A Christmas Carol, the Novel and Movies
Analysis of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - Themes and First Line
I studied A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from a writer's point of view. I write novels, but so far have been unable to come close to the magic, the strength of theme, the intricate descriptions and heart-wrenching characterizations found in Charles Dickens' work, especially in the slim volume of A Christmas Carol. Like most in the English speaking world, I've seen movies telling the story of A Christmas Carol, but until 2009 I never actually read the book. From page one it drew me in a...

Classical literature for pre teen boys
What are the Top Ten Books for Preteen Boys
In the early 1970's I was a 12 year old boy sitting in the back of Sister Cecilia's 7th grade class, fighting boredom. I glanced over at the bookshelf and noticed a group of old, hardcover books. Picking one out at random, I began reading "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. I could not put that book down. Over the next few months, I read every single book on Sister Cecilia's shelf. Unfortunately, Sister is long gone, but thanks to her shelf of old musty books, my love for the classic...

John Steinbeck's Classic: The Grapes of Wrath
High School Literature Ideas for The Grapes of Wrath
This is the novel to read by John Steinbeck if you are interested at all in American History. The Grapes of Wrath gives you an up close and personal view of a period of time that we all should know about. We are including this as part of our high school literature reading plans using SparkNotes as a jumping off spot for discussion. This is an important book for all of us to read. As an adult I gained such a deep sense of humanity from reading this book...much more than I did reading it in hi...

Classic Literature - Penguin Foundations in Literature Collection
The American Collection, Vol. I: Foundations in Literature
The American literary tradition is so rich and varied that the Penguin Classics editors have grouped the collection into two volumes, with Volume I focused on the novels, short stories, and poetry through the 19th century, and Volume II focused on the political writings, memoirs, and narratives that chronicle the birth and growth of the nation.