Here is an example of the common core at the state level, as implemented in MA. Note that the actual texts are specified at the state level:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/commoncore/
Oh, Dear Lord in Heaven. How did they manage to take straightforward concepts and mangle them into these crazy documents?
I skimmed the English standards, because they tend to be the most open to liberal manipulation. They do "suggest" appropriate texts to tie to standards. This isn't anything new.
At the bottom of the link you provided, the previous standards are also provided... and they, too, specify the texts.
I'm not familiar with all the "suggested" works, but I was somewhat surprised to see the likes of Thomas Paine, Jefferson, Patrick Henry. The literature also included "Little Women" and similar classics of literature that most would deem non-objectionable.
Still, the whole document is an exercise in micro-management. Some consulting firm charged them a fortune for it.