We can all agree that some required reading texts for our English classes over the summer are not always the most entertaining. From ancient stories of Greek tales, to dystopian novels like 1984, not every required book is everyone’s cup of tea.

Drumbeats polled students to see which required reading book in English classes was their favorite. Students had many different opinions and reasonings as to which book was their favorite; some liked Romeo & Juliet, while others had an affinity for The Odyssey. However, the most common favorite all-around was Of Mice and Men. When asked why, one student responded with, “The book was short, sweet, and got its point across without the need for 700 pages.” To Kill a Mockingbird was also another popular choice. Another individual wrote, “I found 1984 extremely interesting because of the new concepts it introduced like doublethink and the Two Minute Hate. Orwell’s writing style intrigued me greatly because the way he used Winston’s psychological state as a tool for the Party to manipulate wasn’t like other dystopian novels.” Students’ favorite books had a wide variety – but that’s the beauty of reading – everyone finds different stories interesting.

While they may not always be the most fun to read, each required English text offers lessons and stories that are often applicable to our modern world today. Books open a door to the past and an opportunity to learn from its teachings for the future. So, if your English teacher makes you spend two months on Macbeth, it’s probably for a good reason. Who knows? Maybe it’ll become one of your favorite reads down the line.