1
Jane Eyre

by
4.16 avg rating — 2,313,250 ratings
"Becoming a reader, "composing myself to read"..on the window seat, and thence a servant, a teacher. Revealing of teacher servitude now, where biz people who condescend to teach are touted as heroes: they chose the servitude. Real teachers, well read are preternaturally enslaved, like JE."
Rate this book
Clear rating
2
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

by
3.92 avg rating — 1,015,335 ratings
"The best critique of religion and schooling ("English") in childhood, esp in America."
Alan rated it 5 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
3
Emma

by
4.05 avg rating — 978,544 ratings
"Little rich girl almost destroyed by her own condescension. Critique of vegetarian Mr Woodhouse, hilarious."
Alan rated it 5 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
4
Miguel Street

by
3.95 avg rating — 5,271 ratings
"Becoming a writer in Trinidad, in the ghetto shadow of US military base (whoring etc). "
Alan rated it 5 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
5
My Childhood

by
4.09 avg rating — 9,082 ratings
"Growing up poor in Russia taught him much--say, long after this book, to enjoy Capri.
"
Alan rated it 4 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
6
Anne of Green Gables (Anne ...

by
4.33 avg rating — 1,108,419 ratings
"Wonderful account of semi-rural growing, importance of one older neighhbor.
"
Alan rated it 4 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
7
Dubliners

by
3.83 avg rating — 175,400 ratings
"Modern newspapers follow up these stories: a pederast (An Encounter), male prostitution (Two Gallants), politics, etc.
"
Alan rated it 4 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
8
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

by
4.30 avg rating — 510,652 ratings
"Because my daughter enjoyed."
Rate this book
Clear rating
9
The Secret Garden

by
4.17 avg rating — 1,290,949 ratings
"Because my wife enjoyed."
Rate this book
Clear rating
10
I Know Why the Caged Bird S...

by
4.30 avg rating — 579,322 ratings
"Surprisingly good, if one's only familiar with her sophomoric poetry (as bad as Mary Oliver's)."
Alan rated it 4 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
12
The Taming of the Shrew

by
3.74 avg rating — 180,272 ratings
"Punning sex ed in the 1590s."
Alan rated it 5 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating
13
Their Eyes Were Watching God

by
3.99 avg rating — 385,322 ratings
Alan rated it 5 stars
See Review
Rate this book
Clear rating

1 like · 

No comments have been added yet.