RequiredReading

As the heart of the humanities, English education boasts lofty goals: the development of effective selfexpression, the encouragement of curiosity, the expansion of worldviews. At Xavier, students from English 9 through a vast array of senior electives engage with texts that further those objectives. “Each book in the English curriculum is carefully chosen to challenge our students in their critical thinking while fostering in them a lifelong love for reading. In the Jesuit tradition, we balance the foundational, canonical works of Western literature with more contemporary and diverse voices so that we can teach our students, above all, to be human and to recognize God’s grace in all things,” said English department chair Aidan Byrne. “During their four years at Xavier, our students learn to see themselves in the text, be it in Shakespeare’s complicated heroes or Ellison’s Invisible Man, and they appreciate these books for their life lessons just as much as for their craft. This appreciation for the universality of the literature and their understanding of themes and technique is best shown in their own writing.”

Things Fall Apart

I believe that Things Fall Apart is an important book to read as Achebe’s novel is able to inform readers about his rich African culture while conveying an underlying message about life. Achebe goes in depth to illustrate how one must properly treat others and how people are affected by societal pressures, which are frequent issues seen today.

—Ayden Heron ’25

Home

Morrison exposed me to the challenges of race, identity, and belonging in this book. She invited me to think about the experiences of those whom society has labeled invisible. I personally think anyone who wants to understand the human experience and the ongoing fight for justice and dignity in America must read this book.

—Hanoi Nelson ’25

Invisible Man

Invisible Man creates an interesting and unique dichotomy between feeling noticed and feeling invisible and called out to me as I often feel invisible to the constructs of our world, but this book changed a negative connotation into a positive one.

—Finn Sweeney ’23

Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman explores the human condition as it dives into the inner workings of Willy Loman and his family. The reader is provided with a compelling critique of the American Dream and the pursuit of success in a capitalist society. Miller’s play has enthralled readers such as myself for decades, and it will enthrall them for many more years to come.

—Luca

Radovic ’24

The Great Gatsby

Gatsby is an in-depth analysis of individual characters who all create and protect their social identity. I liked how we could go beyond the text and explore social dynamics and divides.

—Jack Minogue ’24

The Things They Carried

I enjoyed reading The Things They Carried because I’ve always wondered why certain soldiers are affected by war more than others. My mother is a psychologist, and in the past, she told me about certain patients she has spoken with—some of them being veterans. She told me how stressful it is for someone to fight in a war and then to just be dropped back into their lives, expected to pick up right where they left off. This novel has allowed me to see firsthand how soldiers are affected by war.

—Michael McGreal ’23

Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of nine short stories by an American author of Indian origin, Jhumpa Lahiri. One short story that particularly stood out was “A Temporary Matter.” I enjoyed this story because it showed me the intimacy and sensitivity of a relationship and how when you’re willing to communicate and be vulnerable, you can overcome great grief.

—Ratu Delano Navoti ’24

A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove tells the story of a grumpy man who shows the importance of family and helping others. The character Ove is the best thing about the book because of his unique personality and willingness to help other people. He matures because of his neighbors and makes new friends in the last years of his life, which makes a beautifully well-written book.

—Lucas Leung ’26

Macbeth

Macbeth, otherwise known as the Scottish play, is one of many tragedies written by William Shakespeare. The reason this play stood out to me was because earlier in the year, the Xavier Dramatics Society put on a production of Macbeth, and going through the monologues and asides while breaking down the language made the play much more enjoyable. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the way Shakespeare wrote, and sparked my interest in his other works, even after we finished the book.

—Matthew Mistretta ’24

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath is a brutal and unflinching look at the oppressive systems of American capitalism during the Great Depression. A heartbreaking story of the average man’s plight, tragedy, and suffering, Steinbeck’s incredibly detailed descriptions of the harsh settings and rather curt tone express the plight of the migrants perfectly as they trek across the country.

—Henry Max ’24