VANITY - Book list needed

1-11 | Self

[jcb8199]

I realize this is a rather selfish vanity, but after doing a search of the archives (by no means an exhaustive one, however), I am appealing for aid. I am trying to compile a list of books (not extensive, but decent) that are anti-communist or anti-totalitarian in nature to give to my students as a project when we reach the unit on the Russian revolution and the rise of communism to the Cold War.
Obvious books are

• 1984, Orwell
• Animal Farm, Orwell
• Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury
• Brave New World, Huxley

Do any of you know of good fiction books that I can add to the list that will give a good picture of a totalitarian society? I am also thinking of adding "The Village," the movie by M. Night Shyamalan, as, in my opinion, it is a great representation of a "commune," showing how Communism requires demonization of enemies and ignorance to achieve its goal, not to mention subjugation of the self to the state.
Any help y'all could offer would be great, as I think this could be a fun/informative lesson for my students. (And yes, I am a public school teacher...)

[Mordacious]

You must must MUST add the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut.

[So Cal Rocket]

Atlas Shrugged
Fountainhead

by Ayn Rand

[atomicpossum]

The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn.

[robowombat]

Ayn Rand also wrote a novel about the period of 197-1920 in Russia 'We the Living'. It is partly autobiographical.

[jcb8199]

I'd thought of those books but, length notwithstanding, I'm not sure that Rand is a 10th grade level. The books I listed are used in high school already, so they work well, both the content and hte length/level.

[3AngelaD]

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. They will love it, so will you.

[untenured]

Courtois et al., The Black Book of Communism, which meticulously documents the democide of every communist regime, totaling close to 100 million.

Two by Richard Pipes: Communism: A History, and The Russian Revolution

A shorter option is Ch. 2 (on Lenin), Ch. 8 (on Stalin along with Hitler) and Ch. 16 (on Mao, along with India) in Paul Johnson's Modern Times.

[A Longer Name]

Mikhail Bulgakov, Heart of a Dog.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Solzhenitsyn.

[untenured]

I didn't realize you are teaching high-school sophomores. My suggestions above might be a little weighty for those students.

[Petronius]

I saw Grapes of Wrath" the other night for the umpteenth time. Its portrayal of the Utopian government-run migrant camp is so corny and ham-fisted I *almost* thought I was watching a masterpiece of satire. Too bad they were serious.

I've never read Rand, but she tends to make a powerful impression on some.

[A Longer Name]

Vladimir Voinovich, Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin.

[Billthedrill]

L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time.

[Mr. Brightside]

Whittaker Chambers' "Witness."

Chambers was an American spy for Russia during the Cold War. It was his testimony that put high ranking Russian spy Alger Hiss in jail. Hiss was a Roosevelt man in the State Department and who wrote the US/Russian agreement at Yalta.

Chambers eventually abandoned Communism for Christianity, claiming he was "leaving the winning side for the losing side." Fortunately, he was wrong on that.

One of Reagan's first acts in office was to posthumously award Chambers with the Medal of Honor for risking his life to expose Russian spies in our government.

An absolute must.

[jcb8199]

Pardon, I should I clarified that.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Darkness at Noon by Koestler
Journey into the Whirlwind by Ginsburg
Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest
Gulag by Anne Applebaum
Koba the Dread by Martin Amis

[robowombat]

The GA may be a bit stiff for high school students. However, two short fictional treatments by Slozhenitsyn; 'For the Good of the Cause' and 'One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich' could prick a high school student's interest and the much longer but very smoothly written 'The First Circle' is, to my mind, the most brilliantly finished picture of the Stalin regime ever written.

[Gator101]

Darkness at Noon - Koestler

Read it in college. I can't see how anybody can read this book and still be sympathetic to commies.

[Mordacious]

The Vonnegut short story would be perfect for that level and is dead on point. Its opening line:

<"The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal."

I highly recommend it to anyone. It's simple, but profound.