What's a good classic for my first read of the year?

[Spieluhr]

I started 2018 with Great Expectations which I adored so I'd like to start 2019 with another classic, but which one?

I'm considering another Dickens as I love his books, but I'm open to other suggestions, though preferably not quite so long as War and Peace and not too depressing.

TIA for any suggestions.

[DreamsofJacaranda]

I second A Room with a View, which is one of my favourite books.

Also, The Grapes of Wrath.

[buckeejit]

My cousin Rachel is my next & then Vanity Fair with a bit of chick lit in between!

I enjoyed I capture the castle recently-does it count?!

[JellySlice]

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch is amazing. Simple, stark, yet compelling. Quite short, too. The Cancer Ward is one of my favourite books. Surprisingly not grim, but very life-affirming, despite the subject, and even though many of the characters have poor outcomes.

Maxim Gorky My Childhood.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda
Dickens A Tale of Two Cities

[AnnieOH1]

I came on to say Wuthering Heights but then someone else said Tenant of Wildfell Hall - any or all of the Bronte's works. What about Shakespeare or Marlowe too?

[DangoDays]

Oh yes to Tenant of Wildfell Hall! Currently rereading it and am thoroughly enjoying it.

[Time40]

1984, if you never have. The best and most important novel ever written, in my opinion.

Brave New World. Totally brilliant.

Of Human Bondage, by Somerset Maugham. Really interesting and involving.

[Lobsterquadrille2]

Portrait of a Lady
Rebecca
A Passage to India

[missesschmisses]

I loved Sense and Sensibility

[SergeantPfeffer]

Well if someone has recommended the Grapes of Wrath then I have to chip in with East of Eden My favourite book, the scene setting and detail are luscious and I love the interwoven tales of all the characters. If you like an epic family saga then go for this.

[AdaColeman]

Middlemarch or Our Mutual Friend.

Though I love The Count of Monte Cristo too!

[Spieluhr]

Thank you all so much for the wonderful suggestions so far. I'm not sure what I'll choose at the moment but I'm going to try to work my way through as many as possible this year as I want to read more classics.

[Chopsypie]

I loved the portrait of Dorian Gray, tenant of wildfell hall and Rebecca.

To kill a mockingbird is great and I also enjoyed Lolita.

[ClinkyMonkey]

Madame Bovary
Frankenstein

[ClinkyMonkey]

Oops, both of those are a bit miserable!

[WakeMeUpWhenGoodOmensIsOn]

My knee jerk reaction is Vanity Fair - slightly depressing though. Sense and Sensibility is a cracker. Or Dracula if you’ve never read it, although that’s basically pulp fiction elevated by time to classic status.

[WhipItGood]

Thérèse Raquin

[Spieluhr]

No oops. I'm grateful for all suggestions as I want to read as many classics as possible this year. As it is I've chosen a depressing one to start. All Quiet on the Western Front as its on my shelf, it's German and I'm trying to work my way through my German books and it's short.

I'm looking forward to fitting in as many of the other suggestions as I can throughout the year.

[MacavityTheDentistsCat]

Didn't realise you potentially wanted a German read, Spieluhr!
But once you've finished All Quiet on the Western Front, my German recommendation would be Der Richter und sein Henker by Dürrenmatt. It's not too long and it really makes you think about what constitutes good/bad.
Happy reading!

[SteakPie]

I loved The Count of Monte Cristo.

[hackmum]

Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence. Slightly out of fashion now but worth a read.

[Spieluhr]

Thank you for the recommendation, Macavity. I'll definitely get a copy. I wasn't looking specifically for a German classic but I'm a lover of all things German and have a considerable number of German books and books relating to Germany, and I want to get through as many as possible this year. I'm also hoping to acquire more so I'm very happy to have another suggestion.

Thank you to everyone who has posted with ideas. I'm excited to read them.