick up a good book.

O Once upon a time never gets boring.  There will always be that special place that every reader wants to revisit as a child, as an adult or as someone looking for a place to escape.  How many times can Camelot be visited?  Many, many times over.

P Picture books are the perfect entry into the world of reading.  Why?  The illustrations do so much more than just help tell the story.  Some are just wonderful works of art that engage and engulf the readers into the story.  To see a child get lost in the words and pictures of a book is nothing short of magical.

Q Questions arise and curiosities are stirred when reading becomes a habit.  The quest to know, read and learn more becomes part of the readers life.  It is an addicting habit but what better addiction could one have?

R Rebel against authority. Read a banned book.  September marks the celebration of Banned Book Week when the American Library Association puts out the list of books that have over the years been banned from schools and libraries.  If ever there is a time to get a teens attention, this would be it.  Tell them the adults don't want them to read book X.  That book will fly off the shelf faster than any magician can make his rabbit disappear from a hat.

S Silence is something that children today need to be taught.  In a world that is filled with noises, gadgets and screens, children need to be taught to have moments of silence and appreciate them.

T Thinkers are not born, they are made. Abraham Lincoln did not become one of the greatest Presidents by being elected president.  He read continuously which helped him become one of the greatest political minds in history.

U Universally in every school, every country, and every city it is accepted that one of the surest way to success is to read. It may sound corny to say but it still is true that reading is fundamental.

V Vocabulary improves with daily reading.  It's easy to spot the child or adult who is an avid reader and one who does not.  Oral and writing skills for readers are superior than those who don't.

W Weapons against poverty?  Books, reading and libraries.  Once a child or adult learns to read, the opportunities are endless. 

X Xenophobes is an ugly word.  It denotes that someone can not accept another person because of their ethnic or religious background.  In other words they can not accept anyone who is different.  Books open a path to the world for readers of all ages.  It is the best way to communicate what everyone has in common and what makes cultures unique.  Quite frankly, it what makes this world wonderful.

Y Yet another reason to read because a person can.  No one should ever take that pleasure away from another.

Last but not least...

Z Zero excuse not to read a book a month or every other month.  Yes, we are a busy society.  However, as stated previously just as a child needs to learn the value of silence,  adults need to relearn that as well.  There should never be a moment when one says no to reading.

There it is, from A to Z, why reading is an activity for all ages.  Maybe this may turn some heads.  Better yet, maybe it may cause more people to turn pages.  Lots of pages in the quest to read, learn and grow.  Happy reading!

The Best Tales of Friendship

Before getting into the serious matter of going back to school there is just one last "fun" to be had. Yesterday was a minor holiday that is unnoticed year after year.  That celebration would be called National Friendship Day.  Yes, it is curious that Hallmark, or other greeting card companies for that matter, has not seized upon this and declared that it is unfair that we go about our day on August 3rd as if National Friendship day was just an ordinary summer day.  Well, it may be to some people but not to librarians who look for new ways to get readers to get into a good story.  What better story can there be than about friendship.   Throughout literature there are many tales of friendship that no matter how old readers, the friendships among their favorite characters remain in the memory.  From Children's literature to comics to Classic literature, here are a few of the favorite "friends".

In the category of forever friends which is defined as  characters that when readers think or read about them, they are never separated.  For example,  A. A. Milne's  Winnie the Pooh and his delightful friends, Rabbit, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Christopher Robin .  If readers come across anyone of these names, the other friends are sure to come to mind as well.  You just can't have Pooh without Piglet and vice versa.   Another iconic friendship that come to mind are The Peanuts.  Charlie Brown is always surrounded by his good friends who give him grief and comfort all at the same time.  Charles Schultz's gang has remained timeless.    Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes are a pair that will never be separated.  Calvin's imagination is inspiring and readers are delighted to be able to join him and his beloved Hobbes on the adventure.

In the category of Classic Children's literature, readers will have to agree that E.B. White's Charlotte's Web portrays the truest form of friendship.   Wilbur finds in Charlotte an unlikely friend who turns out to be his hero.  What are true friends for if they can't save you every once in awhile?   Louisa May Alcott's Little Women portrays the very first friend children have, their siblings.  All four girls have dreams, hopes and fears yet when they lose Jo the reader realizes that each of the sisters will never be the same.    Mark Twain's children's classic makes this list a complete with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.  No matter what era this book is read in, everyone can relate to the two boys who are wholesome,  clever and always getting into trouble.  It doesn't matter if they are together or apart, mayhem is a part of their day.  They could very well be the next door neighbors who always made life a bit more interesting.    Which makes it a delight to visit with them over and over again.

Finally in the Classic literature category,  there are so many to choose but lets begin in Camelot.   King Arthur and Sir Lancelot's friendship was based on trust and respect.  However, when the trust is betrayed all that King Arthur had ever hoped for diminishes before his eyes.   Cervantes, Don Quiote and Sancho were a team that could not be beaten.  Of course,  the windmills,  the fights, and the beautiful Dolcena were all a figment of Quiote's imagination but Sancho is a true friend.  He follows his friend to the end and even begins believing that dreams are not just for dreamers.   If  one is going to be facing unspeakable horrors,  a best friend is in order.    Stoker realized this when he wrote the classic horror novel of his day.  Facing evil is not something one can not do alone.  There needs to be someone to confide in and face the fear together.  Mina and Lucy do just that in Dracula.

There are tons of friendships of other new friendships that will not be forgotten anytime soon.  Some that come to mind are Harry Potter and Ron Weasley,  or  Katniss and Peeta.  As Mark Twain once wittingly observed, "Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience is the ideal life."  Yes indeed. Who could possibly disagree with that statement?