Currently, new releases dominate bookstore shelves and streaming platforms and don’t get me wrong, some of them are very good pieces, but with all this overflow it’s easy to overlook the enduring power of classic literature.
In this post, I’ll share my top selection of essential classic reads you should add to your TBR list.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic literature piece I recommend you read before the year ends. It is a profound exploration of racial injustice, morality, and compassion.
The story is set in the segregated South, and narrated through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl whose father, Atticus Finch, defends a black man wrongfully accused of raping a white woman.
This is an essential classic read whose exploration of prejudice, courage, and moral conscience remain relevant today.
2. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice is a timeless novel that’s so much more than just a love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. In this piece, Austen’s work examines class, marriage, and the role of women in society. Her sharp observations and unique characters make this a must-read classic book generations after generations.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
Not many novels have had the impact 1984 had on popular culture and political thought. Orwell is known for eviscerating established ideas and making you see things from a completely different perspective, prompting you to ask, 'Is this really how the world works?’
This dystopian novel imagines a future where government surveillance, mind control, and oppression are the norm. Although it was published in 1949, Orwell’s vision of a totalitarian society is chillingly prescient, especially in our modern age of technology and data privacy concerns.
If you’re interested in the importance of personal freedom, and the dangers of authoritarianism, 1989 is an essential classic read.
4. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
An exploration of revenge, obsession and the limits of human ambition are the key topics of Moby Dick. The story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest to hunt down the great white whale is filled with symbolism, intricate narrative and philosophical depth. It is considered one of the greatest American novels and one of the most challenging.
5. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Wuthering Heights is one of my classic literature books of all time and it’s perfect for those who appreciate passionate, dark, and tragic love stories. The novel tells the story of the intense, destructive love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, set against the wild moors of England.
In this piece, Brontë blends romance with Gothic elements and psychological complexities, touching topics like revenge, love and the supernatural.
Final Words
Classic literature gives us a glimpse into the past while addressing universal themes that still hold meaning today. These are some of the best classic novels I highly recommend you add to your TBR as they will change the way you think completely.
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