Books of the Week: 2018-19 Literature Requirements for DHS Students

I distinctly remember looking up and planning to order all of the American Literature books for my now 20 year old when he was a high school junior.  Why am I pondering this?  Because my 17 year old is about to take the class and I’m a bookworm/nerd and weirdly excited to be discussing American Lit with him next semester.   So, I decided to peek back at what I wrote exactly 3 years and 1 day ago.  (weird timing, huh?)

Well, I’m slightly disappointed, once again, as the required reading hasn’t changed in three years and I still am not a fan of The Catcher and the Rye nor The Great Gatsby.  I have particular disdain for Holden Caulfield and his stream of consciousness rant in The Catcher in the Rye.  There are just so many better choices.   The good news, I own 3 of the 4 and won’t have to spend money for this class.    They did add one book to the list….The Crucible.  I haven’t read it because the Salem Witch era kinda freaks me out.  However, I just ordered it and I also put Their Eyes Were Watching God on my Kindle because the reason I haven’t read my paperback is due to tiny font issues.

As for the teenage bookworms (throwback me) that are taking AP Literature  ….their choices are different and I haven’t read them all.  I am thrilled to report that Foodie Patty’s daughter is taking this class so I can read some classics then nerd out and discuss with her!

Gifted American Literature reading
@ DHS
 Advanced Placement Literature @ DHS
  1. The Crucible- Arthur Miller
  2. The Catcher in the Rye -J.D. Salinger
  3. Their Eyes Were Watching God -Zora Neale Hurston
  4. The Great Gatsby -F. Scott Fitzgerald
  1. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
  2. Beloved – Toni Morrison
  3. Macbeth – William Shakespeare
  4. A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry
  5. Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller

*I gleaned this information from DHS Teacher, Heather Carter’s website.  I’m sure that th reading list is subject to change but alas…..it hasn’t changed much in 3 years.