Personal Literary Canon
By: Jonathan Hester
The Goosebump Series
R.L. Stine has mastered a craft in his book series Goosebumps. In Stine's books he keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end. This series shaped what I am interested in for sure. I would say Goosebumps would've enforced my interest in things that are paranormal.
The Percy Jackson Series
Percy Jackson is a well crafted series about the greek gods and their offspring. Riordan sticks to the facts about the Gods, while also introducing lesser gods into the stories. With a twist of fantasy and reality. The Percy Jackson series has shaped my interest in greek mythology, while also keeping a little bit of the strange things that I enjoy with the monsters and mythological creatures.
Coming Back Stronger
This book is an autobiography of Drew Brees from when he was born to win he won the 2009 super bowl with the New Orleans Saints. His story details his struggles with being hurt, getting drafted late, and struggling in San Diego. New Orleans and Drew Brees were both struggling with things that hurt them Hurricane Katrina and a rotator cuff injury respectively. Drew Brees lead the Saints to a winning season that helped to unite the city and give it a rebirth.
The Hunger Games Series
The Hunger Games series are all well crafted books based in a post revolution world. The revolution has sparked the government to try and control their citizens through a grand death match with two tributes from each district. The hunger games started a pop revolution shaping a lot of memes. Hunger Games is an interesting book and even sparks an important question. What are our ethics and would we be okay with something like the hunger games where we pit people against each other.
What The Dog Saw
What The Dog Saw is a collection of stories that explains why we act the way we do, why we buy what we do, and why we believe the things we do. It explores why people love ketchup so much and why its always an accepted condiment. It explains how we can better show ourselves so people can follow us and buy what we are selling. This book has shaped the ways I live and how I lead people. By reading this book I have found an interest in the human mind and how it works.
Shiloh
Shiloh is a great book about a boy with a large heart and a dog. Shiloh is owned by a man who is cruel to his dogs and cruel to the people around him. This book shaped my love for beagles along with reinforcing my previous knowledge that all animals should be treated with love and care.
Cirque Du Freak
The Cirque Du Freak series is a series about a boy who must pay a debt by becoming a vampire. Since he becomes a vampire he must stay with his master. This pits him against his used to be best friend who becomes a vampire slayer. I like this book because of the strangeness and paranormal accents in the book.
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is well written book about a man with many adventure and a low IQ. Gump meets JFK, LBJ, and Nixon, while also fighting in the vietnam war, being a football standout at Alabama, running across the country, becoming a shrimp boat captain, and chasing the lost love of his childhood. Gump teaches us that we can all succeed no matter our challenges. Gump also teaches us that we can all find love, but it may take just a little longer for some people. Gump is one of the many american heroes who insire us to be better people.
Dr. Seuss books
Dr. Seuss teaches us things through rhyme and a child like manner. Green Eggs and Ham teaches us we should always try new things without fear, just try it once. From The Sneetches we learn that it does not matter what you look like we should respect each other. In The Lorax we learn that bad choices have bad consequences, when you cut down the trees all the animals left, including the Lorax who speaks for the trees. In the Cat In The Hat we learn that you shouldn't let people in when your mother is out. Dr. Seuss teaches us underlying meanings without us even realizing it, shaping kids forever.