Over the last couple of years, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for classic literature, and I believe that everyone should dive into these enduring novels. The thought of reading classics can feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially if your only experience has been through what you’ve been forced to read in school, which has more likely than not made you hate the assigned reading. If you’ve found yourself disliking classic novels, it’s likely because you haven’t yet discovered the right one for you.
I’d like to share some recommendations on what novels to begin with. Whether you have devoured every required reading from English class or have never even touched them, these timeless stories are worth your attention. They all have something unique to offer, showcase the complexity of the human experience, and are rich with detail on their respective historical period. I encourage everyone to give them a chance, because they might surprise you!
If you have not read classics before, I would recommend starting with a children’s classic. One of my
favorite children’s classics is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, which follows the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow from childhood to womanhood during the American Civil War. Another favorite is Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, which tells the story of an imaginative and spirited orphan girl named Anne Shirley as she finds her place in the world and learns the true meaning of family, friendship, and love.
Both of these novels are considered coming-of-age stories, so they’re mostly lighthearted, and they’re very easy to read. They are more feminine than some other novels that I will recommend, but I think guys will like them too, and can still get something out of them.
Another classic that is easy to read that I love is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It is also a coming-of-age novel, about 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a poor“Greaser” in 1960s Oklahoma, and the violent rivalry between his gang and the wealthy “Socs” from the other side of town. S. E. Hinton’s prose and complex characters made me fall in love with the story, and made me feel for the characters when difficult events arose.
Another classic I highly recommend is Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. This is the story of Scarlet O’Hara, a Southern belle, during the time of the Civil War and Reconstruction in Georgia. The novel focuses on a tumultuous romance, as well as the crumbling of society as she knows it, forcing her to do many things to survive. She is annoying and insufferable, but even though she’s an unlikeable character, her story was very gripping, and I could not put the book down. It is over 900 pages, but it is one of the few books that I wasn’t focused on how far in I was, because I could get so lost in the book that 50 pages could go by and I wouldn’t realize it.
I also highly recommend Animal Farm by George Orwell. It is a novella, with around 120 pages, so it is a quick read. The story follows farm animals who overthrow their human owner, only to have the pigs gradually become corrupt leaders. It was originally written to be an allegory of the corruption
of Russia into a Communist country, ruled by Stalin. I would recommend at least having a small understanding of the Russian Revolution and Stalin before reading the novel, but you won’t be completely lost if you know nothing about the Russian Revolution.
A top favorite classic novel that I recommend is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The novel follows scientist Victor Frankenstein, who creates a being from the body parts of dead men but abandons it out of horror, leading to the creature’s isolation, rage, and quest for revenge. The novel is very different from how pop culture portrays it. Frankenstein is typically what the creature is called, and the creature is commonly thought of as a monster that has bolts in its neck and is savage. In the novel, the creature is a much more complex character, not just inherently evil.
Finally, my favorite classic that I recommend is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The novel follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters from a middle-class family, as she navigates the social landscape of her time and tries to find love. The prose in Pride and Prejudice is probably the most difficult to read, but after I got used to it, I was sucked into the story. It is one of the original enemies-to-lovers stories, and it’s so good!
I hope this piece has inspired you to pick up at least one of these classic novels! I highly recommend all of them, and I hope you enjoy them!
