Classic novels of all time?

[Rach2008]

I am home educating my 12 1/2 year old (very intelligent) son.

I want to provide him with a solid grounding in English - my first thoughts are Animal Farm, Anne Frank, 1984.

What else should I consider?

[saxy_jag]

Dot, I'm not so sure that American/English literature need to be separated, even if the universities do so (after all, not everyone wants to go to university). What is important is that a book or an author is studied in its entirety and in its context. I seem to recall reading Mockingbird, Great Expectations, Shakespeare and Shaw all in the same school year and not being at all confused.

[MWB]

All the above books are very good. But I hope you let the child have some fun reading!

Asterix
Harry Potter
Roald Dahl
Tin Tin
Lemony Snicket
Neil Gaiman

[Rach2008]

Thank you all for your excellent suggestions. I'll be down to the library tomorrow!
Rachel

[tiggerblue10]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it but Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder is a brilliant book. Don't be put off by its title. Its not a girly book at all. Its about Philosophy through the ages.

[ganesh]

The book 1001 books to read before you die is full of good ideas,not all suitable for a 12 year old maybe,but it's good for reference. I think he may get a bit overwhelmed with all the old classics!
Well done for having the courage to home-educate,by the way. My chosen school for my daughter let her down badly and I wish I had done it.

[jno]

two books that regularly top the most popular lists are Lord of the Rings and Catch 22. Catch 22 is probably a bit old for a 12-year-old but a bright kid will probably enjoy it. LotR is a great read for any age (the films are very good adaptations, but the book is more 'literary'). I'd recommend both.

And Pride and Prejudice (and any Jane Austen - all old but written in what is still clear and understandable English).

[Buenchico]

There are a few suggestions above which make me want to scream!

However bright a 12� year old might be, he's still only just getting to grips with his own sexuality. How on earth can he be expected to understand the sexual ambivalence of Lolita?

I'd also suggest that the deeper meanings within Lord of the Flies are beyond the understanding of most youngsters of that age. (The same also applies to Animal Farm. They were both set texts when I was at school, but I wish they hadn't been. They're much easier to understand, and to enjoy, from an adult perspective).

Irrespective of the titles chosen, the key message to impart to any young person is that books are there to be enjoyed, not simply studied. (Leave that to university professors!). 'Enjoyment' isn't a word which many youngsters would genuinely associate with most of the books listed above. (I've yet to find any adult who's really enjoyed anything by V S Naipul, yet alone a child! I'd rather read a phone directory!)

Thank heavens for some 'fun' reads listed above. (Good literature doesn't have to be 'serious'). P G Wodehouse certainly gets my vote. I'd also like to add the funniest book in the history of the English Language: Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat.

Thank heavens, as well, for a bit of excitement in some of those suggestions. Mark Twain, Conan Doyle and H G Wells also get my support.

And where's the poetry? (Yes, I know you asked for novels but poetry is at least, if not more, important when you're seeking great English literature). John Betjeman is easily accessible, as is John Masefield. Rupert Brooke's work provides a good link with history. Philip Larkin and Benjamin Zephaniah should also be in the list.

Chris

[Rach2008]

Thank you Buenchicho - I do believe that reading is for fun and should never be anything else.

And thank you all - he has already read many of the 'usual' books for his age - HP, LOTR, Lemony, Dahl etc

But some interesting suggestions. Thank you and God bless AB

[Rosetta]

I agree with Buenochico about Lolita, and though great literature I would wonder about Jane Austen for a 12yr old boy.
How about The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico or Johnathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach. Both are great for promoting discussion and are excellent reads