tier ranking all the classics i read in high school

[@sunfortune]

"i read this for ap literature...and then i immediately dropped out of ap literature." LDKMFKJNJFHGBGFHJDGFKHD

[@MinaReads]

reading that book set the tone for the whole year, had to yeet myself outta there

[@occlumens]

DEAD

[@NormalLunk]

I wish I did drop out of ap literature. I hated that class so much.

[@learnerlove6853]

I dropped out of AP Lang before it started when I saw the Summer Reading List

[@sidneylemon1951]

people can’t even drop out of AP classes at my school so i was like BAHSHABHS

[@cursedy__]

“I personally just think it was a bit iconic she killed that man.” 😂😂😂

[@MinaReads]

kirstyreadsblog she was a legend for that!

[@tutdunsthemouse]

this part made me audibly laugh ahaha

[@Kev-In-Progress]

i wish i read the range of black authors you did in high school, my school was all about the caucasian authors

[@MinaReads]

Yes i was super lucky to go to school in the district i did, they focused alot on diverse literature and I’m so grateful for that

[@Discotraxx16]

I went to a low income community high school we definitely had a diverse mixed of authors, however freshman year in my high school in a college prep class was mostly white authors.

[@BJGvideos]

Still no mark of quality. We had to read Native Son and if it wasn't for also having to read Great Gatsby it would have been the lowest point in high school English.

[@hagfishslimer]

same and that’s on being raised on the south

[@all4uuuu]

Kevin Bryson right!😭 im jealous she read all these black author books

[@Sarah-ty5ev]

“Nathaniel Hawthorne should be prosecuted” I JUST CHOKED

[@MinaReads]

did i lie tho?😂

[@nuhaomar9542]

I checked out that book because the synopsis made it seem like a fantasy story. Imagine my immense disappointment

[@sunflower2187]

She did not lie that book was boring as shit lmaooo 🙈

[@klear19634]

@@sunflower2187 so boring we all had to read the sparknotes translation to get through it

[@Booksaremysolace]

Mina Reads The ironic thing is that he wrote that book almost as an apology for his ancestor’s involvement in prosecuting against the “guilty” parties in the Salem Witch Trials

[@ThatChickKim]

I love how you named your tiers LOL.

[@MinaReads]

😂 thank you i tried to be a bit creative with it

[@Sarah-ho1oi]

"I personally think it was a bit iconic that she murdered that man" lmaooooo

[@kellyzhen7960]

I’m surprised you didn’t read “To Kill a Mockingbird”. It feels like that book is THE essential read of American English classes; honor/AP classes especially.

[@jonathangiese5727]

It does feel like that. I wish it didn’t though, that book is dated as all get-out. Also, kinda boring. Excepting Robinson’s trial and Ewell’s attempted murder, there was a whoooole lotta slice of life. Not my thing.

[@claireparker3815]

idk i read it in 8th grade english so i wouldn’t have counted it in this list

[@midapita]

Idc what anybody says that book has a piece of my heart😭

[@spacebarf9188]

my teacher was going to make us read it but he straight up said "this shit is boring" and then made us read the hate you give

[@itspricila]

read it on 8th grade

[@potato.pancake]

*cries in “the color purple musical is incredible and deserves more attention and also doesn’t wash over celies sexuality” *

[@jauxro]

yesyesyesyes

[@novakiiwashere-7409]

she needs to see thissss wirjoend

[@bella-nl7ot]

when she talking about it i was so confused cause i’ve only seen the musical lol

[@marcherwitch9811]

uh nick carroway definitely in love with gatsby... definitely! also...i WEPT! i stormed into the next english lesson with stricken eyes and was just... furious about the ending!

[@MinaReads]

i'm glad we all agree 😂

[@strawberryqueen0382]

Mina Reads this man literally was the only person who went to Gatsby’s funeral. My gay ass it crying.

[@tatiana2696]

@@strawberryqueen0382 I'm screaming so much! I was shipping them for the whole time- The fact that Nick was the only person who actually respected and cared about Gatsby since the beginning (to the point of organizing his first date with Daisy and be the only person that attended his funeral) shows both the actual repulsive side of all those people who went to his parties out of sheer convenience, and the heartwarming side of their friendship. Nick truly cared since the start and It makes me cry-

[@riotgrrl453]

I didn't ship nick and jay but i was so furiously heartbroken by the ending. The way Daisy betrayed Gatsby, after everything he did to get to her. And Tom, oh that son of a bitch. I so wanted a happy ending, i felt Gatsby deserved it.

[@marcherwitch9811]

@@riotgrrl453 and the book felt like it would end that way! with hope!

[@HiHi-ql9vw]

Does anyone else really like 1984, because you’re suppose to hate Winston almost as much as Big Brother because he is a product of that society.

[@goodmikan8298]

I loved that book

[@envycentral7281]

Hi Hi 1984 is one of my all time fav novels

[@ethankral3215]

loved it

[@jamesrogers1391]

1984 is almost a perfect novel, I think. I didn’t hate the protagonist, though. He’s part of the picture of Hell, and a victim of it.

[@Backs3atGaming]

Yep, it’s a classic for a reason. Perhaps she’d enjoy Animal Farm a little more as that one seems to be “less problematic”.

[@nandampc]

I was amazed by 1984 when I read it, I found this book so perceptive! I couldn't believe how much it still (tragically) resonates with our contemporary world. Surveillance, control of thought and speech, post-fact society, falsification of History, double consciousness and so on... A book from 1949 that could have been written in 2020. This book just blew my mind!

[@gastrodong3893]

Same, it was the only book I read in high school that I genuinely enjoyed

[@smirror196]

Oh my god same, I had to read most of it during quarantine but like it got really interesting especially towards the end. I can totally see how it’s problematic but like,,,it’s great nonetheless

[@travisbewley7084]

I think the most amazing thing is how optimistic the book is. The appendix that explains the terms is framed as a later society looking back on those events. So apparently that society falls apart despite it's efforts.

[@TheCSJones]

I completely agree, and I think that the r-pe fantasies about Julia make sense when you realize that Winston is indoctrinated into an extreme right-wing state, and hating women is practically the #1 feature of the far right. So it makes sense that he would be extremely misogynistic until he changes later.

[@davekimp2058]

@@TheCSJones The Party is an extreme left wing state actually. Winston's rape fantasy doesn't come from a hatred of all women, but from paranoia and fear that this specific woman is spying on him. Sexuality of any kind in the novel is essentially prohibited by the Party, its only purpose is to produce more Party members. It makes sense why Winston would have questionable fantasies

[@katencat]

This is simultaneously the funniest and most insightful review I've ever seen. 🤣

[@MinaReads]

😭😭 im so happy you liked it!!!

[@miavelletri]

One of my friends told my English teacher that she though Nick Carroway was gay and in the love with Gatsby and my teacher got so triggered 😭😭👌🏻👌🏻

[@MinaReads]

that teacher just can't handle the truth smh

[@xcherryfangz]

meanwhile a girl said that in our english class and our teacher just went 'yuppp'

[@britneysullivan8894]

My teacher was the one who pointed it out to us that he was bi.

[@BJGvideos]

No, your teacher didn't get triggered. Please show some respect.

[@britneysullivan8894]

BJGvideos No reason to be rude. It’s not like you would know how the teacher reacted unless you were in the same class.

[@joellesara2208]

Omfg yes to Catcher in the Rye. Problematic, but also really formed my teen emotional development for those reasons 😂

[@MinaReads]

Yessss I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way

[@ingridbjrnstad4763]

Holden Caulfield is an ass

[@MinaReads]

Ingrid Bjørnstad i agree!

[@littleprincess4615]

I personally despised Catcher in the Rye because I had a seething hatred for Holden as well as my English teacher that year, but the fact that I’m still talking about it shows it’s affected me somehow and I hate it. Annoyingly enough, I saw myself in him at sometimes and am now incredibly determined to change exclusively to be not like him.

[@Nomorehats]

Catcher in the rye hits too close to home. What angsty teenager wants to read about another angsty teenager?

[@myonnareads]

FINALLY SOMEONE WHO LOVES CATCHER IN THE RYE!! i definitely relate to holden so much but i lowkey loved him but i also was in high school and haven’t read it since so idk

[@MinaReads]

YESSSSSSSSS

[@eg6271-k5k]

I’m a lesbian and I back your bi nick. He definitely hooked up with that guy at the party

[@daylite34]

i love how all the gays imprinted on nick. i thought i was the only one who was weirdly obsessed with him back in high school lol

[@ashlingandhurricanes6892]

"I like an outsider looking in on the rich and stupid" have you read Crazy Rich Asians? You're gonna have a good time

[@MinaReads]

i will probably never read that series but i did really enjoy the movie!

[@dazeadil1590]

Mina Reads Ohhhh I love the movie, I have also not read the book, but the movie is very fun and had amazing costume design.

[@beebee1794]

Oh those books are so stupid but sooooo fun lmao

[@fishpilgrim]

Bee Bee the first book was kinda fun but the second was just so stupid

[@Habibteaa]

As a Muslim girl, you ain’t a basic Muslim girl until you’ve read a thousand splendid suns lol

[@dubai-tv]

this book, like no other, made me break into tears numerous times

[@ellax325]

The Kite Runner man. It broke me.

[@Emma-sj6wp]

I read that book in one day. Stayed up through the night and read through one of my classes the next day. I cried so hard. Its still one of my favorite books.

[@friend1ymachine]

Did reading that book ever affect your outlook on or relationship with your religion??? Genuinely curious

[@mooominpapa]

@@friend1ymachine as an Afghan Muslim it affected my outlook on my culture more

[@Elliterally]

i subscribed the minute you said "i personally think its iconic that she murdered that man"

[@MinaReads]

💖

[@emmajeema]

Catcher in the Rye finally got justice. Oh my god no one liked the book but I loved it so much I’m so glad other people feel this way

[@mooominpapa]

YESSS

[@tifftargaryen490]

your high school requirements were way more diverse. only non white books were The Kite Runner and Raisin in the Sun.

[@MinaReads]

Tiff Targaryen raisin in the sun is one i still haven’t read but really need to, thanks for this reminder!

[@yusufbaykal2724]

does it rly matter authors skin color its all about the message and the art

[@tifftargaryen490]

@@yusufbaykal2724 it would be nice if students were given a wider wage in most schools for literature. Any book can be art outside of the author's skin color. But, for example Zora Neale Hurston and Nathaniel Hawthorne both do a great job at showing the culture and environment they were in, but they are completely different. They were in different times with completely different experiences and would both go well with what they should be learning in their history classes.

[@MinaReads]

Yusuf Baykal yes valuing literature by authors of color is important in academia.

[@britneysullivan8894]

At my school I can only remember Passing and I Am Nujood. We also read a pair of graphic novels called Maus about Jewish people during WWII

[@Celise]

Wow I feel like you had way more books to read in high school, and they were a lot more diverse than my required reading. Also random comment, but your voice is so nice to listen to.

[@MinaReads]

Thank you for the compliment! I was in a few AP and upper level courses so my reading lists were pretty extensive some years 😂😂😂

[@powerpuff4ever]

Now that’s a tier list - chef’s kiss

[@MinaReads]

💖

[@TheYumblebee]

did anyone else read that book about the guy who turns into a cockroach lmao

[@nikkicas260]

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

[@blushmuffin5259]

That one fucked me up.

[@BeccaSnowflake]

hell yeah Metamorphosis. we stan kafka.

[@corycianangel6321]

It was bizzare and absurd, but it's really depressing.

[@jennawar13]

yes we love an existential classic!!! Read The Stranger by Camus next

[@scaredstiff7176]

Bruh I can't believe I wasn't the only one who at least though Nick had the hots for Gatsby. There were apparently girls in a previous english year that liked drawing fanart of Nick and Gatsby together LOL.

[@CheyeW13]

hands down the best tier ranking video i've seen, mostly bc your tiers are so clearly dilineated. it's so easy for ppl to waffle between "good" and "okay" tiers, but these are so distinct, i love it

[@MinaReads]

Thank you so much!

[@carolinemanuel5996]

same, this was so good and had me really thinking about all the books I read in my high school English classes and also how these reading lists vary from school to school and what that implicates.

[@yurtcobain3337]

your thoughts on merchant of venice are so correct!! i (a jewish person) had to read it for english class and my teacher made me rewrite my essay because i said shylock was in the right lol

[@pinkcloudsnightlightbell]

Omg that's so shitty 😠... The fucqccue😭😭😭

[@MinaReads]

That is terrible I’m so sorry your teacher censored you like that

[@spoon093]

That bothers me so much! Lit is all about analysis and it's super wrong for her to make you rewrite your essay just because you support a different position.

[@Theunfathomable0]

If you wrote an essay and supported your points then why did she make you rewrite it? it’s almost like they don’t want you to learn and just want you to see what they see and write their opinions.

[@BJGvideos]

Why did you listen then?

[@BooksandLala]

I'm so ashamed this was in my Watch Later for this long but I'm excited to dive in now. I forget so many of my required reading and I'm excited for this to refresh my memory. Congrats on 5K! 🙌

[@MinaReads]

Thank you lala!!!!

[@joanwhong]

i don't like holden as a character but i really related to his whole journey of wanting to retain innocence within himself and especially the youth 😔 his teen angst got to me bc i felt like i was starting to move on from that phase of my life (i was 18 when i read it) and it took me back to when i felt that the world didn't make sense to me and nothing felt right. so many ppl hate this book so i'm glad i'm not the only one who resonated with it

[@illfitingclothes]

i'm so glad to see catcher in the rye rights... holden caulfield was so approachable to 15 year old angry teenager me.

[@BrokenDarkFire]

1. I’m so impressed with the books you read in high school! I’m pretty sure a lot of these, I didn’t read until I was in college, and even then, I think I read them because I was a lit major. 2. HOW DO YOU REMEMBER THE SUMMARIES SO WELL?! Just for kicks, I tried to remember some of the books I read, and for several books, I was like, “Well, it made me upset and disturbed me and I didn’t like it, but I don’t totally remember why.” Or, “This narrator is basically every indie sadboi who thinks he’s nice but is actually a jerk, and no I don’t have examples to back it up.” Hell, I don’t even think I could name all the books I read in high school! 3. Your tier descriptions are so good. So. Good.

[@janal2297]

I love that you named the highest category "part of my teen emotional development" it made me wonder which books are up there for me and how I would be different if I hadn't read them. Great video! :)

[@LeanMeanAsianCuisine]

Damn that book selection was more diverse then my entire school rescue me

[@MinaReads]

😂😭😭😭

[@shadysaint4961]

I also thought Nick was Bi since he was in love with Gatsby the same way Gatsby was in love with Daisy, I thought that was the point Tom made at the end them seeing the people they loved with rose-colored glasses. Also didn't he sleep with that guy at Tom's party? I read a theory about Gatsby being a white-passing black man and it added layers to how I saw the book. The Kite Runner will likely hit you in the same way it was a BOOK. The first time I ever fell asleep in class was sophomore year reading the Scarlett Letter it was soOOOOO Boring. Whenever we would read it half the class would fall asleep and it was the most studious students at that.

[@MinaReads]

Shady Saint I’ve heard that theory before! It’s very interesting and I’m not sure I buy it but it would be interesting to reread the book with the perspective that maybe Gatsby was black

[@shadysaint4961]

@@MinaReads Yeah I don't think that's what Scott was going for but it does put alot of Gatsby's behavior into a different context. Like not showing his parents, being new money, chasing this white woman, and the white American white dream.

[@lucysour]

I haven't been in high school for 15 years, but I watched this to see what a young woman thinks of catcher in the rye today. 😅It was part of my teen emotional development too. Loved listening to what you thought of all of these books, thank you.

[@nyacandy]

Girl the kite runner will definitely make you cry but it holds such a special place in my heart! It’s so good

[@MinaReads]

nyacandy ok I definitely need to get to it sooner rather than later then!

[@tsuyayaka1]

I couldn’t agree more about Native Son. The story was wild but I could never get with Bigger as a character. It’s a book that wouldn’t be loved today.

[@MinaReads]

Yea I definitely feel like you’re right about that

[@veronicachandler1314]

What infuriates me is the premise the book puts forth, that black men are so quick to snap. The book almost argues that at any moment no matter how good black men seem they are liable to psycho murder someone at the drop of a mat. Like what the heck? And what impression does it have on black teens in high school, especially when you're forced to read Huckleberry Finn with the n word every five seconds?

[@aidancanoli]

​@@veronicachandler1314 i kinda disagree because i feel like u have to understand that it's still a product of the time it was written in. i agree it could give a certain impression to black students but like as long as you think about the time period and richard wright himself, he's not painting bigger's story as an inevitability, more as a necessary reaction to how society views him. he feels watched and like he doesn't belong coming to the house for the first day of work. i think maybe that was a part of how wright felt like but it's not like he wanted to say black men are just psychos. despite his problematic nature, he shows scenes that humanize him like wanting to fly when he sees planes or just being interested in politics and wanting to have a life like jan i think his name is. like in another one of his stories 'big boy leaves home', which i think was the influence for bigger thomas, its kind of about the fact that black ppl in the time were forced into certain situations like killing people out of self defense because they had no other choice because of how society was set up (and how racist ppl were). i just feel like this was an attempt to do a similar thing in a subtler (i guess?) way and on a larger scale.

[@violenciarivas7797]

@@veronicachandler1314 i'm currently reading native son and sometimes Bigger infuriates me but then I have to remember the context in which the story takes place and then it makes a whole lot of sense. We analyze this books through the eyes of modern times maybe that's why it's so hard for us to sympathize with someone who acts and thinks like Bigger does, since times have changed so much

[@confessionofabookdragon]

Some of my favorites were Beowulf, the Canterbury Tales, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Night Elie Wiesel

[@MinaReads]

such good picks!!!

[@sarahozeki3707]

I just have to say that this idea was genius and that you’re funny as frick. also, I had fun seeing what you had to say about my faves and most hated high school reads. I feel the exact same about the odyssey. I feel like so many ppl love that one and I just cannot relate.

[@MinaReads]

Thank you 💖💖💖💖

[@kellierock1111]

I’m so happy to see where you put catcher in the rye - it gets way more hate than it actually deserves and while Holden is annoying I think he represents a lot of similar feelings teens have about growing up whether they realize it at the time or not

[@jazzgirlie]

Catcher in the Rye is one of my favorite books for the EXACT reasons you laid out. I've never heard anyone share my perspective on this. On another note, I loved everything about this video. Your tiers killed me.

[@breeunabashedly]

I’m so jealous you got to read Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Color Purple in School!

[@MinaReads]

I was so lucky my school’s English department was wonderful

[@lalaloveslit]

We were supposed to read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe sophomore year and that is the first and only time a teacher ever abandoned reading a book. Like we got a few chapters in and then she just decided we wouldn't finish it. Liiiiike that pretty much presents some very negative connotations towards African lit for your students. Also I love this idea for a video!

[@MinaReads]

LalaLovesLit wow she sounds like a terrible teacher omg, I’m so glad you liked this video tho!

[@saraisreading4231]

I had a teacher intend to teach Things Fall Apart paired with Heart of Darkness in a unit about colonialism...she kept HoD and dropped TFA for the sake of time, which said a lot about her priorities.

[@lalaloveslit]

Sara Is Reading oh my god that’s infuriating! But yes, absolutely says A LOT.

[@gingersnap1212]

Things Fall Apart was my first experience in African Lit, and it was such a powerful story. I'm sorry your teacher gave up on it.

[@chandleranderson7935]

That teacher does sound terrible and I agree that African Lit should be emphasized in school (esp. high school!) but Things Fall Apart was just NOT IT. The protagonist reeked of toxic masculinity and it was rarely addressed from what I remember. It's really more of a story about the power shift that colonialism caused rather than focus on African culture, which is more interesting imo. It's funny because my teacher dropped Heart of Darkness to keep Things Fall Apart.

[@lavenderreads8915]

Your relationship with your bestie buddy reading classics seems so cute 🥺 and I absolutely loved this video I definitely need to read more classics.

[@MinaReads]

Yesss reading with my bestie was the best part 🥺💖

[@feonline9789]

I'm surprised at your teacher. I think Tennessee Williams wanted us to have compassion for Blanche DuBois.

[@MinaReads]

yes i totally agree, i really don't know what my teacher had against her!

[@anna-ie5lk]

Maybe its just the mcmisogyny bc my teacher didn’t like blanche either and spent so much time trying to convince us that she was a crazy bitch and stanley was meant to be hot...

[@emjenkins464]

My (male) teacher had us examine her character in a really sympathetic way, even going so far as to purport the theory that she was in fact a stand in for Williams. (It was for a UK exam you needed different perspectives/critical theories). He was also weirdly attracted to Stanley though to the point that it was a joke about him being secretly bi

[@checkeredslime9478]

Persepolis has one of the best comic to movie adaptations I've ever seen.

[@Iris-yt6cz]

Saaaame about 1984, my cousin let me borrow it cuz I never read it in high school and I gave it back like "sorry I just didn't wanna keep reading about the guy who fantasizes about raping a woman :/"

[@MinaReads]

So so valid, i wish I could have given it back instead of having to finish it for class 😩😩😩

[@lilyholland681]

You read some great books in school! In England we barely read any whole books, and definitely none with any diversity in them - we only read The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, and Of Mice and Men. Excellent video! ❤

[@MinaReads]

holland reads thank you so much!

[@growyoung6438]

I randomly found this video, and thought it was such a good idea for a tier ranking. And omg you're hilarious, I very quickly subscribed. Can't wait to go through your videos!

[@MinaReads]

Welcome aboard! thank you so much for subscribing!!!

[@jortsen]

Nick is 100% bisexual there’s literally a chapter where he ends up sleeping with a guy. I pointed it out to my teacher n she was like “oh wow I didn’t notice” LMAO. But yeah bi Nick is canon and nobody can convince me otherwise

[@racheljohnson7177]

What page?!

[@bebella9005]

This is such a great idea for a tier ranking video???? The Kite Runner emotionally scarred me for sure! Also 100% agree with all you said about Holden!

[@lowrider276]

Lol I can't with the Catcher in the Rye. I hated that book so much in high school. To this day I cannot understand the appeal of that book, and I personally never found the protagonist to be relatable 🤷🏿‍♀️. Part of it could be because my teacher was a hardcore stan of that book to the point where she named her son Holden and we all just like... Plus she would argue with anyone that didn't like that book and I'm too petty for that lol. I didn't love the Great Gatsby. There's some odd race stuff in it that I was never able to look past even in high school. However, my friend and I basically had the same interpretation that Nick was bi and super into Gatsby. My favorite books I read in high school were probably Kite Runner, Things Fall Apart, A Raisin In The Sun, and The Lottery (that one was a short story)

[@MinaReads]

B A holden definitely sucks, no doubt about it and the book is very strange so you’re valid for hating it! Also the race stuff in the great gatsby is terrible so I understand that too! Thank you for watching

[@farhana9025]

I disagree on the Catcher in the Rye, because Holden being annoying was the whole point of the book. He's a manchild, and that's the point.

[@adelyngracetruett2469]

this video made me so happy! I was so excited to see this title in my recommended and it absolutely delivered. loved to hear some praise for baldwin & bisexual nick carraway,as well how you articulated your thoughts on holden and romeo & juliet bc those characters are so often dismissed as teen stereotypes.

[@moosemush]

Calling Shakespeare "Billy Boy" had me ROLLING I love this so much

[@kellykiiskila3629]

this was genuinely so entertaining omfg I hope more people start making these

[@liyadeen9164]

“I cried with that final scene with Lennie...and that other guy - what the f*ck’s that other guy’s name??” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 LITERALLY ME WHEN TAKING MY FINAL EXAM ON THAT BOOK

[@imogenkathleen956]

I only had like 6 required reading books the whoooole way through school omg.

[@theycallmemagic]

Sorry to go off here but: Real hot take about holden caulfield, It's a really common take to view holden as hypocritical, cowardly and generally whiny. (shit basically every teacher has this take on holden's personality.) But Here's the fucking problem with this take tho, context, cultural context. Holden isn't just a moody angsty teen, he's a teen living in the prime era of the nuclear family. A movement focused on tv friendly picture of semi dystopian family structure and society that is very obsessed with this be happy, be healthy mentality. The issue of which comes into direct contrast with the real world issue of trauma, mental illness and non heteronormative performances. Holden Caulfield isn't a hypocrite or a coward. He's been conditioned to hold his tongue. Throughout the story any time Holden vocalizes his inner thoughts and feelings he's persecuted, like in pretty extreme ways too. When his little brother dies and his family refuses to grieve in a public manner or in a way that isn't gracious, Holden voices his upset and is sent to a boarding school. He is essentially abandoned by his family and shunned. In the locker room? When he vocalizes his displeasure with one of the jocks behavior? (Fuck it's been a long time) Holden gets physically? Verbally? Harassed and this is described as somewhat of a common occurrence for holden? Then he goes to his teacher's house to vent and when he takes a nap he thinks that the teacher is preying on him sexually. Which like he isn't but holden still feels like it's a betrayal of trust and like I can see how from his perspective that's p whack? (Okay so like I also have some thoughts about this so bit of a side tangent here: So some people use this and a few other moments to express holden's possible homosexual tendencys, but I think maybe the bigger issue is that holden has had a life with so little familial love and affection that he can probably only view that sort of touch as something inherently sexual. I think the teacher, even if he was gay, was touching holden in a purely unconditional way meant to comfort holden. And I also dont think Holden is necessarily gay or queer as much as he is vehemently afraid of being percieved that way due to him having a more fragile and sensitive demeanor, if anything I think Holden isn't emotionally developed enough to actually differentiate his desires in any meaningful way due to the whole age regression and general repression thing he's got going there.) The hooker he hires is callous to his plight and then when he voices his opinion to the pimp he's straight up assaulted. When he talks to his sister about his feelings she basically tells him to take a fucking hike. There's probably a bunch more but I don't have the book on me so I can't like cross reference this shit. But my point is, Holden Caulfield is a mentally ill teenager who has been denied the bare minimum amount of love needed to flourish due to a society of conformity and toxic masculinity. And our insistence to ignore the cultural context is a huge disservice to the real tangible (and still very present) forces of societal expectation present in the book. Like "phony" isn't just an expression of Holden's envy of well adjusted people, it's an expression of the pain of living in a society that worships false pretenses and punishes those who try to break free from that mold. This sort of relationship between false identity and having to censor oneself is why Them Bitches in the Rye appeals so much to queer folk and teenagers esspeccially. so when we pin holden's behavior on his own personal short comings we actively undermine these issues and expirences in pretty fucked up ways. Like Holden is kinda an unlikable dude, sure, but he's also like a 16 yr old boy with serious mental health issues stemming from child neglect, abuse and trauma with literally zero support, who lives in an incredibly hostile social climate that others and belittles him consistently for it and like no one talks about that? So like maybe our guttural reaction and dislike of Holden is possibly a straight up indication of how american society has conditioned us and maybe that's why so many people see themselves in Holden because of how we too are punished by that conditioning.

[@sonia7085]

Oof yeah I totally agree, my teacher viewed Holden that way too. he was messed up because he was grieving his brother

[@sonia7085]

Personally I pity him rather than idolize or hate him

[@letsalltakeawalk6906]

I have never heard a person say they love Romeo and Juliet before now. (No shade I'm just surprised)

[@idrawanawfullot]

i loved it too when i read it!

[@DANtheMANofSIPA]

Most people really cant get into Shakespeare at all. The stories are hard to read and due to the fact that it was a play it is a little basic.

[@mankosdream6138]

immediately without watching, top tier is the outsiders.

[@MinaReads]

I never read the outsiders in school but if i had it would have totally been top tier!

[@erincope5963]

If you liked the outsiders you should read That Was Then, This is Now! It’s by the same author and I liked it immensely more than the outsiders. More impactful for me tbh

[@sundipped]

this is the BEST tier ranking video i've ever seen. i loved hearing your reasoning for your placements. a whole intellectual 😌💖

[@MinaReads]

Thank you so much!

[@lucykurtz5398]

Really interesting/reflective points about Catcher in the Rye! I’ve never really thought about critiquing Holden in such a meta way. The thing that’s always bothered me about his character is the way people seem to idolize his struggles/harsh outlook and romanticize what is clearly mental and emotional illness. I get some real Joker vibes from the fans of Holden and that don’t always sit right with me.

[@riotgrrl453]

The people who idolize him as this Joker type character are entirely missing the point. I love Holden because he was a character that helped me recognize my own struggles with depression. Here was a character in front of me feeling the same feelings and thinking the same thoughts. It was almost an aha moment for me when i realized his mental condition. It was a wow. okay. i need help. The book helped me recognize my issues more than anyone in my life ever did.

[@helenamarangoni9227]

I didn't even go to an American high school, but it is really interesting to see what you guys read in basic education! I read a few of these books, and I especially love Romeo and Juliet, 1984, a Thousand Splendid Suns, and Persepolis.

[@themusicsnob]

“Nathaniel Hawthorne should be prosecuted for making so many High School students read this boring-ass book” 👏👏👏

[@雅花-t1h]

Somewhere in your wonderful rant about the value of colloquial language I said “OH, I LOVE THIS GIRL” and my mom in the kitchen laughed. This is the first video I have ever seen by you but this was seriously so good. You strike me as down to earth, educated, and extremely interesting. Subscribed!

[@AlexA-jm3qj]

Loved this video so much!! Your tiers were so accurate, and ur so funny and insightful! My favorite high school reads were The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Crime and Punishment, and Hamlet !! Those books definitely impacted me the most and how I see the world. Still need to read The Color Purple! 💜

[@MinaReads]

Alex A thank you so much I’m glad you liked it!

[@thomaswee9924]

I think it's canon that Nick carraway is in fact bi-sexual

[@breeunabashedly]

The LAST Required Reading I remember was in 8th grade, catholic school. My class was separated by gender for English and us girls read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. It’s to this day my favorite book-part nostalgia-part the HBIC is literally never even physically in the book, dark, gothic vibes. I would’ve enjoyed English so much more had I gotten to read these books. I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall for your discussions in class

[@MinaReads]

I still need to read this book thank you for reminding me about it!

[@maryquimbo]

I COMPLETELY agree w your opinion on Catcher in the Rye. A lot of my friends hated that book, but honestly I saw soo much of myself in Holden

[@lalaloveslit]

Loved reading The Great Gatsby and The Crucible in high school! (Read A Thousand Splendid Suns in middle school and it is beautiful!)

[@MinaReads]

i would not have been emotionally equipped to read a thousand splendid suns in middle school, you were so strong!

[@SincerelyMelaniexx]

tier names, perfect. opinions, piping. heck yes, subscribed! this is reminding me of so many high school reads and now I want to critically look at them again 👀

[@laconscozynook]

This is such a good idea! Your tier ranking groups were so perfect!!!

[@MinaReads]

Thank you!!!

[@ChooseLove1979]

You are soooo smart and cutting edge for thinking this up!! Props!! 🍾 🥂

[@breeunabashedly]

James Baldwin is so good. Giovanni’s Room and The Fire Next Time 💙 read them, love them, return back to them all the time

[@clareseymour6227]

This is such a good idea for tier ranking! The categories are perfectly named. I 100% agree on The Color Purple- I love that book so much, it is so beautiful in that it’s tragic yet hopeful. I got to see it performed at a local Atlanta theater and it was incredible. I also really enjoy Shakespeare plays. I’ve read several of these in high school too! Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my favorite now.💕

[@adrinasantangelo3543]

The Odyssey slaps tho. I can see how it can be boring but I love it

[@MinaReads]

Maybe I should revisit it, I remember thinking it was boring but I had a boring teacher that year so perhaps it was him and not the story 🤔🤔🤔

[@stripedblueoranges525]

What are some good translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey?

[@laurenrogers]

So glad to hear someone sticking up for R&J!!! I played Mercutio and Prince Escalus in my high school production so that play has a special place in my heart!

[@CharismaBlue911]

Oooooooo I remember debating Nick Caraway in class! Everyone liked him, but I thought he was an untrustworthy narrator! Like, he downplays his neglect to tell whole truths, brushes past his own shortcomings with other women and liquor, but expects you to take his word when he tells you who is righteous and who is not. Hell, he didn't think much of Gatsby at first but ends the novel saying he was a cool dude. The populous was against me, and I was sitting there like "why are you booing me??? I'm right!"

[@justaname4136]

Girl! I liked the odyssey wayyy more than the Iliad, just so much more action. I loved hearing your thoughts.

[@firewhiskeyreader8257]

This was so fun and now I want to do this too! I'm not sure I actually remember all of the books we had to read though... There were a LOT of plays senior year and only one of them stands out. lol

[@MinaReads]

Yes you should totally do it im a huge fan of these tier ranking videos 💖

[@nishthagupta9502]

your explanations for 1984 and The Catcher in the Rye were just p e r f e c t. you put my feelings into words.

[@heyimsasa]

oh MY GOD THANK YOU for 1984. i remember giving it 5 stars in high school/college simply because i didn't wanna keep explaining why i didn't enjoy it. like i told my teacher i didn't like it because the way he treated the women in the book and i don't identify with the main character at all. i got a B on that assignment and will always think it's because i was the only one in the class who didn't like the book >:[

[@isabellagill-gomez7745]

love love LOVED all your points made for these novels, especially the plays. as a theatre student, it's always fun to discuss classic plays with my english major friends and see where POVs change and how everyone analyzes the story differently.

[@mallaidhdevlin4512]

national theatre have a production of streetcar streaming on youtube at the moment. i haven't watched all of it yet but from what i have seen it seems to be quite sympathetic towards blanche dubois so would reccomend

[@MinaReads]

thank you for letting me know about this!!!

[@mallaidhdevlin4512]

@@MinaReads no problem !

[@hhleannem5237]

I love how you formatted this video to show the list of books and locations you'd place them. I haven't seen anyone do this before.

[@frauleinzuckerguss1906]

"I love that he's crippled by indecision because I, too, am crippled by making decisions" Way too relatable lmao :')

[@randim7144]

My English teacher heart enjoyed this video soooo much. 😂 I’m also impressed by how many books you read in your high school classes because I feel like I don’t use enough books in my classes. I’m relieved that you like both Of Mice and Men and Hamlet because those are both near and dear to my heart and are the two classics I teach. ❤️ Great video!

[@elenahaase9134]

The way that Nick Carraway talked about Gatsby and some people think he’s straight??

[@veronicainkorea]

So envious of your Gatsby experience! My junior year our English teacher didn't plan for enough time to finish the Great Gatsby, so we read like the first 10 pages and then she spoiled the ending.

[@selantrian]

I’m loving your thoughts on Shakespeare. There’s plays like Romeo and Juliet that I think are beautifully done and then there’s The Merchant of Venice. OK NICK CARRAWAY TOTALLY IS BI THOUGH. Maybe that is also my bisexuality reading that but to me, there’s no straight explanation for chapter two This was such a creative tier ranking, definitely one of my favorites I’ve seen. I love classics and I read very different ones from you in school, and I always love hearing the books people were forced to read in school and which ones they loved and which ones they hated P.S. I was gonna leave this comment like this and then you talked about 1984 and I super agree with you. I think it just doesn’t... work as a novel?? Winston is like nothing and maybe that’s the point but it doesn’t make him interesting to read about! I think I gave it 3 stars in the end but you reminded me of some things in that book that might lower its rating (I honestly found it so boring my eyes probably skipped over the problematic stuff you mentioned)

[@riotgrrl453]

The society was the interesting part to me in 1984. And Winston's screwed point of view was totally on purpose, he was the product of that society. Winston is interesting because of how well written he is, but for me, the world he lives in is so much more interesting and the fun part is trying to make it all out for yourself through his eyes.

[@beatzbydri]

Just poppin in to say I love your insights on these novels (love that take on Gatsby!!) & that I think you’re absolutely stunning ✨🤍 keep shining, queen!

[@MinaReads]

Thank you ☺️

[@aya-zk8ec]

It’s crazy how diverse your school books are. My school literally did not have a single white person attending but we didn’t read a single book by a non-white writer. And we didn’t even question it back then 🥴

[@Moonshadownova]

I was waiting the entire video to see where you would rank the Catcher in the Rye because it's one of my favorite books. I also don't understand why I love and relate to Holden so much but I just do. Thank you for validating my love for that book lol

[@ienzio7795]

"I think it was iconic that she killed that man" lmaooo liked the video for that alone. Also not a single person in my class liked The Scarlet Letter, we had read The Great Gatsby right before so our dissapointment and our day was ruined.

[@jwddwj9]

This is such a great idea for a video!! Thanks for this!

[@jen8177]

God I barely REMEMBER anything from the catcher in the rye besides him getting beat up by a pimp for not paying for the prositute he rented out. He was definitely wild and I loved him for that.

[@sabrinasiegan8323]

I LOVE that you also enjoyed Romeo and Juliet. I was enthralled with that story, it was one of my favorite required readings from high school. I rarely hear someone have the same opinion as me about Romeo and Juliet omg!!

[@MinaReads]

It's truly so good!

[@pinkcloudsnightlightbell]

AgREEED. Romeo and Juliet abso-*lutely* slaps!

[@MinaReads]

YESSSSS

[@Emily18184]

You're just so entertaining, loved hearing your thoughts on various classics from high school. Points were made 👏 and all your tier names are perfect.

[@thatbanana1733]

I feel like I’m the only one in the world who 1. Actually read the scarlet letter 2. Also loves the scarlet letter.

[@katiejj9052]

I loved it too!

[@andreasommer5569]

I liked the plot but I did not like how it was written. I was very bored reading it until I read the spark notes which was simplified