Would you trust me here? My mom read only gothic novels and my dad was not a reader. I am not a person who got a great education in the classics in school.
Frankly, classics intimidated me.
What changed? How did I become a person who now loves to read classics?
I don't know. I think it was because I gradually came to hear about other regular folk like me who read a classic book and loved it.
So that's what I would encourage you to do. Try a classic, maybe one of these, if one of these sounds intriguing. Read it. Share your experiences with other people.
Cautionary Note: Of course, not every book works with every person. You may try one of these or some other classic and hate it. I urge you to try, try again. I promise that you will eventually find your way to a classic that will amaze you, that will make you wish you'd been reading classics all your life.
Here is a list of classics I rated as 5-star reads that were rated highly by a lot of other people...
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry...Average rating 4.33 with 2,361,760 ratings
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery...Average rating 4.32 with 1,074,981 ratings
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas...Average rating 4.32 with 987,712 ratings
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith...Average rating 4.30 with 497,115 ratings
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen...Average rating 4.29 with 4,608,287 ratings
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien...Average rating 4.29 with 4,330,337 ratings
Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse...Average rating 4.29 with 31,172 ratings
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie...Average rating 4.26 with 324,517 ratings
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote...Average rating 4.24 with 17,517 ratings
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott...Average rating 4.17 with 2,383,331 ratings
True Grit by Charles Portis...Average rating 4.17 with 67,989 ratings
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas...Average rating 4.10 with 339,517 ratings
A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr...Average rating 4.10 with 22,719 ratings
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens...Average rating 4.09 with 894,139 ratings
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens...Average rating 4.04 with 252,409 ratings
Animal Farm by George Orwell...Average rating 4.01 with 4,328,747 ratings
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck...Average rating 4.01 with 968,600 ratings
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck...Average rating 4.01 with 257,281 ratings
No Shakespeare?
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried Shakespeare outside school. But now that you've mentioned it, maybe it's time to try some.
DeleteWhen I read Shakespeare at university, I really enjoyed the "history" plays, more so than the most famous ones (like Romeo & Juliet) that more commonly get read in schools!
DeleteGood to know, Nicky!
DeleteOoh nice picks! I've always struggled with the classics but I remember reading the Count of Monte Cristo in high school and had finally found a book I was forced to read that I enjoyed! Lol. I have read some of the horror classics though and still hope to read Frankenstein one of these days! Great list and picks!
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I’ve read and enjoyed most of these! Yes, there are some fantastic classics out there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by earlier.
Every list of classics is different. Some books make it onto many lists (like Huckleberry Finn) and some are rarely mentioned, but it’s fun to see what people come up with.
ReplyDeleteI've read about eight of these. I love that your list covers a number of genres too.
ReplyDeleteAh, PG Wodehouse. He always lifts my spirits.
ReplyDeleteWonderful list! There are so many great classics out there for people to enjoy in a variety of genres. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI’ve read three of these but still find classic literature a struggle. With that being said, I’d add The Great Gatsby to your list.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually read classics, but a couple of these I have read - mostly in school. Although I did read Pride and Prejudice a couple of years back and loved it. There are a couple on this list I'd like to read.
ReplyDeleteGreat work, but you can have The Grapes of Wrath! My worst high school assigned book.
ReplyDeleteI am not an avid classics reader, though what is considered classic in the mystery genre probably has been visited more by me. I think my reasons are partly because the classics I had to read in high school did not suit me well and neither of my English teachers in junior and senior year were likable at all. Kind of made fun of those of us that were readers, but not classics readers. Anyway, I've read 5 at least from your list above and loved them. Jane Austen is a favorite author and, of course, I've read the Agatha Christie book. Also, probably all of Louise May Alcott's books. I agree that one can try a classic book and if it doesn't work then try another. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love classics and I love so many of the ones you've listed here! I do tend to reread the ones I love rather than read new ones though, but I'm doing the 50 classics in 5 years challenge with The Classics Club right now and planning to read more new-to-me classics.
ReplyDeleteI don't read a ton of classics, but it's mostly because I want to read other things. I've read three on this list so far, Deb. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/08/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-things.html
I enjoyed A Christmas Carol.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading the classics and think it's an excellent list, you've composed. I've read a lot of them already, but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is high on my wishlist. Unfortunately, it isn't available on audio in the UK (no idea why), which is my preferred format these days.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why!
DeleteI would not say I am a classics reader, but I have found a few that I have liked/enjoyed. I am currently reading (and enjoying) North and South! P. G. Wodehouse is on my list to try.
ReplyDeleteI was force fed so many classincs in school, that I tend to steer clear of them now. But I have read a few of my own accord: A Christmas Carol, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, and A Count of Monte Cristo.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/football-reads-ten-books-to-prepare-for-football-season/
I've read 10 of these and need to catch a few more. Good list!
ReplyDeleteI love many of the classics you've listed here, and I would definitely recommend them to non-classics readers. Animal Farm is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people don't realise what a range of books are considered "classics", but your list is a bit more diverse, which I must applaud!
ReplyDeleteIdentifying what is a classic and what is just an old book is a challenge! I have read a few of these but do need to up my classics reading game!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteGreat post and list. So many are winners ... I liked True Grit not long ago and might be time for The Good Earth. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteGreat lits and i think a few are on my list. Everyine has different taste as you mentioned so, for what it's worth, I had to read a bit of Shakespeare (English Lit major ) and I wasn't a fan. I was able to get two classic reads ijn this past month though.
ReplyDeleteI see some of my favorites here. I think it's time to revisit. And add more to my list!
ReplyDeleteThe Good Earth is one of my favorites! I loved The Grapes of Wrath when I read it in high school, and I've always had good intentions of reading it a second time. I need more hours in my days!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list, Deb! The covers are lovely, too. I didn't read The Grapes of Wrath, but I did read Of Mice and Men...saw the movie made on this book as well!
ReplyDeleteI still find classics, especially the chonkier ones, very intimidating but Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Le Petit Prince are some of my all-time favourites. Monte Cristo and Grapes of Wrath are still on my TBR and I hope to read them one day in the not too distant future!
ReplyDeleteGreat choices, although I will not read all of them, and have read some of them. True Grit, Grapes of Wrath, Animal Farm and The Good Earth would be on my list.
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