A Reading List for English Applicants

I think that's an excellent list because I've read all but three of the books on there. I'd agree about intentionally veering away from the predictable on a PS too. Even if you're genuinely enthused by 1984, you'll probably still (rather unfairly) disadvantage your application because it's one of those classics that 'pretenders' will go on about endlessly. Or, at least, you won't be advantaging your application as much as you could by picking a less obvious & banal choice.

Different college, different list. Oh, but Vic/Modern list, pick three authors - don't have to read the whole thing. And hobnob, you're right. The list is fine. I've read about 70% of what I'm supposed to, which I don't think is bad at all.

Also can I just say for the record, horizons, NMH = best. Ever.

The classics are classics for a reason though. You may as well advise against mentioning anything from the Romantic or Victorian era then. Joyce, Eliot, Plath, McEwan, Murakami and Shakespeare may as well be ignored too due to the amount of times they're mentioned in PSs.

I just don't buy into the logic that something is to be avoided out of worry of what others may be doing. Besides, it's not just what you've read that tutors are interested in, it's what you've gained from reading it and as such, the title itself is irrelevant.

I think the point is that even if you don't end up mentioning those texts in your PS because you think they're too "obvious", it's good to have read them. The list was intended as a starting-point for people thinking about doing a degree in English, not as a list of titles to name-drop and potentially impress (or perhaps not) tutors with.

The classics are classics for a reason though. You may as well advise against mentioning anything from the Romantic or Victorian era then. Joyce, Eliot, Plath, McEwan, Murakami and Shakespeare may as well be ignored too due to the amount of times they're mentioned in PSs.

I just don't buy into the logic that something is to be avoided out of worry of what others may be doing. Besides, it's not just what you've read that tutors are interested in, it's what you've gained from reading it and as such, the title itself is irrelevant.

Anyway, I like how concise this list is. As someone who knows no-one who reads anything other than supermarket bestsellers it's handy to have lists like these around. Now if only they would let me back into the library.

I didn't want it to be intimidating.

What did you do to deserve a ban?

Yes, I don't dispute that; I agree with the idea behind the list. It just seems illogical of me to go against the very point of a PS and refrain from mentioning your favourite books/authors for fear that half of the other applicants has mentioned them too, which seems to be Ascient's point.

I don't disagree with that, but I don't really have a problem with classics as a whole. And there's a difference between staying away from certain books and certain epochs altogether. It's just certain books, of which 1984 is probably the main culprit, are always talked about a lot more in PSs and I would probably veer away from centring my PS around that if there was another book I could talk about. Whether I was genuine about it or not, it's one that's stained by reputation.

If someone was mentioning 1984 merely in passing or as part of a wider point, I might be inclined to agree, but if there's a genuine interest in 1984 and they would otherwise have written about it, I'd encourage them to continue to do so. Writing on post-colonial theory, deconstructionism or mentioning some relatively obscure book might suggest an advancement in reading breadth that is lacking in the other candidate, but doesn't necessarily suggest a better aptitude for the degree at hand.

Anyway, I think this is one matter that we'll have to agree to disagree on and I think the divide in opinion is quite healthy since it shows prospective candidates that there's no defined content or way of writing a good PS for English.

Nothing purposeful. It wasn't even my can of Sprite that got knocked over - people shouldn't leave their books in piles on the floor.

I think the divide in opinion is quite healthy since it shows prospective candidates that there's no defined content or way of writing a good PS for English.

This is good, but I really haven't read that much general stuff.
I just read what I enjoy. The stuff on my PS is stuff I enjoy.
Due to me not reading all this stuff, is that it for Oxford? Ka-phut? Dream over?

This is good, but I really haven't read that much general stuff.
I just read what I enjoy. The stuff on my PS is stuff I enjoy.
Due to me not reading all this stuff, is that it for Oxford? Ka-phut? Dream over?

Thanks you two.
I worry too much. God knows what I'm going to be like on the eve of the ELAT.