When I was in elementary school, there was nothing in the world I loved more than curling up with a good book. I could easily spend a whole day reading, and the days we went to the library to pick out new books were some of my favorites. I devoured Little House on the Prairie and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Caroline B. Cooney and Sharon Creech. And as I got older, I loved reading the classics, great American novels that may have been written decades ago but have more than stood the test of time.
I don’t always have a lot of time for reading anymore, but I make it a point to consume quality over quantity — and I still love sitting down with a favorite book. Here are five of my favorite classics that you might love, too.
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Unlike pretty much every other high schooler in America, I did not read this book until college. The movie had just come out and there seemed to be Gatsby-themed parties and weddings every weekend, so I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I wasn’t sure what to expect with all the hype, but the book’s deeper meanings and symbolism made it a book I more than enjoyed. Plus, it’s not too long, so you can read it in a few sittings (or one marathon).
- The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien
I’m just going to lump these together because I love them so much, even though they are actually quite different. At its core, The Hobbit is a children’s tale, full of adventure, excitement, and a neatly wrapped-up ending. It’s easy to pick up and begin reading, and everything is explained. The Lord of the Rings is darker, longer and a bit more complex, but the tale is one everyone can still enjoy. The read times of these are quite a bit longer, so if you’re looking for a book to really sink your teeth into, pick one.
- Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
If you’ve never watched the movie or read the book about the fall of the South during and after the Civil War, you need to. It’s a look at a time and place I knew almost nothing about, and beyond the dramatic backdrop, it’s a great story about some of the most interesting characters you’ll ever read about.
- The Princess Bride, William Goldmans
First of all, you need to watch the movie version. Second of all, you should read the book. The two differ slightly, but the classic tale of a princess being rescued, with tongue-in-cheek humor and instantly quotable phrases, are the same.
- The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doryle
I have to be frank: I love the BBC, Benedict Cumberbatch version of Sherlock Holmes, but this is the only one of the stories I’ve read. Still, it’s a classic and one of the most well-known of Doyle’s works. If you’re a Sherlock fan, too, reading this and comparing the storylines is pretty entertaining and explains a few of the quirks of the show.
Suffice to say, this is just a small sampling of the incredible books available – I could have included On the Road, The Secret Garden, Charlotte’s Web, To Kill a Mockingbird, et. al. It’s hard to choose just a few! What are your favorite classics to read? Do you like to break up a reading session, or devour the whole book at once?
bloom. 