BOOKS that Beg to be Reread from High School

I have just returned from an invigorating lecture on Harriet Beecher Stowe's UNCLE TOM'S  CABIN, "the most influential novel ever written by an American.  The last time I read Stowe's novel was back in high school (albeit not that long ago...) and it made me consider books read then, that I feel compelled to read again (no tests or papers required.)  My list is as follows in addition to UNCLE TOM's CABIN:  HUCKLEBERRY FINN, Twain, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Lee, NATIVE SON or BLACK BOY, Wright, NOT WITHOUT LAUGHTER, Hughes, INVISIBLE MAN, Ellison, SOUL on ICE, Cleaver, THERE IS a TREE MORE ANCIENT than EDEN, Forrest, THE BLUEST EYES, Morrison, COMMON SENSE or RIGHTS of MAN, Paine, and WARRIOR's DON'T CRY: A SEARING MEMOIR of the BATTLE to INTEGRATE LITTLE ROCK'S CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL by Melba Patillo Beals, of whom I have had the great honor of meeting and hearing her speak.

Leo Tolstoy said, "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN is the highest level of art; on par with Shakespeare." It's been said that the Bible and UNCLE TOM's CABIN are the two highest sold books of all time.

IN ONE PERSON by John Irving

I have named John Irving as one of my favorite authors & his book, Cider House Rules on at least 1 of my top 10 lists.  I have loved many of his previous works, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, A WIDOW for ONE YEAR and A PRAYER for OWEN MEANY.  I was not enamored with some of his more recent works:  UNTIL I FIND YOU or LAST NIGHT in TWISTED RIVER.  However, I am midway through his new book IN ONE PERSON which deals poignantly and sensitively to one's sexual identity and the spectrum of sexual attraction.  The protagonist, a pre-teen boy William, is trying to sort out his own confusing sexual feelings and confides in his step-father Richard.  William speaks to Richards of his "dangerous crushes-a crush on the wrong person."  The kindly and sagacious Richard tells him "...there's no such thing. There are no 'wrong' people; we're free to have crushes on anyone we want."  I am enjoying IN ONE PERSON and the quirky, interesting people he encounters set in another one of Irving's New England private schools.  I recommend reading Irving's book along with me.  I also recommend seeing the play "COCK" @ the Duke Theatre which also deals with William's dilemma of how "...to acknowledge the most confusing aspects of my bisexuality."