Great Books My English Teachers Overlooked

Last week, I re-evaluated some of the classics I read in High School. They did not fare well, generally. This week, I highlight a few I missed in school that are definitely worth reading. They generally fare better. The themes are adventure and horror, a new genre for me.

Treasure Island: Great, rollicking adventure. Wonderful story for middle schoolers. Nathan liked it only OK despite the non-stop action, probably because the language is dated and the sentences are complex. I think it's the sort of story that can challenge kids his age but still reward them. There is a reason Long John Silver's name is widely known; he is one of the most memorable characters I've ever read about. He slips between good and evil as well as any double agent.

Last of the Mohicans: It's also a great adventure yarn with some military battles and history thrown in. I definitely see its attractiveness and staying power. Some of the scenes it describes are quite violent and often unexpectedly so. With the 19th-century language, one expects more Victorian sensibilities at times. Descriptions of the American wilderness are perhaps unmatched in anything I've read.

Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde: A wonderful short novel, one that also strikes me as a great choice for middle schoolers or a bit older. The character's internal struggle against evil is rightly celebrated. Stevenson seems to capture well the nature of temptation and addiction's ghastly hold. The character's collapse and the inability of anyone to do anything about it are haunting and memorable.

Dracula: Somewhat disappointing. It is overly long and filled with too many Victorian niceties that sound rather ridiculous to the modern ear. I read an unabridged version; I think an abridged version would be just the ticket. In the unabridged version, the action gets bogged down in too much suffocating dialogue about how dear everyone is to everyone else and what large sacrifices they're all making for each other with their pure love. Any momentary stumbles in their perfect manners are quickly remedied by even more perfect kindnesses and soothing words of various sorts. Bluch. And it's not just that I need action; I generally love dialogue. The action, when it happens, is wonderful.

The Turn of the Screw: A brilliant evocation of possible madness, involving unresolved questions about what is real, and children in peril from both those who care too little and those who care too much. It is extremely well written.