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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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Head Girl
Points: 468
Laura_Granger says:
Hah I've only read one of those books, guess I should read more.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 11:15 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 468
Laura_Granger says:
cool i've read a lot of those books! but i should read them all! I really love to kill a mocking bird!
~~Lau~~
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 11:17 PM EST
Witch
Points: 640
RMSginnay says:
I've read just about all of those books, I;m glad that J.K. is putting out reading lists, maybe shes trying to fill the void of the seventh harry potter book
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 11:26 PM EST
Hufflepuff Princess
Points: 24832
Waddi Wasi says:
I've read both Hamlet and To Kill A Mockingbird, they're both excellent and JK has some really good choices for books.
Posted Jan 31, 2006 at 11:41 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1542
Supreme Mugwump says:
Those books are all pretty famous classics and it is a shame that so many kids now have read so few of them. Reading is awesome.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 1:46 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
gandalfthegray says:
I agree with JKR but she should have included all the Harry Potter books first on her list! I really enjoyed reading To Kill A Mockingbird and Animal Farm in school!
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 3:42 AM EST
Muggle Executioner
Points: 5171
ThunderofHisSky says:
What the what????I don't even know half of these books!!!!!And i did read some of them....and they are good.Like David Copperfield....
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 3:51 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 21
shalyce says:
I love the effect that J K Rowling has on us, personally i have read all but one of those books mainly with school...but as soon as I saw the list i went and got the remaining one from the library. And just like me, others have made a vow to try and read the books she has suggested. She really has a wonderfully positive influence on us... a magical influence really ;)
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 3:53 AM EST
Points: 2721
Tri Wizard Champion says:
i have rea/seen the films of most of these books. Wow, she know a few good titles thus, she is an auther! But yes, i agree with all of her choices
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 5:23 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
gandalfthegray says:
I like some of those books! To Kill a Mockingbird is really an awesome book and I've read actually a lot of those up there. Those are good picks, but I still like Harry Potter better. :)
most of all i like the picture of J.K.R.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 8:00 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1122
PhoenixPatronus2 says:
Gah, the tortures of having graduated from high school means that somewhere between middle school and high school graduation I read six of the above (and tried reaching David Copperfeild when I was in 7th grade- I hated it). Actually I hated whuthering heights too (okay it was more I hated the teacher who made us read it and the feelings transfered to the book). I liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at one point, but haven't been able to stand it since. To Kill a Mockingbir (eighth grade) was actually a pretty good book. I liked Robison Crusoe (which I actually read in elementary school) and Animal Farm too, and Catcher in the Rye wasn't bad either.
Actually a lot of these books are better than some of the other ones I had to read over the year although it would have been really cool to trade them in for Harry Potter or some of the types of books I normally read (but then we wouldn't be reading these classic books...*rolls eyes)
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 8:46 AM EST
Student
Points: 216
SirenaAzul says:
There are some really good books on that list, I haven't read them all so I'll be sure to check out the ones that I haven't yet.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 2:11 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 8
EmmaHolly says:
yes i enjoyed to Kill a Mockingbird -- Harper Lee, we read in school in year 9
you can get it on dvd but i'e heard its a black and white copy only shame!
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 2:16 PM EST
Mrs. Ronald Weasley
Points: 2575
hplover234 says:
I actually like some of those books and there are others on there that I am planning to read. I think I am going to go to the book store so I can buy some more books to read. I am running out of material!
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 3:43 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1077
ymn11 says:
These are all good books to read. I really like the book called, "to kill a mocking bird". With this book being one of her favorite books, she shows she has good taste. It's a great list.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 6:11 PM EST
Student
Points: 244
AmyRocks says:
That's kind of kool. I'll have a look on those books.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 7:34 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 486
thesuperHHRfan113 says:
*Laughs* I totally agree with To Kill a Mockingbird. That was the only story I truly liked that I had to read in all of my English classes. Animal Farm was kind of trippy, though. Not one of my favorties (no offense to anyone who likes it!)
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 7:50 PM EST
Singularly Gifted Witch
Points: 5156
Medea says:
I have read To Kill a Mockingbird, Hamlet, Animal Farm, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Robinson Crusoe. <3 Animal Farm
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 8:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 917
hermioneadmirer says:
I would read those books,but I am not into those kind of books.I am usually into horror and mystery.Ah,I might one day adventure into other catergories,and I will keep those books in mind.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 8:36 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 401
mrsharrypotter4500 says:
I love to read I might have to read some of those books, but I'm suprised she diddent put the Harry Potter books on that list.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 8:53 PM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4245
PowerGranger says:
Ok, cool, I feel very good that I read all of the books on JKR's list before heading to college, and half of them were read for pleasure, not for school. I totally agree that each is worth reading (with a special hat-tip to the all-time-favorite of my youth, "The Catcher in the Rye").
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 9:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
.- LexiBabi -. says:
Awseome...I'm going to read more during March brake...because I got lots of books for Chritsmas and I can't find the right time to read them all...they're great books too...:D:D:D
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 9:48 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1737
HermyG13 says:
Besides the Harry Potter books, To Kill a Mockingbird has always been one of my favorites, and the writing in The Catcher in the Rye was unique when I read it last year. Animal Farm is a great metaphoric/symbolic book!
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 9:51 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
.- LexiBabi -. says:
Awseome...I'm going to read more during March brake...because I got lots of books for Chritsmas and I can't find the right time to read them all...they're great books too...:D:D:D
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 9:55 PM EST
Witch
Points: 525
Draco'z Devil says:
I have been forever planning to read books like Hamlet, To kill a Mockingbird, Catch-22, Wuthering Heights, Robinson Crusoe. I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in third grade and again in fifth for AR.
Posted Feb 1, 2006 at 11:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
gandalfthegray says:
I agree with JKR but she should have included all the Harry Potter books first on her list! I really enjoyed reading To Kill A Mockingbird and Animal Farm in school!
Posted Feb 2, 2006 at 4:36 AM EST
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