Classics You'll Actually Enjoy

Any bibliophile (yes, you are a bibliophile, even if you've only read one book in the last three months. Valid.) knows that inescapable urge to read classics. It's like a right of passage, a notch on the belt, and ceremony we all force ourselves to partake in to prove that we are real readers. I remember my first classic, Jane Eyre. Little feminist me was determined to break my classic purity with a woman written piece of literary history.

Did I read it? No.

Did I read it when my university told me to, years later? Also no.

Classic Literature has so much to offer contemporary readers. Timeless characters and storylines, Instagram captions, a feeling of romantic indulgence, or pure terror. Classic Literature also has a rep of being very, very boring.

And you know what you're not wrong! A lot of famous 'must-read' classics are boring. And the archaic language can be difficult to understand. And sometimes the hopeless, romantic lead role will spend thirty pages pining for their lover, only to say two words to their fancy and then run off to do some more longing. It can be really boring.

But! Fear not, for here I am with some classics you will actually enjoy, with enough notoriety attached to them you'll be bringing them up in conversations and fighting over characters in no time.

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1) The Great Gatsby

Incredibly short and comprehensive to read, my favourite classic of all time and a great introduction to F.Scott Fitzgerald, ol'sport.

2) Frankenstein

Another quick read, the mother of all sci-fi. Written by a woman (10/10), and handles deep philosophical and ethical questions with sharp diligence.

3) Pride and Prejudice

I know this book has been talked to death but there's a good reason for it. A great introduction to Jane Austen and has plenty of film adaptations for you to watch.

4) Animal Farm

Short, easy to read, and very good. This has a surface level and deeper level of reading, so can be read more than once and still remain interesting. It really opened my eyes when I first read it.

5) To Kill a MockingBird

Such a poignant, well written, and heartwarming book. Atticus Finch will always have my heart. Easy to read and will definitely lead to a lot of self-reflection and learning.

#top10 #classics