If you’re anything like me, you steer clear of older classic books as much as possible. I hated “Of Mice and Men”, and I refuse to go anywhere near “The Great Gatsby.” If it’s by white men in the 1900s, I don’t want anything to do with it. However, after being forced to read some classics as a humanities major, I’ve gotten to read some really good ones and even explored other titles on my own. Don’t get me wrong – I still won’t touch anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald with a ten-foot pole, but some of my favorite books are now classics. So, here I am to share some of my favorite classic books with you!
(Before reading any of these titles, I suggest you look up the triggers on the website “Does The Dog Die.” Most of these books have very triggering topics.)
“THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD” BY ZORA NEALE HURSTON – 4/5
“She stood there until something fell off the shelf inside her.”
Written in 1937 by a black woman about a black woman’s experience, this book is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This book was assigned to me as a reading for my Humanities “Forms of Narrative” course and I was instantly hooked. The story opens and closes with the same scene, starting with the main character, Janie, telling her story to a woman who wants to understand her. Throughout the narrative, we get to know Janie and become attached to her, aching for her pain throughout her three marriages and smiling when she finds love within herself. Janie finds who she is through her journey and becomes content with being alone. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, feminism, and wants to learn more about the black experience, especially back in the 1900s.
“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY” BY OSCAR WILDE – 4.5/5
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.”
This book was one that I read a long time ago in the beginning of high school. I had been curious about it after hearing some stories about Oscar Wilde and figured I would give it a shot. It. Was. Amazing. I loved this book from the very first page to the last. Written as a shorter story in 1890 and initially published into a magazine, Wilde later went on to expand the story into a novel and officially publish that version in 1891. The story is of a man named Dorian Gray who’s friend, Basil Hallward, paints him because of Dorian’s extreme beauty. Dorian then meets a man that he becomes infatuated with, and decides that he wants to stay young and beautiful forever. The book is about Dorian’s journey in selling his soul and living with his decision to value looks rather than a full, happy life. I strongly recommend this book as it plays with LGBTQ undertones (for being in the late 19th century) and written extremely well.
“LITTLE WOMEN” BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT – 4/5
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
I am sure most of you have seen the 2019 rendition of “Little Women” starring Timothee Chalamet as the loveable “Laurie”. However, this movie was a book first, and a powerful one at that. Originally written in 1868 (yes, 1868!) by an early American feminist, the book stars four sisters who are very different from each other, showing their own individual aspirations, their wants, and their struggles. Although most people say that they prefer the movie “Little Women” to the book, I really enjoyed reading the book. You should give it a try – maybe even read the book, watch the movie, and compare the two to see which you like better.
“DEAD POETS SOCIETY” BY NANCY H. KLEINBAUM – 4/5
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
In my opinion, the “Dead Poets Society” movie is better than the book. However, the book is still an amazing piece of literature that will have you laughing with the characters and crying when they are upset. Written in 1988, it is the epitome of the “dark academia” aesthetic, taking place at a boarding school and following a group of friends who resurrect a long-dead club in order to be free from the expectations of their parents and even the school itself. They find themselves living each moment to its fullest – however, the entire book isn’t all fun and games. There are mentions of dark topics and endings of great tragedies. I highly suggest reading the book and watching the movie – the title will quickly become a favorite of yours.
“AS I LAY DYING” BY WILLIAM FAULKNER – 4.8/5
“My mother is a fish.”
This one is another book I was forced to read during my Humanities “Forms of Narrative” class this semester. Even though I was expected to read it, the book quickly became a favorite of mine. Written in 1930 by William Faulker, a renowned author, who claims to have written this book in six weeks with no edits to it at all. The book is set in the South and follows the Bundrens, a family of seven who all live on their family farm. The book begins with Addie Bundren, the mother of the family, finding herself seriously ill, and predicted to die. Her family does their best to prepare themselves for this loss and the entire book follows their journey in losing Addie, taking her to where she wanted to be buried, and the chaos that ensued. The journey seems to do more harm than good, and you will quickly choose characters that you hate and characters that you love. Each member of the family has their own struggles and pains, as we can see throughout the multi-narrated book and 15 different narrators. There are many heart-breaking lines and scenes that captivate the readers. It’s a wonderfully written book with heartbreak and plot twists that will leave you baffled. This is by far my favorite book on this list (and probably in general).
BONUS: “SPEAK” BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON – 4.5/5
“I want to confess everything, to hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else.”
Although this book was published in 1999 and is fairly modern, it gave me a “classic” vibe, so I figured I would include it as a bonus novel. The book follows fourteen-year-old Melinda Sordino who was raped the summer before her first year of high school. She lost all her friends and is shoved into the lion’s den on her own with half of the school hating her. It’s about Melinda’s experience of coming to terms with her assault by finding her voice again. She confronts her rapist, finds a friend in her art teacher, and discovers peace within herself. It’s a beautiful story that made me cry multiple times. I highly recommend reading this book and then watching the movie that followed it.