Ms. Conn's Highly Recommended Classics

1.) As You Like It by William Shakespeare: a romantic comedy play about the trials and tribulations of relationships, royalty, and running away to live in a forest.
2.) Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare: a historical-fiction play about the assassination of the famous Roman dictator, Julius Caesar.
3.) Night by Elie Wiesel: a memoir about the author's tragic suffering and survival of the Holocaust.
4.) 1984 by George Orwell: a science-fiction/fantasy story that depicts a totalitarian government.
5.) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey: a fiction novel about the abuses, struggles, and rebellion in a psychiatric ward in Oregon in the 1950's.
6.) Othello by William Shakespeare: A play about an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery. It's a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice.
7.) The Awakening by Kate Chopin: Set in New Orleans at the end of the 19th century, (1800's), the plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle between her views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues without criticism.
8.) The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: First performed in 1895 in London, it is a comedic play in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personalities to escape their burdensome social obligations.
9.) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner is the first novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. Published in 2003, it tells the story of Amir, a young boy from Afghanistan, and his close friendship with Hassan, who is his servant's son. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy through the Soviet military intervention, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime.
10.) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality, the novel is renowned for its warmth and humor. Atticus Finch, the narrator's father, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers.