What are your favourite classic books?

[yugflalska]

I haven’t read much…if any…classic literature, beyond what I needed to read at school. I’m a modern thriller via audiobook kind of person usually. We are getting some shelves fitted and I’ve decided to buy some classic books to help fill them. I’m worried I’m going to find it a tad impenetrable, but would love some recommendations of classic books people genuinely enjoyed reading.

I’m not sure they count but two of my favourite books are What Katy Did and What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge. They’re my comfort reads

I adore Nevil Shute. My absolute favourite of his is On The Beach.

Middlemarch.

I would add the Sherlock Holmes stories.

My favourite is The Great Gatsby, I love the era it's set in. I haven't read many classics either to be honest.

Cider with Rosie is my all time favourite book.

Oh yes, anything by Agatha Christie, I've read every book she's written.

I love On The Beach - I reread it in lockdown and it suited the mood.

So many wonderful books already written here!

My favourites are;

The Pop Larkin Chronicles
Wuthering Heights
The Camomile Lawn
Atonement
The Great Gatsby
Rebecca
Worzel Gummidge
The Borrowers
The Diddakoi
The Hobbit
Remains Of The Day
Winnie The Pooh

So many wonderful books I should re-read.

The Women's Room by Marilyn French had a huge effect on me.

My Cousin Rachel is fab. I've read it at various stages in my life and it never disappoints.

Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Everything by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Nana - Emile Zola
The Ladies' Paradise - Emile Zola
Portrait of a Lady - Henry James
Edith Wharton's Ghost Stories, especially in Virago's lovely hardback edition
The Cairo Trilogy - Naguib Mahfouz. You can get this fabulous work in the Everyman complete edition which will look gorgeous on your shelf and brain you with every one of its 1376 pages if you fall asleep while reading it in bed. Or you can get it in 3 separate paperback volumes (Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street) and read in comfort and safety.
Speaking of big bedtime reading. . .A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. This book is an absolute joy to read and will definitely fill a space on your bookcase. It's also 1552 pages. Have fun!

I love how well you have met the brief, enriching my mind and my decor 😂

I second I Capture the Castle. Such a brilliant book.

Anthony Trollope-The Way We Live Now, along read but some brilliant characters

Charles Dickens- Our Mutual Friend, Martin Chuzzlewit

Some of the scenes from Brave New World haunt me nearly 30 years later, brilliant book but disturbing as well

Hector Hugh Munro known as Saki, funny satirical mainly short stories-the one with the talking cat is one my favourites.

To Kill a Mocking bird.
Anything by Thomas Hardy especially Tess of the d'Urbevilles.
East of Eden.
Middlemarch

Lord of the Flies has-been my favourite for well over 30 years but only reading as an adult. Couldn't abide it as a school set piece .
I must have four/ five copies doted about which I can open at any page and read a chapter.
I even convinced DD to get a copy ( new,bought for her birthday) as I whittered on about it so much

Jane Austen is always a good bet.

I like Anthony Trollope, but I'm not sure if OP would.

Thackeray, Vanity Fair.

A classic thriller like Geoffrey Household's Rogue Male? (And there's a sequel too, Rogue Justice.)

@Tortielady I have A Suitable Boy on my Kindle and haven't read it yet because it is intimidatingly long! 🤣

I forgot to add PG Wodehouse to my list. Just pure joy.

I hope you don’t mind me popping back, I’m jumping in gently by starting with The Awakening, a shorter book I’ve actually read before in school but remember enjoying (hits differently as a married mother though!) I was a bit worried all the themes etc would go over my head, so I’ve asked ChatGPT for some pointers for themes to keep an eye out on as I read and it’s been transformative! It’s asking me questions after chapters to get me to reflect. Enjoying it so much, my 17 year old self would be eye rolling at me right now.