predicate.

We here in the Predinexus pride ourselves on being well-read Joe and Jane Sixpacks. Some of us even know how to string words into sentences pleasing to both eye and ear. We delight in the whimsical wonder of the written word.

Except for some words. Some words need to die.

Boys and Girls, our next LIST topic bids you whisk yourself back to a simpler time, a pimplier time, sitting in your elementary, middle-school or high school desk, staring with horror at the "literature reading list" of tripe your bespectacled English Lit / Western Civ teacher just plopped down in front of you.

Yes, there are more than a few literary stink bombs in the classical canon. Pointing them out in an official Predicate Index of Awfulness will do a great service for posterity.

1. All those interested in playing will respond to thelist at predicate dot org with their top three (3) items in the category.
2. The List Moderator (that's me!) will compile the results and release the results here on predicate.org. Nominees with multiple mentions on people's personal lists will only be listed once. Only the items themselves will be listed, not who nominated them.
3. The List will undergo a round(s) of culling as per the Moderator's instructions.
4. After culling, the remaining reduced list will be voted upon. Each player will be allowed to rank a Top 5 of the remaining list entries; #1 gets 5 points, #2 gets 4 points, and so on. Again, this information is sent to thelist at predicate dot org. Any extra entries get 0 points.
5. Your votes will be tabulated, and the group's decisions will be released for all to see!

CATEGORY QUESTION:

What 'classic literary works' are of such dubious or poor quality/value that they should never again be allowed to torment the minds and brains of adults, let alone our impressionable young people?

'Classic Literary Works' MAY include:
--Fiction
--Drama & Plays
--Poetry
--Other Expository Prose
--Contemporary examples of the above
--'Children's Lit' examples of the above
--'Classic Literature' written in different languages but often studied in English

Any 'classic' that you can envision being force-fed to sullen youngsters as part of a literature or English class is basically fair game. Take care to make sure your nominations are relatively generally accepted 'classics' though.

To get your thoughts flowing, here's the "representative author list" included in preparatory materials for the AP English Literature Exam.