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We all have it: that book that you were forced to read in school that you either deeply hated or simply didn't get.
It could have been historical fiction, an allegorical tale or even something written in the '40s. The point is, you didn’t understand why it would be relevant to the life of a modern-day teenager and vowed never to crack its cover again.
But have you re-read some of those curriculum classics as an adult? Many of the books we found boring as teenagers were actually just flying over our heads. It turns out that the benefit of years of life experience, improved reading comprehension, and a wider base of cultural references can make you see books you used to hate in an entirely different light. You might now be able to appreciate how The Great Gatsby has influenced other works, or see the pride in the title character of The Old Man and the Sea.
Here are 10 books you probably didn’t fully appreciate when you had to read them, and the lessons they’ll teach you if you pick them up again, with intention, today.
Which ones would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below:
10 Books You Didn't Appreciate As A Kid
Bridge To Terabithia By Katherine Paterson(01 of35)
THE BOOK:Bridge To Terabithia serves as an early introduction to death for many middle-aged readers. In doing so, the book has often been the target of censorship because it tackles this difficult subject. THE LESSON: But in a touching way, it also teaches about the value of true friendship, making it such a valuable read.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“He believed her because here in the shadowy light of the stronghold everything seemed possible."
The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger(02 of35)
THE BOOK: Considered by many to be the seminal coming-of-age novel of our time, younger readers may not understand why spending the whole day to explore Manhattan on your own is actually a good thing. THE LESSON: But given a few more years of trying to find your own place in the world, main character Holden Caulfield becomes someone to identify with.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules."
The Gift Of The Magi By O. Henry(03 of35)
THE BOOK: This short story can be frustrating on the surface — why couldn't they just text each other their Amazon wishlists?! THE LESSON: Kidding, of course, but the selflessness of Della and Jim’s presents and what they reveal about their love for each other become clearer if you've made a few sacrifices for love yourself.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on."
Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte(04 of35)
THE BOOK: Jane is a woman of a different time, but her search for love and belonging still resonates today. THE LESSON: No matter what year it's taking place, we all need to be reminded that, as Jane learns, love that requires you to lose yourself and your autonomy is not really love at all.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself."
The Old Man And The Sea By Hemingway(05 of35)
THE BOOK: Probably one of your first (and possibly forced) reads, Hemingway’s signature straightforward prose in The Old Man and the Sea can seem dull. THE LESSON: But the novel tells an important story about one man’s determination to carry on in the face of unrelenting failure, and the honour in struggle and hard work.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers."
To Kill A Mocking Bird By Harper Lee(06 of35)
THE BOOK: Sadly, Harper Lee’s only novel’s look at race relations and injustice still resonates today. Some of its subject matter, including sexual violence, may seem too adult for younger readers, but people all over the world can still relate to these problems on a daily basis.THE LESSON:To Kill a Mockingbird is both a beautiful read and a reminder of how far we still have to go to true equality.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
Moby Dick By Herman Melville(07 of35)
THE BOOK: Yes, as a kid you probably thought it was just a book about a whale. But it’s about so much more than a whale, which you may not really absorb until you re-read it as an adult.THE LESSON: It’s about the limits of human knowledge, the fact that some things (like whales) are simply unknowable, and the folly of fatalism.QUOTE TO REMEMBER: “The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run."
The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthrone(08 of35)
THE BOOK: It sounds archaic that a woman would be forced to wear a brand of her adultery and live as a shunned single mother. But maybe the book reads differently to today’s high schoolers than it did to you when you were young. We now live in a world where young girls have committed suicide after being shamed and ostracized when explicit photos of them were shared online, and this story can ring all too true.THE LESSON: In any case, we are clearly not as far from the Puritan attitudes of sexuality Hawthorne describes as we’d like to think.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:"She wanted — what some people want throughout life — a grief that should deeply touch her, and thus humanize and make her capable of sympathy.”
The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald(09 of35)
THE BOOK: This modern classic experienced a revitalization thanks to the recent high-style Hollywood remake, but while this book’s beautifully written story of the world of the very wealthy has plenty of surface, there is substance on offer too. THE LESSON: The book’s look at the disintegration of the American dream is particularly poignant today, as the world deals with economic troubles and rising inequality.QUOTE TO REMEMBER:“I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Animal Farm By George Orwell(10 of35)
THE BOOK: While Orwell’s 1984 is more often referenced culturally, this book can be just as important. THE LESSON:Animal Farm’s look at the corruption of socialism in the USSR may not be as immediate today as it was upon its release, but there is still plenty to take from Orwell’s examination of class and power.QUOTE TO REMEMBER: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
The Thirteenth Tale(11 of35)
A book of suspense anchored in classic gothic twists, this tale of a biographer writing the life story of a reclusive author is spellbinding, creepy and completely impossible to put down.
See Jane Run(12 of35)
If you think you don't like psychological thrillers, this could be the book to change your mind. A woman finds herself at the grocery store with complete amnesia about her life, and gets taken home by a man claiming to be her husband. You can imagine how well that goes.
We Need To Talk About Kevin(13 of35)
There's no way around this one — this book is haunting, and painful, and difficult to read. That said, you'll probably find it impossible to stop, thanks to Shriver's breathtaking writing and the story of a 'bad seed' child that goes beyond anything you thought you could imagine.
And Then There Were None(14 of35)
Christie's best-selling novel ever is a story of 10 people lured to an island, all of whom have been complicit in murders in their "real" lives, under false pretenses. And then, justice is served.
City Of Thieves(15 of35)
This book has all the elements of an addictive summer read, despite being set in the frigid cold of Leningrad: two boys' fledgling friendship, a World War II-era setting, a hunt for treasure and solid sense of humour.
Gone Girl(16 of35)
A book that takes twists and turns can be either frustrating or fantastic to read, and Flynn's novel falls firmly into the latter category. Read it before the movie comes out.
Harry Potter Series(17 of35)
If you haven't read the seven books of the Harry Potter series, consider this summer your time to get seriously involved with Hogwarts, magic and the (mostly) gentle fantasy that is Rowling's world. Since each book gets progressively longer, it's that much more satisfying.
Hunger Game Series(18 of35)
The trilogy (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay) may be better known as big-budget Hollywood films these days, but that should only prove the addictive nature of the source material.
The Stand(19 of35)
The book may have changed since its original 1978 publication (and it may, as of 1990, stand at over 1,100 pages), but this epic tale of a post-apocalyptic world and the almost Biblical battle that ensues will be your go-to for a summer long read.
The Big Sleep(20 of35)
When it comes to plots that make you want to read on, nothing is better than crime. Few writers are as great at crime as Raymond Chandler — this book of blackmail, backstabbers and disappearances is an important part of the Los Angeles' noir narrative, and not to be missed.
Time Quartet(21 of35)
Another series geared towards young readers, this quartet (A Wrinkle In Time, A Wind In The Door, A Swiftly Tilted Planet and Many Waters) sees a pair of siblings and a friend battle forces of evil, including the rather adult nemeses of disease and nuclear war.
John Dies At The End(22 of35)
It's no surprise this book, which was originally published online in a serial format, has gained cult status. But don't let that stop you from getting involved in this tale of drugs, evil forces and alternative universes that will have you debating the conclusion for ages.
Life After Life(23 of35)
The premise of this book, which is about constantly being reborn, isn't a new one, but you won't be able to stop reading about what it means when Ursula Todd is born (or, for that matter, what it means when her life ends).
Life Of Pi(24 of35)
One man, one lifeboat, one tiger. If you haven't yet read Martel's masterpiece about spirituality or adventure (depending on how you choose to read it), take the time this summer to get lost in it.
The Lovely Bones(25 of35)
It's a mystery as told by the ghost of the victim, and the fact that the ghost is a teenage girl who has to watch her family and friends continue on with their lives makes it only more poignant and unputtdownable.
Never Let Me Go(26 of35)
Who are these students who are introduced at the beginning of the novel as being in the care of "guardians"? Readers know there's something different about them, but as the true story is revealed, it becomes increasingly fascinating — and above all, heartbreaking.
Night Film(27 of35)
A book that combines multimedia elements, online articles and photography that could only have been written in 2014, this mystery drags the reader into worlds they could never have pictured at the start of it, and the conclusion is all the better for it.
The Pillars Of The Earth(28 of35)
This sprawling historical fiction looks at the development of Gothic architecture in the 12th century — but don't let that turn you off. Follett's compelling characters and thrilling ends to chapters pushes the reader to keep going through each and every one of its 974 pages.
Shutter Island(29 of35)
Dennis Lehane's books invariably get made into movies, which is one way to tell that his plots are inherently addictive. For Shutter Island, widely considered his best work, the less readers know beforehand, the better. So suffice to say you should be prepared for a twisting mystery of truly great proportions.
The Goldfinch(30 of35)
The recently crowned Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has the boring-sounding plot of being based on art theft, but in reality, Tartt's surprising characters, imaginative twists and generally inviting writing will take readers for a completely unexpected ride.
The Road(31 of35)
Another post-apocalyptic tale, this isn't the sunniest of beach reads, but that doesn't mean it'll be any easier to put down. McCarthy paints a gloomy, if realistic, picture of what life could easily look like in the future, and readers won't be able to stop wondering what will happen next.
Millennium Series(32 of35)
Probably better known as "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" series, this trilogy that was originally published in Swedish might have a clumsy translation and roughly sketched out characters, but impressively, that doesn't make you want to devour these books about solving crimes (often involving violence against women) any less.
The Prince Of Tides(33 of35)
This 1980s classic might be a little dated, but Conroy's tale of a unique Southern family and their bouts with mental illness, abuse and even a pet tiger are set against the backdrop of stunning scenery and crafted words that can't help but keep you reading.
The Time Traveler's Wife(34 of35)
Is it ever possible to put down a book about time travel? Well, possibly, but not when it's as well-written with as compelling a love story as this one. We dare you not to adore it.
American Gods(35 of35)
One part mythology, one part science fiction, all parts rabbit hole of a plot that doesn't even satisfy you with a proper ending, but you'll be so enthralled by the book, you won't even care.