This is a consensus cloud of Books Everyone Should Read. Image Credit: Imgur
Thrice Read! You ladies are on a roll!
Here’s the link to their post:
So, without further ado, here’s my list!
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The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
- I’ve expressed multiple times how much I love this book. I re-read it every year. It’s amazing sometimes how you fall in love with assigned reading!
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To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- This was another assigned reading book. It was incredibly powerful for me. I don’t re-read it every year, but I have read it multiple times.
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The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks
- Aside from the movie (2004) being excellent, the book is one of my all-time favorites from Sparks. It’s a classic romance, in my opinion.
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The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
- Another assigned reading book that has stuck with me. Learning Anne’s story was pivotal, as I have Jewish relatives and ancestry. Plus, I’ve been fascinated by anything related to World War II for as long as I can remember.
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The Giver, Lois Lowry
- Lowry is one of my favorite authors. This book initially scared me, and gave me nightmares, so it was left unfinished for years. I think I finally got through it for the first time in college. It’s a powerful book. Plus, the movie adaptation (2014) is decent, too.
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
- I don’t think I will ever not mention Harry Potter. Although I was a late bloomer in terms of reading the series, once I started, I was absolutely hooked. Rowling is a literal wizard!
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The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
- I dove right in after it was published. This started the big dystopian kick for me. This book, and series, are ones that I will always keep on my bookshelf.
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The Help, Kathryn Stockett
- I love historical fiction, especially set in the 20th century. I devoured it within a few days, and then my mom read it. The movie (2011) is a great watch, too. Mom and I saw it together.
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The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls
- I can’t remember who recommended Walls’ memoir, but I’m so glad they did. I could not put this book down, although I probably should have been studying at the time. Walls is an amazing writer and storytelling, and her family’s adventures are something to behold. This, and her other books, will always be on my shelves.
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Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
- This was another assigned reading book, for one of our first presentations in Mr. Degnan’s ninth-grade English class. Originally, I hated the book. But, years later, I re-read it, and now I love it.
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Night, Elie Wiesel
- My school district focused on World War II and the Holocaust in middle school. We did a huge unit on the Holocaust, and this book was a big part of it. However, this is one of those books that I’ve only read once, since it absolutely haunted me.
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The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
- I don’t remember when I first read this book, but it’s always stuck with me. I found myself re-reading it several years ago, when I was going on job interviews right out of college. It’s one of those pivotal books that has so many lessons wrapped up in a good story. Plus, the movie adaptation (1983) is excellent – One of the best adaptations I’ve ever seen.
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The Awakening, Kate Chopin
- I agree with Thrice Read on this one. You either love it or hate it. I loved it from the first read.
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The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
- Although fictional, Steinbeck perfectly captures the essence of despair as a family leaves Oklahoma to escape the Dust Bowl. But, life isn’t as rosy as they thought once they arrive in California. It’s a classic book about such a tumultuous time in American history.
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The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
- I’m going to recommend Allsburg’s books as a whole (He’s written many, including Jumanji and Zathura), but The Polar Express was a childhood staple. My parents had the hardcover book, the cassette tape, and the bell. We also went to see the movie (2004) as a family. It will always hold a special place in my heart.
This was such a fun post! So much nostalgia!
What’s a book you believe ever reader should read at some point?
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Hot Shot Headlines 
Okay, I approve
The note book being my favorite
Outsiders and soda pop second
And HP and the stone third for me
Sweet kisses on your six lips Laura Beth
I’m glad you liked my list.
To Kill A Mockingbird, Night, Diary of A Young Girl were part of my grade school curriculum and I read them on my own as well. The Outsiders was a good book and the movie adaption was great too. I may have read The Giver but don’t recall. I did not read all of Litrle Women but I did see some of the movie adaption. The Help was a good book and the movie was good too. FYI, four of the main actresses in that movie have gone on to win Oscars for The Help & other film roles: Octavia Spencer (The Help), Viola Davis (Fences), Emma Stone (La La Land), and Allison Janney (I, Tonya). I would add A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, Monster by Walter Dean Myers, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell, A Seperate Peace ny John Knowles, Farienhiet 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.
Thanks for sharing! The Help was a movie that launched several incredible careers. I love your list, too. I’ve read almost all of them. I need to add The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Just Mercy to my TBR. Thanks for reading, and commenting!