Many people claim they want to read more classic literature, but it can be hard! Life gets busy, writers from different times may talk funny, they might seem out of touch with the present or, maybe, you might never seem to be in the right mood for that book collecting dust on your shelf. As for that last concern, this list is here to help. Here is a collection of classic literature designed to match various wacky moods.
Anything Jane Austen: For when everyone is annoying
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." -- Pride & Prejudice
Austen is famous for her love stories, and rightfully so. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are by far my favorite literary couple. But each of her books is also a "Comedy of Manners." This means they poke fun at how ridiculous society can be. From Emma's dangerous matchmaking games to Mr. Collins preparing compliments in advance to improve his skills at flattery, Austen crafts characters that highlight just how ridiculous our world is.
"The Hobbit:" For when you're craving an adventure
“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.'
I should think so -- in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!" -- Gandalf & Bilbo, "The Hobbit: There and Back Again"
"The Hobbit" is a book that explores the very idea of adventure. The inspiration behind his famous trilogy, Lord of the Rings, it is here that Tolkien first invents the captivating world of hobbits, dwarves, elves, wizards and a single dragon. Bilbo lives in a world of quiet contentment and respectability, only to catch a desire for adventure one morning when Gandalf knocks on his round door. He goes on to escape giant spiders, face off with a dragon and win a portion of a great treasure.
"Wuthering Heights:" For when it seems like everyone but you is in a relationship
"I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" -- Heathcliff, "Wuthering Heights"
This is the kind of story where you might need a chart to keep all of the characters and their relationships straight! This classic piece of Gothic literature meets all the requirements for a captivating and tragic love story: several love triangles, a love story with almost supernatural passion and a brooding lead that withdraws from society. But while Heathcliff and Catherine share a tragic love story that has solidified their place among the romantic greats, in true Gothic style, it's also a story that's pretty messed up. After reading about all of the ways that they destroy themselves and all of the other characters, you might find that you're just fine with being single after all.
"The Awakening:" For when "It's not a phase, mom!"
“He could see plainly that she was not herself. That is, he could not see that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.”
-- "The Awakening"
A masterpiece of feminist literature, Kate Chopin's most famous story has all you need to satisfy that burning angst. A tale about a woman trying to find herself in a world that seeks to confine her within very particular roles and expectations, this is just the book for you during those times you feel like contemplating the tragic state of the human condition.
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:" For when you're feeling wacky or weird
"Have I gone mad?"
"I'm afraid so, you're entirely bonkers. But let me tell you something, the best people usually are."
-- Lewis Carroll, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
No book is as delightfully strange as "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Lewis Carroll welcomes fellow weirdos into his book with his themes of absurdity, subversion and discomfort. A cast of striking, larger than life characters, like the disappearing Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the tyrannical Queen of Hearts and the pretentious Caterpillar, entertain and confuse the readers of this timeless classic.
"1984:" For when you're feeling paranoid
“If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.” -- 1984, George Orwell
Wherever your paranoia is focused, Winston Smith has you beat. His entire world is manipulated by a machine-like government with the infamous "Big Brother" at its head. None of Winston's emotions, beliefs, ideas or thoughts are safe from the scrutiny of the government, despite his best attempts at rebellion. And in the end, he is broken by the system.
The parallels between George Orwell's fictitious future and our present reality are unsettling to read -- from "telescreens" to shortened language to "perpetual war." Connecting the dots is not all that difficult for the paranoid and untroubled mind alike.
