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Rowling's choices of books students should read 
JANUARY 30, 2006 at 9:34 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Herald
In a debate on literature and the curriculum famous authors such as Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Philip Pullman have created
lists of books that all pupils should read. At the top of Ms. Rowling's list are Wuthering Heights and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
- Rowling choices:
- Wuthering Heights -- Emily Bronte
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- Roald Dahl
- Robinson Crusoe -- Daniel Defoe
- David Copperfield -- Charles Dickens
- Catch-22 -- Joseph Heller
- To Kill a Mockingbird -- Harper Lee
- Animal Farm -- George Orwell
- The Tale of Two Bad Mice -- Beatrix Potter
- The Catcher in the Rye -- JD Salinger
- Hamlet -- William Shakespeare
Their lists were published in the yearly issue of Royal Society of Literature magazine.
Anthony Gardner, editor of the magazine said:
My impression is that when you are recommending books for children there are books that have stood the test of time and are always going to be popular ... but inevitably people are always going to want to make an effort to keep children in touch with what is being written at the moment.
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Student
Points: 219
Jack Rabbit Slim says:
I've read all of those books/plays except for 'Wuthering Heights' and 'A Tale of Two Bad Mice'. Catch 22 is an awesum book, one of the greatest ever written imo, not really one for younger readers though. Animal farm is great if you understand the hidden social meaning of communism behind the plot. And of course anything by Roald Dahl or Daniel Defoe is adventurous and loved everywhere by young and old.
Great list!
P.S. I would also reccommend Philip Pullman's 'Dark Materials' trilogy, 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks (for older readers), and 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 7:43 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2446
Fat Lady Sings says:
OK, she doesn't have A Tale of Two Cities on here, and I've heard that it influenced her greatly. That may be a good sign for Harry's survival at the end of Book 7!
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 7:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1741
HarryAssistant says:
A few of those books are great books to read. One book on that list I haven't read yet is Catch 22 which I heard was a really good one.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 7:53 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1554
salutatem dicit says:
Those are great books! I think HP should also be on the list, who wouldn't want to read that?
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 7:59 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 483
ayashe says:
I loved Animal Farm! What is what with that editor, though?
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:00 AM EST
Bellatrix's daughter
Points: 2670
Lili Marlene says:
I read Wuthering Heights and it's really worth of reading! I love it! Although I hated Robinson Crusoe! Worst book I ever needed to read. I read it for year! I didn't heard of many books from list... :S
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:09 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1040
Ariel Blackmuir says:
I love these books! Some of my favourites are there, and I've read all of them, I learnt a lot of English that way. I found Catch -22 very interesting, but it was very difficult to me, as I'm a non-english reader. I feel there should be some Jane Austen book, she is my favourite english writer(after JK, of course!.
Nevertheless, I think this is a very interesting selection for children, it's clear that JK thinks they are prepared to read far beyond the trite book selections usually recommended for them.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:09 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2121
Nataly says:
Hah I've only read one of those books, guess I should read more. Shakespeare oh god i love himmmmmmm
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:24 AM EST
Witch
Points: 793
Zoe Hurley says:
I have only read charlie and the chocolate factory..... Roald Dahl is my third favourite author, after rowling and marianne curley
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:25 AM EST
Witch
Points: 541
HogwartsAhistory says:
I remember reading most of those in school. Good choice J.K.!
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:26 AM EST
Student
Points: 288
Scrofungulus says:
We read Animal Farm in Grade 9. That was long ago, but I enjoyed that book very much.
Lots of Symbolism. Things you can learn from it.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:30 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 40
mini_me says:
The list of books is great. I read "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and "Animal Farm" and I thought they were great. I'll try and read the other one's as well when I have time.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:34 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 366
HP&StarW says:
Those books sound like a great read! After reading Jo Rowling's Harry Potter books, it will be hard to move on to a different book, but I'll try. Everyone needs to read a variety, especially when they're written by other famous authors.
Thanks for posting the book list! I think I'll start with CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY....
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:49 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2350
kez1e says:
I personally haven't read any of them - naughty me! I do read "classics", just not those. I'm very much a person who reads what I like and if they don't appeal then I don't read them. Maybe I should check them out and see if they're books that would grab my attention?
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 8:51 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1024
puffle_princess says:
I read Catcher in the Rye when I was at school and I enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but the Harry Potter books are still my favourite infact I am starting at the begining again.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 9:03 AM EST
Student
Points: 296
NiceGirlsDontKissLikeThis says:
I like almost all of Ms. Rowling's picks, except for: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--*Ugh!* and I've never read Catch 22, so I don't know whether that's good or not, but I've heard that it is...
I really think that Jane Austen needs to be up there! Pride & Prejudice? Emma? Sense & Sensibility? Come on!
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 9:12 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1237
HeadmistressMcGonagall says:
Interesting Choices...I've read some of them, but I guess I'll have to put the ones I haven't on my list to read.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 9:15 AM EST
Kathe Mera Kalimera
Points: 7598
dominor says:
Great books,i will surelly read some of them in 4 months that i graduate..Now,i dont have any free time,not to read a book at least..
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 9:21 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4084
ILoveHP! says:
I'll take J.K.'s word for it and read everything on her list... So far, though, I've only read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (shame, shame...)
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 9:34 AM EST
Squib
Points: 193
godricgryffindor90 says:
I read nearly all those books on the list.. The closest one to me that is next to HP is To kill a mockingbird. it is funny and suspenseful and crazy sometimes. Harry potter is the full package though. it has comedy, suspense, horror, CSI, mystery, and on and on. no book can defeat harry potter except MAYBE Lord of the Rings.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:06 AM EST
Hogwart's Jedi Princess
Points: 3491
Darth Amanda says:
Cool! I love Phillip Pullman, I'm actually read His Dark Materials right now..and ofcourse I love JKR too so I'll have to check out which books they chose.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:12 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3815
hermionefan1 says:
Thats a good list if i may say so my self. I have read 7 of the 10 she has recommended. They are all good too.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:13 AM EST
The Dark Knight
Points: 5789
minister for magic says:
I have read a few of the books that were on that list.
I especially liked to kill a mockingbird.
Potter is definetly a must read for any child.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:18 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2463
undisputed760 says:
Ive read all of those except Wuthering Heigts and the mice one. Good choices.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:32 AM EST
Half-Blood Princess
Points: 2871
Katie Bloom says:
I like some of thous books!!!!
!!
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:47 AM EST
Professor
(Moderator)
Points: 1180
Vermin Jerky says:
That is a really good picture of JKR. Good choice, whoever.
I'm a little ashamed to say I've only read two of those, for sure. I may have read Hamlet and A Tale of Two Bad Mice at some point in my life, but I won't swear to it.
I know I've read Animal Farm, and To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorites.
At some point in my life I intend to read The Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22, and maybe Charlie and the Chocolate Factory if I can get over the shame of checking out a non-Potter children's book from the library.
The others never interested me that much, though. I have odd reading tastes. I've found that I simply can't abide certain writing styles and there are some classics that I don't find to be to my taste at all.
Making me a voracious but picky reader, I suppose.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 10:47 AM EST
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