The Required Reading That Leaves a Lasting Mark: Books That Stayed With Us

Whenever I encounter a young person, I can’t help but ask, “So, what’s on your school reading list? Anything worth checking out?” Half the time, they simply stare blankly and shrug, which is understandable. But occasionally, their faces brighten, and the enthusiastic commentary begins. There is a particular kind of magic in books like these: the ones you are assigned to read, expecting to struggle through, and end up completely captivated by.

This experience happened to me when my sophomore English class was assigned Wuthering Heights. The paperbacks were distributed, and we left the classroom rolling our eyes, bracing ourselves for a long, tedious read. The next day, we practically broke down the door to get inside, eager to start passionately debating Heathcliff and Cathy and, oh my goodness, Linton, ugh. We argued about that book so intensely that at one point, a classmate actually fell out of his chair. Even to this day, if I bring up Wuthering Heights with one of my old high-school friends, we inevitably find ourselves sitting face-to-face, discussing it for at least twenty minutes. It feels like our book.

I believe, in large part, it is the shared experience that makes these school books remain with us. This phenomenon occurs in adulthood as well, of course (raise your hand if you read Yesteryear this summer). However, as adults, we are rarely required to sit in a room at nine in the morning and explore a text alongside our peers. It is an experience we will never replicate (at least not as boisterous fifteen-year-olds). Yet, opening Wuthering Heights feels somewhat like revisiting that time, even if only for a chapter or so.

Now, it is your turn! What books have stayed with you over the years?

(Photos from Derry Girls, Sister Act II, and Gilmore Girls.)

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