2009 Required Summer Reading Assignment

The following required reading has been chosen to prepare you for our study of language and composition next year. You are required to read a total of three works; two are mandatory and one is a free choice based on the author list that appears below. The two works that you must read are:

 

	A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf What if William Shakespeare had a sister, his equal in talent? Would such a woman have had an opportunity to express herself and succeed? Woolf celebrates the achievements of women artists and explores sexism in society.
	The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston A Chinese American woman tells of the Chinese myths, family stories and events of her California childhood that have shaped her identity.

Please note that all texts are available in paperback and can be found in local libraries or purchased at various local bookstores. Students must take notes on all texts. Notes will be reviewed in September as part of your summer reading assessment.

Below is a list of celebrated authors, all of whom played a pivotal role in the development of the literary canon. You must choose one author and read one of his or her full-length works. You may choose to use this text as a basis for your research requirement that will be assigned in the spring. You will also receive an assessment on this work in the fall.

Choose a book from one of the authors listed below as your free choice.

 

Margaret Atwood

Jane Austen

Lewis Carroll

E.M. Forster

Henry James

Toni Morrison (any text except The Bluest Eye)

V. S. Naipaul

Alice Walker

Richard Wright