What classic novels should i read

See our ethics statement. If you are the kind of person who likes to embark upon a project in times of stress, there are worse choices during quarantine than trying to read your way through a bunch of the classic great books.

Reading a book can take you out of yourself and your situation for a while, and nourish your mind in a way that more passive entertainment might not. Do whatever you have to do to get by! This article is just for people who respond to anxiety by giving themselves homework. But if your only plan is to read books you vaguely understand to be classics, the idea of starting can be overwhelming. Where to begin? How much work are you committing to? Do you even have the attention span to read right now?

A Passage to India is how many of us first made acquaintance with E. Forster in the 11th grade, but maybe now is the time to read Maurice , the sweet and dreamy queer love story Forster wrote and never dared to publish within his own lifetime. Bonus: This one got made into a very beautiful Merchant Ivory film in which a young Hugh Grant grows a villainous mustache as soon as he turns his back on his relationship with another man and gets married to a woman.

Or try some Virginia Woolf! Woolf wrote plenty of challenging modernist fiction, some of which will show up later on this list, but she also wrote Orlando , which is a romp. Just go in knowing that the hero is immortal and will periodically change gender for no apparent reason, and you will be absolutely fine.

Give it time. Some people tell you to keep a dictionary next to you, but I find it counterproductive to pick one up every time I come across a new word. Just keep reading. All of the books on this list were published before , though most are much older, dating back as late as the 11th century. In order to still be cherished, classic novels must have themes or messages that resonate with today's readers and each book on this list was chosen because it is still a revered piece of literature — many of them remain at the top of Goodreads' "Most Read Classics" list.

Whether you're looking for an intense Great Depression story or one of the first novels ever published, this list of can't-miss classic books has a read you'll love. In , Toni Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "Beloved," chosen as "a work of assured, immense distinction, destined to become an American classic. Depending on only each other while their father fights in the war and their mother struggles to support them, the girls can think of little else but their father's safety in this story of love, sisterhood, war, and identity.

Readers love this novel for its beauty and simplicity, for the timeless life lessons, and the captivating individualism of each sister. This classic was published in and garnered significant attention in the '50s and '60s for its use of profanity and sexual language. This story of teenage angst takes place over three days, following year-old Holden Caulfield between the conclusion of his school term in Pennsylvania and his return home to Manhattan.

Holden is regularly admired as a complex character with both a childish and adult-like voice, on the cusp of adulthood though far from emotionally prepared. Though told from Holden's perspective, J.

Salinger manages an emotional undercurrent to the story that allows readers to understand the boy's psyche deeper than even he himself can. This book is known and still revered for its heartbreakingly honest truths, one of the first novels to shed light on the domestic and sexual abuse suffered by Black women, and a vulnerable story of redemption and bravery. In a whirlwind romance novel starring Elizabeth Bennet and Mr.

Darcy, "Pride and Prejudice" is a funny and flirty high society love story. Elizabeth is an independent and headstrong woman juxtaposed to Mr. Darcy's arrogant and conceited ways. Though neither character is particularly fond of the other in the beginning, their romance evolves from a budding friendship built on snide remarks and witty banter, culminating to an iconic love story that tackles big themes of class, marriage, and first impressions that's been cherished since its debut in During World War II, "no-no boys" were young men who answered "no" twice on a military questionnaire which asked if they would serve in the armed forces and pledge loyalty to the United States.

This novel is about a fictional man named Ichiro who spent two years in an internment camp and another two years in prison after becoming a "no-no boy," an important memorialization of the long withstanding suffering of Asian people in America.

In this novel that predicted a dystopian future, political satirist George Orwell introduced the concept of "Big Brother,'' the idea of an all-seeing government that aims to control not only the narrative of the public, but of individuals. Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth, rewriting histories with lies that fit Big Brother's agenda.

This story is imaginative and powerful, a startlingly frightening world through which readers continue to find lasting messages as our idea of privacy shifts with the growth of technology. This is a fictional memoir which was originally published anonymously in , a portrait of Blackness in America during the time. The narrator is an unnamed man, a biracial jazz musician who closets his African-American identity and allows himself to "pass" as a white man after witnessing a horrific act of racism.

This classic stands as a testament to the complexities of race in America at the turn of the century, an extraordinary novel that influenced and inspired writers during the Harlem Renaissance. Considered one of the great American classics, "To Kill a Mockingbird" takes place during a time of turbulent prejudice and racism in the American South. Through the perspective of a young girl, Scout, the story is part coming-of-age and part courtroom fiction as Scout's father defends an innocent Black man accused of a terrible crime.

This book is heart-wrenching, both a struggle against blind hatred and the growing understanding of morality in the growth towards conscious adulthood. Jane is an orphaned young woman who, after finishing school, is offered a governess position at Thornfield Hall, where she meets and begins to fall in love with the mysterious and brooding Mr.

When the two decide to get married, secrets from Mr. Rochester's past are quickly revealed and Jane risks heartbreak once again. This novel is gothic and romantic, but readers still love this vivid classic today for Jane's strong, intelligent, and independent character. This book is about Janie Crawford, an African-American woman who recounts her life as she searches for her identity through the stories of her past. In Janie's search to be defined as something other than property, this novel is an impressive story of one woman's love for her husbands, her life, and her destiny despite trials and abuses that would otherwise crush a spirit.

It is a captivating family story of the rise and fall of a wealthy and significant house as well as the romantic plot of a young heir and his love interests. This novel weaves entertaining scenes with elegant descriptions in a story that is as insightful and psychological as it is riveting and enchanting.

Written as a series of letters, newspaper articles, and diary entries, the story follows Count Dracula as he moves from Transylvania to England on a mission to spread the undead curse as a group of civilians hunt him.

In her quest for stability and happiness, she encounters poverty, the loss of loved ones, and mysterious noises coming from the attic of Mr. In Wuthering Heights , Cathy and Heathcliff, childhood friends, are separated by class and their own questionable decisions; however, their all-consuming passion for one another is something which quite literally never dies.

Raised from poverty to live the opulent life of a London socialite, he hopes to win the hand of the disdainful Estella but comes to realise that the things he thought would bring him happiness are nothing compared to the family he has left behind. It is bleak but compelling, and the loving descriptions of the Wessex countryside and its inhabitants are stunning. The stories are often tragic but always worthwhile, eliciting new interpretations with every re-read.

In this novella, Nick Carraway, the rather dull narrator, moves to an affluent suburb of New York and is quickly drawn into a world of extravagant parties, decadence and conceit, a world epitomised by his mysterious neighbour, Jay Gatsby. This novella tells the timeless story of two friends in Depression-era America, looking for work and dreaming of a place to call their own.

Lennie, the more optimistic of the two but an eccentric outsider, eventually becomes a victim of his own strength, and his friend George is forced to deal with the consequences. Of Mice and Men is an engagingly written thriller which is no less powerful for its brevity. This page-turning Gothic mystery may seem to have a love story at its heart, but appearances can be deceiving. Du Maurier leads us to question not only what happened to Rebecca, the previous Mrs de Winter, but also whether Mr de Winter is really as charming as he seems and whether the narrator herself is entirely reliable.

The Power of Now has sold more than two million copies and has been translated into over 30 languages. This groundbreaking book has the potential to completely revolutionize how you experience life — making life far more joyous and prosperous in the process.

The Body Keeps the Score unravels the science behind emotional and psychological trauma and offers new paths to recovery. It discusses the history of cosmology and its development from Ancient Greece through to the s. The authors reveal the facts behind issues, such as crime, shopping, and drugs. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism is one of the top must-read books on technology.

The author gives us a look at how personal data has become a new form of capital. Anna Wiener writes about the frantic, self-important, and often delusional work culture in Silicon Valley, and how millennials in tech are consumed by living a productive life. The Uncanny Valley is one of those books everyone should read.

Wild will inspire you to see your true self-worth and capabilities. It details the development of human beings from the earliest stages until now.

The author also shows how our current world systems will banish natural selection and adaptation. Lists of must-read biographies almost always include this wonderful book.

Mandela started writing this autobiography in prison and finished it right before becoming the president of South Africa. This inspiring story provides a glimpse into the end of apartheid and the blatant inequality in the country. Do you find dinosaurs fascinating? If so, this is one of the must-read books on the subject. Steve Brusatte reveals the different dinosaurs that roamed the planet — and the different worlds in which they lived.

If you love science and history, this is a must-read book for you. In summary, here are 40 must-read books of all time:.

Have we missed any must-read books? If so, leave a comment below to recommend some top books to read! Want to learn how to make money on YouTube? Good idea.