One of my favorite personal facts is that I'm an English major. Reading and writing are two of my favorite things, even when required for school, and they have helped make me who I am. Although I'm not dating anyone at the moment, whoever does end up dating and marrying me is going to have some literature to catch up on, not because I won't date him if he doesn't, but because the lessons from these pieces of literature can help our future relationship be the best it can be.
1. The Bible
My commitment to following Christ comes before all else, including my husband, which means that knowing this book is incredibly important to our future marriage. Every book of the Bible has an important, necessary lesson to help our lives reflect God better, and so my future husband will definitely have to have read this by the time he asks me on our first date.
2. "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers
3. "The Blue Castle" by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I do not have a favorite book, but this is definitely in my top three. The Blue Castle is one of Montgomery's lesser-known works since she's most famous for Anne of Green Gables, but The Blue Castle is incredibly beautiful. The epic descriptions of the land the main character lives in and her insistence that she live, truly live, before she dies makes this necessary for my future husband to read because I want to truly live with him.
4. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Yes, he actually has to read this one, not watch the Kiera Knightly version, which is an abomination to the book itself. The BBC version, if you must know, is the most accurate. Regardless, the lesson that self-knowledge must come before true love is a necessary one. My husband must know himself, be willing to examine himself and be honest about his flaws, before marrying me, just like Mr. Darcy. I will have to do the same, just like Elizabeth Bennet.
5. "A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf
Now, I have yet to read this work in its entirety myself, but that doesn't mean I can't suggest it for my future husband as well. A Room of One's Own is an important feminist work and as I consider myself a feminist based on my views of equality, my husband will need to understand feminism as well. What better way to understand feminism than through the eyes of the brilliant Virginia Woolf.
6. "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre, although inclusive of a beautiful love story between two flawed people, has much more to offer my future husband than a romance. Jane Eyre is primarily about the title character finding herself, discovering through certain situations and relationships who she is, what she stands for, what she wants. I am on a similar road of self-discovery and hope my future husband is as well. Besides salvation, there is no more important knowledge than knowing yourself. Jane Eyre will help make sure we both know that before we jump into marriage.
7. "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte
Although this novel is definitely not an example of a good relationship, there are some hopelessly romantic aspects that my future husband will simply have to know. Namely, "whatever souls are made of, yours and mine are the same." I believe in this quote romantically and platonically, that God created people of the same fabric to not only fall in love, but be good friends, and He scattered them throughout one another's lives. It is also one of the favorite books, so hopefully, my future husband will know it for that reason as well.
8. "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath is a dark writer who can be confusing at times, especially in her poetry, but I have loved her novel for many years. I've re-read this book multiple times and I continue to do so because I love to follow the path into the main character's madness. Since we read it from her perspective, it doesn't look like madness at all.
Although I've never been suicidal, I've definitely been able to empathize with the main character in multiple ways, especially the scene where she describes the pear tree and all of the options she sees for her life. She's unable to pick just one because there are so many wonderful options that she wants. If she doesn't pick one, though, they will all rot. My future husband will need to know this scene because it is something I frequently deal with. Which path to my future do I take? What is God's will for my life? How do I get there? This book might even help him make these decisions, too.
9. "Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me" by Karen Swallow Prior
This is one of the few nonfiction books I recommend because of two chapters. The entire memoir is beautiful, but the two chapters on sex and marriage are incredibly important to me and should also be important to the man I marry.
The chapter on sex addresses how a false view of sex, such as through porn, can be poison. It addresses hard topics such as how God and community help determine a moral and sexual code, reminds the reader that sex, as God intended it to be, is good and beautiful, and also expands Jonathan Swift's satire and Gulliver's Travels into several brilliant points that I thoroughly enjoyed learning about.
The chapter on marriage is probably my favorite. Prior explains to the reader that marriage is not what it is made to be in books, that when one marries one is committing to a real person. You cannot present yourself falsely, you cannot expect everything to run smoothly, and you must be willing to fall in love with the mundane.
The beauty of marriage is contained in romantic dinners and walking on the beach, but it is more important in sharing a bathroom cup and laughing together. It is in cooking and getting one another ginger ale when they're sick. It is in Christmas presents that are not necessarily flashy and expensive and rare, but that are unique and thoughtful.
I want my future marriage to be beautiful in its simplicity, I want us to be content in our normalcy, and I want to be loved through every change and growth I have. I want to return that type of love and I believe this book will help both me and my future husband do that.
10. The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
There's nothing like Harry Potter. Simple life lessons such as the power of friendship and the importance of doing what is right even when it's difficult are shown through exciting tales about wizards and dragons, Death Eaters and quidditch. I firmly believe that there is really no such thing as children's books because all literature can be read at any age. All literature should be applicable to every age. My future husband will hopefully know this too, and always be willing to re-read the books and re-watch the movies. There is nothing like Harry Potter magic.
11. "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
I'm from Georgia and this book is a huge deal in my state. It is one of the few world-renowned books written by a woman from our state, so we don't let it go easily. I've been to her apartment and her burial site, I've seen a documentary on her life several times, and I have both read the book and seen the movie.
Granted, this book is racist. I hesitate to put it on the list for that reason because I never want to champion racist literature. I do, however, want my husband to understand that the characterization of Melly and Scarlett is incredibly important. They are completely different women and they're development through the book acts as both a warning and an encouragement in my life. I want to take no crap and live without fear of other's opinions like Scarlett.
I want to love with fierce loyalty and be strong like Melly. If it is possible, I hope I grow up to be the perfect mixture of both of them. Right now, I think I'm a little too much like Melly, which he'll understand better if he reads the book. The movie is easier, I know, but there's nothing like having Scarlett talk to you. My future husband simply must see the world through her eyes.
These are only eleven of some of the important books that have contributed to my life. I hope they add to my future husband's as well. Do you agree? What books should I add or take off?
