By Zaiti Athirah
It is always alluring to be able to read canonical English literature and to attain understanding of the histories enriched within the timeless tales. We are often tempted by the promise of ageless, paradigmatic stories written by highly revered authors that transcend generations. However, starting off with The Iliad by Homer may daunt and dishearten you from the endeavor of indulging through the arrays of classic literature, or even worse, you would fall into the unnerving reading slump!
So, here is a list of my personal recommendations for readers newly embarking on the exploration of classic literature.
1.The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I started off my journey through the ensorcelling realm of the classics with the utmost quintessential American classic, The Great Gatsby. I picked it up from my mom’s bookshelf at 14 and was instantly enchanted by the dreamy narrative of the Jazz Age through the lenses of Nick Carraway, depicting the emblematic pursuit of the American Dream. With its relatively easy language, as well as the captivating romantic plotline, you cannot not be compelled to read more and more literature alike.
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
This is the book that I wish I had been introduced to earlier, as early as my high school years, due to its degree of relatability between my teenage self and Holden Caulfield. It tells a story of a boy, scurrying through the agonizing phase of adolescence, witnessing the door of adulthood unraveling before him. In other words, Dead Poets Society meets Catch Me If You Can. Its humorous yet contemplative style of narration by a teenage boy, Caulfield, will have you snicker and sigh in empathy towards the protagonist.
3. White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Want to delve into classic Russian literature but do not know where to start? This is my suggestion on beginning your hard-to-break Russian lit craze. Ah, the romantics, the gothics of Dostoevsky are so easy to love in this short story. Once you are captivated by the allure of his writing in this piece, it will pave the way for you to delve into his masterpiece, Crime and Punishment next!
4. Animal Farm by George Orwell
If you are into thought-provoking, political fiction, then, there is no more perfect recommendation than this. Animal Farm is an allegorical novella that uses farm animals to satirize totalitarianism and political corruption. The book's brevity makes it an accessible read, allowing you to delve into its layers of meaning without feeling overwhelmed. You may be able to finish this plot-rich book in one sitting even, but the post-Orwell effect may linger forever.
5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
You may have had the sci-fi phase with The Hunger Games, Under the Dome, or Divergent. Thus, it is important to pay homage to the Mother of Sci-Fi, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. You may already love the classic Halloween movie version, but I highly recommend you study Shelley’s remarkable caliber in depicting dramatic emotions, exalted speech, and charismatic villains in a seductive gothic style in this novel.
6. Emma by Jane Austen
In Emma, Austen delivers a story deliberately to criticize the society of the Regency era in a delicate, girly fashion. My personal trick to further enjoy this novel is by picturing the parallels to the movie, Clueless (1995). Once you are able to imagine Emma Woodhouse in Alaïa, saying “As if!” Jane Austen novels could not get more fun.
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