What books should everyone have read

[remainin]

...by the time they're 20?

I'm trying to compile a list of "essential reading" for my teen DS. What do you think should be included?

@FindMeInTheSunshine My DS is a reluctant reader, although he's quite clever and does, of course, read assigned literature for class. I read voraciously - always have - and it's hard for me to choose or remember everything that's "important" as well as being fairly accessible to a non-reader. So Dickens, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, etc would come later.

@CherryValanc Thanks, Cherry! This is v helpful.

@remainin and do you read now? At times that your DS would see? Do you talk about interesting things you've read? Why does it matter what he reads or has read? He will find his own way to what he likes. It might be fiction, biography, history, magazines, online articles..... It might be nothing for pleasure and only for necessity.

The posts here show how limited a list format is. I'm firmly in the - whatever floats your boat - camp.

Good point about the religious texts AND books outside of the white male perspective. Many of these books are fantastic reading but out of reach for a fairly basic reader.

Since CV started, he's started the Harry Potter series (he loves fantasy), he's also read "The Great Gatsby", which he enjoyed, "Lord of the Flies", which he didn't like (he was teased about his weight when he was younger and chubbier) and a few others but he likes to be outside or texting his friends or watching Netflix and playing on his PS4. The usual pursuits of teen boys these days!

@Griefmonster Oh yes! I'm always reading. On my Kindle usually (he also has a Kindle as does DD so we can share books). He often picks up a book from DD's shelves but seems to lose interest.

He has severe ADHD, which is an important factor in his ability to concentrate. I should have mentioned that in my OP. Whoops.

How old is your DS currently? You are asking about books to read by time they are 20. I can ask my DS what he likes/liked to read as he is early 20's now.

I bookmarked this a long time ago: satellitesaint.com/2012/08/14/a-cultured-persons-book-list/

It’ll definitely need additions and this definitely goes beyond the age of 20!

His being a reluctant reader was important info

What is he interested in generally - sports, history, languages, science and technology, psychology?

P D James 'The children of men' thought provoking book, film never did it justice

Maya Angelou "I know why the caged bird sings"

Steinbeck "Grapes of Wrath'

Oscar Wilde 'The Selfish Giant'

J B Priestly 'an inspect calls'

Roald Dahl 'Boy and going Solo'

But more importantly anything enjoyed, books as with music and sculpture are very personal choices!

Oh missed update okay if he's a reluctant reader I'd still recommend PD James as it's and exciting tale, and 'Going Solo'. But really it's about his interests.

I’m currently reading ‘I Capture The Castle’ - it’s hilarious! Definitely recommend.

I’d have:

Lord of the Rings
The Body in the Library (Roger Ackroyd already mentioned is also great though)
Watership Down
My Family and Other Animals
All the Hitchhikers series
The Curious Incident...
Pillars of the Earth (historical trash but very gripping)
His Dark Materials series
Narnia - the talking books with Branagh doing Magicians Nephew are mostly good
Three Men in a Boat
Fermat’s Last Theorum by Simon Singh
Anne of Green Gables series
Mansfield Park
A Dickens... I liked Bleak House

Amongst others 😁

Don't blame him for not liking Lord of the flies...I found it really dull!
Go for very visual books, fast paced books, keep away from overly wordy descriptive books!

Actually I forgot Dahl - good call by @oldmapie for Boy/ Going Solo.

Kane and Abel
Famous five
Some Shakespeare
A jilly Cooper
At least one Agatha Christie
Gone with the wind
The twilight saga

Oh and George’s marvellous medicine

You could just let your teen browse the many shelves of books you have in your home and choose for themselves, for they are all books you and your OH have read and therefore worthy.

Or not

Don't force them to read anything. I love reading and have never managed war and peace, Wild Swans it the Bible.
Not sure if already mentioned but I would add
I know why the caged bird sings
The Handmaid's Tale