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Because previous generations were considerably more verbose and eloquent than our own, classic literature can sometimes be difficult to slog through. Besides which, some of you can probably recall tortured hours spent forcing ourselves through required reading for high school American and British literature classes, and the resulting horror left by the trauma is enough to cause you to swear off classics forever.
How do you feel about classics? Do you love delving into books that have stood the test of time, or do you prefer more contemporary reads? I’m somewhere in the middle: I love a good classic that I can sink my teeth into, but I also love reading contemporary novels, particularly ones by (select) Christian authors.
As a child, I was introduced to great children’s literature authors such as Frances Hodgson Burnett, Louisa May Alcott (Jack and Jill was my favorite novel as a child), Beverly Cleary, Mary Mapes Dodge (Ahhh, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates!), EB White, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and many more. As a young teenager, aside from my school reading assignments, the first real “adult” classic book I read, I remember quite well: It was an abridged version of Les Miserables, and I was transfixed! I read a few American authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edith Wharton (Age of Innocence I read first, after watching the movie, which is excellent), but quickly found that my favorites were all Brits: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Thomas Hardy, to name a few.
Narrowing down my list of favorite classics to just 3 is pretty much an impossible task! There are SO many wonderful books out there waiting for a brand-new audience. Decisions, decisions! In the end, I’ve decided to offer you 3 obvious favorites that you’ve probably already read, and then 3 less popular (but just as wonderful) companion suggestions to go with my favorites. And I might not be able to constrain myself to just 3. Ahem.
1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
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This one’s a no-brainer for me, personally. It was my first “adult” classic, as I said, and it remains my favorite. I’ve read it multiple times, memorized the musical, and even though I don’t read French (don’t speak it, either!), I own an antique copy of Les Miserables in its original language. Yeah, I’m a little obsessed. And why not? Les Miserables is a classic for excellent reasons: it’s an eternal tale of good vs. evil, but even beyond that, it’s a tale of justice vs. mercy. It’s an epic illustration of the spiritual truth that righteousness and mercy are not exclusive… and that God can redeem even the hardest heart and the most horrible situation, IF we let Him. Key word being IF. The main character, Jean Valjean, demonstrates vividly how God can shape and mold a life that exudes both righteousness and mercy, and use that life to touch other lives in beautiful ways.
In my very humble opinion, no life is complete without having read Les Miserables. At least twice. (Although, I do give you permission to skip the chapter about sewers. I promise you, there’s nothing in that chapter that will benefit your life ever. I forced myself to read it so I could say I read the *entire* book… but I totally wish I had that hour of my life back. Just trust me.)
…and also Hernani, by Victor Hugo
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And once you’ve read Les Mis (as all fans affectionately call it), try one of Victor Hugo’s plays on for size. It’s considerably shorter than his massive epic novel, and filled with brilliant sparkling dialogue. It’s kind of like the French version of Shakespeare, only it’s set in Spain: it’s swashbuckling and ever-so-dramatic and really just a lot of fun. In short, nothing like Les Mis. Like I said, read Les Mis first because that’s more important, but then read Hernani. Good stuff.
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
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Again, everybody knows this one; it’s another no-brainer. In fact, you probably already read it for your high school literature class. If you somehow escaped reading it during the course of your life thus far, remedy the situation immediately and go read Jane Eyre right now. Your life will not be complete until you do, as everyone who has read it understands perfectly. Because, seriously. Mr. Rochester. That’s all we have to say!
But to pursue the issue further, I’ll also say this: Jane Eyre is a classic story because in the end, it’s about how a good girl finally gets what she deserves. It takes her a long time, and she has to go through more than any person should ever have to, but she manages to maneuver all that life throws her and still keep her integrity intact. Good girls win in the end!
…but even more importantly, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
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But since you’ve probably already read Jane Eyre and you know all that, you need to read a lesser-known but probably better-written (at least according to some folks, me included) book written by Charlotte’s sister Anne. I might be partial to The Tenant of Wildfell Hall just because I share the author’s name, but honestly, the book is amazing. Again, it’s about a good girl who does her best to live with integrity in the face of terrible odds, including a worse-than-no-good husband who lives only for himself. She treats him far better than he deserves, and exemplifies true Christ-like love in the face of his terrible treatment of her. And, in return, eventually she is rewarded her measure of happiness. It’s a beautiful but tragic story, heart-rending and convicting. It’s my favorite Bronte book.
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
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I’m a serious Jane Austen fan. I’m an Austen completist, meaning I’ve read every single thing she wrote, except for maybe all her letters, just so I can say I’ve read everything she ever wrote. Chances are, you’ve also read Pride and Prejudice, which is her most popular novel, and for good reason. Aside from the fact that the writing just flows, making it an easy read, Pride and Prejudice is so incredibly popular because of its characters; they’re flawed and full of foibles, but ever so lovable, likable… and totally relatable. You see echoes of Jane, Lizzy, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, and Charlotte in the people you know and love in real life. Probably you don’t see a lot of Mr. Darcy in your real life acquaintances, but that’s because he’s one in a million.
So, yeah, maybe the real reason we all love Pride and Prejudice is Mr. Darcy. Upon further reflection… Yes. Definitely.
…and then Mr. Knightley, I mean, Emma
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But Mr. Darcy is not Jane Austen’s only swoon-worthy hero. I have a little bit of a crush (OK a big one) on Mr. Knightley, too. If you’re not aware of him, you’ll find him in the pages of Emma, Austen’s 3rd most popular novel (Sense and Sensibility is in between those two, but it’s not my favorite). He’s just such a good guy, without the stuffiness of Mr. Darcy, and he loves Emma so tenderly. Being something of a busy-body and a would-be matchmaker, while at the same time not wholly self-aware, she can be kind of difficult to manage, let alone love. But Mr. Knightley brings out the best in her, which is the way every romantic relationship should work.
So right after you read Pride and Prejudice (if you haven’t already), read Emma next. You’ll love it, I promise.
4. BONUS: Anna Karenina
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I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of Russian classics, even though I lived in Russia for a few years. This is admittedly a failing on my part, because Russian literature is generally highly regarded by the folks who know about this kind of stuff, but … I just can’t.
With a select few notable exceptions, the main one being Anna Karenina. It contains all the elements that hinder me from enjoying Russian literature in general (it’s huge, it has a very large cast of characters that can be difficult to keep track of, it’s rather pessimistic in its realistic approach to life, it has a tragic ending, and it can be dry reading at times), but even so, it manages to be one of my favorites. It takes you on the journey of a young woman who loses her moral compass and begins to make choices based on what pleases her, and you clearly see the effects of those choices on everyone around her, and eventually, the toll they take on her personally. It’s sad and it ends in a horrific tragedy, but the fact is there’s no way a story like that can ever end happily, whether in real life or in a book.
But Anna Karenina is much more than a cautionary tale: there’s romance, there are characters both deep and shallow, there’s an intriguing glimpse into historic Russian society, and an even more intriguing glimpse into the famous Russian soul.
…and then there are the short stories
If you’re not quite up to the challenge of Anna Karenina (no judgment here!), you must try some of Tolstoy’s short stories. In particular, I recommend What Men Live By, How Much Land Does a Man Need?, and Where Love Is, There God Is Also.
5. Oops. One More.
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This one’s for the girls in your family. Or for your inner girl. It’s innocent enough to suit a young lady, but insightful enough to appeal to a grown woman. The book I have in mind is also a culmination of books and, although it stands on its own, is really meant to be enjoyed upon the background of its predecessors.
The book I’m speaking of is Rilla of Ingleside. I’m sure you are very familiar already with the classic book Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Many people don’t realize that an entire series of books follows Anne of Green Gables, chronicling her life after her girlhood years with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert: her years at college, her teaching career, her romances and eventual marriage, and her children.
The final book in the series, Rilla of Ingleside, comes full circle and details the coming of age years of Anne’s own daughter Rilla (short for Marilla). I’ve never read another book that so accurately describes the thoughts and emotions of a young girl slowly growing into a young lady. I read it when I was around the same age as the girl in the story, and I identified so much with many of her inner wonderings and struggles. However, Rilla’s story is set against the turbulent backdrop of the first World War, and as such, Rilla encounters situations that force her to grow up much faster than the average girl of my generation. It’s a beautiful story and I love it almost as much as I love the original book in the series.
OK. I’m really done now. Those are my top 3 (er… 4… or 5…. or more!) favorite classics that I think everyone should read regardless of their preferred genre.
What books would you add to my list?
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