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Original poster

Modern Classics…

79 replies

AlwaysSometimesNever · 11/12/2025 18:16

DS17 is loving English A Level and has asked for ‘10 modern classics’ for his Christmas present. I’ve bought Catch 22.
Now my brain is frazzled. Catcher in the Rye? What else? Help!

OP posts:
BasiliskStare · 18/12/2025 00:11

The Great Gatsby - yes - Also The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta ) Hemingway , just to get a balanced view of two great American novelists who apparently did not get on 😊 I think The Secret History ( Donna Tartt ) stands the test of time but not sure it would actually be called a modern classic yet (Sorry just noticed suggested already. ) I'd chuck in a PG Wodehouse for light reading.

But so many good ideas.

everdine · 17/12/2025 19:28

Just remembered The 39 Steps by John Buchan. Probably read it about his age.

everdine · 17/12/2025 19:24

I loved Down and Out in Paris and London (George Orwell) at that age.

EasternStandard · 17/12/2025 19:17

The Great Gatsby
1984

I re read both recently at the first is so delicate and well written. The second is powerfully done.

everdine · 17/12/2025 19:11

AudiobookListener · 12/12/2025 19:21

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
Spies Michael Frayn

If translations are ok, and depending on definition of modern:
All Quiet on the Western Front
A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich puts your whole life into perspective! Such a brutal life in the Gulag!

Fgfgfg · 17/12/2025 19:05

Lots that have already been mentioned but also
Ray Bradbury - Farenheit 451
John Wyndham - The Trouble with Lichen or The Chrysalids

everdine · 17/12/2025 19:00

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood

everdine · 17/12/2025 18:56

Jules et Jim by Henri-Pierre Roché

yorkshiretoffee · 17/12/2025 18:54

Inspired by the above - how about The Outsiders S E Hinton?

everdine · 17/12/2025 18:52

Meant to say Outsider!

everdine · 17/12/2025 18:52

The Outside by Albert Camus

everdine · 17/12/2025 18:50

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

everdine · 17/12/2025 18:48

berlinbaby2025 · 11/12/2025 19:57

Lolita
The Remains of the Day
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
A Little Life

A Little Life was heartbreaking!

Brawsome · 17/12/2025 18:44

I can never resist recommending And the Land Lay Still, by James Robertson. Loved that book.

mambojambodothetango · 16/12/2025 22:41

IdaGlossop · 12/12/2025 16:43

More women writers:

'Love in a cold climate', Nancy Mitford
'The Cazelet Chronicles', Elizabeth Jane Howard
'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie', Muriel Spark
'The Country Girls', Edna O'Brien
'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Zora Neale Hurston
'The Age of Innocence', Edith Wharton
'Milkman', Anna Burns
'Elmet', Fiona Mozley

Love your taste. Hardly anyone i know has read Elmet. It blew my mind. Same with Milkman.

collectkdsasmed · 16/12/2025 22:31

*sorry he, I’m envious you’ve got a son reading so avidly!

collectkdsasmed · 16/12/2025 22:30

Not sure if they’d be called classics but I love Ira Levin, A Kiss Before Dying is my favourite, then you have stepford wives and rosemary’s baby of course. If she likes a darker read!

LittleJustice · 16/12/2025 22:04

Can I suggest John Wyndham here? Perhaps Day of the Triffids?

Pandorea · 12/12/2025 22:02

Crime and Punishment
Metamorphosis or maybe The Trial

barefootcook · 12/12/2025 21:56

What about The Picture of Dorian Gray?

Original poster
AlwaysSometimesNever · 12/12/2025 21:22

More excellent ideas! Thank you!
Some brilliant books to start his own collection with. He loves a book too, not a fan of e-readers.
Has just finished Tinker, Tailor and enjoyed that.
Quite jealous of him reading these for the first time!
Thank you 😊

OP posts:
RedRosie · 12/12/2025 20:10

A house for Mr Biswas or A bend in the river? I don't think Naipaul was a very nice man. But a fabulous writer.

Fishneedscycle · 12/12/2025 20:06

A lot of these seem old for modern classics. I’d say
Remains of the Day or Never Let Me Go Ishiguro
Atonement or Enduring Love Ian McEwan
White Teeth Zadie Smith
Small Island Andrea Levy
Regeneration Pat Barker
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Attwood

marplemead · 12/12/2025 20:00

I lent my nephew Slaughterhouse Five when he was around that age. He loved it.

Grumpycowww · 12/12/2025 19:55

We Need to Talk About Kevin. Mind blowing. I've only read it once because it was too upsetting to go back to but I think 17 would be old enough. Others may disagree! Also Handmaid's Tale, Secret History, Life of Pi.