The 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald is also a great old fiction book. It delves into the decadence and disillusionment of the Jazz Age. The character of Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of the American Dream, as well as his love for Daisy, make it a fascinating read.
Well, 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley is definitely among the best old science fiction books. It presents a dystopian future society where people are engineered and conditioned. 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' by Walter M. Miller Jr. is also very good. It shows a post - apocalyptic world and the role of religion in such a setting. And don't forget 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells, which allows us to think about time travel and the future of humanity in an exciting way.
Some of the top old west fictions include 'The Ox - Bow Incident' by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. It's a thought - provoking story that shows the darker side of mob justice in the west. 'Centennial' by James Michener is also excellent. It's a long and detailed account of the settling of the west, covering everything from the Native American tribes to the white settlers. And don't forget 'The Searchers' by Alan Le May, which was later made into a famous movie, and tells a gripping story of a man's search for his kidnapped niece in the old west.
One of the well - known is 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamant. It gives a fictional account centered around the women in the Old Testament stories. It's a great read as it fleshes out the female characters who are often in the background in the traditional tellings.
The 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series by Jeff Kinney is really popular among 11 - year - olds. It's funny and relatable as it follows the life of Greg Heffley in middle school. 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett is also a classic. It tells about a young girl who discovers a hidden garden and how it changes her life. Then there's 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle, a science - fictiony adventure that takes the characters across different dimensions.
Some of the top old school science fiction books include 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It's about a young boy named Ender who is trained to fight in a future war against an alien race. The book delves into themes like leadership, morality, and the psychology of children. Also, 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' by Walter M. Miller Jr. is a great one. It's set in a post - apocalyptic world where the Catholic Church plays a major role in preserving knowledge from the pre - apocalyptic era. It's a thought - provoking look at how society can rebuild after a great disaster.
One of the top fiction books for 9 - year - old boys is 'Holes' by Louis Sachar. It's a story full of mystery and adventure as a boy is sent to a juvenile detention center where he has to dig holes every day. 'The BFG' by Roald Dahl is another excellent option. It has Dahl's signature humor and a very unique story about a Big Friendly Giant. 'Wonder' is also a good book. It teaches kids about kindness and acceptance through the story of a boy with a facial difference.
A very well - known one is 'F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Last Tycoon'. It offers an insider's view of Hollywood during its golden age. Fitzgerald was working in Hollywood when he wrote it, and it shows the power struggles, the creative processes, and the glamour as well as the darker sides of the industry.
Some of the best old school space science fiction books are '2001: A Space Odyssey' by Arthur C. Clarke. It's a classic that explores the mystery of space, human evolution, and artificial intelligence in a very engaging way. Another great one is 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a complex and richly detailed universe with politics, religion, and ecology all intertwined in a desert planet setting. And 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov is also highly regarded. It presents a grand vision of a galactic empire and the science of psychohistory.
I think 'The House of Mirth' by Edith Wharton is really good. It shows the social constraints and the power dynamics among the old money families in New York. Another is 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' which has a family that once had wealth and status. It's a tragic story that reveals a lot about the idea of old family names and lost fortunes.
One great book is 'The Land of Stories' series by Chris Colfer. It takes readers on magical adventures through fairy - tale lands. The characters are engaging and the stories are full of twists and turns that keep ten - year - olds hooked.