lou's library

Theoretically, I would like to read all classics. In practice, there are a whole bunch of them that I know I will never get around to (which is fine, even if it perhaps makes me not very well read or whatever), and sometimes I worry a marvel might be hidden in that pile. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, may I recommend you some classics that are absolutely worth reading and therefore should be top of your classics-to-be-read-pile? You’re welcome!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Ah, what a gem! I love Little Women!! And I dare say it is one of those classics that is truly beloved by many a reader, which means I simply had to put it top of this list. It focuses on the March sisters, who are living in 19th century America during the Civil War. Their father is off at war, leaving their mother alone with the four daughters Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy. When the young Laurie movies into the big house next door, many adventures begin for the young ladies and we follow them as they each make mistakes and grow into themselves. Little Women focuses on domesticity, on what makes a home a home, what it means to have family, and to love and to be loved. But it also asks what it means to work as a young woman at the time, and how we become who we feel we truly are. So while the story is somewhat straightforward, it packs a punch and is full of emotion, tender moments, and laughter. In so many ways, it feels like a hug in the form of a book, which is not to say that the plot is free of sad moments or hardships the sisters have to endure. But it is a heartfelt story that has never left me since I first read it, and if you haven’t done so yet, I would highly recommend reading it (especially in the colder months!!).

The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

I will die on the hill that Anne Brontë is the woefully overlooked Brontë sister that deserves way more attention than she is generally given. The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall is a novel that is almost radical for its time (19th century England), and arguably a lot more feminist than Jane Eyre by her sister Charlotte (I wrote an essay about this in university, hence the strong feelings on my part). It’s about a woman who moves into Wildfell Hall, which is part of a small, rural village, with her young son. Little is known about her husband or her past, which naturally puts the village gossips on edge. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Helen’s past and why she has moved to Wildfell Hall with her son. If you’re a bit of a romantic, do not fret, there is a love story too, but so is a very sad story of domestic abuse. That being said, it is also the story of a woman refusing to let go of her agency, and determined to seek out a better life for herself and her child. There’s a good bit of Christian faith thrown in for good measure, which is very of the time, but perhaps a bit strange for some modern day readers. But even so, I am always struck by how modern and progressive The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall is, so in case you are usually put off by classics because of their backward attitudes, perhaps you should give this one a go!

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

It’s been a hot minute since I yapped everyone’s ear off about Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier so please let me right this wrong this very instant. If you enjoy reading books that are gripping and eerie, but also full of atmosphere and suspense, then my god are you in for a treat. Rebecca is the story of our unnamed narrator who marries a rich Englishman whom she meets on the French coast. They move to Manderley, his Cornish estate, where she finds lots of remnants of her husband’s dead first wife Rebecca. The story unfolds from there, and I was simply unable to put this book down until I knew what was going on. The story unfolds deliciously slowly, and with each turning page you get a better idea of what is really going on, and the writing is buttery and addictive, as is the lush setting. It feels as though Manderely is a character in its own right, and the story asks the question what power our past holds over us, and how places shape our characters. Rebecca is a masterpiece and one of my all time favourite books and for a very long time it wasn’t even on my radar, so do yourself a favour and start reading it right now!

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

I love reading short stories but at the same time, I tend to be quite picky with them. I easily get bored if they fail to capture my attention straight away, because I am of the opinion that with a short story, you really ought not to waste a single word. So imagine my delight when I came across The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, author of We Have Always Lived In The Castle, which is a phenomenal novel I also highly recommend. But The Lottery is a short story that centres on a small town gathered for an annual tradition. I cannot give you any spoilers, but it’s giving The Hunger Games vibes, if you know what I mean. The little book you can see above is actually a collection of Shirley Jackson’s short stories, and I loved every single one of them, which hardly ever happens. If you’re into dark, sinister tales about humanity, then Shirley Jackson is your girl! I couldn’t recommend her writing enough and it suits this shorter genre incredibly well, because she knew how to pack a punch in a single sentence.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

This is the first Sherlock Holmes novel, so in case you have not read any of the novels or short stories about this famous detective, I would recommend starting with this one. We get to witness how Holmes and Watson first meet, which is a moment I always love reading about because us modern day readers of course know how much these two will experience together and to get to see how they meet has something very exciting and wholesome to me. But even casting that aside, A Study in Scarlet, although not the most popular of the Sherlock Holmes stories, is a great choice. It features everything you want in a detective story, from Holmes’ incredible skills of deduction, to deception, intrigue, and of course, murder. It’s also pretty short, so in case you are often intimidated by classics because they tend to be long, then perhaps this one is the right choice for you. And if you end up loving it, then you are off on a great adventure with Holmes and Watson! How fun!

There you go, five classics that I would highly recommend to absolutely anyone! I tried to find different themes, tones, and genres, so hopefully there is something for everyone here. Let me know if you have read any of these or if you think I have criminally forgotten one. Happy reading!