It’s the start of the semester, which means the start of mandatory reading. However, it’s incredibly important to find time in your busy schedule for fun reading, too! Need some suggestions? Here’s a list of the ten greatest American classics that every college student should read at least once:
10. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (Goodreads: 3.74)
The title of Ernest Hemingway’s slim novella tells it all–prepare to go to sea with an old man and a gigantic fish. Filled with beautiful imagery, deep metaphors, and a powerful story, readers all across America consider this a classic.
9. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (Goodreads: 3.8)
In Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger has created in Holden the quintessential troubled teen. Salinger’s novel explores what it really means to grow up in contemporary America, making it a must-read for every young adult.
8. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Goodreads: 3.85)
John Steinbeck’s novella features everything readers love about Grapes of Wrath (the imagery, metaphors, and complex characters) while leaving out everything readers hate (the recurring dust motif. Gag.) Steinbeck’s condensed, moving novella is sure to keep readers engaged from beginning to end.
7. Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville (Goodreads: 3.89)
Herman Melville? Isn’t that the guy who droned on and on about a whale and various fishing equipment for 1,000 pages? Well, yes. But if you weren’t a fan of Moby Dick, don’t write off Melville just yet. Bartleby the Scrivener is not only a fantastic novella that critiques American Capitalism but is also the home of Bartleby, one of the most iconic characters in all of modern American literature. Go on, give it a read.
6. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (Goodreads: 3.9)
A fantastic work of realism, Mark Twain’s novel follows the adventures of a young boy and his friends in rural Mississippi. Loved this book? Move on to its sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, next!
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Goodreads: 3.9)
Can language get any prettier? Perhaps F. Scott Fitzgerald’s greatest work, The Great Gatsby explains the American dream through one of the most beautiful and tragic literary romances of all time. Pick it up for the dry humor and stay for the beautiful prose.
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (Goodreads: 4.07)
Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five is a weird and intriguing novel that plays with the concept of time and discusses the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder. Filled with aliens, space, war, and everything in between, Vonnegut has created a book that will stay relevant as long as wars stay prevalent.
3. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (Goodreads: 4.12)
Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is truly a masterpiece. I can’t even begin to summarize the magnitude of realities included in his free-verse poem, so I’ll leave it all for you to uncover.
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Goodreads: 4.24)
An incredibly important work for anyone attempting to understand the minority, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn addresses issues of racism, social injustice, and dysfunctional family relationships. Beautiful, heart-wrenching, and moving, Betty Smith’s novel is one everyone should read.
1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Goodreads: 4.26)
A tale of southern racism, unlikely friendships, and strong family bonds, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird teaches young adults the importance of equality, adults the importance of diplomacy, and seniors the importance of tolerance and acceptance. It’s a book everyone must read at least once.
What do you think? Have any suggestions to add to the list? Drop them in the comments below!