Reading the classics is something that most book lovers do. There are many great books that are must reads. That is why we have curated a list of the ten classics that you must read. Keep reading to find out which books made the list!
There are thousands of classics to read and choosing which ones to read can be difficult. This list will help you get started with some of the best and most popular classics of all time. And this is an ongoing list that is going to grow so if a novel doesn’t make this list, it may make a future list. You can see the full list below!
Ten Classics that You Must Read
- The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Catcher in the Rye
A novel that is taught in school is The Catcher in the Rye. This novel also tackles the loss of innocence like To Kill a Mockingbird in its own way. Holden Caulfield has been suspended from school and instead of going home, he stays in a hotel in New York City and navigates the city as he meets old and new acquaintances.
There are a lot of themes in this novel that Salinger explores that many readers relate to. The novel was intended for adults but ended up being consumed mostly by adolescents. It is also considered one of the best novels of all time.
To Kill a Mockingbird
ike many readers, I first read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school and couldn’t put the novel down. The story is told by the viewpoint of Jean Louise Finch and tells the story of Atticus Finch defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman in Maycomb Alabama.
The novel was an instant success and went on to win a Pulitzer prize the following year. It is considered one of the best works of fiction. The writing, plot, characters, and storytelling make this a must read and a story unlike any other.
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
One of the most popular novels on the list has to be Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell by George Orwell. It is a dystopian novel that imagines a totalitarianism world where mass surveillance is the norm and people’s freedom is limited. It was a cautionary tale by Orwell and when parts of the novel became reality, people said Orwell was right.
The Handmaid’s Tale
One of the most popular dystopian novels must be The Handmaid’s Tale. Some people may have read it in school while others read it for fun but either way, it is an impactful novel. Another classic dystopian novel that is up there is 1984. They both tackle serious issues and make us imagine the worst-case scenarios.
Conclusion
That wraps up pour list of the ten classics that you must read. How many of these classics have you read? Which classics should we include on our next list? Let us know in the comments below!
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I’ve only read 5 of these!
I’ve read most of these. Just wondering if you have separate category for Dickens, because, you know – such a keen observer of the Victorian era human condition.
These are great lists but really, why should I have read these particular books. I actually have read 7 of these but have no clue why I should read the other three – you’re just giving me a name without reason. Please do better.
Absolutely, Dickens should have at least one of these spots! Tale of Two Cities is my favorite, but everyone should read the original A Christmas Carol.
I will add Gibran Kahlil Gibran: The Prophet…
Sweden.
No Dickens? Hemingway?
Old Man and the Sea has to be in all lists.
Man The Handmaids Tale was a really hard read. I’ve read all of these but really I’m more into sci-fi
No Kipling ,Jules Verne or life of pi. Plus many more
Where did Mark Twain go? At least include Huckleberry Finn.
I have read them all. How about the next 10 on the list? Would like to see them also.
Popular doesn’t mean MUST READ. Nor does it mean CLASSIC. Time is the test. Also, if you have to promote them on lists such as this, they are unlikely to be classics. Also a factor is the falling away of actual readers. Even the schools aren’t advocating reading. They don’t even teach cursive writing. Ever hear of James & the Giant Peach? Neither did I. But schools are using it. Not Aesop. Not Cooper, or Poe or Irving or Twain. Standards are watered down. Tastes are more pedestrian. The interest in universal truths has been replaced by topicality & p.c.
The Bible has stood the test of the ages. It is Number one.