/lit/ - Literature

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/478.Required_Reading_in_High_School

Enjoy, my young friend.

>>1475661
Much appreciated, my older friend.

>>1475661
>The Republic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2nE1brhdaM

If you decide to read it, this will give you an idea of how it's a little deceptive.

Definitely read "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky It's a great read when you're in the high school age bracket. It's by no means a literary classic. It is however short, sweet and above all else it's fun.

>>1475661
The Brothers Karamazov, fuck where?

>>1475690
I've heard a couple of my hipster friends talking about it every now and then, and how good it was. I'll look out for it. The problem with here is that we don't... Actually have a library. The library we do have is tiny and just stocks Non-Fiction books and text books. So finding these books will cost me money, which is something I'm low on. But reading is worth the money in my opinion

>>1475691
That's very religious isn't it? I mean I'm an atheist so do you think I'll still enjoy it? Not to be closed minded or anything, just wondering...

>>1475711
>That's very religious isn't it? I mean I'm an atheist
If you think like that, you're being an idiot. Grow up and try it. Live a little.

>>1475711
It's honestly not bad, even in the Bible-thumping sense. Just read it so you won't remain such an oblivious fucktard.

Ausfag too, just graduated. Out of curiosity, which state?

I never studied Gleitzman.. pretty standard stuff: Lord of the Flies, The Crucible, various Shakespeare plays etc.

>>1475717
Alright alright, it's on the list in my mind.

>>1475722
The coast of Queensland. And not underwater.

The grade 10's got to read 'To Kill a Mockingbird', but the Grade 11's (going for an OP no less) got stuck with 'The Story of Tom Brennan', which is about a kid who plays Rugby. Now I'm going to year 12 and things don't look much brighter. I don't get it... What state are you from? If I can guess... I'd guess Victoria.

>>1475754
>'The Story of Tom Brennan'
I think that's the one a handful of people keep saying Rowling based Harry Potter on.

>>1475758
Harry Potter was based on a depressed kid who's brother got drunk and crashed a car killing a bimbo airhead and everyone freaked the fuck out, sent him to jail which left the little brother demented and just wanting to play rugby until he got laid by some lake?

I don't think so... Even Harry Potter would have been a better read. The dialogue was just 'Oi Mate, give us a hand aye', typical Australian crap. All of my hate...

Enjoy not getting into University with your shitty school and education!

>>1475773
All the more reason to self-educate.

Good job, OP. I'm not sure what I could recommend, though. I didn't take the required literature courses in high school (hehe, found a way around them) because I hate American lit.

I see someone posted the good reads list there. I say go with that, the list is decent.

>>1475796
>self-educate
There's only so far you can go with that.
If one is serious about learning and the betterment of one's mind, one pursues post-grad study.

OH. Add one to the list- The House of the Scorpion.

>>1475807
>only so far
Oh, this is why you can't watch lectures, find resources written for students, and participate in discussions on the books?
>hurr, we live in an age where we still can't sufficiently self educate, we need a structured school system.

>>1475814
*participate on the internet

It's too early for me to be awake, my bad.

>>1475807
Self-education has been around longer than schooling. But having been force-fed information all your life, you wouldn't have known that.

>>1475814
Tell yourself whatever you need to to make yourself feel better about not being able to get into Uni.

I was in the same boat OP, shit public school in the ghetto in the US. We read crap like Bless Me, Ultima because of our massive illegal immigrant population. I would recommend 1984, Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, Walden, Brave New World, Eyeless In Gaza (because fuck everyone thinking Huxley only wrote Brave New World), 'Salem's Lot, The Shining, The Count of Monte Cristo, some Issac Asimov shorts, and Othello.

That's what I can remember wishing I had read in high school. It's not in much of an order, obviously, but they're all very well known, so it should be easy to find. Good luck expanding your literary horizons.

>>1475833
I was never force fed anything. I shirked most of school and still got into uni based solely on my own brilliance.
A university is an institution dedicated to the furthering and preservation of knowledge, with a community of like minded academics, researchers, creative people, students, etc.
It's an environment more conducive, at the very least, to learning. That you can't deny.

>>1475835
I have gotten into a university, thanks.
And yes, it took a lot of work on my own to do so.

I just did my high school English stuff on things I had read independently of class. I take it you guys are examined on specific texts, rather than a question that can apply to many texts?

>>1475845
Well in that case well done, and I mean it.

>>1475843
>A university is an institution dedicated to the furthering and preservation of knowledge
It's an institution built to feed industry.

>>1475862
RE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Still, it's the easiest way to get a job currently.

OP, what genres are you into?

>>1475872
>>1475862
I completely agree with you about that.
But the best place to challenge that is from within the university itself.
What I should have said is that a university SHOULD be a bastion of learning etc.
I certainly agree, though it is sad, that it's not at all the case.

>>1475887
>>1475872
>But the best place to challenge that is from within the university itself.
At the moment, all talk points towards further industrial/commercial links to universities. Although most literature on universities as institutions are clear there has been this industrial tie to education, my experience suggests most arts/social science students are unaware of this, and think it's accepted they're institutions for learning. It's a shame really.

>>1475872
on the slight chance you are still here, anything cult really, but I'm glad to try other genres. I thought I'd read the basics of books, like Nineteen Eighty-Four and such now, so I can spend my adulthood reading more obscure stuff.

>>1475808
House of scorpion, added to the list. Thank you

>>1475912
>>1475887
>>1475845
>>1475843
To everyone who was talking about University, I have question. I sort of lied about going to year 12 because I couldn't be screwed writing out the truth, but the truth is I got held back this year so now I'm going to study film at a TAFE and get a diploma. Will a diploma help MORE than, say, a high school cert? Or will it do the same thing?