Today reading has become something that scares people away. If one does read, it’s normally a modern novel like John Grisham, Danielle Steele or even J.K Rowling. Classic novels like Wuthering Heights doesn’t get read as much and in fact makes people run in the opposite direction. Classic literature gives us an insight to what life was like when they were written. Here is a top ten list of classic novels everyone should read (in no particular order).
Jane Eyre: by Charlotte Bronte. The men may not want to read this one, but you ladies should. Jane Eyre is considered the first romance novel written. It follows the life of a young governess, Jane, through her trials. She discovers her love has a dark secret which causes her to leave him, only to return years later to find him a different man. Jane Eyre is full of hints to the dark secret, but the reader is surprised to find the truth. It’s not full of sex and lust as most romance novels are today.
The Portrait of Dorian Grey: by Oscar Wilde This is a more intriguing story of a young man who desires to remain young forever. He spend his life smoking, drinking and indulging in sinful desires. As he remains young a portrait of him grows old and he in turn goes insane. What will Dorian do to keep his secret quiet?
The Awakening: by Kate Chopin. This novel was unique in it’s time. It portrays the life of a New Orleans woman who wants to break free from the norms society places on women. She breaks all the rules and makes her own life away from her husband and children. But what kind of effect does that have on her?
Heart of Darkness: by Joseph Conrad: This novel is a mans novel through and through. It follows the narrator’s journey into the Congo in the late 1800’s early 1900’s. The readers view his thoughts and ideas on African tribes and the dangers of miscommunication. It has slight hints of sex and death in it.
Things Fall Apart: by Chinua Achebe. This novel goes hand in hand with Conrad’s novel. Achebe’s novel focuses on a Nigerian tribe: the Ibo. It depicts traditions and culture of the tribe. It also goes on to show what ‘colonization’ did to the tribe.
Walden: by Henry David Thoreau: This novel is Thoreau’s diary about his days at Walden Pond. He talks talks about living a simple life and being one with nature and how nature allows one to realize who he/she truly is. It shows the reader, where their true focus should be.
Pride and Prejudice: by Jane Austin. Jane Austin was among the first women authors. This novel takes a look at women in society and their roles. It shows their worries and desires are just as important as a man’s opinions as the story depicts the courtship between two high society families.
A Room of One’s Own: by Virginia Woolf: Woolf talks about how women need a place and time when she can focus on herself instead of the family. She needs something to help calm her and relax, something that is her own, and not hers and the husband, or hers and the children.
To Have and Have Not: by Ernest Hemingway: Much of Hemingway’s work are manly novels and this is no different. His novel looks a one man’s desire to gain extra money which lands him doing illegal activities. He does what he has to do to keep his family safe and healthy, but what does that entail?
Republic by Plato: Now this one may take a while to read through. It addresses questions like what is justice. It also discusses Plato’s views on why people act and believe as they do.
There is so much that literature can tell us of the past. We learn what life was like and what the authors thought and felt. It can tell us about ourselves as well, we look at the novel’s characters and can sometimes see ourselves. Literature can help us grown in mind and spirit. So pick up a classic novel and grow. Find yourself.
