Books I've Read

I love to read! This list includes books I loved as a kid and some commentary on my favorites. Enjoy!

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

This was my summer 2024 reading project, and it took me all of June and July to read it! It was very epic and I'm excited to analyze it!

Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery

This series is incredibly special to me. I first read it around age 12 or so, but I didn't get into it right away. As I got to know the writing style, I learned to love the descriptions of nature and the way Anne sees the world. Eventually, this series would help form a great part of the way I see the beauty in the world.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This book was the first classic I read. It's such a beautiful story, and was my favorite book for a long time. I also enjoy Little Men and Jo's Boys.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

I absolutely love this book. It's an exciting combination of a strong-willed protagonist, gothic spookiness, and a dramatic plot. There are so many twists, and Jane's character is developed through them so well.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This one is a classic for a reason. Austen's witty interactions between unique characters show her genius in making the ordinary exciting. I also love the 2005 movie adaptation.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

This book is a gem I stumbled upon when my mom suggested a song from the musical of the same name for an audition. I fell in love with the soundtrack, and wanted to check out the book! The writing style is just so fun, and because the story is told through letters, I was inspired to write them again.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This series was my favorite as a child, and it holds up super well. It's whimsical, fun, adventurous, and filled with a spirit of wonder. The characters are great and I love the development of their relationships through the series.

Betsy-Tacy Series by Maud Hart Lovelace

I started reading these books when I was very small and finished the series around sophmore year of high school. They follow a girl's life from childhood to adulthood, so reading it at that pace worked well. These books are truly a delight! The characters are imaginative and creative and fun-loving. The writing is authentic in the way it showcases the wonder of ordinary life. Betsy's character is inspiring in the way she sees the world and learns to love being herself.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

This was the first fantasy series I read as a kid, and the adventure of the universe swept me away. It still holds a special place in my heart.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

I love this series. The writing is just so beautiful and the worldbuilding is something else.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I've only read this once through, and it was in one sitting. Each new page had some insight that made me think.

Wuthering Heights

I love this book. There were definitely parts that I hated when I was reading it (like everything with Linton Heathcliff, the most intentionally annoying character ever created), but overall, it won me over. I was drawn in by the gothic atmosphere, and I was fascinated by the doubling of Catherine and Cathy and Heathcliff and Hareton. It’s dramatic and crazy, but I think it’s neat to see how Emily Bronte was able to use her created world of Gondal to inspire her writings in a slightly less fantastical setting. The work is like the wind; it’s strong and uncontrollable, and while some people hate it for that, others are enticed by its power. I would have to say that I’m one of the latter!

The Awakening

I read this for a class, and I liked it pretty well! I'll post my analysis of it soon. It's got good symbols and interesting commentary on the desire for love and independence that Edna is seeking.

Oedipus Rex

I read this for a class. It's messed up, as promised. My classmates and I went off the rails when we were discussing it and got into an argument about the nature of time, but as far as the story goes, I'd recommend just so you know the story.

Great Expectations

I read it over the summer for a class. My expectations going in were great, and they were mostly fulfilled I guess. It felt like Dickens was paid by the word, which I guess he technically was not, but it dragged on in some places. Still, it's pretty good! I liked the beginning, the middle dragged, and then the end was really cool.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

I had to read it for a class, but I loved it!

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