While perusing my school’s library the other day, I couldn’t help, but notice the numerous volumes of classics hidden away, and slowly, collecting dust. Bent, unloved, and shoved into the back depths of the wooden shelves, it was obvious these books hadn’t been opened, and allowed to breath, in years. It was sad to see such beautiful tales so under appreciated, beaten out by the latest dystopian teen romance novel.
A popular book is a nice sugary treat, every now and then, but in order to maintain a healthy diet, readers must also consume stories like those of Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, too. Perhaps our society has placed so much emphasis on indulging in soft reads, that we have forgotten the importance of challenging our minds within the pages of the classics. In this time of our lives, the best thing we, as teenagers, can do for ourselves is to venture into worlds different from our own.
There is so much to be learned from the stories of characters that are permanently woven into the history of literature. They can take us on an adventure. We just have to be willing to go on the journey. Below are a list of five classic books you should start reading now.
1. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger: Written from the perspective of a 16-year-old boy named Holden, this book describes the thoughts of a mentally ill teenager who has, once again, been kicked out of school, and now, has a couple days to wander around Manhattan before he can return home and tell his parents what happened.
2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: George and Lennie are two best friends who have big dreams of owning a farm, but have absolutely no money to do so. Because Lennie’s intellect is like that of a child’s, the duo can’t hold a job for long. Eventually, they’re able to pick up work on a ranch. The two friends’ problems escalate when Lennie accidentally makes enemies with a rough and overprotective brute named Curley.
3. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: This tale follows the adventures of an orphan boy by the name of Pip. Forced to live with his sister and her husband, Pip encounters a variety of people, including an eccentric woman named Miss Havisham. Even though things seem bleak, Pip dreams of receiving a good education and becoming a gentleman. One day, Pip receives word that he has inherited a large fortune, and he ventures to London in order to fulfill his dreams.
4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Although told from the perspective of Nick Carraway, the main character of this novel is his neighbor, the mysterious and wealthy Jay Gatsby. Known for his extravagant summer parties, Gatsby befriends Nick and confides to him about his great love for a woman named Daisy Buchanan. However, Daisy is already married to Tom, who just so happens to be in love with someone else. Thus begins the confusing cycle of secret romances, and jealousy, that propels the novel.
5. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: Taking place in the town of St. Petersburg, Mississippi, readers meet the mischievous trouble maker, Tom Sawyer. Clever, but incredibly lazy, Tom tricks people into doing things for him. His life is often met with many twists and surprises, which include witnessing a murder and accidentally faking his own death.
