The classics, they're usually huge, typically assigned for school, and are so dense you can hardly keep your eyes open trying to read them. But trust me, they’re all not that bad. Once I started reading classics outside of school, I couldn’t stop and now I hold them near and dear to my heart. If you’re interested in reading more classics, but don’t know where to begin, here are eight smaller and/or more entertaining ones to get your foot in the door.
1. "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There" by Lewis Carrol.
The first title is self-explanatory. These children’s books tell the story of a little girl named Alice and the adventures she has on her two trips to Wonderland. These books are full of nonsense and fun and the stories are familiar to most, yet different from its film versions, to be full of twists and treats for everyone.
2. "Northanger Abbey” by Jane Austen
This novel is a coming-of-age tale about a young girl named Catherine as she tries to navigate her world and Victorian society, and tame the wild imagination she’s developed reading Gothic novels of the time. Austen’s more famous novels, like “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma” rack in at about six-hundred pages each, while the novel is about half of the length. Plus, while "Northanger Abbey" was published after her death, it’s actually the first novel she wrote; making it a nice place to start when it comes to Austen’s works since it’s where she started too.
3. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck
This is one most have already read in school, but it’s still a gem for a reason. Chronicling the friendship between George and Lenny, and coming in at under one-hundred pages, this novella wraps around the reader’s heart.
4. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Another book nearly everyone and their mother has read and loved. This book is also quite small, with a dynamic story that sticks long after you close it.
5. "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
I’ll admit I haven’t read this one, but it’s the only one on this list I haven’t read, I swear. I mean, it's a story that everyone knows, plus it’s the holiday season so I thought it was appropriate to add it in. An old, frugal miser named Scrooge is met by the ghosts of Christmas' past, present, and future, to be taught that money is not everything and to transform him into a better person. This one is also far shorter than Dickens’ other works at about one-hundred pages.
6. "Hunger" by Knut Hamsun
Short, gripping, and unforgettable. The unnamed narrator of this semi-autobiographical tale is a (literal) starving artist living in Kristiania (Oslo) and fighting to survive its brutal winter. Hamsun himself is a pretty controversial figure (spoiler: he was on the wrong side of WWII), so if you’re not a person who separates the artist from his heart, stay away. But other than that, this story is gut-wrenching and is seldom recognized.
7. "A Study in Scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
This is the first ever Sherlock Holmes story. It’s not too big, but a little confusing, and it’s full of suspense and a ton of fun to read. If you’re obsessed with the BBC show like me, totally pick this up!
8. "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum
My favorite children’s classic! The Land of Oz is so much more intricate and complex than the MGM film. And the added illustrations make this story even more whimsical. I think this is one of those books everyone needs to read once in their life.
