Hello, lovelies. I’ve always had a love for classic books and set a goal to read 12 classics this year. Before I get into the twelve classics I’ve decided to read, here’s a little backstory on how I got into classics and why I stopped reading them.
//How I Got Into Classic Books
I’ve always really loved classic books. At one point, they were the only books I read. This is because they were the only books my dad would give me to read. He grew up in Bangladesh and Thailand, so most of the books he had access to were classics.
Most of the classics I read as a kid were adventure novels like 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Gulliver’s Travels, Swiss Family Robinson… books like that. I think the reason I loved classics so much was that most of the ones I read were plot driven. All the characters survived through extreme circumstances, which kept me invested in the story while allowing me to adjust to the language.
I started reading more character driven classics in middle school. Books like Jane Eyre and Anne of Green Gables. Even in high school, I would still pick up classic books, like The Color Purple, for fun. The classics I read definitely matured over the years, but the reason I got into classics was that my dad gave them to me at such a young age. Most people have trouble getting into classics because the language and story structure were so different back then. But since I’ve been reading them since I was at least six, that has never been a problem for me.
//Why I Fell Out Of This Habit
The surface level reason is that I was reading them in school anyway, so I never felt the need to read them on my own. But even that answer isn’t completely right because I did read classic books on my own. It wasn’t a boring reading habit I was forced to do.
After thinking about this for a while, I realized why I stopped reading classics: people recommended me more “feminine” books. I’m not trying to make it sound like a bad thing because I did get some amazing recommendations that I still love today, like The Little Princess or The Secret Garden. But there is a vast difference between the classic books my brother is recommended and the books I am.
For example, he is much more likely to be recommended The Three Muskateers than Wuthering Heights because that seems more like a “manly” book. I personally prefer plot-driven classics, and the classics that were recommended to me the most were character driven. Even the more “feminine” classics I love are plot driven (i.e. Anne of Green Gables; The Wizard of Oz). After getting through some “meh” classics, I just fell out of the habit.
//Why I Set This Goal
After that, I started college and didn’t take any literature classes for the first two years. I read more books in the first two years of college than I did in all of high school, but I don’t think I read a single classic. Most of the classics I read in high school were in Literature classes, which I enjoyed them thoroughly, but without incentive, I didn’t pick any up.
That changed last semester when I took a comparative world literature class. I read a lot of classic books in that class, which was fun, but I also started reading a lot of classics on my own. The Alchemist is definitely a new favorite, but what really got me on my classics kick was rereading the Anne of Green Gables series. I got through the first six books and that really reminded me how much I love classics and that there are a lot that I haven’t read. That got me started on the Winnie The Pooh books, which is a movie series I adored as a kid. I read the first three books in 2018 and plan on reading the last one in the next few months.
This got me thinking, I’ve read a good chunk of classics, but there are plenty that I haven’t read. Particularly classic fairytales. I have read a lot of them, but there a few that I’ve had my eye on for a while. That gave me a reading goal idea for 2019.
//The Goal
My goal is to read 12 classic books in 2019. Ultimately, I know that I’ll end up reading more, but I have criteria for these twelve books. There is a giant list of classic books that I would love to reread, like The Outsiders or The Giver, but those are more modern classics that I’ve read fairly recently.
So my criteria is either that (1) I have never read the book or (2) I haven’t read it in the last ten years. This means I can’t include any of the classics I read in middle or high school.
I’ve compiled a list of books that I want to read this year based on the novels I actually own and the ones that I simply want to read. I’m mostly focusing on classic fairytales this year because there are a lot that I have never read.
//2019 Classic Books Reading List//
January // Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Goodreads Synopsis
Daniel Defoe relates the tale of an English sailor marooned on a desert island for nearly three decades. An ordinary man struggling to survive in extraordinary circumstances, Robinson Crusoe wrestles with fate and the nature of God.
Why I Chose This Book
This is my all-time favorite classic, but most people have never heard of it. I remember rereading this book constantly and asking my dad questions about it. The reason I’m starting with this book is that I want to make it my control group for the rest of the year. I also think my favorite classic book is bound to change, so I want something to compare the future books to.
This book was published in 1719, so three hundred years ago! The language is a lot tougher to grasp than other classics. If you are planning on following this list, I recommend starting with The Little Princess (my second favorite classic) because it’s easier to read if you are a beginner. Definitely come back to this one though.
February // The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Book Summary
Set in the mystical depths of the Indian jungle, where tigers roam the land and monkeys swing from trees, this beloved collection of stories includes such favorites as the story of the man-cub Mowgli versus the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, the brave mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, and more.
Why I Chose This Book
I bought a copy at a Book Outlet sale and I wanted to read it. It’s just of those classic fairy tales I haven’t read yet.
March // Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Goodreads Synopsis
A naughty wooden puppet gets into trouble, disobeys his father, forgets his promises, and skips through life looking for fun. Just like a “real boy.” Until he learns that to become truly real, he must open his heart and think of others.
Why I Chose This Book
Another classic fairytale I haven’t read yet. Pinocchio is one of my brother’s favorite Disney movies, so I’ve watched it many times. Apparently, the book is super creepy, which makes sense considering some parts of the movie. I’m excited to get to this one.
April // Peter Pan by J.M Barrie
Goodreads Synopsis
Peter Pan, the book based on J.M. Barrie’s famous play, is filled with unforgettable characters: Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up; the fairy, Tinker Bell; the evil pirate, Captain Hook; and the three children–Wendy, John, and Michael–who fly off with Peter Pan to Neverland, where they meet Indians and pirates and a crocodile that ticks.
Why I Chose This Book
This is the book I’m most excited about. I LOVE Peter Pan and I know a lot of the dark and twisted parts of the original story, but I’ve never actually read a full, unabridged copy of this classic. This would be earlier on this list, but I want to get through a few copies that I already own.
May // Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Goodreads Synopsis
“For sheer storytelling delight and pure adventure, Treasure Island has never been surpassed. From the moment young Jim Hawkins first encounters the sinister Blind Pew at the Admiral Benbow Inn until the climactic battle for treasure on a tropic isle, the novel creates scenes and characters that have fired the imaginations of generations of readers. Written by a superb prose stylist, a master of both action and atmosphere, the story centers upon the conflict between good and evil – but in this case a particularly engaging form of evil. It is the villainy of that most ambiguous rogue Long John Silver that sets the tempo of this tale of treachery, greed, and daring.
Why I Chose This Book
This is the book I am most wary about. I strongly disliked this classic as a kid. I genuinely didn’t get the hype. I read it when I was seven and didn’t like it. Then, I read it again when I was nine to see if I had missed something (yes, I was that person. Even as a third grader.). This is the last time I am giving the book a chance. I’m 21 now, so let’s see what this hype is about.
June // Beauty And The Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve
Book summary
Generations of readers have been bewitched by the epic love story of a beautiful young girl imprisoned in the magical castle of a monstrous beast. Now, the classic fairy tale is brought to life in this spectacularly illustrated edition as originally envisioned by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740.
Why I Chose This Book
I bought a beautiful edition of this book from Book Outlet and haven’t read it in over ten years. That’s pretty much the reason it’s on this list. I did love the story as a child and still remember a lot of it. I just preferred Rapunzel and The Little Mermaid more (Another classic I reread in 2018).
July // Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Goodreads Synopsis
Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work “her own darling child” and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.” The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen’s radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.
Why I Chose This Book
I read half this book a few years ago and put it down. I don’t remember why. I liked it, but not enough to keep going when life got busy. This is an example of a character-driven classic, which I don’t mind at all. I just know that I’ll like it better upon reread when I can notice more of the little moments that drive Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy together. I own a copy of this book and got the Jane Austen collection from Audible, so I’m sure I’ll read a few of her other books this year (Ex. Sense and Sensibility; Emma; Persuasion)
August // The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
Goodreads Synopsis
In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.
Why I Chose This Book
I have tried getting into the Lord of the Rings a few times. A lot of what we see in fantasy books today was invented by J.R.R Tolkien, and while fantasy isn’t my favorite genre, I really want to read this series. The Hobbit is actually the prequel to the trilogy, but I’ve always tried starting the series with this book. (That’s what most people have recommended to me.) If I can’t get through this book a third time, I’ll just skip to The Fellowship of the Ring.
September // The Story Of King Arthur And His Knights by Howard Pyle
Goodreads Synopsis
The book chronicles the adventures of Arthur as he draws the sword Excalibur from the anvil, proving his right to the throne, and as he courts and wins the heart of Guinevere. Later he suffers the treachery of the wicked Morgana le Fay and witnesses the tragic fate of the Enchanter Merlin. In Pyle’s classic retelling, the legends come alive in unsurpassed vividness. More powerful than any of Merlin’s spells, The Story of King Arthur and His Knights has enthralled and delighted generations of readers fascinated by chivalry, magic, and the unforgettable drama of medieval times.
Why I Chose This Book
This is a classic that I’m super interested in because I was obsessed with Magic Tree House in third grade. If you didn’t read the series as a kid, the reason they connect is that Camelot has a lot to do with the magic present in that series. I also just want to read this classic in general. The story is pretty well-known, but I’m sure there’s a lot more to the plot.
October // The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Book Summary
(I don’t own this book and can’t find a good summary on Goodreads, so I’ll tell you what I know about it here)
A very good looking man gets his portrait painted, and upon seeing it, he notices his beauty for the first time. He then becomes obsessed with himself and sells his soul to make sure his appearance never changes. While Dorian never ages, the portrait does, but there’s a catch. The portrait takes on any immoral act that Dorian does, so the portrait can suddenly have blood on it’s hands or cynicism in its eyes. This meant that Dorian could get away with any immoral act because the consequences were only given to the portrait.
Why I Chose This Book
I had never heard of this classic before. The only booktuber I follow raved about it and the premise sounds very interesting. I’ve also never read an Oscar Wilde novel, so it’ll be interesting to read one of the books that made him famous.
November // A Study In Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes #1) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Goodreads Synopsis
From the moment Dr. John Watson takes lodgings in Baker Street with the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, he becomes intimately acquainted with the bloody violence and frightening ingenuity of the criminal mind.
In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes and Watson’s first mystery, the pair is summoned to a south London house where they find a dead man whose contorted face is a twisted mask of horror. The body is unmarked by violence but on the wall a mysterious word has been written in blood.
The police are baffled by the crime and its circumstances. But when Sherlock Holmes applies his brilliantly logical mind to the problem he uncovers a tragic tale of love and deadly revenge . . .
Why I Chose This Book
This is the first novel in the Sherlock Holmes series. A bunch of my friends read the entire series a few years ago, but I never got around to it. Sherlock is also one of my favorite T.V. shows and I want to read the books it was based on. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the first book, but I think it’ll convince me to read the entire series.
December // Tarzan Of The Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Goodreads Synopsis
When a ship’s mutiny forces a young noble English couple out onto the remote African coast, their child is born into the wild. Their deaths a short time later leave the boy alone in the jungle wilderness–until a she-ape adopts him and raises him as her own. Reluctantly accepted into the tribe by its fierce leader, Kerchak, the baby Tarzan must prove himself by learning the ways of survival in the jungle: how to talk with animals, swing through the trees, and fight the great predators. In time, his strength, courage, and human intelligence earn him a place as Lord of the Jungle. But when civilized men enter the jungle, Tarzan is forced to choose between two worlds. Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic tale is both a reflection on civilization from an outside point of view and an exploration of the primal force within us all.
Why I Chose This Book
Tarzan is my favorite Disney movie. I’ve watched all the sequels and the T.V show. Tarzan is actually a series of twenty-four adventure novels, so there’s a lot of content out there for me to consume. I’m just going to start with the first book.
Every Month // 3-5 Short Stories
I own a few classic short story collections, so I want to read through those, as well. Here are a few books I plan on getting through.
Hans Christian Anderson Collection – I bought his story collection a few months ago and am slowly going through it. I’ve already reread the Little Mermaid, but there are actually a lot of short stories of his that I haven’t read. His short stories tend to be a bit longer (around 50 pages) so I may just read one a month. I’m excited to get to The Snow Queen because I’ve never read it and I want to see what parts Frozen took from the original.
Grimm’s Fairytales – I own this book already. The stories are usually only a few pages long, so this should be an easy read.
Arabian Nights – Another book I already own. The two stories recognized most are Aladdin and His Magical Lamp and Sinbad the Sailor, but there are plenty others in the book. I’ve read the entire thing already, but I would love to read it again.
So those are the classics I plan on reading this year. I’m sure there will be others along the way, but these are the twelve I plan on reading each month. I’ll update you all on what I think of them in my Favorites posts. I hope you enjoyed!
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What are some of your favorite classic books? I would love some recommendations.
I am writing because I found your Pin on Pinterest. I am super enjoying Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen: haunting and beautiful writing.