As someone who enjoys reading anything and everything, I can appreciate all kinds of books and novels even if I don’t necessarily like the message or plot behind them. Every book is different, but there are books and novels that definitely should be read by everyone, even if you hate to read. Listed below are simply classics and anyone can appreciate the creativity and reliability of them, so here they are:
1. The Book Thief:
This novel takes place during the Holocaust and is centered around the relationship between a young German girl and the Jewish man her father is hiding. It is a brilliant story that offers a unique perspective during a time of such horror and turmoil.
2. The Great Gatsby:
Everyone has probably read this novel in school (or was supposed to but never kept up with the reading assignments). If you haven’t read this novel, it is definitely a must read. It takes place during the 1920s and focuses on the romance between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.
3. Catcher in the Rye:
This sarcastic novel is about a young boy who gets kicked out of boarding school and travels the city alone. It is a novel that many teenagers often like because they enjoy the persona of the main character Holden.
4. The Outsiders:
I think everyone can agree that this is just an all-around classic. It is such a great novel about the struggles of the boys called Greasers and their conflicts with the popular kids at their school, the Socs.
5. The Diary of Anne Frank:
This is an non-fiction memoir that is simply an eye-opener, forcing readers to reflect on their lives and appreciate it more than they would on a regular day. It is the account of Anne Frank herself while she was in hiding during the Holocaust.
6. 1984:
Many people don’t like this book particularly because it is incredibly dark and morose. However, it is important to read because totalitarianism is a real thing in the world and should not be taken lightly. Not to mention the novel acts as a warning to people and enlightens them to some of the horrors that happen around the world.
7. To Kill a Mockingbird:
It is a novel that discusses the issue of race, discrimination, and prejudice that is still apparent in society today. It is a novel that highlights the bravery of Atticus Finch during a time where defending an African American male was simply unheard of.
8. Walden:
It is a Henry David Thoreau’s attempt to strip himself of all of life's luxuries and lives in solitude to experience the simple joys of life without depending on other materialistic items.
9. Jane Eyre:
It is a novel that revolutionized the idea of women as protagonists. It exposed the truth about women and the hardships they faced during the time period the novel takes place in. The character Jane Eyre broke the typical beautiful female heroine character and became a more relatable character, specifically to women, establishing it as an classic novel.
10. Night:
Although this list already has two other books that take place in the Holocaust, this is one of the best books to read if you need some inspiration or perspective. Even though Elie Wiesel is living among death and despair during the book, he finds it within himself to survive even when the odds are against him. It is the account from Elie Wiesel's perspective and how he explains how mental strength saved him from dying in the infamous Auschwitz.
All of these novels are unique in their own ways. It is incredible how these ten completely different novels which contain a variety of different messages can establish themselves as classics. These ten novels are must-reads for everyone because they contain messages that are important not just for the novel but for the readers to consider as well, hence why I consider them the top ten novels everyone must read at least once in their life.
