Which are the best books out of these 2 selections?

Question

can u pick 2 from each section? thanks

AP English 11: Read two selections.
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien or As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston or Beloved by Toni Morrison
AND
Walden by Henry David Thoreau

ENGLISH 11 HONORS: Read two of the following selections:
ENGLISH 11 ACADEMIC LITERATURE: Read one of the following selections:

There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
On the Road by Jack Kerouac Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Caucasia by Danzy Senna The Beet Queen by Louise Erdrich
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I began reading The Things They Carried and could tell I was going to love it. I live in Faulkner Country and highly recommend As I Lay Dying. There are 2 things you know about this Faulkner novel: first, each chapter is from a different voice - a member of the family ("my mother is a fish" is one that gives most people trouble); secondly, Faulkner is notoriously difficult to read because of his long, rambling sentences that border on (if not cross into) stream of consciousness writing. Much of the times his narrators are unreliable. You need to know that the basic premise is thus: the mother decides she's dying, so the elder son begins to build her coffin; once she's dead, they take her dead body on ice across Yoknapatawpha county to bury her with her folks. Her husband and their children each have ulterior motives for making the journey and it's fun to try to read into the text what those motives are.
Love Thoreau. Can't say much about the others, but they are all worth reading.
The last list: I have a friend who devours anything by Pat Conroy. I haven't read any of his works, but those made into movies have been great. Kerouac was a druggie in the '60's. I've heard good things about Killer Angels. The Secret Life of Bees is awesome, but it's kind of a chick book . . . sisterhood and such. It was well written and made me want to hear more about their lives after the book ended. No sequel, but she has gone on to write The Mermaid Chair and another book. Hope this helps.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

wow thanks!!

Answer 2

William Faulkner is a good author so I would say he would have the best book out of those selections.

Answer 3

I thought Woman Warrior was pretty good, but I've heard that Beloved is really terrific.
On the Road is an unusual read, but very interesting.

I picked up the Secret Life of Bees just at random, and quite enjoyed it.

Answer 4

1. As I Lay Dying and Beloved/ Walden Pond
2. On The Road

Answer 5

that's a tough one, since I have read almost all of them:

"The Things They Carried" is a great story, you can teach that in your English class (which I am assuming you are going to be a teacher) it's the perfect amount of truth and sarcasm for adolescent brain.

also, "Beloved" may be me favorite of all time. Toni Morrison at her best. I believe it won a Pulitzer prize for literature. Story of slave who has a child and escapes slavery. But her choices following her freedom haunt her (literally) for the rest of her years. Also, the movie is true to script and stars Danny Glover and Oprah...so I'd go that route.

The second set of choices, I recommend:
"There are no children here" and "Secret Life of Bees", although I am note sure how that one fits in. Great rural setting and coming of age story in the south. I think you also need to read Jack Kerouac just for the fact that he defines a generation and all bookies need to have that in their repertoire. "Caucasian" sounds interesting, you may have just given me a new selection.... thanks

Source(s):

140 credits in English Literature thank you very much.

Answer 6

I looved the Secrect Life of Bees but it depends on what kind of fiction you like as well.