5 Classic Books for the Beginner Reader

Classic books can be amazing, but they can also be very hard to get into, and if you pick a tough one off the bat you can be put off from classics altogether, so it’s important not to jump into War and Peace before you’re ready. The list below consists of my (very novice) opinions on the five classics best to start with when you’re first getting into them.

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This is a great book to begin with if you are trying to get into classics because it is an empowering read that will draw you in. It is hard not to fall in love with at least one of the March sisters and you’ll soon find yourself rooting for them right along with the rest of the characters. While this is one of the longer classics on the list it is easily my favorite, and you get sucked in quick.

2. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

An eerie short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, allow this classic to transport you to the dark streets of London where something not quite normal seems to be awry. This is a great quick read but also brings up larger themes that keep the story interesting.

3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

An English class staple, this is a great classic to revisit in a non-school setting in order to truly get immersed in the story without having to worry about the essay you’re gonna have to write later. Fall in love with Jay Gatsby or Nick Carraway on your own time by starting with this classic.

4. Any Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I LOVE Sherlock Holmes stories because they keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire read. My best suggestion is Hound of the Baskervilles to start, but you really can’t go wrong following along with Holmes and Watson as they debunk the biggest cases in London.

5. Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

This is one of my personal favorite classics, I love Oscar Wilde and I think Picture of Dorian Gray is a really good introduction to classics because the concept of it is so interesting. As the reader you watch as Dorian descends from having a child-like innocence to whom the painting depicts him as, making for a captivating read.

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Thank you!