Best Curriculum Reads!

As an English Literature major, I read a LOT of books every semester for class, and as I approach my final semester, you can imagine I've read a lot of really great things, and a lot of really bad things.

With this list, I am choosing to focus on the good, and maybe one day I will delve into the bad...

...but for now, here are some of my favorite reads I've read purely due to curriculum.

Bitter In the Mouth by Monique Truong

Strong start with this one! Bitter in the Mouth is a beautiful exploration of unintentional bias and stereotype. The book follows a young girl named Linda as she grows up with synesthesia, essentially meaning she can taste words. The author incorporates this in such a fun way, allowing the readers to take a peek into what synesthesia is like for Linda. The novel is constructed through a stream-of-consciousness style of writing, shifting between past and present, folklore and reality. Such a fun read! 4 stars!

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

I honestly can't believe I didn't read this before it was assigned, but either way, I am so glad I did. This is one of the most incredible pieces of literature I have probably ever consumed. I love epistolary novels -- they make the reader really feel like they're living the story with the characters. The Color Purple is such a powerful story of community, racism, abuse, sexuality, found family, real family, etc., etc., I could go on and on. This is one of those books I will continue to recommend to everyone ever until the day I die <3 5 stars obviously

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This is one I've read for, I think three classes at this point, but I truly never get tired of discussing this masterpiece. There is something to be said about a piece that inspires hundreds of other pieces for years to come. Shelley is such an innovator, and frankly, a genius. The writing in this novel is simply so beautiful, and the story of posthuman creation is so endlessly fascinating. The imagery of the European landscape is so vivid, and every character is so beautifully complex. I love that freaky little monster so much. 5 stars every day of my life

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Now THIS BOOK literally shook me to my core. I went in blind, and I am so glad I did because it was so unbelievably shocking and insane. The use of time travel to underscore a theme of modern racism compared to antebellum slavery is SO smart and fun to read, while still being absolutely devastating and soul-crushing. The relationships in this book are some of the most complex I've ever read, and the question of nature vs. nurture is so present from cover to cover. Using science fiction to talk about serious topics like racism is such a smart way to increase accessibility of the topic, and pique interest in the average reader. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!! 5 STARS!!!

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

This one I have mixed feelings for, but it is these mixed feelings that make me love this book so much -- it evokes passion!!! and thought!!! That's what we want! While I stand by the claim that Virginia Woolf was a genius -- she was also very obviously a white feminist (emphasis on white) and completely ignores the existence of women of color and intersectionality as a whole. However, the metaphor of Shakespeare having an equally talented sister is something I literally think about all the time, and she has points in here that are still to this day so valid and real and raw. I'm not even sure I've formed a consistent, concrete opinion on this piece, and that's how you know it's good. 4 stars.