Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

about

I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

91 Books to Make Me Smarter

October 17, 2012

I'm getting dumber. It's a fact. I use my computer and my smart phone too much, so my handwriting is deteriorating along with my spelling ability. I spend a lot of time talking to people with a very limited vocabulary (because they're under the age of 5).

I decided to compile a list of "CLASSIC BOOKS!!!" (use your moviefone voice). Like those ones that I never read in middle school and high school that I was probably supposed to.

Taking suggestions from The Modern Library, The World Library, Time Magazine, The Guardian, some slightly random advice from Divine Caroline, and a trusty Facebook poll, I narrowed down a quite epic number to 91 books that are guaranteed to make me smarter.

Right?

Rules for the list, in case you are appalled that Tale of Two Cities or Twilight isn't included:

I had to have heard of either of the book or the author.
Either the book or author had to be mentioned on 2 or more of the above-mentioned catalogs.
No author could have two entries (because Dickens and Shakespere and Tolstoy make up like 20).

Here's what I got…

Yeeeeeah.

Rules for the reading list:

No fair checking off ones you read 5, 10, or 20 years ago.
Reading real books is more fun, but many of them are free on iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and the like.
Pick up whatever looks interesting and START READING.

Are you offended your favorite Jane Austen novel didn't make it? What's your favorite book? Which ones look interesting to you?

Posted in Domesticality

14 responses to “91 Books to Make Me Smarter”

sam bratt

October 17, 2012

rahl dahl ? agatha christe

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Kate Bratt

October 17, 2012

ROALD DAHL!, dear brother-in-law whose harassment made this post happen. I forgive you. You’re, like, 5. I’M KIDDING! I know you’re 12…

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Mary Beth

October 17, 2012

Haha, I kept wanting to list ones I was supposed to read in middle/high school but just bullshitted my way through as ones I’d read.
I am actually not ashamed of how I did on this list. Usually I fail these.
I am side-eyeing you hard for leaving off A Fine and Private Place, though. It’s perfection.
Read:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Charlotte’s Web (I think…)
The Old Man and the Sea
The Great Gatsby
The Brothers Karamazov
Madame Bovary
To Kill a Mockingbird
Catcher in the Rye
Slaughterhouse-Five
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (I think…)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Don Quijote (in Spanish)
The Scarlet Letter
Lord of the Flies
Hamlet
Loved:
The Brothers Karamazov (Pevear/Volokhonsky translation)
Madame Bovary (Raymond MacKenzie translation)
The Scarlet Letter (I was also on some performance enhancers while busting through this one in high school, so that probably affected my enthusiasm about the book)
Hated:
The Old Man and the Sea
Catcher in the Rye (probably because it had been overhyped my whole damn life)

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Kate Bratt

October 17, 2012

You are a reading rock star.
Why do I just feel like I booped you on the head with a fairy wand in my elementary school’s library? No joke; that’s awesome.
I did check out A Fine and Private Place, and let me tell you, I’m INTRIGUED. Side-eye accepted.
Thanks for the translation recommendations, also.

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dane c

October 17, 2012

can i read these with you?! (not in the same room…your husband might find that weird)
i love lists and checking things off.

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Kate Bratt

October 17, 2012

YES! Are you undereducated also, or just a nerd? Where will you start?!
Side note: if anyone has a physical copy of any of these books that they’d like to loan to me, I WILL BAKE YOU SOME COOKIES. The more tattered the book is, the more cookies you will receive.

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dane c

October 17, 2012

more nerd. i’ve probably read at least half of those books (and probably have half in physical copies too that i can definitely pass your way!)
we should have a book club!!!!! with cookies.

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Kate Bratt

October 17, 2012

More nerd = Proud of you!
Does beer go with cookies? Duh, Guinness. OKAY!

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dane c

October 18, 2012

seriously though, if you want any books, just let me know. i have more than i should and have zero problem sharing.
just tell me where you’re going to start and i’ll follow along.
one last note – the scarlet letter sucks so hard.

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Marsha

October 18, 2012

What a fascinating list! It manages to include the best one when there are two obviousl choices… like Huck Finn over Tom Swayer and Tropic of Cancer over Tropic of Capricorn. It includes books thought of as Kiddie Lit, which, IMHO, is where many of the best books are categorized! Here is my point of contention. I LOVE books on tape. I spend hours and hours gluing on rhinestones and hemming gowns and other reasonably “thought-minimal” tasks. My hands are not free to hold a book, but my mind is free to digest and imagine. How can you possibly imply listening is not a good as reading??? And, most of your list is easily available at your local library on dvd or tape, because few people are smart enough to choose these over the current bestsellers which are so fiercely sought after, so my checkmarks were many. I’m so glad you are back to writing Kate. I have missed you!!!

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Kate Bratt

October 18, 2012

MARSHA! YAY!
Let’s discuss…
First of all, I was dissing un-paper books. I’ve read a couple books on my iPhone, and while I enjoyed the books just fine, I did feel something of the experience was lost without a physical, papery, thing to hold. I feel the same way about magazines online. (How am I supposed to write in the margin or tear out pictures?!) This is just a personal preference.
Second of all, I never think of books on tape! I know several people who love them (as seen here), but unfortunately for me, I am not a good auditory learner. The G’s family loves to read books out loud, and while I read books to my ladies for obvious reasons, the story is lost on me unless I’m actually reading it.
With your career, I think it’s a fine choice of entertainment and enrichment. I would probably turn on TMZ. All day. But as we’ve discussed before, you have some amazing talents that I do not possess (how do you get the fabric to drape the way you want it?! MAGIC!!!).
Books on tape, people. And electronic devices. Let’s not discriminate. Words are good.

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Marsha

October 19, 2012

LOL… I’m kinda with you on the paper thing, because I love the smell and feel of actual books as well… and let’s not discuss my endless technical troubles with my nook! Really all you said was that reading “real” books is more fun… I jumped to conclusions! And I’m glad to hear you are not specifically opposed to your readers listening to some of their books. Or reading from a screen, since that is how I digest YOUR words! Someday, when you publish your first tome, I promise to buy the hardcover print edition. Big hug!

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sam bratt

October 19, 2012

Sorry Kate, i would tell you what books i have read,but i am not good at typing and it would take for ever.

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Kate Bratt

October 19, 2012

Sam, two words: Mavis Beacon.
Marsha, you’ll get an advanced, autographed copy if that ever happens.

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