Stories You Just Have To Read!

I am not one of those people who reads books much at all, unless it is based on a film that I really like, or generally has my interest due to the author or plot line. Some of the books mentioned I have read, whilst others I haven't but really wish to!

Pochade Box Stories

Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

There are a few of these books but there is no specified order to read them, though I would try and read all of them! As possibly the most famous detective characters known to mankind, there are very few people who don't know of him and the iconic series of books which follow his adventures and mysteries. The books centre not only on mysteries, but how his character comes to life and influences how they are solved. It is a series of books you could read multiple times without getting bored, just through the sheer amount of detail in each of them. The debate is whether to watch the movies before reading, or read the books first, my answer is to do whichever you prefer, as this does vary from person to person, and it doesn't affect your experiences with either in the slightest.

Upon research, here are a few helpful videos I picked up so you can truly decide whether these books are worth the read!

★ You Should Read Sherlock Holmes - Chareads

★ Should You Read Sherlock Holmes? - Jay Kent

★ An Introduction To Sherlock Holmes - Jean Bookishthoughts

Surprisingly enough, many age recommendations say that these books are suitable for children aged nine and above, as the books aren't overly complex and without graphical scenes of violence or relationships, though some of the stories in the series do recommend children are aged thirteen and over. The scale of this wonderful series has meant many teachers use it as a class book, which all the students must read, sometimes out loud as a class.

Though not typically the book I would go for, they do seem incredibly enjoyable, and that reason alone is enough to get me started. It is very much a bucket list 'you must read before you die' series. The original series is definitely better for those who wish to know more about Sherlock as a character, and I would recommend reading these to anyone who is a true fan of the video representations, as they depict him in such a different light.

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

Here are a few videos to get us started:

★ Why You Should Read Tolstoy's "War and Peace"? Brendan Pelsue - TED Ed

★ Should You Read War and Peace? - Amanda Center

Famous writer Virginia Woolf crowned 'War and Peace' her favourite novel of all time, claiming Tolstoy to be the greatest of all novelists. If that alone isn't reason enough to pick up this legendary tale, let me continue. This is a book which took a good few years to write, and many people require a lot of time reading it, as it is full to the brim of detail. As a novel depicting Russia during the Napoleon war, it is obviously going to be filled with a lot of complexity, especially surrounding conflict. There are many cultural references in the book which make it a lot more special than your average novel, many get a real taste for what life was like during the time in which the book was set just by reading it.

Stories You Should Read After Seeing The Movie

History lovers, this book is perfect for you! Despite the negative goings-on, Tolstoy still takes a large quantity of the book to describe the surroundings, notably the beautiful ballroom description in Moscow, while the war is still continuing outside. The ability to allow the reader to encounter things in the realest sense is no less than magical.

This is a book recommended to read over the movies as they don't do it justice at all. The complexity of the plot isn't near enough explored in the film, and for those that do like having to think a little when reading will surely have fun trying to work out what events may ensue.

It is worth mentioning that Leo Tolstoy is listed as one of the greatest writers of all time.

The Catcher In The Rye - J. D. Salinger

Here is a book recommended for school students, as it is very related to school and many tutors have took it upon themselves to teach the book in it's entirety to students of the appropriate age. It is well over the 60th anniversary of the books' release, yet it is still as popular as it was then.

Upon finishing the book, readers claim to have learned valuable lessons in which they will hold forever. It is one of those books you just can't forget about. The lessons in which you take change depending on what time in your life you do decide to read, though all are equally as fascinating to me.

From reviews, it is recommended for teenagers rather than those of younger school years, as there isn't a lot to relate to at a younger age, and they would find it too difficult to understand. While some readers say it is only relatable to those who have suffered with angst, which many teenage students would have, others say it is a book you can re-read again and again at any time in life, whilst always taking away something after reading it. Many claim that one read left them dissatisfied, and only after reading it again did they learn to really fall in love with it.

Little Red Riding Hood - Charles Perrault

Now here is something a little different. On this list, this is the only book I have read, the fairytale is not only aimed at children, but has a deep meaning behind it suitable for all ages in my opinion. If you haven't read it, the story centres around a young girl who was always so healthy and happy, that she earned the nickname 'Little Red Riding Hood', the story follows her as she journeys to her Grandmother's house in another village. The story has long been called controversial, with many, many, different tellings of the tale arising, censoring some of the more gruesome details to suit for younger audiences.

Though Perrault was known for a variety of fairytales, it is Little Red Riding Hood that seems the most iconic, as everyone would have read it at some point, (hence why it's on this list). Perrault's version is the very first edition of the story, without any censored details being left out, so this is pretty much the story in it's purest form.

Here are some useful links which show the difference between the original, and the modified versions:

★ Little Red Riding Hood, A Charles Perrault Fairytale - Various Artists Topic

★ Charles Perraults's Version Of Little Red Riding Hood *Read Description* - CourtNala

★ Little Red Riding Hood | Read Along Audiobooks | Classic Children - Sing and Learn

The idea of the original story, which was Perrault's version was to warn children of talking to strangers, and it definitely does do a good job of that! I wouldn't recommend the version I'm talking of to children any younger than eight, though it is entirely your decision if you believe otherwise.

Brother Grimms was the notable author of the modified child's tale, which is almost certainly the version you have read (and I was told).