Discover the best classic books for beginners! Our guide highlights accessible reads that will ignite your love for literature. Start your reading journey today!
Do you want to explore “classics” but are unsure where to begin? And so, what is a “classic?” They are, in my opinion, outstanding stories that have endured and are still read and liked worldwide. The fact that they were first written many years ago should not deter you from them; they have endured because they are still important today, because they brilliantly depict a certain period in time, or because they were incredibly creative.
Here is a list of easily readable classic novels to start your classics adventure.
Emma
by Jane Austen
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Though Emma is a funnier and simpler read, you may start with Pride & Prejudice. Emma Woodhouse is a fantastic comedy of manners; she overestimates her ability to match people, which naturally goes horribly wrong (remember Clueless? Actually, this beloved romance from the 1990s was inspired on this beloved Jane Austen book. Emma finds, frequently painfully, that she must take care of her own life before attempting to improve the lives of others.
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë
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Though not the most attractive heroine, Jane Eyre is courageous and strong — qualities she needs to survive a cruel and neglected childhood. One of the most moving and enduring love tales ever written is set up when she accepts the position of governess for the enigmatic Mr. Rochester of Thornfield Hall.
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Unquestionably the most well-known book in American literature, The Great Gatsby is an engrossing, era-defining tale that truly must be read. This is the gripping, startling, and ultimately sad tale of the incredibly affluent and always enigmatic Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan, set among the elite amid the opulent and destructive Jazz Age.
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
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George Orwell’s masterwork is essentially a straightforward tale of farm animals rising up against a farmer and occupying the farmyard. That its original subtitle was A Fairy Story makes sense. Beware, though; this is no straightforward fairy tale; rather, it is a sharp parody of the pernicious consequences of power and a warning about the extreme peril of a totalitarian regime.
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
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This is a wonderful illustration of a book that, from its initial publication, has had an incalculable impact on narrative. Most significantly, though, it is among the most compelling, startling, moving, and amazing stories you will ever read. Here is the struggle of the monster and Victor Frankenstein, his creator, as they pursue each other to the breaking point of humanity.
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
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I suppose we need some light relief now. Because we adore Little Women so much — beautiful Meg, bookish Jo, musical Beth, and artistic Amy — supported by their stoic and astute mother Marmee — I had to include them. We travel with them through love, tragedy, and so much more. A wonderful novel for losing yourself in and curling up with.