What defines a book as a classic isn’t the same for everyone, but to me a classic is a work of literature that hasn’t been published recently that I could imagine reading and discussing in a literature class. I’m sure there’s a more “official” definition out there, but for me, a classic shares some kind of universal message about humanity, and while it can be entertaining, entertainment isn’t the book’s sole purpose.
With that said, because many classics’ purpose is not to entertain, it’s easy to assume that most classics must be boring. While some certainly are, there are plenty of classics that are enjoyable and some are even fun to read.
Here are a few classics that (in my opinion at least) aren’t boring.
Not-Boring Classics
Passing by Nella Larsen. Irene and Clare are two Black women who grew up in the same neighborhood, and meet as adults in a chance encounter. Irene soon learns that Clare has been living her life passing as a white woman, and although Clare seems desperate to rekindle their friendship, Irene is wary of getting involved in Clare’s life of deception. Yet despite her hesitation, a complicated friendship is reborn between them. This book has been categorized as a classic, but other than the setting it read like contemporary literary fiction. It was a short book, but also intense and surprising, and made for a lively book club discussion.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck. This was a classic that I put off reading for a long time, but it’s one I’m so glad I finally did. While there were a few times where this epic family saga felt dated, it mostly stands up to the test of time, and I was surprised to find myself completely absorbed in the pages. If you want a classic dysfunctional family drama, you can’t go wrong here.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker. In this modern classic, Celie and Nettie are sisters separated at a young age, but whose survival is rooted in their letters to each other. Celie is first abused by her father, then forced to marry a man who is also abusive. She writes letters to God, then to her sister Nettie, as a way to cope with her loneliness and to survive the terrible circumstances of a life she has little control over. Nettie joins a couple headed to Africa as missionaries, and also finds solace in writing to her sister, despite not knowing if the letters ever reach her. This was beautifully written, moving, and profound, and it’s one I can’t stop thinking about. I highly recommend it.
The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Originally published in 1924, this story about an unhappy couple trying to play their socially acceptable roles as working father and stay-at-home mother touched on many issues still relevant today. Although her characterizations felt slightly over-the-top, I admit that I saw parts of myself in the impatient, overly critical mother. I loved the way this book made me think about the roles we still play in society, and about the importance of feeling fulfilled in what we do, no matter what it is we choose.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Many consider this to be a classic, and it is very beloved. I think that for those reasons I went in with fairly high expectations, which is often a dangerous thing with books. While I can say that I see how this book shaped thrillers and suspense novels going forward, I didn’t love this book. I’ve said it a million times, but I have such a hard time getting past characters I can’t root for. The (intentionally unnamed) protagonist was so spineless for most of the book, which I found extremely irritating. When she finally did assert herself, I still found her irksome because I just couldn’t get behind her perspective. I did enjoy the plot twists and the creepiness, but overall I just didn’t love this one because of the characters—yet so many people I know did love it, and it’s definitely not boring!
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. I believe I read this as a child but I don’t remember for sure. Either way, I’m so glad I read it as an adult because I loved every minute of it. Seeing the world through Anne’s eyes was such a pleasant experience. I love literary fiction and am often drawn to books about heavy, news-worthy topics; however, every once in a while it’s nice to escape in a book that makes you feel good and this one is perfect for that. If you’re in the mood to rediscover a childhood classic I can’t recommend this one enough!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. For the longest time I thought I had read this, but I recently realized that it was Tender is the Night that I read, not this classic. I can see why high school English classrooms across the country read this: there is so much to discuss in such a short novel. Gatsby’s self-made persona fascinated me, as did the relationship between Tom and Daisy. I thought the narrator’s perspective was interesting as well; he came across as though he were a bit above all the shenanigans of the company he kept, yet I saw him just as enamored with Gatsby’s lifestyle as anyone else. I can’t say I loved this for the sake of the story or the characters (I was hard pressed to find any I liked), but I enjoyed the depth of this classic and I’m glad I read it.
Kindred by Octavia Butler. I’ve been trying to read more science fiction, and this was on my list for a long time. Dana, a Black woman, is newly married to her white husband in 1976, when she is suddenly transported into the past. She arrives in the antebellum South, where she saves Rufus, the son of a plantation owner, from drowning. She continues to travel back and forth through time, forming a complicated relationship with Rufus, whose life she saves repeatedly yet who refuses to see her as an equal. The way Butler wrote the time travel into the story was flawless—it felt like I was there with her during the gripping and often terrifying chapters when Dana went back in time, and the disorienting nature of her return to her modern life was palpable through the page. I can see why this novel is considered by many to be a classic. It was excellent.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I rarely reread books, but I’ve read Jane Eyre at least 3 times. It is definitely my favorite classic so I had to include it in this list. I remember going in expecting it to be boring (those classic covers are just the worst, right?). Yet the story of Jane growing up with her cruel aunt and then living in a bleak boarding school, then leaving to work as a governess for the mysterious, gruff Mr. Rochester was riveting to me. (Also, if you like this classic you may also enjoy Mr. Rochester and Jane Steele, which are fun retellings.)
Modern Classics
There are also several books that I wouldn’t consider to be true classics, but I would put them in the “modern classic” category. Its definition is equally ambiguous, but to me a modern classic has a powerful message and true staying power, but was published more recently. Here are a few I consider to be modern classics (in my completely non-expert opinion):
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- 11/22/63 by Stephen King
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Have you read any of these? Are there any classics you’d recommend?
