Core Novels
Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 and was written by Emily Bronte. It is a classic Gothic novel with elements of darkness, nature, and violence. Wuthering Heights was a great book to read. I loved the whole theme of nature and the analogy of the characters to it. It was also a good romantic novel to read; I personally liked it because it had a happy ending but it wasn't cheesy.
Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte and published in 1847. The novel is about an orphan, Jane Eyre and the difficulties she faces in life. Jane Eyre is in many ways an analogy to Charlotte Bronte's own life. Jane is a representation of the educated and independent women. However while the novel incorporates feminism, it also strongly displays religion and moral beliefs. Jane Eyre is a very interesting novel to read with the captivating romance of Mr. Rochester and Jane. It is intriguing to see the choices Jane makes when she is faced between her morals and her desires.
Great Expectations was written by Charles Dickens and published in . The novel is about a boy named Pip, who inherits "great expectations" through a mysterious benefactor. Pip undergoes a series of transformations that lead him to the realization that money and education aren't everything. The novel has recurring motifs of ambition and guilt/innocence. Great Expectations is an easier book to read because of the diction in which Dickens writes. Dickens often uses simple language to portray the status of the people in the novel. The novel is similar to a mystery novel in that we don't know who is Pip's benefactor.
King Lear is a play and a tragedy. The story is about a King Lear, a tragic figure, whose anger and pride lead to a host of problems that result in the death of many figures. The play has themes of justice, craziness, and forgiveness. If you like Shakespeare then this is a good play to read. It is just like Shakespeare's other novels in which almost everyone dies. The story was interesting but it was tedious to decipher some of the language.
Grendel was written by John Gardner and was published in the 1950s. The story is about Grendel, who goes through a number of experiences that shape his character and outlook on the world. I liked this novel a lot because it had a lot of description. Also, the language was easier to read. The plot was really good; it was interesting to see the struggles Grendel underwent to overcome his evil nature.
Independent reading
Like many of Jane Austen's work, Mansfield Park is a romance novel. The main character is Fanny, a young girl living with her relations and who is treated more like a servant. Through Fanny's wisdom and intelligence, her cousin Edmund and the rest of the family avoid being fooled by the devious Wickhams. Manfields Park isn't as engaging as the rest of Jane Austen's novels, but it has many good moral themes. The beginning of the novel didn't seem as good as the end.
Emma is about a young lady who perceives other characters flaws before her own and makes mistakes from her high self-esteem. Emma is different from most of Jane Austen's other novels in that the main character, Emma, is the one who makes mistakes and who develops her character. It made the novel different and more engaging to read.
Another work by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice is a romance novel. Like the title suggests, Pride and Prejudice deals with motifs of pride and prejudice. Out of all the Jane Austen books I read, Pride and Prejudice was my favorite. It is similar to her other novels that deal with romance. However I liked Pride and Prejudice best because it was interesting to see what mistakes and grudges the main characters, Mr. Darcy and Lizzie, underwent in their romance.
Little Women was written by Louisa May Scott in 18. The setting takes place during the Civil War. The plot revolves around the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they evolve from young girls to grown women. Little Women is another novel that incorporates feminism in its characters. The novel also has traditional themes about family and social class. Little Women is a captivating book to read with a humorous and light tone for the reader. I love to read this novel many times because of the warmth it generates. It gives elements of family, love, and happiness.
Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley and is a well-known thrilling and horror story. It was interesting reading the novel because I'd only seen the movie. The book is better because the monster actually talks and is portrayed as blameless for his situation. The monster is an intelligent creature and doesn't kill people for no reason like in the movie. I also liked the moral theme that Mary Shelley presents in the story of a man who tries to be like God and ends up being punished.